Exercise in Amsterdam’s very first queer gym: “Can be myself here”
Amsterdam has a new gym richer. One with a colorful edge, called: We Are Queer. The name says it all. The gym in the Dapperbuurt in Amsterdam-East focuses entirely on the LGBTQIA+ community. That was urgently needed, according to founder and personal trainer Senn van Beek.
Queergyms have been around for some time in the United States and since last year there is such a gym in Rotterdam. Van Beek knew from his own experience that there was also a queergym in Amsterdam. “As a non-binary person, you never feel completely connected in a sports club. This was mainly due to the language and culture in the gym. ‘Good day ladies and gentlemen’, and only gentlemen and ladies toilets. A queer gym in Amsterdam is needed because there is not always inclusion in regular gyms.”
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According to Van Beek, that connection is central to the “We Are Queer” gym. In addition to sports, the gym is also intended to meet new people from the community. “That also makes sports more fun.” The athletes who followed the first group lesson on Monday were looking forward to the arrival of the gym: “I like to exercise in a safe, non-straight normative environment,” says Anne Stam.
The new gym did not exist overnight. Van Beek already came up with the idea 3.5 years ago. The community and the municipality were enthusiastic, but Van Beek had trouble finding the right resources. “It has been a tough journey for the best, especially finding a location, getting real estate agents excited and all the money together. That didn’t happen by itself.”
“The feeling of never feeling at home anywhere really passed on to me”
That is why Van Beek started a crowdfunding with the aim of 50,000 euros for the realization of a large gym. “That was a blast. I got a lot of positive reactions and donations.” However, the amount remained at around 15,000 euros. Van Beek hoped for a large investor, but not because of corona. Still, Van Beek looked for the door. “The feeling of never feeling at home anywhere really passed on to me.”
The persistence won. At the beginning of July, Van Beek received the keys to a small building in the Dapperbuurt. “At first I wanted something bigger because I want to offer different things. But that small thing makes it very intimate, safe and inclusive. The social aspect comes into its own. It’s a nice first step.”
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