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Last verified: November 2026. Amsterdam has one gay sauna left, and it isn't on any of the gay streets. Sauna Nieuwezijds, down an alley near the Dam, has been the city's only one since Thermos closed about a decade ago. Dutch gay saunas have dropped from 12 in 2020 to 8, according to DutchNews, so don't expect another to appear soon.
Legal in one line: sex between men has long been legal in the Netherlands and saunas operate openly, but public sex outside licensed premises remains an offence.
Sauna Nieuwezijds
The address is Nieuwezijds Armsteeg 95, 1012 NB. It opened on 6 December 2013. The local registry homohoreca.amsterdam lists it as a gay sauna, with hours of 12:00 to 02:00 on weekdays and 12:00 to 10:00 at weekends. Nighttours gives Monday to Thursday 12:00 to 02:00, Friday and Saturday 12:00 to 10:00, and Sunday 12:00 to 05:00, so plan on a Sunday close of 05:00 rather than the morning.
Guides describe a dry sauna, a steam room, a hot tub, private cabins, a small maze and a bar, plus lockers for valuables, with condoms and lube available. It has a no-drugs policy.
The theme nights change. Our events feed currently lists a Sunday tea dance, a No Towel Tuesday, and Queer Wednesdays with a gender-inclusive session. Check the sauna's own site for the week you're there.
What we couldn't confirm
We couldn't read current entry prices, or whether a towel is included, because the sauna's site doesn't load without a full browser. Older guides also mention a darkroom; current listings describe cabins and a maze instead.
Closed or changed
- Thermos (Raamstraat) closed around 2016. Travel Gay lists it as closed, and no reopening has been reported.
- Nieuw Damrak is missing from every current registry. We found no closure notice, so treat it as gone and don't make the trip.
- Friday and Saturday stay open into the morning, so it's the one option after the bars close.
- Keep valuables in the locker and report trouble to staff. Roze in Blauw, the police LGBTQ+ network, is on +31 88 169 1234.
If you want more than the sauna
Men-only cruise bars are the other indoor option, all legal and all a short walk away: the Eagle and Dirty Dick's on Warmoesstraat, The Cuckoo's Nest on Nieuwezijds Kolk, and Club Church on Kerkstraat for theme nights. The Amsterdam cruising guide covers these in detail.
Practical tips
At a glance
| Gay saunas in Amsterdam | One: Sauna Nieuwezijds |
|---|---|
| Address | Nieuwezijds Armsteeg 95 |
| Opens | Noon, daily |
| Late nights | Friday and Saturday, until 10:00 the next morning |
| Entry price | Not confirmed; check the sauna's site |
Frequently asked questions
How many gay saunas are there in Amsterdam?
One. Sauna Nieuwezijds is the only gay sauna we found in any current registry.
Is Thermos still open?
No. It closed around 2016, and it is still named in old guides.
Is there a darkroom?
Current listings describe cabins and a small maze. We couldn't confirm a separate darkroom.
What time does it close?
At 02:00 on weekdays. On Friday and Saturday it runs until 10:00 the next morning, and Sunday's close is listed at 05:00.