Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [160]
For more information on the above events or other special parties held throughout the year, see www.nighttours.nl.
Amsterdam Pride
Gay and lesbian Amsterdam |
Shops and services
Gay and lesbian Amsterdam | Shops and services |
Bookshops
American Book Center Spui 12 (Old Centre) 020/625 5537, www.abc.nl. Large general bookstore, with a fine gay and lesbian section. Mon 11am–7pm, Tues–Sat 10am–8pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sun 11am–6.30pm.
Intermale Spuistraat 251 (Old Centre) 020/625 0009, www.intermale.nl. Well-stocked gay bookshop, with a wide selection of English, French, Spanish, German and Dutch literature, as well as cards, newspapers, magazines and DVDs. They have a worldwide mail order service. Mon 11am–6pm, Tues–Sat 10am–6pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sun noon–5pm.
Vrolijk Paleisstraat 135 (Old Centre) 020/623 5142, www.vrolijk.nu. “The largest gay and lesbian bookstore on the continent”, with a vast stock of new and secondhand books and magazines, as well as music and DVDs. Mon 11am–6pm, Tues–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm.
Xantippe Unlimited Prinsengracht 290 (Grachtengordel west) 020/623 5854, www.xantippe.nl. Small, general bookstore with an impressive range of books and resources by, for and about women, including a large lesbian section. Mon 1–7pm, Tues–Fri 10am–7pm, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun noon–5pm.
Gay and lesbian Amsterdam | Shops and services |
Sex shops and cinemas
Adonis Warmoesstraat 92 (Old Centre) 020/627 2959, www.adonis-4men.info. This long-standing gay cinema (entry €8) also stocks toys, books and videos. Mon–Thurs & Sun 10am–1am, Fri & Sat 10am–3am.
Black Body Lijnbaansgracht 292 (Grachtengordel south) 020/626 2553, www.blackbody.nl. Huge selection of rubber and leather, plus toys and much more. Online ordering service available. Mon–Fri 10am–6.30pm, Sat 11am–6pm.
Bronx Kerkstraat 53–55 (Grachtengordel south) 020/623 1548, www.bronx.nl. Strictly porn books, magazines and videos for men. Daily noon–9pm.
Christine le Duc Spui 6 (Old Centre) 020/624 8265, www.christineleduc.com. One of the least sleazy sex shops in Amsterdam, selling quality underwear and sex toys, with a good selection of DVDs for men and women. Mon–Sat 10am–9pm (Thurs till 10pm), Sun noon–6.30pm.
Demask Zeedijk 64 (Old Centre) 020/620 5603, www.demask.com. Expensive rubber and leather fetish store for men and women. Mon–Sat 11am–7pm.
Drake’s Damrak 61 (Old Centre) 020/627 9544, www.drakes.nl. Gay porn cinema above a souvenir and sex shop. Entry €10, under-25s half price, free to under-20s. Daily 9am–midnight.
Female and Partners Spuistraat 100 (Old Centre) 020/620 9152, www.femaleandpartners.nl. Staffed by women and with an emphasis on products for women, this shop has a good selection of lingerie, plus an array of sex toys, with one of the best selections of vibrators in the city. Mon & Sun 1–6pm, Tues–Sat 11am–6pm (Thurs till 9pm).
Mantalk Reguliersdwarsstraat 39 (Grachtengordel south) 020/627 2525. Small shop with an enormous choice of quality underwear and T-shirts which, owing to its location, is very popular with gay men. Mon 1–6pm, Tues–Sat 10am–6pm (Thurs till 9pm).
Mister B Warmoesstraat 89 (Old Centre) 020/422 0003, www.misterb.com. Multi-level store selling rubber and leather clothing and sex toys. Piercing and tattoos by appointment. Mon–Fri 10.30am–7pm (Thurs till 9pm), Sat 11am–6pm, Sun 1–6pm.
RoB Amsterdam Warmoesstraat 71 (Old Centre) 020/627 3000, www.rob.nl. Top-quality made-to-measure leather wear, with a worldwide mail order service. Mon–Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 1–6pm.
Robin and Rik Runstraat 30 (Grachtengordel west) 020/627 8924. Handmade, quality leather clothes and accessories. Mon 2–6pm, Tues–Sat 11am–6pm.
Stout Berenstraat 9 (Grachtengordel west) 020/620 1676, www.stoutinternational.com. A wide range of designer underwear and erotica for women in a smart environment and with helpful (female) staff. Mon–Fri noon–7pm, Sat 11am–6pm, Sun 1–5pm.
Gay and lesbian Amsterdam