LGBTQ+
Café 't Mandje
A historic Zeedijk bar, one of the city's first openly gay cafés, founded in 1927.
- LGBTQ+
- Brown café
4.5· 553 reviews
Photo: Café 't Mandje 🏳🌈 / Google
On the Zeedijk, Café 't Mandje was opened in 1927 by Bet van Beeren, an openly lesbian Amsterdammer who ran one of the first bars in the world where same-sex couples could be themselves. It's widely considered the oldest surviving LGBTQ+ bar in Europe.
Small and deeply authentic, its ceiling is hung with ties that Bet famously snipped from misbehaving guests over the decades. After her death the café was preserved and later reopened in 2008, keeping its interior almost exactly as it was.
What to expect
Expect a tiny, characterful brown café with a warm, welcoming mix of regulars and curious visitors — and history in every corner. It's a place to soak up the atmosphere and the story over a drink, not a party venue.
Good to know
It's on the Zeedijk in the old centre near Nieuwmarkt, easy to find and worth seeking out for the history alone. It's small, so it can fill quickly; come for a drink and a story.
Highlights
Opened 1927 by Bet van Beeren
Oldest surviving LGBTQ+ bar in Europe
Ceiling hung with snipped ties
Preserved, authentic interior
On the Zeedijk in the old centre
Gallery
Photo: Café 't Mandje 🏳🌈 / Google
Location
Zeedijk 63, 1012 AS Amsterdam, NetherlandsFAQ
- Where is Café 't Mandje?
- On the Zeedijk in the old centre, near Nieuwmarkt.
- Why is it historic?
- Opened in 1927 by Bet van Beeren, it's regarded as the oldest surviving LGBTQ+ bar in Europe.
- What's the ceiling about?
- It's hung with ties Bet snipped from misbehaving guests over the years — a long-running tradition.
- What's the atmosphere?
- A tiny, warm, authentic brown café with history in every corner — about atmosphere rather than partying.
- Is it touristy?
- It's a genuine piece of living history that draws both locals and visitors; come for a drink and a story.