Drag Queen Alectrona’s Guide to Amsterdam
Hotel ambassador by day and drag queen by night, Amsterdam-based Alectrona is used to balancing both aspects of her identity, just like her drag queen persona. “A bit like Amsterdam, there are two sides to Alectrona—a glamorous and opulent one adorned with rhinestones and feather boas, and a campy, silly side,” she says. She got into drag while studying in Maastricht in the southern Netherlands before moving to the capital two years ago to pursue being Alectrona, who she describes as having “big hips and absolutely huge tatas.”
Amsterdam is famous for being among the world’s most liberal and progressive places. So it’s little surprise that the Dutch capital also boasts one of Europe’s most diverse drag scenes, encompassing “everything from dancers and divas to drag kings and pageant girls.” Luckily, Alectrona has let the cat out of the drag—here’s her guide to experiencing Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ scene (and the city) for yourself.
How and where to experience Amsterdam’s drag scene
Even though she was born in the ancient city of Thessaloniki in Greece, Alectrona feels much more at home among the “vibrant life, queer community, and drag scene” in Amsterdam. To experience the best of Amsterdam’s drag scene, Alectrona recommends “heading straight to Reguliersdwarsstraat, which is known as the city’s gay street. I love Bar BLEND, which hosts regular drag shows, and Café The Queen’s Head, which was opened by drag queen Dusty.” The boudoir-style decor of this local favorite provides the perfect backdrop to drag bingo on Tuesdays and a drag show every Thursday.
More LGBTQ+ nightlife in Amsterdam
But that’s not all: "We have more amazing bars and clubs, such as Taboo Bar, which has a nice mix of ages, locals, and tourists,” Alectrona says. She also recommends the hot-pink Bar Prik near the train station, which has won numerous awards including Most Popular Gay Bar in the Netherlands. If you’re looking to dance until the early hours, Alectrona recommends Soho—one of the biggest gay bars in Amsterdam—and Club NYX, an ultra-diverse late-night venue that attracts a hip crowd and hosts drag performances.
And no visit to Amsterdam would be complete without visiting Cafe’t Mandje, which is said to be the oldest gay bar in the world. Dating back to 1927, this quirky watering hole has become an institution among the capital’s queer crowd.
Pride and other LGBTQ+ events in Amsterdam
At the top of Alectrona’s list of LGBTQ+ events to experience is Pride in August, which, in classic Amsterdam style, takes place on the canals. She says that anyone can take part in the famous Canal Parade, which cruises from Oosterdok to Westerdok via the UNESCO–listed Amsterdam Canal Ring (Grachtengordel). But her top tip is to secure a viewing spot near the NEMO Science Museum at the end of the boat parade, “where you get the best atmosphere.”
Alectrona also recommends attending the Milkshake Festival in July, a rainbow-colored electronic dance festival, as well as the inclusive Superflirt Festival, which strives to push the “boundaries of the exuberant queer scene.”
Alectrona’s Amsterdam must-do’s
What to see and do
“For locals, Amsterdam sometimes feels like a mini Disneyland because of all the different activities you can do—there’s a museum for literally everything from the moment you step out in the central station,” according to Alectrona. Her favorites include the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House, but Amsterdam is also full of weird and wonderful options such as the Venustempel Sex Museum, the world’s oldest museum dedicated to sex, and The Cat Cabinet (Kattenkabinet), where every piece of art depicts a cat.
You can also dive deeper into 400 years of queer history in Amsterdam during an LGBTQ+ walking tour that covers important landmarks and reveals stories of queer heroes, activists, and resistance fighters.
What to eat
Alectrona is certain that the best place to “enjoy budget-friendly authentic Dutch food, such as stroopwafel and poffertjes (batter cakes), is the Albert Cuyp Market, where you can find anything from traditional Dutch snacks to cuisines from around the world.” She also recommends Foodhallen (“which is a bit more pricey”), but her personal favorite place to eat is Sojubar: “a Korean chicken restaurant where I’d recommend spicy chicken with Mandu dumplings.”
Where to stay
When she’s not performing, Alectrona works for CitizenM, “a really LGBTQ+–friendly hotel franchise—[she] even did a shift in drag!” They have locations in Amstel, Amsterdam South, and at Schiphol International Airport.
She describes Amsterdam overall as “a very safe city, however, it would be best to stay in the Central Ring zone, especially Amsterdam Zuid. I’ve never felt unsafe in these areas. She also recommends visiting her other favorite place, the De Pijp neighborhood, which is “amazing for vintage shopping and food.”
More ways to explore Amsterdam
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