Amsterdam's gay sauna scene has contracted in recent years — Thermos, which operated for over three decades, closed. Today the city's sauna culture centres on one well-run facility plus a handful of smaller venues and massage options, all within reach of the gay bar strip on Reguliersdwarsstraat.
Sauna Nieuwezijds
The main event — a modern, well-maintained facility a few minutes' walk from Centraal Station. Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, steam room, eight-person jacuzzi, dark room, private cabins (ten large, four small), glass smoking room, sling room, TV lounge. The bar has drink tokens included in entry, and free condoms and lube are available throughout. Rated highly by visitors for cleanliness and friendliness.
Themed nights worth knowing about:
- Mellow Mondays — healthy snacks, sauna ceremonies, chocolate sessions; €10 for under-27
- No Towel Tuesday — self-explanatory
- Gender Fluids Night — explicitly welcoming of all gender identities
- Pride Amsterdam — late July to early August; the famous Canal Parade has 80+ decorated boats moving through the city's historic canals. One of Europe's best Pride events.
- Milkshake Festival — August at Westerpark; LGBTQ+ music and arts festival with 1,000+ performers
- Leather Pride Amsterdam — October; fetish and leather community events
The Gay Bar Scene
The main gay bar street is Reguliersdwarsstraat — PRIK, Club NYX, Exit Café, Taboo Bar are all within a short walk of each other. The Zeedijk area (near Centraal Station) has a more mixed bar scene with the Amstel Taveerne for traditional Dutch pub culture. Most bars run late on weekends.