It's just like that! Amsterdam - the Gay City, Our Pride!




There are many cities where gay community feels free and accepted, there is, however, Amsterdam which guaranteed their freedom to be, to live, to cherish and love. Do not trust appearances, it was no always like that, the tolerance, liberty, equality and liberal approach came gradually. This city affords a freedom and encourages gay community to go on with its legalization.

There are more than 35 gay bars, more than 15 gay-friendly hotels, discos … and much more. The most places are located by Rembrandtplein, around Amstel River, Warmoestraat, Reguliersdwarsstraat. Most shops are gay-friendly. They gay community was no the largely exposed, before. The 1960s/1970s were particularly difficult and tough. Gay community didn’t enjoy freedom as it does today. Their sexual identity was forbidden, it was also forbidden to place wreath for homosexual victims at the war memorial on the Dam during the Remembrance Day.  

During the war they were very much prejudiced, the Nazi forced them to sew and put pink stars on one of their uniform’s sleeves. Sadly, gay shared the fate of many Jews – they were sent to die in concentration camps – the most frequent one was the one built by Nazis in Oswiecim –Birekenau, Brzezinka.

In 1988 the law was proposed and ratified; it acclaimed that gays were omitted honor as soldiers which was against the law. It all has to be restored. The Homomonument made of pink granite and built into one of the sides of Westerkerk became a memorial for the soldiers and AIDS victims, gay people who were discriminated against.

The most well-known and colorful festival is a Gay Pride which takes place on the first week of August.



Any gay visitor is more them advised to visit COC – gay and lesbian organization; it provides the meeting places for kindred-spirits. This non-profit organisation was set up in 1946. Despite of many odds, it prevailed.  

As can be seen, Amsterdam is a place for everyone, the variety of attractions will fulfill even the most demanding ones.

Komentarze

Prześlij komentarz

Popularne posty z tego bloga

Delft

Obraz
The city of Delft came into being beside a canal, the 'Delf', which comes from the word delven, meaning delving or digging, and led to the name Delft. It presumably started around the 11th century as a landlord court . From a rural village in the early Middle Ages, Delft developed into a city, that in the 13th century (1246) received its charter. The town's association with the House of Orange started when William of Orange (Willem van Oranje), nicknamed William the Silent (Willem de Zwijger), took up residence in 1572. At the time he was the leader of growing national Dutch resistance against Spanish occupation, known as the Eighty Years' War. By then Delft was one of the leading cities of Holland and it was equipped with the necessary city walls to serve as a headquarters. An attack by Spanish forces in October of that year was repelled. After the [1] Act of Abjuration was proclaimed in 1581, Delft became the de facto capital of the newly independe...
Czytaj więcej

From a Village to a City

Obraz
Once upon a time it was nothing but a fishing village, the XII century just started making this little place – a significant place. Gradually it became a trading wool center, its inexorable bloom continued till VXII century and the Golden Age which was sensational not only for Amsterdam , but, Europe itself. Everything started from the Amstel River and the herring which became the first and the most important trade mark for the small village – Amsterdam . Living in the XII century was not an easy thing, people struggled for survival and existence. Nothing came easily, even fishing of herring. Local tribes made their settings all along the North Sea coast. Yet, the huts were poorly made, sometimes it didn’t withstand the harsh and sudden tides from the Zuiderzee. Despite the problems and hostile conditions, the Amstel community grew in power, influence and ingenuity helped them to make the whereabouts stronger. Huts became timber-framed. Still nowadays – three last dyk...
Czytaj więcej

The Empire

Obraz
The XVII century is marked everywhere as the Age of prosperity and prominence, alike was in the Netherlands , Amsterdam was thriving, it became a glorious and a very rich city. Every aspect mattered. Its bigger rival – London didn’t outshine it. The impact of the oversea journeys was tremendous, Spain made almost total hegemony over the seas, the competition was fierce and bitter. Amsterdam got access to unknown and undiscovered territories, in 1595 the Dutch ships touched the coast of United East India Company. In 1602 the government established a monopoly law for all the goods of the Cape of Good Hope . In 1609 the bank of Amsterdam has been established. Shortly after it became a financial center of Europe . The Dutch empire grew in power, the lands were vast and included Sri Lanka , Tasmania , Bali, Timor, Java, Sumatra, Borneo , New Guinea and South Africa . As the trade expanded so did the colonies: Tobago, Cayenne , Bonaire, Curacao, St Martin, the D...
Czytaj więcej