Neighborhood
Warmoesstraat / Zeedijk
in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Historic scene, including the leather community.
Where it is
The Warmoesstraat and Zeedijk run through the oldest part of the old town near Dam Square and Central Station, on the edge of the De Wallen red-light district.
Address: Warmoesstraat, 1012 HW Amsterdam
What it is
Today the Warmoesstraat is known for its men's leather bars, cruise and fetish venues, while the neighbouring Zeedijk offers a lively mix of cafés, restaurants and Amsterdam's small Chinatown. The quarter is gritty and characterful, set right in the historic centre on the edge of the red-light district.
History
Dating from the 13th century, the Warmoesstraat is among Amsterdam's oldest streets and was a major trading and shopping street during the Golden Age. The area later became the centre of the gay leather and fetish scene, with the country's first leather bar opening here in the 1950s.