Cafe 't Mandje is one of the oldest queer bars in the city. The name translate as 'Little Basket Cafe', and it has stood here at Zeedijk 63 since 1927.
‘t Mandje was not the first queer bar in Amsterdam - there were a few other bars in the first decades of the 20th century (as we will see later). But this is the only one that has survived until now. You can see photograph of the interior from 2012 and 2022.
It was opened by Bet van Beeren, a flamboyant lesbian dubbed the 'Queen of the Zeedijk' who was known for her leather jackets and motorbiking. She took over her uncle's cafe, renamed it and made it a welcoming tolerant space for gay men and lesbians, as well as prostitutes and sailors. Bet was so tough, it was said she could throw anyone out of her bar with just one hand. She could also ‘drink like cats drink milk’, according to her sister. Bet also encouraged her customers to leave a souvenir in the bar when they had had an enjoyable evening, which you can see inside the bar.
Bet's sister Greet took over when Bet passed away in 1963, but had to close in the 1980s. The bar opened briefly during the Gay Games tournament in 1998 and came fully back to life in 2008. In 2020, the building was bought from Bet's niece Diana van Laar on the condition that the café would be preserved as a queer heritage location.
For the next stop, take the next right through the Red Light District. You will cross a bridge named after Bet van Baren. Turn left when you see the Oude Kerk and follow the quay until turning right onto Sint Annenstraat. At the end, turn left and then right to cross Beursplein.
