Sauna NieuweZijds
Bijna een jaar geleden opende Sauna Nieuwezijds in Amsterdam voor het eerst haar deuren. COC Amsterdam was benieuwd naar wat de bezoekers nu van deze sauna vinden, en daarom stuurden we een van onze freelance journalisten op stap voor een verslag. Hieronder lees je een uitgebreide review over Sauna Niewezijds (hot, hot, hot!).
A Sunday Afternoon in a Gay Sauna in Amsterdam:
After a moderate amount of hooking up on Grindr and sporadically visiting a gay sauna in “sexy” cities like Berlin or Rio de Janeiro the day was finally there: I was going to try out the new Gay Sauna Nieuwezijds in my own city of Amsterdam.
Scared? Yes. Excited? A little. Expectations: zero.
I had never gone to a gay sauna in Amsterdam before for several reasons, but mainly because I was sure I would run into acquaintances (awkward) and I figured it would be mainly unattractive guys (awkward and boring). Both fears turned out to be founded. However: who needs all hot guys? You don’t have to have sex with everybody. Plus the acquaintance I did run into simply gave me a friendly smile and nod and continued minding his own business. Lovely, let’s start.
The Sauna
The fee of €18 seems kind of steep, but includes a drink and pays off if you enjoy yourself for a while. It includes one towel (although a second was provided for free when asked), but no flip-flops.
I am there on a Sunday afternoon, which is apparently a popular day and time at Sauna Nieuwezijds, because there are at least 60/70 guys inside. Quick scan of the main lounge: mixed ages, races and body types. Not at all bad.
The place is very small, but is kept clean and has a modern, luxurious feel. There is your main lounge, with hang outs, bar and smoking area. There is a small dry sauna that is mainly used what it’s for: sitting and sweating. However, the glass walls that give a view of the showers where more happens gives it another function as a voyeuristic gallery: You can sit, sweat and watch others.
The steam room behind it sees a lot more action. Where in other parts of the sauna most waists are toweled, the haze and moist in the steam room make you want to lose your towel, which lowers any threshold of fondling each other.
However, the biggest part of the sauna seems to be cabins and nooks designed to cruise and have sex: there is the dark room that only reveals silhouettes and echo moans, which is hot if you like it totally anonymous; the T.V. room that plays porn, which is not very much liked except by one bored looking guy; the glory hole section that is surprisingly unpopular, but the cabin section on the other hand seems like a proper Sunday market. Here apply the cruising codes that seem universal in any gay recreational center: surpass 1 second of eye contact and you’re in.
The Nieuwezijds Experience
First thing I notice while walking inside is the (kind of hot) bartender gently slapping a guy in the face that hangs knocked out on one of the lounge chairs. Was this such a good idea for my sunny Sunday afternoon?
Secondly, I see a guy being sat down by another staff member, because apparently he couldn’t stand or walk anymore. This was not a good idea for my Sunday afternoon.
But as I walk through I hear the unexpected sound of laughter and chatter. Apparently there are also guys who bring their friends and just enjoy their Sunday mimosas in the sauna while enjoying the hot tub. I start a conversation and they happily inform me that they come here quite often (Friday and Saturday nights are popular) and call today their Social Sauna Sundays. Fair enough. Nice guys that are also good looking, offering me a drink. Not what I expected, but good so far.
Making my first round I immediately spot three very hot guys: Muscle Mary, Athletic Jock and Mediterranean Stud. A bit of dilly-dallying in front of the still standing Mary trying to make eye contact doesn’t turn into anything. Bummer for me.
The Mediterranean Stud keeps walking back and forth, but also doesn’t seem to notice me. I guess I should try it the “official” way: squeeze his ass and see what happens… a squeeze back and a penetrating look! Score.
Feeling the whole social vibe, I invite him for a drink at the bar (after we used the cabin what it’s for) where we chat and even exchange numbers. Then I make my way back into the sauna where I run into the Athletic Jock in the steam room. Trying to make eye contact with him doesn’t really work and squeezing his ass neither. Too bad. Walking into the maze a little later I see him working up the Mediterranean Stud. Double hot.
They pull me into their corner and before I know it I am back in the same cabin with the Stud but have now gained a Jock. Would I recommend? YES.
Cons: Small, quite expensive, no flip-flops, not an abundance of hot guys
Pros: Clean, nice atmosphere, good mix of people, modern facilities, kind staff, free condoms
More information about Sauna Nieuwezijds can be found here.
