The Homomonument Turns 25 & 8 Other Reasons To Visit Amsterdam in 2012

In 2012 the Homomonument (gay monument) on the Westermarkt in Amsterdam – the very first gay monument in the world – turns 25 years old. This event will be celebrated with a birthday party on 5 May

The city with the first monument to LGBT people (above) and the first gay marriage, Amsterdam has attracted queer visitors for as long as there have been queers. Here are a few great reasons to visit this year. For more information visit the following websites:  www.amsterdam4gays.com, www.gayamsterdam.com and www.iamsterdam.com/visiting.

• Pink Istanbul in Paradiso, March 24
• Rapido Queensday, April 29
• Queensday, April 30
• Amsterdam Gay Pride, July 28 – August 5
• Rapido Pride edition ,Augustus 5
• Hartjesdagen street festival Zeedijk, Augustus 24-26
• Get Ruff Leatherpride, November 2 – 4
• Pink Christmas, December 14 – 27

Amsterdam Gay Pride Will Float Your Boat

Real parade floats

Literally!

Amsterdam Gay Pride is a weeklong celebration that makes the de facto gay capital of Amsterdam just a tad pinker. It’s the largest annual event in The Netherlands’ cultural capital, and is best known for the canal parade where the floats actually, well, float. This event takes place Saturday, August 6.

There are 80 floats scheduled to take part, including an official military float.

More events/information here: http://www.amsterdamgaypride.nl/agenda/

AMSTERDAM GAY PRIDE TO BE AIRED LIVE ONLINE

If you can’t catch it live, don’t worry! You’ll get to see famous and fabulous Canal Parade (where floats actually, well, float) of Amsterdam Pride live online on Saturday August 6.

The Canal Parade in Amsterdam is one of the highlights of the Amsterdam Gay Pride festival. This year the Dutch public broadcasting company AVRO will provide an exclusive opportunity to make international online viewing possible.

On Saturday the 6th of August, the entire event will be broadcast live on amsterdamcanalparade.avro.nl. This will allow people from across the world to enjoy and be part of the greatest cultural gay event of the year.

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Yuletide in Europe’s Cool Capitals

Vienna, above, lights up for Christmas and New Years

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com

From canal parades in Amsterdam to beautiful outdoor lightning installations in Vienna, Europe’s gay-friendly coolcaptial cities (Amsterdam, Antwerp, Valencia, Vienna, and Zurich) offer a tantalizing array of Christmas activities right through the new year.

Amsterdam

• Christmas Canal Parade (December 9, 2010-January 1, 2011)

A series of four major Christmas activities take place in and around Amsterdam canals and several important plazas throughout December. The highlight takes place on December 23, as a specatular, lit-up parade of boats sails from the Prinsengracht to the River Amstel. Information: WinterMagicAmsterdam.com.

Antwerp

• Skating on the Scheldt (December 11)

Belgium is a very Catholic country. Though no longer very religious, they really love Christmas. This year Antwerp’s ice-skating rink will be located in Steenplein, overlooking the river Scheldt. Alongside the rink, visitors will find a Christmas market and food and beverage stands. The city counts no fewer than 107 nativity scenes. Information: Antwerpen.be.

Valencia

• Innocents Day and New Year’s Mascleta (December)

This artsy, design-oriented Spanish city has become a popular destination for LGBT travelers in recent years. Christmas season is a fun time to visit. On December 28 Innocents Saints Day, Valencia’s version of April Fool’s Days sees all sorts of pranks and hijinks such as fake/inventive newspaper headlines. The biggest New Years Masletá (an eplosive fireworks display) takes place in the Paseo de la Alameda. Information: TurisValencia.es.

Vienna

• Designer Lighting Design (Through December 23)

“Light-UP,” Vienna’s contemporary holiday light installations, feature designs ranging from perched clouds in the Volksoper district to an open-air ball room on Graben. Eco-conscious readers note: 70% of the designs use energy-saving LED technology. Information: CoolCapitals.com/Vienna.

Zurich

• Christmas Lighting at the Bahnhofstrasse (Through January 2, 2011)

Zurich also has a Christmas holliday light installation, known as “Lucy,” stretching along the world-famous Bahnhofstrasse. Lucy is turned on at 6pm every night through New Years. Information: Zuerich.com.

For more information about coolcapitals click here.

Ask the Expert: Nice Budget Amsterdam Hotels

I was wondering if you could recommend a hotel in Amsterdam — nice but not luxurious.

– Richard, Ft. Lauderdale

Try Chic and Basic on the Herengracht. It’s part of a Spanish chain. Nice and great location but not luxurious. Honestly there are lots of little hotels in Amsterdam… gay ones on the Kerkstraat like “Golden Bear” are very basic. For stays of a week, there are good apartment rentals on Ebab.de.

New Hotel Deal in Venerable Gay Getaway

How totally approrpriate that Amsterdam Pride takes place on their canals

Story by Ivan Quintanilla and Ed Salvato; photo from 2008 Amsterdam Pride’s Canal Parade flikr/Ramon Stoppelenburg

Amsterdam always has something new to celebrate. Now the Netherlands’ most popular gay destination is boasting a new designation. As of August 1, 2010, the Amsterdam canal belt has officially been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Built during the 17th century Dutch Golden Age, the three concentric canals in the city’s center are considered a masterpiece of urban planning.

To celebrate this honor, alongside the hotel’s own 35th birthday, the Amsterdam Marriott is offering the “Dutch Experience” package.  For €350 (approximately $470 at press time), two guests can enjoy:

• Deluxe accommodations for two nights
• Daily breakfast for two
• Two signature cocktails at the hotel’s “Sorel’s Midtown Bar and Lounge”
• Two tickets to either the Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum
• Use of bicycles during your stay to explore Amsterdam, local style

Who doesn’t love a good Dutch package? Enter promotional code EB5 when booking on the hotel’s website and enjoy a little celebration of this big gay destination.

Need an excuse to use this package? Get Ruff, Amsterdam’s LeatherPride is marking its 15th anniversary this year. You better get cracking though since it’s scheduled for October 28 to October 31, 2010.

To further explore why Amsterdam is perhaps a “city designed for the perfect gay vacation,” visit Out Traveler’s exclusive Amsterdam coverage.

• Three Gay Days Amsterdam
• I Amsterdam
• When in Amsterdam
• The Dutch Paradox