The Cuckoo’s Nest in Nieuwezijds Kolk used to be a bar even before it became known as a leather cruise bar. But apart from leatherfolk, you wouldn’t want to be seen at the shabby place back then as it was more of a hangout for druggies and their dealers. After the original bar had closed [...]
Once the Hell’s Angels tried to sneak in secretly, but they were kicked out immediately. A French dyke was more persistent, dressed as a boy she attempted unsuccessfully to sneak in three times.
The history of the The Eagle and Dirty Dicks bars is a little different from the other ones, at least if it comes to name and location. The venue where Dirty Dicks is at present used to be called The Eagle and opened in 1979. It was in 1989 that owner Paul Wierks bought the old [...]
While the neighbours might have been around longer, in March 1994, a new Amsterdam shop in leather (and rubber) lifestyle products opened its doors. The “B.” in Mr. B. has no specific meaning. It could stand for “Black” and in a way it refers to the shop’s owner, Wim Bos. He came to Amsterdam when he was [...]
Hardly noticeable, only with a name tag on the doorbell, an oasis of luxury and leather lust lies at Geldersekade no. 16. Not a flower shop, but a three-star hotel which harbours 7 rooms fully equipped to make your kinkiest fantasies come true. The name of the Black Tulip Hotel has a twofold explanation. On the one hand [...]
The Argos bar is Amsterdam’s best known leather venue. While some men complain about the lack of leather and masculinity at the Argos these days, the place still holds a monumental status in European Leather History.
Once a small leather shop run by one man, RoB is now Big Leather Business which has franchised out to London, Berlin, Brussels and Paris and at the same time holds its leather atelier at Warmoesstraat 267.
In 1975, RoB was officially founded by Rob Meijer. After the founder’s death in 1990, RoB was taken over by a foundation which was [...]
Although leather might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you walk past Korte Leidsedwarsstraat no. 74, a motorbike and a leather pride flag outside, a logo with a bold man, leather barber’s cloaks and a sign warning “unattended children will be sold as slaves” inside are subtle decorations which suggest that this hairdresser [...]
Brands like RoB & Mr. B might have acquired fame and fortune but there is another leather shop to be found among Amsterdam’s canals. At Runstraat 30, Robin & Rik have their own leather shop and atelier where they make leather clothing by hand.Â
When Robin & Rik started their business in the beginning of the 1980s, leather was worn by gay [...]
Rob Meijer went there for a US-style brunch with Touko “Tom of Finland” Laaksonen. It had a theatre. And jack off parties. And bingo with Steve. They have a pool table. And porn on TV. And the smallest darkroom in Europe. And…well, it’s a bar with a history!
On the 15th of April 1978 Israel born Avi Ben Mosche and Dutch stud Peter [...]
