Netherlands

[dab69]

Interested in hearing of The Netherlands
Amsterdam, The Hague

discos, bars, (nude) beaches, (nude) boys

[joe552]

it's a long time since i've been to amsterdam, but i remember a club called 'blue boy' which had striptease shows, good looking guys available for rent. i loved it (it was my 40th birthday)

Sorry to throw cold water on the subject but Amsterdam was deadly dull when I last visited a couple of years ago.

The Festival Bar closed some years ago, presumably on the demise of the battle hardened tranny behind the bar. As did the Cupido in the same street, as did Music Box in its old guise. These were the 3 rent bars - all in the same street and chock full of Dutch and North African boys. Even cuter ones, ocassionally sporting a black eye as a result of a recent fight, could be found directly outside as they had incurred the wrath of one or other of the bar owners and were barred.

All that's left in that street (Paardenstraat) is Music Box but its not the same - mostly drug addicted East Europeans who are so spaced out you'd be better buying a blow up doll for sex. I do hear there is a new bar called Night Life in the same street but I guess the trade will be similar.

The Blue Boy and Why Not knocking shops both appeared to be closed.

Hotel costs were through the roof and I stayed on the outskirts at the Golden Tulip Art Hotel to get a decent rate.

I vowed then that I would never go back and haven't done so.

However, I hope that if YOU go, the scene will have improved and I look forward to hearing about it.

:cheers:


PS I may add that the scene in Prague has gone down the same route - another place that's off my list

[dab69]

used to be more interesting hereabouts also. maybe with all the coming out
people are doing their "hunting" in more str8/mixed establishments nowadays.
figured I could be hitting more "mixed" discos and beaches in search of local scenery
with an occasional gay (rent?) bar as a backup.

interested also in The Hague (probably less interesting than Amsterdam) and thereabouts.
Would be nice to cruise some european nude beaches for a change.
There is always some nice scenery here and there.

[dab69]

http://www.experienceamsterdam.com/amsterdam_red.html

I spent two weeks in Amsterdam, one in 06 and again in early 07. I had a great time but it all depends on what you're looking for.

I stayed at gay hotels both times, Amistad the first year and Golden Bear the second time. Reasonably priced places and although I preferred Amistad, I don't really have any complaints about either. If you're going to be there more than a week then it makes sense to look for an apartment to sublet--many people have apartments in Amsterdam but are rarely in them...you could sublet one for a month for what more than a week's hotel would set you back.

The thing I love the most about Amsterdam is how outgoing everyone is. I'm a shy guy around strangers but it's easy for me to strike up conversations and meet people there--it's a totally different vibe from San Francisco, which is where I went last year.

The bars are fun because with the exception of Saturday night, everyone goes from one bar to the next...the early bar, the 11 pm bar, and then there's even a 2-4 am place that the locals will walk to. It was a blast and I got into the groove after a couple days.

I really didn't meet any native Dutch guys while I was there. The largest contingent at the clubs are other tourists or people that have relocated to Amsterdam. I have always had an eye for Asian men (surprise!) and I had a flock of handsome Indonesian guys that I hung out with and strangely enough, they didn't seem to mind passing me on to the next guy every couple of days. lol.

On top of that it's Europe! For an American it is such a different vibe...sitting outside in beer gardens, house beers (Grolsch, etc) that are very tasty, and a variety of things go see during the day. I loved just walking up and down the streets, watching the street cars, and trying the restaurants. I didn't have a single bad meal the whole time I was there--the food made everything that I was use to seem like a terrible joke. I still haven't had Italian food that good since (remind me to go to Italy some today).

The biggest issue for me was cost...Europe isn't kind when it comes to the US dollar. $30/person at the average restaurant, expensive clothing (and nothing large enough for a typical American), etc.

Now that I've done the stream-of-consciousness thing, feel free to ask any specific questions. :thumbright:

The disco in Amsterdam is named Exit. It is only open on Fri/Sat nights and it's stellar. I think half of the club is on E (I was surprised by how popular and readily available Ecstasy is in Amsterdam). The club has a large dance floor, the second floor overlooks the dance floor, and the third floor is a dark room.

Ah, yes. What a blast.

As an alternative, you could try Prague or Berlin if you want a European city destination.

Hi Guys, today I posted an update on my last BKK trip when I saw the NETHERLANDS topic also. Because I live and was born in
Amsterdam I can tell you some things about our infamous city.

Amsterdam has a total different scene as for example Bangkok (obviously) and let's pin some hot spots for you. If you are looking
for paid sex than there is only 1 club called Boys Club 21 located in the Spuistraat 21 ( www.boysclub21.nl (http://www.boysclub21.nl)). Go up the stairs and
you will enter a living room kind a set up with a big bar, Just sit at the bar, order a drink (be careful drinks are not cheap) and
you will be approached by the boys working there. They do not have an offeable system (so you can't take them from the bar) but
you need to do the action inside that place. They have some rooms where you can go upstairs. Not sure but I think the rates are
тВм150,= per hour incl. boy + room.

Music box - Paardenstraat. This is a pick-up and GoGo bar but be utmost careful because there are only eastern european guys
from Romania with bad rep. Some look really cute and hot but you can't trust them. Sorry to say this but most are thugs, thieves
and will try to rip you off. Not a recommandable place to go. So the boys club 21 is the only place in Amsterdam to be safe and
sure for paid sex....can you believe it?? 1 place in Amsterdam and that's it....YES unfortunately so true.

GAY PLACES / HANG OUTS.
Go to the gaystreet of Amsterdam called REGULIERSDWARSSTRAAT. This is like a street with all gay venues. Bars, disco,
restaurants and some shops. Here all the local gays meet and a nice place to start with is THE ARC. The Arc is a lounge
bar with a nice upscale crowd and decorations. SOHO bar is a good 2nd alternative for start your evening. Than later on
hop on the APRIL BAR. Very nice but can be so crowded. Gorcious locals, young and you might find some local hustlers too
that are willing to offer service. This place also famous for it's THAI incrowd. After APRIL you could visit EXIT club which
is a multi-story nightclub with darkroom and dance areas.

Sauna.
For sauna there is actually only one in Amsterdam (again 1 can you believe that?) and the name is : THERMOS SAUNA.
(Raamstraat 33). Don't expect to find payboys in there...they are surely not welcome there...so only cruising and see
what the night brings in for you.

In my perspective Amsterdam lost his image for being gay city number 1 a long time allready. If you are looking for
real fun and action better choose an other city such as Praque or Berlin. If you want to have safe fun and like to
choose for the paid sex options than go online on the gayromeo website ( www.gayromeo.com (http://www.gayromeo.com)) pick a nice guy
out of the escort section and pay around тВм100,= / max. тВм150,= for 1 hour fun in your hotel or in the escort's
appartment. Never heard bad experiences using this option...just agree upon what you want to do in advance
and settle the rate in advance. Another website for escort bookings is : www.boys4u.nl (http://www.boys4u.nl).

Hope this will help a little.....if any questions just ask ok?

Sabai Sabai.......Tommy.

[Beachlover]

Thanks Tommy...

I've always wanted to go to the Netherlands... all the boys I've met from there are so hot!

I remember being in a backpacker hostel room... in walked two cute, hunky boys right off the mountain... I asked where they were from... one said, "The flatlands"..."huh?"... "the Netherlands", he grinned.

They then proceeded to strip off completely before wrapping towels and proceeding to the showers. OMG... so uninhibited about nudity as well. One was short, with short blond hair and very cute. The other one was talk, dark, hunky. Both quite respectably hung.

There must be something in the water that makes them grow like that.

[Surfcrest]

Sauna.
For sauna there is actually only one in Amsterdam (again 1 can you believe that?) and the name is : THERMOS SAUNA.
(Raamstraat 33). Don't expect to find payboys in there...they are surely not welcome there...so only cruising and see
what the night brings in for you.


I was there recently, there are two saunas Thermos Day at Raamstraat 33 and Thermos Night at Kerkstraat 58/60.
The night sauna is the best, a half block left down from the Golden Bear and Thermos Day is a few blocks straight ahead.
Both are rather good....especially the steam room at Thermos Day. If you are a big man, you may not fit up the stairs at the Golden Bear...nor will you get much action at either sauna. The streets are rough at night, taxi's pretty much useless.
The prices in Amsterdam are steep...I couldn't imagine what a hooker would set you back. Paris is a much better alternative, unless you like to smoke weed....in which case Vancouver is your best choice.

I was there recently, there are two saunas Thermos Day at Raamstraat 33 and Thermos Night at Kerkstraat 58/60.



Oh, really? How "recently" was recently?

Thermos Night closed down over a year ago. Now there is only one Thermos -- the original Thermos Day -- which is open all day and night.

You're really full of great suggestions, Surfcrest. LOL.

[Surfcrest]

Thermos Night closed down over a year ago. Now there is only one Thermos -- the original Thermos Day -- which is open all day and night.


Was there earlier this year for a quick visit but didn't make it to Thermos night...thanks for the correction wabbit...and the laughs of course.

Thanks for the good tips! IтАЩll check those out the next time IтАЩm in Amsterdam. I went there for nearly each year now and I always stayed in a rented studio (http://www.bookamsterdamapartments.com/amsterdam-studio-apartments.html) for a couple of weeks. Living like the locals :headbang: But I also heard that Prague is supposedly very cool. Maybe IтАЩll go there instead next year. :idea:

[Dboy]

But I also heard that Prague is supposedly very cool. Maybe IтАЩll go there instead next year

Prague IS very cool but the few gay bars there are places you probably don't want to go. Lot's of very rough rent boys around, homeless rent boys in the train station, very sad scene as far as that goes. But you can't beat Prague for the sheer beauty of the place, the naked boy statues all over (especially across the river around the castle area), the literary vibe is great, the beer is top notch.

Dboy

[pong]

furhter decline in venues in AMS:
1.on Reguliersdwarsstraat (aka as ''rue de vaseline''): many bars have closed-the former big owner/landlord/tycon has died and left an enormous debt. Thus its attraction to attract many people has also faded. No really gay disco left.
2.in Warmoesstraat, where the more rough trade was, also 3 of 4 bars have closed: Cockpit a few month agotoo many drug finds by police, incl. a big stash of hard drugs as coke. The others,Argos and ?? very recently, may have to do with nr [1].
3.yes, the former 2 day+night sauna's have merged into 1-location of former daytime, quite near to Leidseplein. I doubt if there is any other sauna left, but check www -sites. Most contacts are nowadays made via gayromeo and the like, incl. rental boys.
Even the tourist board is now regretting the situation and has put its campaign aimed at the gay/pink market on hold. Plus the other famed Duch attraction-being able to smoke mary-jane in ''coffee-shops'', is also on the doldrums, with a system of citizen-passes proposed to ban many of the drug-tourists. (this is a proposal-not yet in force).

[pong]

decline goes further;
DownTown, the last remaining real daytime coffeeshop and about the oldest to function as such for gays, also now clsoed, since 1/1/11.
the former nigh-time sauna in kerkstraat has burned down a few days ago, an artist was working there on an exhibition. Apparently most of the building was still in the old state.