LGBTQ+ History Tour

LGBTQ+ History Tour

We inspire Amsterdam’s LGBTQIA+ travelers and locals alike with the stories of people throughout history who stood in their identity. This tour of queer Amsterdam is the antidote to gay and lesbian Amsterdam tours that make it sound as though LGBTQIA+ history is limited to the L and the G – or that it began in the 20th century!

Our tour was inspired by the question: why did the world’s first legal gay marriage happen in Amsterdam? To answer it, we explore the stories of individual people from the Middle Ages through today. Their experiences challenge preconceptions and broaden our understanding of gay history.

This small-group tour through the Canal Belt (a UNESCO World Heritage site) explores everything from the way lavender wreaths brought about the Homomonument’s pink triangle to the way a 17th-century medical misunderstanding may have given cover to cis lesbian and bisexual women. We even point out some fun queer-friendly places and things to do as we go. See Amsterdam’s most beautiful neighborhood while hearing about some of its LGBTQ+ badasses.

The roughly two-hour walk starts at Café Lellebel and ends on the Torensluis.

Wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather.