A Sunday Night Ritual in Amsterdam
For decades, it has been a familiar sight on the Bilderdijkstraat: every Sunday evening around 9:30 PM, a queue begins to form outside an unmarked door. There's no flashy sign, no promotion—just the quiet confidence of a legend. This is De Trut, Amsterdam's iconic non-profit queer disco, which is now celebrating an incredible 40 years as a cornerstone of the community. Run entirely by volunteers, it remains a cherished safe haven and a vibrant meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community.
A Sanctuary Free from Screens
In an age of constant connectivity, De Trut's most famous rule feels almost revolutionary: phones and cameras are strictly forbidden inside. This policy is about more than just encouraging people to live in the moment; it's the foundation of the club's identity as a true safe space. "We want to give people a safe environment where they know for sure they won't end up on AT5 or in the tabloids tonight," explains co-founder Jacques Wijnen. This commitment to privacy allows everyone to be their authentic selves without fear of exposure or judgment.
The no-phone rule also fosters a unique atmosphere of genuine connection. Volunteer Lot van Bemmel notes, "It also has a certain mystique, of course. If you've never been inside, you have no idea what it looks like. Go ahead and Google it, you won't find anything." And how do people connect without apps? Documentary maker Pim Mookhoek, who was granted rare access to film inside, says it's simple: "We still have pen and paper. And I can tell you, it gets used a lot."
More Than a Party: A Pillar of Community Support
What truly sets De Trut apart is its mission. The club is a non-profit, and every single euro of profit is channeled into 'Fonds De Trut,' a fund dedicated to supporting the queer community. Over the past 40 years, this fund has donated more than €900,000 to various causes.
In its early days, the fund was a vital source of support for HIV projects. Today, its scope has broadened to support initiatives in the Netherlands and abroad that combat hate and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. For Wijnen, this is the club's proudest achievement. "If you ask me what I'm proud of, it's that we've been able to give away an incredible amount of money," he says. "It's thanks to our volunteers, but especially the customers who come here in droves to drink and have fun. That's amazing, isn't it?"
Celebrating the Legacy
Mookhoek describes the crowd at De Trut as "unique, individual characters... all quite headstrong people who won't be told what to do." It's this spirit of individuality and defiance that has kept the club's atmosphere vibrant and unchanged for four decades.
To mark this historic milestone, De Trut is throwing a huge birthday bash on December 20th. Looking further ahead, an exhibition diving into the disco's rich history, which will feature Mookhoek's documentary, is planned for 2026.
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