All events listed on the dynamic timeline contain a link to the corresponding article on LTHR.NL. Click here for a Full Screen version or see a static list of events below.

Static List of Events

1956, July: Sako Jan Tiemersma and Anton Johan Kennedy open the Argos pension in the back of Tiemersma’s cigar shop. The pension is also known as ‘Hotel Tiemersma’. It’s cellar will become the first darkroom in Amsterdam.

1967, April: The first Argos bar opens as a dependance of the Argos pension and offers it’s customers more sexual liberties than other gay bars at the time.

1970, date unknown: Motor Sportclub Amsterdam is founded by Tjalling Terpstra under the name “Masochisten Sadisten Amsterdam”.

1976, April: The second and current Argos bar is opened by former Argos-barman Kees Raadschelders.

1978, April: Bar De Spijker is opened by Avi Mosche and Peter Königshausen. The beer-for-one-guilder promotion stunt during the opening night was so succesful that the owners started a tradition of ‘Spijker Tuesday’ where beer was sold for the opening night price.

1978, April: The Argos pension is closed by the city’s Fire Department. The owners now concentrate on the bar.

1978, date unknown: Rob Meijer starts his male erotic art gallery.

1978, date unknown: Jim Holmes aka Jacob Lowland publishes his ‘The Gay Stud’s Guide to Amsterdam’. A second print will be made in 1980.

1978, April: The Argos pension is closed by Amsterdam’s fire department.

1979, April: The (original) Eagle opens. Later the bar will be renamed “Dirty Dicks”.

1985, date unknown: Cruise bar Cuckoo’s Nest opens it’s doors.

1985, date unknown: Since they already had been making leather clothes for themselves as well as friends, Robin & Rik start their own shop with a prime focus on the making of leather clothes.

1990, April: Rob Meijer dies at the age of 53.

1992, date unknown: RoB takes over leather magazine Drummer.

1993, May: Henri ten Have, sponsored by MSA Amsterdam, wins the 15th International Mr. Leather election.

1994, date unknown: The COC holds it’s first leatherparty.

1994, March: Mister B. opens it’s doors.

1995, date unknown: MSA hold’s it’s first anniversary party. This event will pave the way for the first Amsterdam Leather Pride.

1995, date unknown: Peter Schoonheim wins Mr. MSA-Amsterdam and becomes 2nd. runner-up at IML the same year.

1996, date unknown: First Amsterdam Leather Pride, organised by RoB.

1996, date unknown: Cuts & Curls opens. From now on, Amsterdam leathermen have no excuse anymore to hide a bad haircut under their muir cap.

1996, date unkown: Peter Assink wins Mr. Leather Holland.

1997, date unknown: Second Amsterdam Leather Pride organised by Leather Pride B.V., a cooperation between RoB, Mister B. and Black Body.

1997, date unknown: Darryl Lafayette is elected Mr. Leather Holland 1997.

1997, date unknown: Hotel Black Tulip opens it’s doors.

1997, April: The COC LeatherCafé reopens after being closed for a couple of months.

1999, date unknown: Drummer Magazine ceases publication.

1999, date unknown: John Pijnenburg wins Mr. Leather Holland 1999. He uses his title year to promote safe sex.

2001, date unknown: Czech-born Miro Civin wins Mr. Leather Holland 2001 at the MegaTrash-party in Zaandam. The event is attended by about 1500 viewers. The winner uses his title year to build bridges between the hearing and the deaf.

2002, date unknown: Borisz Mos wins Mr. Leather Holland 2002 and ends up as 1st runner-up at IML that same year.

2003, October: BLUF launches its new website and its 1000th member with a party at the Black Tulip Hotel.

2004, date unknown: The COC and the team which organises the COC leatherparties break their coöperation. Johan Hesse and Bernie Pruissen found, together with 6 other team members, Gents Foundation.

2005, January: Gents Foundation organises the first edition of XXXLeather at Lexxion Venue in Westzaan.

2005, November: RoB’s Apartments located at Singel 99 are forced to close which leads to protest from the leather community. According to the Inner City Council (Stadsdeelraad Centrum), which is on a crusade to ban all ‘erotic activity’ from the city’s centre were these leather apartments, complete with slings and S&M attributes, no ‘apartments’ but ‘sexual insititutions’ and therefore required other licenses than those that apply for hotels.
RoB sues the Inner City Council but unfortunately the judge confirms the decision of the Inner City Council to close the apartments based on the broad definition of ‘sexual institution’ which says that “any place where actions or showings of erotic or pornographic nature take place” can be marked as sexual institution.

2006, January: The definition of ‘sexual institution’ causes a heavy debate in Amsterdam’s Inner City Council which is out to ban darkrooms since they fall under the aforementioned very broad definition of “sexual institution”.

2006, November: Darkrooms are granted an “exception” on the definition of “sexual institution” during a heated meeting of Amsterdam’s Inner City Council.

2007, July: The existence of darkrooms is secured as the Building & Planning Commission of Amsterdam’s Inner City Council decides to regard them as ‘meetingplaces’ instead of ‘sex institutions’ in it’s building & planning plans.

2008, April: For the very first time, Leatherpride B.V. organizes a Leatherpride Weekend during the annual Queensday weekend.

2008, July: Under European Law, the smoking ban arrives in Holland forcing leathermen onto the streets to smoke.

2008, August: Amsterdam’s new cruise club Club Church hosts it’s official opening party.

2008, October: LTHR.NL is released.

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