gay life

legal situation

The general age of consent for heterosexuals as well as for gays is 16.
The Dutch Constitution prohibits any kind of discrimination. Since 1992 the Penal Code includes the protection on the grounds of homosexuality and the General Equal Treatment Act from 1994 prohibits discrimination against lesbians and gays in the fields of labour, housing, medical care, access to goods and services. The same immigration rights are granted to all foreign partners of any individual living legally in The Netherlands.
Since January 1, 1998 non-married gay and straight couples can enter a registered relationship with the same rights as married couples though registered partners are not yet allowed to adopt children. The next big step forward has been the announcement of the government on November 14, 1998 that it plans to give gays and lesbians couples who have lived together for at least three years and taken care of a child for at least one year full adoption rights. Adoptions will be restricted to Dutch children.
On December 11, 1998 the Dutch Cabinet approved a Bill allowing same-sex couples to marry as well. This Bill won approval in Parliament and has come into effect on 1 April 2001. From this date on gay couples can get married legally.
The Dutch government does not only constantly improve the situation of its own gay citizens but gives financial support to human rights projects in the whole world. Dutch diplomats, ambassadors, politicians, army officers, teachers, mayors, etc. can be open about their homosexuality and take their partners with them to parties, receptions, etc.
Most Dutch citizens are in favour of equal rights for gays and lesbians in any aspect of social life. However, there are some (Orthodox-Christian and -Muslim) organizations who oppose this, but they are a minority. The Dutch gay and lesbian organization COC has played an important role in achieving all this.

brief summary of COC's history

N.V.I.H. COC stands for: The Dutch Association for the Integration of Homosexuality COC. The abbreviation COC dates from 1946, when the Cultural Leisure Centre was founded and has been retained because of its familiar sound.
In the first years of its existence the Society was somewhat concealed; many members joined under an alias, to avoid recognition. Cultural evenings were held in rooms under the supervision of the vice squad. Police regulations were very carefully adhered to however, to prevent the society from getting banned. In the fifties the Society set up its own meeting centre in the middle of Amsterdam.
This was the first place where gays and lesbians could dance together. More places very soon came into being which sparked off a growing homosexual subculture.
In the sixties the need for a change in the gay and lesbian movement became apparent. The rise of the protest movement also triggered off a more active outgoing policy within COC. The number of publications and the concern for emancipation grew over the years, as did the interest in homosexuality.
The Society changed its name to 'The Dutch Association of Homophiles COC' and the promotion of gays' interests gained an important place. At the same time it decided to mount a dialogue with society. This took the form of a journal which bore the name 'Dialoog'.
One of the merits of the change of direction was that radio, television and newspapers began to feature informative programmes and articles on homosexuality. In university towns however, working-groups of homosexual students sprang up, who were critical of the policy pursued by COC. Demonstrations in the streets and at dances, keen criticism, and social change all engendered a fierce discussion within COC on the course to be followed. In 1971 this resulted in a fresh change of policy, aimed at criticism of society. The promotion of gays' interest was placed in a social perspective.

the Dutch Association for the Integration of Homosexuality COC

Viewed socially, homosexuality came out of obscurity and COC out of its isolation. Again a change of name took place to: 'The Dutch Association for the Integration of Homosexuality COC'. From that time (1971) on COC was particularly active and successful in the fields of social reform and confrontation. Some examples are:

the repeal of article 248-bis of the Penal Code on 27th January 1971.
This article had prohibited homosexual contacts between adults and minors, whereas heterosexual contacts between adults and minors had been condoned from the age of sixteen;
the repeal of homosexuality as a ground for rejection from military service on 22 October 1973;
the granting of incorporated status to COC on 19 September 1973;
the broadening of the eligibility for a residence permit on the grounds of homosexuality now also became a possibility. (1973);
a subsidy was provided for a social enquiry into the causes of discrimination against homosexuals.

COC today

COC is a volunteers organization with branches all over the country. It is concerned with society as a whole and its members (approx. 9,000). COC wishes to change society in such a way that the actual integration of homosexuality becomes possible. That means changing structures and changing oneself. The activities which COC undertakes are as follows:

providing information about homosexuality to schools, adult education centres, community centres, the police, students, military staff, welfare workers, social workers, women's organizations, doctors and priests;
the formation of discussion groups for members in the local branches where subjects on homosexuality, can be discussed;
the introduction of new members by organizing residential weekends where they can easily get to know the organization and its facilities;
approaching counselling and social welfare organizations in order to inform them about homosexuality as fully as possible;
reacting to articles and/or programmes in newspapers and the other media, publishing press releases, maintaining contacts with journalists, developing a strategy to influence public opinion.

Moreover there are working-groups which try to eradicate forms of discrimination with respect to housing, education, the business-world. This often calls for social campaigns, implying a political stance. Apart from this, weekends are organized to inform welfare workers about homosexuality, to instruct information officers and educational workers on how to have discussions on homosexuality.

gay and lesbian rights

The COC has over the years had quite a few successes in the political and legal areas:

Foreigners living with a Dutch partner can get a residence permit in the Netherlands.
The Dutch parliament has expressed the opinion that those who are persecuted on the grounds of their homosexuality should be granted political asylum (1981).
The law on morality has been changed to such an extend that sexual contact with a person between 12 and 16 is only punishable should the minor wish to press charges (1991).
It has become law that discrimination against homosexuals is a crime and therefore punishable (1992).
On municipal level there is a lot of activity. At least 60 municipalities and some provinces now have a gay and lesbian policy, some even have one or more officials appointed to conduct such a policy.
And finally in January 1995 the General Law on Equal Treatment became effective after a twenty-five year debate focused on basic civil rights: freedom of religion and personal freedom of being oneself and acting accordingly.

lesbian parenthood

Lesbian parenthood is a "booming item" at the moment. At 22 of 33 of the institutions for artificial insemination Dutch women can be inseminated artificially at the moment. Sometimes there is the condition that they have a stable relationship. Also gay men are beginning to show an interest in raising children. The COC is working towards improving the possibilities for homosexual parenthood, by for example staging political campaigns for the implementation of social parenthood for non-biological parent(s). Apart from political campaigning the COC also sees to lectures and the creation of publications on the subject. The COC has published two brochures, besides: one about lesbian motherhood and one about considerations around sperm donor ship.

working and living with HIV

From the beginning of the disease, as it became clear that gay men in Holland were infected, COC has been involved in the Dutch AIDS policy. Volunteers started with the distribution of AIDS education materials, not only in Amsterdam, where AIDS struck first and most severely, but all over the country. Staff members were involved in prevention, creating new channels for AIDS prevention and education. The gay and lesbian movement scored a great success concerning the interests of gays and lesbians in AIDS policy especially regarding insurance rights, and human rights. Volunteers and professionals in many cities regard the struggle against AIDS and learning to live with HIV as a main task.

general information

When it comes to equal rights for gays and lesbians Holland is probably the most liberal country in the world. And not without reason: Amsterdam is called the gay capital of Europe. Apart from San Francisco you will probably not find another city in the world that is more pro-gay than Amsterdam. It is a beautiful city with an exciting nightlife, many good gay guest houses, a thriving nightlife and a very tolerant atmosphere. Naturally it hosted the first Gay Games on the European continent in 1998. Most gay visitors travel to Amsterdam and maybe to nearby Zandvoort that is well known for its gay beach. On sunny summer weekends the beach is packed with gay sun worshipers from as far as Cologne in Germany.
Amsterdam is well known for its liberal attitude towards prostitution and the consumption of soft drugs too. You will find so-called coffee shops where you can buy and consume these drugs almost everywhere, which has already caused the Dutch some serious problems with our more conservative neighbours, especially the French. If you spend some more time in the Netherlands I recommend you travel around the country a little bit. Distances are close and travelling by bus, car or train is very easy. Worth visiting are the city of Delft with it many historic buildings, the capital city Den Haag and the 2nd largest city Rotterdam, which was heavily destroyed during World War II and does not have many old buildings but attracts gay visitors because of its good nightlife. One of the biggest events in The Netherlands takes place on April 30 of each year when the whole country celebrates Koninginnedag, which is the queen's birthday. The streets of the gay village in Amsterdam are full with thousands of gays who party all night long.
Amsterdam is probably the gayest city in Europe, with something to offer everyone. Gay Games Amsterdam 1998 left us with a new sense of pride and a stronger community that we're eager to share with visitors from around the world. Amsterdam offers almost 100 gay bars, discos, shops and cafes, some of the world's best and weirdest museums, classic architecture, and 350 coffee shops, all within walking distance from Central Station. Combine that with the unique spirit of tolerance and freedom of the Netherlands, and that's why Mayor Schelto Patijn proudly calls Amsterdam "the gay way to Europe". While Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, you don't have to bother trying to learn the difficult language, Holland is one of the only countries in continental Europe where most natives speak English fluently. Homosexuality is legal in the Netherlands. The age of consent for gay sex is 16, but for prostitutes it's 18.
The best time to visit Amsterdam is definitely the summer because it is lots of fun to walk through the historical streets, have a drink on one of the hundreds of outdoor cafés, sit on deck of a boat that glides through the canals or simply spend a day at the beach.

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Try these links for more information about gay life in Amsterdam. It also links you through to general information about drugs, transportation, tourist information, accommodation, etc.

http://www.simplyamsterdam.nl/
http://guide2.gayamsterdam.com/guide/
http://www.gayguide.nl/