Bike tour: Queer Architecture in Amsterdam
Can architecture express personal identity? And how can architecture contribute to greater inclusivity in society?
During Queer History Month, join a bike tour on Saturday, March 7, led by a queer architect who will guide you through Amsterdam’s diverse streetscape, still shaped today by residents with a wide range of backgrounds.
Free lecture prior to the bike tour
Honeys! I’m Home: Designing living spaces beyond the heteronormative family model
On Saturday afternoon, March 7, at 12:30pm, architecture researcher Anastasia Cubasova will give a lecture at Arcam on queer architecture and the use of space by multi-parent families. Admission is free.
About the tour
Amsterdam has long been known as the Gay Capital of Europe and is famous for its open culture and early acceptance of homosexuality. It was here, on April 1, 2001, that the world’s first same-sex marriage was performed. But how do members of the LGBTQIA+ community actually live? Are they able to shape their lifestyle behind closed doors as well? And can architecture express personal identity?
During this bike tour, we dive deeper into these questions and explore examples of queer architecture. We examine how architecture can reflect personal identity and which spatial solutions contribute to a more inclusive city.
Please note: this bike tour is conducted in English.
Architecture and inclusivity
The historic city centers of the Netherlands, and Amsterdam in particular, are celebrated for their beauty and high-quality urban planning. In newly developed residential areas, the focus is also on innovative architecture and public spaces that promote inclusivity. Traditionally, housing in the Netherlands has been designed around the concept of the nuclear family. Floor plans often prioritize a large master bedroom alongside one or more smaller children’s bedrooms.
However, this layout does not always meet the needs of other forms of living, such as child-free couples, single households, or members of the LGBTQIA+ community. For these groups, the question arises whether standard housing types provide enough space and freedom to express their lifestyle. In an overheated housing market—where space is scarce and prices continue to rise—it becomes increasingly important to develop innovative solutions that respond to these diverse living needs. Are there flexible housing designs that can accommodate different lifestyles? And in what ways can architecture contribute to a more inclusive living environment?
Tour Programme
13:30 – Start at Arcam, Prins Hendrikkade 600, Amsterdam
• Introduction: Queer Architecture?!
• Frans Haks House | Interior by Alessandro Mendini (2001). Please note: an interior visit it NOT included.
• L.A. Ries House, Mecanoo (1998) | Seven rental apartments for elderly LGBTQ+ residents, added as an extension to a care facility
• Block 0 Superlofts, Marc Koehler Architects (2015–2016) | A residential building with a mix of loft apartments that residents can adapt to create their own personal living environment
• Tetterode, interior visit | From an anarchist squat to an inspiring model for alternative living and working spaces with greater autonomy and self-management
• De Roze Hallen, Riëtte van der Werff in collaboration with Joke Vos (2018), interior visit | A tailor-made “community” housing project by and for LGBTQIA+ seniors
16:30 – End of the tour
Please note: this program is subject to change.
Visitor info and tickets
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Time: 12:30pm start of the lecture Honeys! I’m Home | 1:30pm start of the bike tour introduction | 2:00pm start of the bike tour
Meeting point: Arcam, the Architecture Centre of Amsterdam
Address: Prins Hendrikkade 600, 1011 VX Amsterdam
Language: English
Bicycle: Please bring your own (public transport) bike
Tickets: Lecture is free (registration required) | Bike tour €29.50