Spijker Bar

Cozy and casual local bar in the Amsterdam 'brown café' style (lots of wood, nicotine-stained walls), started in 1978 during a more leathery era and run by Englishman Paul (from Manchester) from 2006 until 2020, when Steven and Tomas took over. Not at all trendy and not dull, with features including video porn, Tuesday all-day nakedness (including the pool players and the barkeeper) and Saturday 6pm bingo hosted by drag personality Dora Royale (as of 2019). Plus the monthly Geared! All Fetish Social (skin, leather, rubber, army, naked, ageplay, sportswear). Gets particularly busy around midnight at the weekend, and the pool table — one of few to be found in a gay bar in this town — is actually used for serious playing. Smoking and darkroom distractions are relegated to the upstairs floor. The building dates from 1904, originally a showroom for high-end Dutch car manufacturer Spijker, which translates as 'nail'. Touts itself as "the most liberal gay bar Amsterdam has to offer". Located in the same street as Club Church [see entry].