Amsterdam is so socially integrated it can be difficult to distinguish a gay/lesbian scene from greater Amsterdam’s tradition of tolerance and acceptance and love of a good time. Your gay-dar may even go haywire with mistaken hits at first, but you will weed out to the real McCoy scene pretty quickly.

No matter how deliciously sinful you find it, the Dutch capital offers a rare chance to see life in full light. In fact, of its many charms, the city’s greatest appeal may be its disarming, refreshing realness.

The city’s mind and closet are wide open and urges and aspirations are acted out in public and somehow it all works out. Sometimes it’s totally crazed, exotically wild and about to come undone at the seams. Turn around and you will find harmony and grace.

The city’s reputation as a modern day, Sodom and Gomorrah precedes it. Many tourists arrive with the sex and drugs on their mind; they can easily find what they’re looking for.

But blink and Amsterdam surprises you. You open your eyes to view of a refined, uplifting humankind. Look at the works of the Dutch painters on Rijksmuseum, the engineering marvels of its dykes, canals and locks. The people who made these things are a wonderful educated, multilingual people who, young and old, will fill a canal to the brim and spill from doorways to view a classical music festival.

 
The mantle of Gay Capital of Europe indeed belongs to Amsterdam. Months before Gay Games began in 1988, straight business flew the rainbow colours (confusing queers all over town about where to drink and shop), and the Dutch government kicked in million of guilders to support them. The gay business community was inspired to begin a pride celebration that’s now a legendary Canal Parade each August.

Every type of gay traveller, from serious cultural mavens to Bangok-style sex tourists, can come here and go home satiated. There are handfuls and streets of gay bars, clubs and special parties; a pile of gay hotels; and an array of gay cafes and restaurants. You need not stop here.

In fact, if you do you will miss out on what makes Amsterdam such an idyllic destination for queer travellers. Business as usual includes everyone, gay and straight in a way you won’t find anywhere else.