News · 28 Jul 2026

A Jordaan hotel where Amsterdam's queer history lives on

A boutique hotel in the Jordaan has quietly been part of Amsterdam's queer story for decades, and now it has a Travel Proud badge to match. Attitude's Markus Bidaux stayed at Hotel Mercier during WorldPride Amsterdam and came away impressed. The hotel sits in the Jordaan, on the west side of the city centre, which makes it easy to reach on foot or by bike. It is part of Booking.com's Travel Proud programme, meaning staff have received free sensitivity training on the needs and concerns of LGBTQ+ travellers. The building's history is the real draw. In 1891, Hélène Mercier, whom the hotel is named after, opened it for her Ons Huis Foundation, offering music, gymnastics, theatre and a youth library to working-class people. In 1979 it was acquired by COC Amsterdam, the country's largest LGBTQ+ rights advocate, and served as its headquarters and a safe space for the community for decades. Following a major renovation, the four-star hotel, with 48 rooms and suites, opened in 2018. The reviewer spotted a rainbow flag at the entrance and a sign marking the hotel's place on the citywide Pride Art Route. In the bar hung ten black-and-white portraits by Bob van Dijk of Dutch LGBTQ+ figures, including leather craftsman Rob Meijer of RoB Amsterdam and drag queen Helen Zelluf. In the evenings, the restaurant becomes Bonboon, a vegan spot with a seasonal five-course menu. It is a good reminder that Amsterdam's queer places are layers of history as much as venues. At Vibra, that is the spirit we try to carry: a community that remembers where it came from and keeps showing up for it. Whether you are heading out for a night or welcoming friends visiting the city, Vibra is where you find LGBTQ+ nightlife in Amsterdam, grab tickets and earn Pulse points for every night you turn up. Source: Attitude — Hotel Mercier review: A Travel Proud property with a queer legacy (13 August 2026)