There are lots of reasons for a vacationer to visit Amsterdam, from the generous and industrious people to the fine art museums, beautiful canals or tradition of great beer. For the gay travel enthusiast, there is another very important reason.
In the heart of the city is a monument dedicated to the struggles of gay and bisexual people throughout the world. After years of lobbying, planning and designing, the monument has been in existence since the late summer of 1987.
Don’t look to the sky to find its location, though. It was designed from the start to be in the city and a part of the every day life of the city. You can find it at ground level amid the myriad pedestrians and numerous bicyclists to populate this thriving yet peaceful urban center.
The monument is made of three large triangles of pink granite. The triangles represent the past, present and future of gay struggles and celebrations.
One of the triangles reminds all who see it of the struggles of people of minority sexual identities during past centuries. The proximity of the monument and its physical orientation to the house of Anne Frank makes the Nazi era of persecution most salient.
Another triangle represents the present era, as the struggle for sexual equality continues in so many parts of the world. Tremendous progress has been made particularly in much of western Europe, Canada, Australia and a few other enlightened spots including a few minor steps even in the United States. However, in many parts of Asia, such as Singapore and China, and throughout most of Africa (with the exception of progressive South Africa). In many of those countries, homosexuality is a capital offense, something that was not true even in the so-called Dark Ages.
The third triangle, of course, represents the future with both its hope and its foreboding. One point of this triangle protrudes above the water into the neighboring canal.
The absolute best time for a gay man’s visit to Amsterdam is Queen’s Day, the symbolic birthday of the monarch. That day is a citywide, gigantic party, and the Homomonument plays host to throngs of lesbians and gay men. But, in truth, any day is a good day in Amsterdam for the gay or straight visitor.
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] of the Netherlands. Within the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] a city–and an critical partial of a city–is a singular Homomonument of Amsterdam. Using a barbarous pinkish triangles that a Nazis forced on a happy thoroughness stay prisoners [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument of Amsterdam. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument of Amsterdam. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument of Amsterdam. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual gay tribute, the Homomonument. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual gay tribute, the Homomonument. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual gay tribute, the Homomonument. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual gay tribute, the Homomonument. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual gay tribute, the Homomonument. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual gay tribute, the Homomonument. Using the infamous pink triangles that the Nazis forced upon the gay concentration camp [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the city–and an important part of the city–is the unique gay tribute, the Homomonument. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument, Amsterdam’s tribute to gay people. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]
Amsterdam has a lot to see, but it’s great that their society is open enough to have a monument of this nature. When I traveled Europe Amsterdam was a breath of fresh air in comparison to the uptight nature of the states.
[...] the heart of the city, and definitely a part of its life is the unusual Homomonument of Amsterdam. The street level, horizontal monument is made up of three large pink granite triangles, [...]