Exploring the Netherlands as a gay couple has always felt both personal and empowering for us. Living in Amsterdam, we often balance being at home with exploring other Dutch cities like Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Groningen. This mix of local life and travel keeps our stories authentic. With equal marriage rights since 2001, a vibrant Pride calendar, and a reputation for inclusivity, the Netherlands is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries in the world. In this gay Netherlands travel guide, we want to share our perspective as a German-Dutch gay couple, combining practical travel tips with lived experiences. From biking through canal cities and joining Pride celebrations to discovering cozy cafés and staying in gay-friendly Travel Proud hotels, our Couple of Men guide is designed to help LGBTQ+ travelers feel safe, welcome, and inspired.
Why the Netherlands is a top LGBTQ+ destination
The Netherlands holds a special place in queer history. It became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. LGBTQ+ organizations like COC Netherlands, founded in 1946, remain some of the oldest still active worldwide. As gay travelers, this openness is not just about laws but also visible in daily life: rainbow crossings in cities, Pride flags on public buildings, and thriving queer communities across the country. Annual events such as Amsterdam Pride, Utrecht Canal Pride, and Rotterdam Pride showcase diversity while celebrating freedom and acceptance. From our experience, the Dutch approach is both practical and deeply rooted in equality, which creates a strong sense of safety for queer visitors. Add in the gezelligheid—Dutch coziness—and you get more than just a safe trip, you get an authentic connection.
Read more about all Dutch LGBTQ+ Events in the Netherlands
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Gay Amsterdam – more than pride and canals
Amsterdam is our hometown and the heart of queer culture in the Netherlands. While many visitors focus on Pride and nightlife, the city offers so much more. As a gay couple, we cherish our local walks along the canals, exploring museums, and revisiting the Homomonument, which commemorates LGBTQ+ lives lost to persecution. Amsterdam Pride, with its world-famous Canal Parade, remains one of the biggest highlights each August. Yet the everyday life here—cycling through narrow streets, visiting cafés in Jordaan, or enjoying evenings at queer-owned spaces—captures the real spirit of the city.
Nightlife & community
Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ nightlife is legendary, from long-standing bars like Café ’t Mandje, Prik, or Spijker Bar to big club nights. For us, it’s less about the number of venues and more about the sense of community. Visiting the NZ sauna together during Pride or relaxing at queer cafés after a busy work week connects us with friends and travelers alike. While the city changes constantly, this vibrant mix of tradition and reinvention keeps the scene alive.
Culture & history
Queer culture in Amsterdam goes hand in hand with the city’s broader cultural offer. From the Rijksmuseum to small galleries, art often reflects diversity and openness. A personal favorite of ours is the Heineken Experience during Pride season, where the brand embraces LGBTQ+ visibility. Visiting the Anne Frank House or Homomonument grounds our journeys with history and resilience, reminding us why queer freedom matters today.
Pride Amsterdam highlights
The Canal Parade is unlike anything else—a fleet of decorated boats carrying activists, companies, and community groups through the city. We’ve joined the parade several times, both from the canals and cheering from the bridges. Beyond the spectacle, the Pride March and neighborhood events like the street parties in Reguliersdwarsstraat create a grassroots feeling that makes Amsterdam Pride both international and deeply local.
Travel Guide Amsterdam
The Dutch capital is considered to be one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world. By legalizing same-gender marriage as the first country in the world already in 2001, the Netherlands and its capital offer a diverse LGBTQ+ friendly cultural program throughout the whole year. The highlight of the Summer is (Gay) Pride Amsterdam.
Utrecht – cozy canals and a growing pride scene
Utrecht, with its unique double-layered canals, has quickly grown into one of our favorite Dutch cities. It’s less crowded than Amsterdam yet equally rich in culture. For queer travelers, Utrecht Pride has become a major highlight. Each June, the canals fill with rainbow-decorated boats, echoing Amsterdam’s Pride but on a more intimate scale. Walking through the medieval streets together, we felt how this city blends history with youthful energy, thanks to its large student population.
Cultural weekend break
Beyond Pride, Utrecht is ideal for a weekend getaway. We enjoyed climbing the Dom Tower together, visiting small museums, and relaxing in canal-side cafés. For queer couples, it’s a perfect mix of romance and local culture.
LGBTQ+ cafés & bars
The city of Utrecht has a handful of queer bars and inclusive cafés where locals and travelers meet. For us, evenings spent at Bodytalk felt cozy and welcoming, reflecting Utrecht’s signature gezelligheid. These spots might not be many, but they carry strong community vibes.
Utrecht Pride on the canals
Joining Utrecht Canal Pride was one of the most emotional experiences for us. Seeing thousands of people cheer along the Oudegracht showed the city’s warm embrace of its queer community. It might be smaller than Amsterdam’s version, but its intimacy makes it powerful and personal.
Rotterdam – architecture, art & queer energy
Rotterdam is bold, modern, and constantly reinventing itself. Known for its cutting-edge architecture and dynamic port, the city also embraces LGBTQ+ culture through events like Rotterdam Pride. Each September, the city transforms into a rainbow hub with street parties, exhibitions, and performances. As a couple, we love Rotterdam’s energy, as it feels different from Amsterdam, more experimental, yet just as inclusive.
Rotterdam Pride & festivals
Our first Rotterdam Pride impressed us with its mix of activism and celebration. The parade through the city center was joined by queer art exhibitions and debates, showing how Pride here is about both visibility and dialogue.
LGBTQ+ nightlife & art scene
Rotterdam’s queer nightlife includes bars, underground clubs, and events often mixed into the wider cultural scene. Some weekend trips gave us a taste of its alternative, creative side, where LGBTQ+ artists are visible and celebrated.
Modern architecture & design
Rotterdam is home to landmarks like the Cube Houses and Erasmus Bridge. Walking together through these urban spaces, we feel the city’s resilience and innovative spirit. It’s also a place where queer culture thrives within a broader modern lifestyle.
The Hague – politics, culture & coastal Pride
The Hague combines royal palaces, political institutions, and a vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Known as the city of peace and justice, it also celebrates diversity through Pride The Hague. When we visited, the parade and festivals by the canals made it clear: The Hague is both formal and fun. Beyond Pride, we spent time exploring the cultural scene, from grand museums to cozy neighborhood cafés, which revealed a different layer of the Dutch queer experience. The mix of royal history, modern politics, and seaside relaxation makes The Hague a surprising yet fulfilling LGBTQ+ destination.
Pride The Hague
The Hague Pride may be younger than Amsterdam’s, but it brings thousands to the city center each May/June. Marching through a city that houses both government and the International Court of Justice felt symbolic: love and equality at the heart of politics. The parade itself is colorful, intimate, and strongly supported by the local community. We enjoyed the sense of activism in combination with celebration, and it reminded us how visibility remains essential even in progressive societies.
Museums & politics
As culture lovers, we recommend the Mauritshuis with Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, the Escher Museum, and the Kunstmuseum. An additional favorite is Madurodam, a world in mini format. Exploring these cultural landmarks gave us a broader sense of the city’s identity. The combination of high politics and creative expression makes The Hague unique. Visiting museums and Pride events creates a balance of art and activism you won’t forget, and for queer travelers, this duality adds depth to the journey.
Scheveningen beach trip
Just 20 minutes by tram from The Hague, Scheveningen offers a sandy escape on the North Sea coast. For us, ending a Pride day with a sunset at the beach was a perfect queer travel moment. The seaside vibe, combined with beach bars and the iconic pier, adds another layer to The Hague’s diversity. Queer visitors can enjoy both the official Pride activities and a relaxing retreat by the water, which makes this destination feel complete.
Groningen & northern Netherlands – young & inclusive
Groningen in the north is a lively university city with a youthful queer spirit. Pride and cultural festivals in smaller cities in the Netherlands showcase how they embrace LGBTQ+ life. Exploring Groningen together felt refreshing: less touristy, more authentic, and filled with youthful energy. The city’s balance of alternative culture, inclusive nightlife, and easy access to nature makes it a gem for LGBTQ+ travelers.
University vibe & queer spirit
With a large student population, Groningen feels progressive and open. LGBTQ+ student groups bring visibility and host events that make the city inclusive year-round. We noticed how queer life is integrated into everyday student culture, making it easier to connect and feel welcome as travelers. The openness is not confined to campus—it is about to become part of the broader city culture.
Festivals & nightlife
Join local festivals where queer musicians and artists perform and nights out at inclusive clubs, showing the creativity of this Dutch city in the north of the Netherlands. Groningen’s nightlife is diverse, ranging from underground bars to student-led queer parties. For us, it was inspiring to see how smaller communities create such vibrant spaces.
Outdoor & nature
Groningen also offers nature nearby. We loved biking through flat landscapes and visiting Lauwersmeer National Park—a perfect mix of city and countryside. Experiencing this balance together made Groningen one of our favorite northern getaways. The city proves that even outside the Randstad, queer life thrives in welcoming and creative ways.
Eindhoven & southern Netherlands – design meets Pride
Eindhoven is the design capital of the Netherlands and a growing LGBTQ+ destination. Its Pride and Glow Festival bring light, art, and inclusivity together. Visiting Eindhoven as a couple gave us a taste of Dutch innovation wrapped in queer celebration. The city’s blend of technology, design, and queer culture makes it stand out as one of the Netherlands’ most exciting places to visit.
Eindhoven Pride & the Glow Festival
Eindhoven Pride reflects the city’s creative side. The Glow Festival, held in November, covers the city with light installations, often with queer artists involved. Experiencing it hand-in-hand felt magical. The combination of design, technology, and queer expression makes Eindhoven one of the most innovative cities to explore, and its events continue to grow in scale and visibility.
LGBTQ+ spots & weekend trips
From inclusive cafés to friendly bars, Eindhoven offers a relaxed queer scene. Combined with its easy access from airports, it makes a great weekend trip. We particularly enjoyed visiting creative hubs, like Strijp-S, where queer-friendly venues blend into the wider cultural scene. These local experiences added to the feeling of being part of Eindhoven’s creative heartbeat.
Design capital of the Netherlands
Design lovers will appreciate the Dutch Design Week. Walking through exhibitions together showed us how creativity here is also about inclusion and diversity. For queer travelers, this design culture becomes part of the journey, blending aesthetics with community spirit. Eindhoven’s forward-looking mindset reflects how Dutch cities continually redefine inclusivity.
Dutch islands in the North Sea – Wadden wonders for couples
The Wadden Islands, stretching along the northern coast of the Netherlands, offer an entirely different travel experience compared to the country’s cities. As a couple, we’ve visited Vlieland three times, and each trip felt like a reset. Wide sandy beaches, quiet dunes, and endless bike paths make these islands perfect for LGBTQ+ travelers who want tranquility and nature. While there is no defined LGBTQ+ or gay scene, inclusivity and tolerance are part of daily life here. The ferry ride already feels like leaving the busy mainland behind and stepping into a calmer rhythm.
Highlights of the Wadden Islands
- Vlieland – our personal favorite, intimate and car-free
- Texel – the largest island, easy to reach from Den Helder
- Terschelling – vibrant festivals and wide beaches
- Ameland – historic villages and birdwatching
- Schiermonnikoog – smallest island, pure nature reserve
Read more about an island trip to Vlieland
Nature reserves and outdoor escapes in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is more than canals and cities. Its natural parks and green escapes offer queer travelers romantic, safe, and refreshing alternatives. We’ve spent multiple weekends at the Hoge Veluwe National Park, cycling through purple heathlands and forests. The Kröller-Müller Museum, hidden in the park, with its Van Gogh collection, adds a cultural touch to the wilderness. Closer to Amsterdam, the Amsterdamse Bos is an urban forest larger than Central Park. It’s a favorite summer hangout, with rowing lakes, meadows for picnics, and even queer-friendly festivals. Exploring nature together has always been part of our travel style, reminding us that LGBTQ+ visibility also thrives outside city life.
Top nature escapes for queer travelers
- Hoge Veluwe National Park – cycling, wildlife, Van Gogh art
- Amsterdamse Bos – urban forest with lakes and events
- De Biesbosch – wetlands and canoe adventures
- Veluwezoom – rolling hills and purple heather in late summer
- Lauwersmeer – birdwatching and dark-sky reserve
- Keukenhof – Tulip blossom in Holland
Theme parks and queer-friendly fun
For couples who love a bit of magic and thrills, the Netherlands’ theme parks are worth a visit. De Efteling, with its fairytale forest and elaborate rides, is one of Europe’s oldest and most beloved theme parks. Walking hand-in-hand through enchanted castles and dark rides felt surprisingly romantic. Walibi Holland, especially during Halloween Fright Nights, offers a more adrenaline-driven experience. While these parks don’t market themselves specifically as LGBTQ+ attractions, we’ve always felt comfortable and welcomed. Adding a day at a theme park to your Dutch trip can be a playful counterbalance to museums and city walks.
Dutch Theme park highlights
- De Efteling – fairytales, rollercoasters, family-friendly magic
- Walibi Holland – thrill rides and Halloween Fright Nights
- Toverland – a growing theme park with a magical touch
- Duinrell – rides and waterpark near The Hague
- Slagharen – classic Western-themed amusement park
LGBTQ+ events and festivals across the Netherlands
The Netherlands offers a year-round calendar of queer events, not limited to Pride celebrations. While Amsterdam Pride and Utrecht Canal Pride are iconic summer highlights, travelers will also discover cultural festivals, film screenings, and winter gatherings that celebrate queer life across the country. The Hague’s Rainbow Festival, for example, combines art and politics, while Rotterdam International Film Festival often features queer filmmakers. Pink Saturday, hosted in a different Dutch city each year, dates back to the late 1970s and remains a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ visibility. Beyond these, look out for events like Amsterdam’s Roze Filmdagen, one of Europe’s most established queer film festivals, or Winter Pride celebrations in smaller towns. This variety of LGBTQ+ festivals and cultural happenings proves that the Netherlands embraces diversity all year long, making every season an opportunity for queer travelers to connect, celebrate, and feel included.
Top LGBTQ+ events in the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Pride – August, Canal Parade and street parties
- Utrecht Canal Pride – June, intimate and local
- Rotterdam Pride – September, activism and celebration
- The Hague Pride – May/June, symbolic in the political heart
- Pink Saturday – rotating host city since 1977
- Roze Filmdagen – Amsterdam LGBTQ+ film festival in March
- Eindhoven Glow Festival – inclusive art & light festival in November
- WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 – upcoming global highlight
WorldPride Amsterdam 2026: Plan your trip now
Amsterdam will become the global capital of the rainbow LGBTQ+ movement. This guide helps you plan your queer-friendly trip: where to stay, what to do, and how to connect with the global LGBTQ+ community.
Accommodation for LGBTQ+ travelers in the Netherlands
Finding welcoming stays is essential for LGBTQ+ travelers. Booking.com’s Travel Proud program has certified hundreds of hotels and apartments across the Netherlands that go the extra mile to provide inclusive hospitality. From personal experience, we’ve noticed the difference: staff trained to respect queer travelers, visible Pride symbols, and a warm welcome that goes beyond tolerance. Whether you stay in a central Amsterdam boutique hotel or a canal-side apartment in Utrecht, you can rest assured that inclusivity is part of the experience. As partners, we recommend checking the Travel Proud badge when booking your trip.
Travel Proud with Couple of Men & Booking.com
We filter destinations, not people.
As queer travelers using Booking.com’s Travel Proud Porperties ourselves, we are proud to support their LGBTQ+ inclusive travel experiences around the world. More than half of LGBTQ+ travelers have experienced discrimination while traveling – and that needs to change. That’s why Booking.com created the Travel Proud program: to help accommodations understand the unique challenges queer travelers face, and to ensure warm, welcoming stays – wherever we go.
Transport & tips for your gay travel Netherlands
Traveling around the Netherlands is simple, efficient, and queer-friendly. As ambassadors for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, we can vouch for their inclusive service when flying into the country. Trains connect every major city in under an hour, making day trips easy. For couples who want flexibility, Hertz car rentals provide an excellent way to explore the countryside or coastal areas. Of course, biking remains the Dutch way of life, and experiencing the cities on two wheels is a must. From Schiphol Airport to small-town stations, infrastructure supports both locals and travelers seamlessly.
How to get around the Netherlands?
- Fly with KLM to Amsterdam Schiphol or Eindhoven
- Use NS trains for fast connections between cities
- Rent a car with Hertz for countryside and coastal trips
- Bike rentals are available in every city
- Regional buses connect smaller towns
- Ferries to Dutch islands like Texel
- Walking-friendly city centers, especially Utrecht and Groningen
Safety & practical advice for LGBTQ+ travelers
The Netherlands is consistently ranked among the safest destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers. We hold hands openly on the streets of Amsterdam, Utrecht, and beyond, with little concern for negative reactions. The legal framework supports queer lives, and local communities show visible support through Pride flags and inclusive events. Still, as in any destination, it’s wise to follow basic safety practices. Using apps like GeoSure provides up-to-date insights into neighborhood safety. Dutch hospitality, combined with cultural openness, creates an environment where queer travelers can relax and be themselves.
Safety tips for LGBTQ+ travelers
- Feel comfortable holding hands in most public places
- Attend official Pride events for safe celebrations
- Stay in Travel Proud certified hotels
- Avoid poorly lit areas late at night
- Public transport is secure and reliable
- Emergency number in the Netherlands is 112
- Learn a few Dutch phrases as an icebreaker
- Keep an eye on bikes and traffic when walking
Gay Travel Index 2025
The Berlin-based Spartacus informs LGBTQ+ and queer travelers about how gay-friendly a holiday destination is according to several ranking factors and criteria.
Which country ranks first? Where is it safe to travel to as a gay and LGBTQ+ traveler?
You can use the GTI to prepare for your gaycation and as a guide when choosing a holiday destination.
All blog articles about the Netherlands for your gay travels
Now it’s time to plan your gay travels to the Netherlands
Our gay Netherlands travel guide is not just about places but about the feeling of belonging. From the bustling canals of Amsterdam to the intimate Pride in Utrecht, from Rotterdam’s skyline to Groningen’s student energy, the Netherlands offers diversity and inclusivity at every step.
We invite you to share your stories, comment on our experiences, and plan your next trip with partners who support our community, like KLM and Booking.com Travel Proud. Travel safe, travel proud, and let the gay side of the Netherlands welcome you the way it has welcomed us.
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