The 4 best Amsterdam gay clubs: your guide to my city’s queer nightlife
- Sanne Pols
- Oct 1
- 7 min read
Amsterdam’s nightlife has something for everyone, and for our queer community, it’s nothing short of a playground. From cozy gay bars perfect for a drink and a chat, to cruisy spots, to full-on dance floors where the night never seems to end, we’re spoiled for choice. This article rounds up the best queer nightclubs in Amsterdam so you can party until you’re fully satiated (and maybe a little glitter-dusted 🤩).
Featured here:
Club NYX
Named after the Greek goddess of the night, Club NYX is a queer legend spread across three floors, each with its own identity. The main floor is all about pop anthems and sweaty singalongs, while upstairs can be anything from techno to hip hop depending on the night. There’s even a DJ booth in the bathroom (yes, really), which has become one of Amsterdam nightlife’s quirkiest legends.
NYX is where you go for variety: drag nights, student parties, fetish-inspired events, or just a packed Saturday where every floor feels like its own party. The club is famously open-minded, drawing a young, mixed crowd that’s all about expression and zero judgment.
Neighborhood: Reguliersdwarsstraat (steps from SoHo and Taboo).
Vibe & Crowd: Anything goes! Students, club kids, drag queens, and international visitors all under one roof.
Opening Times & Parties: Typically open until 5 a.m. on weekends; themed parties and rotating lineups keep it fresh. The Thursdays are more straight, and the legendary Wodka Woensdag parties are hosted on Wednesdays, where the vodka shots are on sale and the entrance is free.
Trans-Friendliness: Very welcoming. NYX has a strong rep for inclusivity and gender freedom.
Club ChUrch
ChUrch isn’t just a club; it’s an institution. Opened in 2008, it was designed as a space where sexuality, performance, and community could live under the same roof. Its name nods to the reverence queer people often give their nightlife temples. But in this church, the altar is a dance floor. Aside from it, the place used to be a hidden Catholic Church (the street is also named ‘Church Street’ — Kerkstraat).
Back in the 17th century, Amsterdam’s Catholics weren’t allowed to worship openly, so they built hidden churches tucked away in attics and canal houses. From the street, they looked like ordinary homes, but inside they held ornate chapels where people gathered in secret. This mix of restriction and tolerance shaped the city’s identity, and it’s no coincidence that today’s Club Church carries that legacy in its name: a place once meant for hidden worship is now proudly open as a space for freedom, expression, and nightlife.
One of its spiritual leaders is Jennifer Hopelezz, the drag mother of the House of Hopelezz. Her vision helped shape ChUrch into a place that’s more than a bar: it’s a cultural engine. The club has hosted legendary drag competitions, fetish nights, charity fundraisers, and projects supporting LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Club ChUrch is about unapologetic liberation — queer joy without compromise, but also a place where debauche and lust are celebrated… and encouraged!
Walking inside feels like a baptism: the music is pounding, the lights are red and blue, and the crowd is a glorious mix: leather bears, drag artists, club kids in sequins, and visitors wide-eyed with delight.
For the respect of everyone’s privacy, and because it’s (also) a sex club, taking pictures or videos is firmly prohibited. Aside from Thursday nights, no jeans allowed and the guests need to follow the night’s dress code.
Neighborhood: Kerkstraat, just off Leidseplein.
Vibe & Crowd: Wild, experimental, and sweaty. Equal parts dance club, performance space, and queer playground.
Opening Times & Parties: Each night has a theme: Naked Bar Tuesdays, Pervert Fridays, Blue Thursdays. Drag shows, fetish parties, and late nights until 5 a.m.
Trans-Friendliness: Actively inclusive. ChUrch celebrates gender diversity on stage and off.
Why Go: Because it’s unlike anywhere else. Part drag cabaret, part sex-positive playground, ChUrch is queer nightlife at its rawest.
Club Raum
Raum is the newest addition to Amsterdam’s queer nightlife, and it arrived with a bang. After years of fighting for permits and renovations, it finally opened its doors in April 2024. The club is the brainchild of Diego Meijers and Sven Bijma, the duo behind the legendary queer techno party Spielraum, so expectations were sky-high. And Raum delivers: a fully dedicated queer techno temple that combines underground grit with a sense of community and care.
The space itself is striking: housed in a former bookbindery in Sloterdijk’s industrial zone, it has two main rooms (one large hall upstairs, plus a more intimate room downstairs), alongside chillout areas where you can catch your breath. The vibe is dark, industrial, and immersive. The kind of space where the night blurs into morning before you even notice.
The philosophy of Raum is in its name: “space.” It’s about creating room for queer expression, movement, and connection. The programming goes beyond parties, with occasional talks, community projects, and artistic collaborations woven into its schedule. But make no mistake: the dancefloor is the beating heart, powered by razor-sharp techno lineups that mix international guests with local favorites.
As with its parent party Spielraum, the rules are clear: consent, respect, no photos, no judgment. On entry, your phone camera is covered with a sticker, ensuring the club remains a place of true freedom. There’s no strict fetish dress code, but business attire, uniforms, or anything that feels out of sync with the club’s ethos will get you turned away. Raum is all about creative self-expression, not conformity.
Neighborhood: Sloterdijk / Westpoort, in a converted warehouse near Humberweg. Industrial, spacious, and far enough from neighbors that the sound can go all night.
Vibe & Crowd: Queer techno sanctuary! Sweaty, expressive, and built for underground music lovers. Expect club kids, ravers, artists, and international visitors all drawn by the same energy: freedom through sound.
Opening Times & Parties: Fridays and Saturdays from around 23:00–05:00. Expect big techno names and immersive electronic nights, plus the occasional cultural or community-driven event.
Trans-Friendliness: Deeply inclusive. Raum is explicitly queer-led, with a zero-tolerance policy for harassment. A safe, affirming space for gender diversity.
Why Go: Because Amsterdam finally has the queer techno club it’s been waiting for. Club Raum isn’t just another venue; it’s a statement, a sanctuary, and a playground where queer freedom meets pounding beats until sunrise.
Tillatec
Saying that Tillatec is just a club would be a lie. Far more than a place to dance, it's an experiment in what nightlife can be.
Opened in 2023 in the former LTS technical school in De Baarsjes, this sprawling venue is the brainchild of Jochem Wertheimer (co-founder of De School) and Samuel King. With classrooms turned into dancefloors, courtyards reimagined as gardens, and a café-restaurant at its heart, Tillatec feels like part rave space, part cultural playground.
The venue’s size allows for variety: intimate side rooms for smaller parties, a main hall for big nights, plus outdoor spaces that come alive in summer. It’s raw and industrial, but full of possibility. The kind of place where you might stumble upon an art installation, a queer performance, or a sex-positive party depending on the night.
Tillatec brands itself as a queer-friendly, inclusive hub, and its crowd reflects that: a mix of artists, ravers, students, queers, and international visitors. It doesn’t always run at full throttle — some nights can feel quieter, some door policies inconsistent — but when the energy aligns, Tillatec becomes one of Amsterdam’s most exciting and experimental queer spaces.
Neighborhood: De Baarsjes, Amsterdam-West. In the old De School building, with courtyards and gardens tucked inside.
Vibe & Crowd: Queer-friendly, experimental, and eclectic. Expect a mix of club kids, artists, and adventurous locals.
Opening Times & Parties: Program changes every week. From house and techno nights to drag, kinky Sundays, queer raves, and art-driven events. Parties often start around 23:00 and run late. We can note the mythic queer party ‘Striptopia’ that installed its platines, pleasers, and poles at this venue. Occasional tattoo artists inking the party-goers’ skin!
Trans-Friendliness: Actively inclusive! Tillatec’s rules emphasize respect, gender freedom, and safe spaces for all identities.
Why Go: Because it’s one of Amsterdam’s boldest attempts at a next-generation queer club: spacious, creative, and unafraid to push boundaries.
Gay Nightclubs vs. Parties in Amsterdam
When it comes to queer nightlife, Amsterdam offers more than just clubs. The city’s party culture runs the gamut from intimate house parties to massive queer raves. Gay nightclubs like NYX, ChUrch, Raum, and Tillatec are permanent spaces built for dancing, community, and self-expression. They have consistent schedules, professional sound systems, themed nights, and a strong focus on creating safe, inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ visitors.
On the other hand, one-off parties or festival-style events can offer unpredictability, experimental lineups, and a sense of adventure that permanent clubs can’t always match.
These parties often happen in warehouse spaces, outdoors, or in pop-up venues. Some are organized by collectives, queer groups, or event promoters who want to push boundaries in music and performance. While the energy can be higher and the crowds more transient, the lack of permanent infrastructure means rules, safety, and accessibility can vary from event to event.
If you love structure, community, and a regular safe space, Amsterdam’s gay nightclubs are your go-to. If you’re chasing the thrill of a one-night-only underground experience, keep an eye on the city’s party listings. Many club regulars actually mix both: club nights during the week, and pop-up parties or larger festival-style events when they hit the calendar.
Wrapping up: Amsterdam’s gay clubs
From the multi-floor chaos of NYX, to the raw liberation of ChUrch, the underground pulse of Raum, and the sprawling creative energy of Tillatec, Amsterdam’s queer nightlife has a heartbeat all its own. Each club offers its own flavor of freedom, music, and community, but they all share the same spirit: a safe space where queerness is celebrated and expression knows no limits.
Of course, not every night has to end (or begin) on the dancefloor. If you’re looking for a slower start (or a softer alternative) make sure to also check out my guides to Amsterdam’s gay bars and chill gay bars, where the vibes are more relaxed but just as queer.
No matter your mood, may you need a sweaty techno marathon, a drag-filled spectacle, or a cozy night with cocktails, Amsterdam has a place for you.
So! The city’s queer nightlife is waiting, so pick your vibe, step inside, and let yourself be carried away. 🌈
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