Café 't Mandje

Right here at Zeedijk 63 stands Café 't Mandje, one of Amsterdam's most legendary bars, and honestly, one of the most important ones in Dutch history. The name means "little basket," a sweet nod to the basket Bet van Beeren's mother used to bring her meals every day. 

In 1927, a 25-year-old Bet took over her uncle's café and turned it into something remarkable: a safe haven where gay men and lesbians could simply be themselves. Bet herself was quite the character. She roared through Amsterdam on a motorbike, wore a leather jacket, and had absolutely no interest in what society thought of her. 

Kissing was still technically off-limits due to morality laws, but on Queen's Day, April 30th, all bets were off. The billiard table was dismantled so men could dance with men and women with women. Very subversive for a Tuesday. 

Bet also kept a porcelain owl behind the bar. When she suspected an undercover cop or an unfriendly visitor, she'd light it up as a silent warning to the crowd. Practical and stylish. When Bet died in 1967, she lay in state on that same billiard table for two days. After a long closure, the café reopened in 2008 and is still run by her family today.