Welcome back to our interview series A Tryst About Town, where we ask a provider to take us through their favourite spots in their home city. Today we're joined by Amsterdam's Mistress Koshka to take us around the city!
What makes Amsterdam special to you?
The spirit of the city. Amsterdam has a pretty radical past in terms of standing up to authority. It can be seen in things like the squatters in central Amsterdam in the 80s and in the streets of the Red Light District, which is an incredibly rich cultural hub. A comrade of mine is currently hosting an arts Matinée showcasing the creativity of Amsterdam based queer sex workers. This is to show the municipality we are creators of this rich cultural heritage, as The Red Light District is perpetually on the edge of being pushed out of town due to respectability politics. They are trying to sanitise the city but its roots are always, and will always be, radical.
What’s your favorite memory associated with living here?
Having lunch with my best friend and life partner in Nordelicht, an outdoor bohemian co-op cafe in Noord. It was the middle of the summer, we’d finally been reunited after many years apart and we sat and basked in the sun, watching the everchanging landscape of the IJ river.
Tell us about a restaurant that you love.
I won't lie, I am not very cultured with food, though an incredible recommendation I was given is Gebroeders Hartering. A small, intimate restaurant in Nieuwmarkt, run by two brothers, it offers a 5 course menu with modern twists on traditional Dutch and European Food. I’m autistic which means I have quite a restrictive diet and they accommodated this with pleasure. Things like this are what keeps me coming back.
Who throws the best kink parties?
Hands down, Fite Qlub! Their ethos is to serve the wide gender spectrum, minus cis men, as the creators believe cis men have been amply catered for, and often run, most legacy kink events.
A combination of social party with play spaces and performances from sex worker artists, the vibes are immaculate and me and my friends go to every event.
Is there a great place to hire a playspace?
This is a pain point for me. The Netherlands has extremely punitive sex work laws, one of which being anywhere hired by a sex worker must have a brothel licence. Because of this, we don't have any play spaces available for work or play, and coming from London which was extremely well served (I'm looking at you, Blue Door Dungeon!), it's been a real detriment to work and play.
What’s the best sex or fetish shop in town?
Again, such an easy answer, Mail Female! Queer, femme run, sex worker friendly, and stocked to the brim with quality products.
I especially enjoy the emphasis on queer sex in this store, with an array of straps, toys, and gender affirming tools for hot queer sex.
Can you recommend a great bar to have drinks at after a hot fetish session?
That would be Vrankrijk, your friendly, autonomous Anarchist bar on Spuistraat. My politics are very important to me and this bar never fails to throw me into conversation with fascinating and enlightening people whilst being welcoming to every section of society.
Where could a client take you on a wild shopping spree?
My time and my taste is never cheap. As much as I love local brands, I do also enjoy select well made designers such as PC Hooftstraat, the Bond Street of Amsterdam. It’s no fun shopping with a sub unless you do a very spicy wallet drain.
What’s your perfect Amsterdam day out?
Starting the day at Sauna Deco, a beautiful Art Deco fully nude sauna in central Amsterdam, doing a combination of 85°C sauna and 5°C plunge pool (I may have a little masochist streak alongside my Dominance!) I’d follow this with a typical lunch of apple and sugar pancakes somewhere local with my closest friends. Assuming we’re talking about summer (I am not a winter person), the afternoon would be spent hiring a boat to cruise the canals listening to a soundtrack of 90s Dancehall and bird spotting. I’d round off the evening with drinks with a special someone at The Flying Dutchman, then retire to the spa at the Van Der Valk with them to unwind before an evening of *adult activities* that would make a straight-laced Dutchie blush.
Are you a sex worker or client with tips or experiences to share? We'd love to hear from you!
The Good Client Guide destigmatizes sex work while providing guidance on how to be a better client and ally. Better experiences for workers mean better experiences for clients! To make this happen, we’re welcoming submissions from both providers and their customers.
