BN Bear-Necessity (at Panama Amsterdam)

Big, hairy and testosterone-fuelled (but also relaxed and "attitude-free") late-night party for dancing bears, led by international DJs. No darkrooms. Started early 2008 by Sjag Kozak. Scheduled club events vary in regularity but happen more or less every eight weeks, often overlapping with King's Day, Gay Pride and Oktoberfest. Manly-themed nights have included RUGBN. The club has gone further afield, whether regular parties in London and Antwerp or occasional events in Cologne, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Alpe d’Huez and Tel Aviv. In 2014 BN moved from Odeon to Hotel Arena ('s-Gravesandestraat 51), and in 2015 to Air in the Amstel, now at 1,150-capactiy waterside warehouse techno club Panama Amsterdam – a historic building located in the Eastern Docklands area.