The gay and lesbian community of today has a long lasting history. The modern gay movement started on 18t of January 1950 with the foundation of the Cultural and Relaxing Centre (COC) which is nowadays a modern emancipation organization with extra attention for lesbian emancipation.

After the COC many were to follow. What distinguishes Utrecht from many other cities is on the one hand the fact that most organizations, profit and non-profit, last long and on the other hand work together very closely. Stichting PANN, that ones started as the gay and lesbian youth organization, celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2004. The organizers of gay and lesbian youth groups, the Kringen, have existed over 20 years and are still the largest in the country.

The three oldest gay and lesbian bars and discotheques (De Wolk, De Wolkenkrabber, Bodytalk) have been there from 22 to 18 years and still flourishing. EuroGames Utrecht is glad to be able to work together with so much long lasting experience.

Since 1997 Utrecht has its yearly gay and lesbian cultural and sports festival, called MidZomerGracht® festival Opens in a new Window (pun for Midsummer Night and Canal).
MidZomerGracht is a big hit, not only because it takes place in the city centre on the usually warm and long summer days, but also because the well known midsummer night open air spectacle that closes the festival that attracts some ten thousand gay, lesbian and straight people every year. The Spectacle is located on and around the illuminated Medieval canal of the city centre. The MidZomerGracht festival will organize the cultural festival of the EuroGames 2005.


 

Sports Clubs

Utrecht offers a small but solid and ever growing gay and lesbian sporting environment. The gay and lesbian sporting groups are all active members in Utrecht's sporting environment; both gay and lesbian and other clubs.

  • VLERK is the gay and lesbian volleyball club in Utrecht. For many years they play with male, female and mixed teams in many tournaments in the Netherlands and other countries.
  • Gay swimming club Nat Utrecht began in 1996 and is registered with the Royal Dutch Swimming Bond (KNZB). Nat Utrecht is a swimming club with approximately 70 members, male and female. Nat Utrecht is one of the three nominees for Sportclub of 2003 by the city of Utrecht.
  • Kix'n Trix is one of the finest women football teams of Utrecht. The group consist of lesbians and heterosexual women and participates in national and international football competitions.
  • Gay Squash Utrecht is club with approximately 35 enthusiastic men and women training and competing together to improve their squash abilities.
  • Founded in 1986, Step by Step is Utrecht's school for gay and lesbian dancing couples. Many enjoyable evenings have passed since it's opening and couples are participating more and more in (inter)national tournaments in all levels.
Closing Night of the MidZomerGracht festival

Café De Wolkenkrabber
a Home away from Home

De Wolkenkrabber is the oldest and the most popular gay bar in Utrecht. For over 20 years it has proven to be a safe haven for a very diverse crowd of gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight people. For everyone that's fun basically.

Every night in De Wolkenkrabber has it's own special feel to it. Make sure you experience it at least once while in Utrecht, we'll make you feel special and at home and you will want to come back. Wanna be in tune with the latest Dutch singalongs? Wanna be in tune with the best rock/eurovision/pop/alternative music that music has to offer? We play it all! Just for you. Our beers are cold with a perfect creamy head, the bar staff is cute, our guest are even cuter. You'll come back! You can't miss our great location along the most beautiful canal of Utrecht.

Where are we: Oudegracht 47.
Open every day from 16:00 - 02:00 hrs.
Or check us out on the internet: www.dewolkenkrabber.nl Opens in a new Window


 

Club De Wolk, Feel our Vibe

De Wolk is cool, we've been around for 2 decades and are still young and vibrant. Situated at the water, just underneath De Wolkenkrabber, you can't miss us. Got some energy left after all that sporting? Come dance with us. Even if you're out of energy: we'll give you some of ours. We fill up every weekend and attract a young crowd that likes a good party and dancing to the best DJ's that Utrecht has to offer.

De Wolk has a reputation for being different, daring and funky. Try us out, you won't regret it, we'll treat you to the best in club music, the best in drinks and the best in atmosphere. You can't really go to Utrecht and not come to De Wolk!

Where are we: Oudegracht 43 @ the canal.
During the EuroGames open Thursday 23:00 - 04:00 hrs.
Friday and Saturday 23:00 - 05:00 hrs.
Sunday 20:00 - 01:00 hrs.
Find us here too: www.dewolk.nl Opens in a new Window


 

Bodytalk, Cosy Gay Bar

Bodytalk is a very cosy gay bar in the city centre of Utrecht. It's a place where you can meet all kinds of gay people. The place is mostly frequented by men. You will find a huge variety of beers and other drinks. Bodytalk is the gay bar with the biggest choice of drinks in Holland! Readers of the biggest Dutch gay newspaper De Gaykrant elected Bodytalk over the last 5 years in the top 3 of gay bars in Holland.

Regularly we have special events, which you can find on our web site's activities page. Bodytalk famous for it's foam parties. Bodytalk organizes a special Foam Party during the EuroGames Utrecht on the 16th of June.
During the EuroGames Utrecht on Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 'Thank God! It's breakfasttime!' - Free breakfast from 09:00 - 11:00 hrs. (you just have to pay your drinks).

If you want more information you can write us an email at bodytalk@xsall.nl or give us a call +31 (0)30 2315747

Oudegracht 64.
Monday - Wednesday: 20:00 - 02:00 hrs.
Thursday: 17:00 - 02:00 hrs.
Friday & Saturday: 17:00 - 05:00 hrs.
Sunday: 17:00 - 03:00 hrs.
web site: www.bodytalk.org Opens in a new Window


 

Gay Persecutions
Until the beginning of the eighteenth century, being gay in Utrecht was not discussed, neither publicly condemned. Famous national expressions for gay people like 'Utrechtenaar' and 'People from behind the Utrecht Dom Church' originate from these decade.

Gay men used to cruise around the church and its magnificent tower. Tower guard Mr. Josua van Wilst abruptly ended these activities by throwing stones at the gay men from the second story of the tower. Men and women were sometimes severely injured back into the 1720's. When Van Wilst reported to local judges that he witnessed 'sodomy' in the Dom Tower, committed by two clergymen, national razzias were organized and many men were taken in custody. Some of them were giving the death penalty. Death by strangling, a typical death penalty for women, was used to stress their 'unnatural feminine behaviour'.
Eight of these man are commemorated at the Dom Square in the Utrecht Gay Monument.