By Rojin Soroudi
With its renowned pride parade and rainbow flags flying everywhere, Amsterdam has long been seen as a haven for queer people worldwide. However, recent political shifts and the rise of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) have sparked new fears for queer people. As proposed policies threaten the safety and freedom of the LGBTQ+ community, many fear that Amsterdam’s status as a queer sanctuary is at risk, with some questioning whether it was ever the haven it claimed to be.
Liam Macreery, a second-year Humanities student from Colorado, a relatively progressive state in the United States, recalls their move to Amsterdam. “I just wanted to distance myself from the environment that was becoming more and more hostile towards LGBTQ folks, or at least more publicly hostile,” they explain, reflecting on the growing anti-LGBTQ sentiment in their home country. Amsterdam’s reputation as a safe space has allowed many queer people to come out and explore their identities for the first time. But the rise of right-wing influence in the Netherlands has raised concerns for these individuals.
“I’m very concerned about what it could mean for queer people in the future,” says Mevis Brinkmann, a second-year Social Science student from Germany. As a transgender individual, Brinkmann is struggling with long wait times in the Dutch medical system, particularly for gender-affirming care. “The waitlist for psychiatric assessment is over 900 days,” he says. Already facing challenges with accessing necessary care, Brinkmann fears the situation may worsen under the new political climate. According to Transgender Netwerk, the PVV has consistently voted against measures aimed at improving access to transgender healthcare. Specifically, they opposed a motion to conduct more research into trans clinics that would help reduce wait times for transgender care.
Queer activist and Iranian ex-refugee Fardad Dadvand highlights the challenges facing LGBTQ+ cultural initiatives in the Netherlands: “Funding for queer culture, events, and artists is being reduced. Many LGBTQ+ organizations rely heavily on municipal support and sponsorships, and with budget cuts, their future is uncertain.” According to government.nl, the Dutch cultural sector saw a significant reduction in funding in the past decade, particularly after the 2010 election, when right-wing parties such as the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and PVV gained more influence. In 2013, the government cut 200 million euro from the cultural budget, impacting various cultural programs, including those supporting queer artists and events. “And even if the laws don’t change, this government won’t confront homophobia as strictly, making the environment less safe for queer individuals,” Dadvand adds.
For queer refugees, the situation is particularly difficult. Many struggle not only with unsafe conditions in refugee camps but also with having to prove their sexual orientation during the asylum-seeking process. This often involves providing personal testimonies, photos, letters, or confirmation from friends and family, though such evidence is not always accepted or considered sufficient by authorities. “How else can someone prove they’re gay?” Dadvand asks.
Envy Venkatesh, a third-year Science student from Chennai, India, is less worried about a rollback of queer rights, believing they are deeply embedded in Dutch society. But their concern lies with their immigrant status. Dick Schoof, the current Prime Minister of the Netherlands, told The Guardian that the country could not “continue to bear the large influx of migrants.” In recent years, the Dutch government has implemented more stringent requirements for permit renewals, particularly for highly skilled migrants, students, and people on temporary permits. For example, there have been discussions about tightening rules on income thresholds, language requirements, and demonstrating continued employment or education to qualify for renewals. Venkatesh, who had considered taking a gap year to spend time in their hometown, now sees this as a terrible idea. “I would have taken the risk of losing my permit […] if it [my move to the Netherlands] was just for reasons that I know a lot of other Indians would look at—like seeking better life conditions,” they say. But for Venkatesh, the stakes are much higher due to their queer identity, and returning home is not an option due to India’s conservative views on LGBTQ+ rights and the social stigma attached to being openly queer. They face a choice between their family and being themselves. “If you give it [the Dutch residency] up, you are losing so much. You are losing a life you never knew you could have.”
While many internationals and queer individuals are concerned about the future policies in the Netherlands, some scholars argue that Amsterdam’s reputation for openness has always been nothing but an illusion. Dr. Younes Saramifar, an interdisciplinary social scientist and lecturer at VU and AUC, believes that this image is largely part of a national branding effort. “The pride parade, rainbow flags on government buildings, and even police involvement in queer-friendly events are all symbolic gestures that fit into this branding,” he says. Dr. Saramifar points out that this branding often excludes those who don’t fit the “acceptable” version of queerness, such as ethnic and religious minorities, the physically disabled, and the poor. “Only a certain kind of queerness is celebrated,” he says, “If you don’t fit that image, you’re still marginalised.”
Editor’s note: This news story is part of a collaboration between The Herring and AUC’s journalism course. The story was written, edited, and fact-checked by students of the journalism course. Some content may have been altered by The Herring’s editors for clarity and style.
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