The team behind Club Church has started a new venture in Amsterdam, a late-night naked bar for queer men, very aptly called Free Willie. At WINGS, our interest was piqued so we had a talk with Richard Keldoulis (he/him), one of the owners, about who this Willie is and why they need to be freed!
Free Willie, the name pretty much says it all, but could you enlighten our readers and tell us why you’ve opened this new bar and what it entails?
“When starting a new business, it’s important to choose something you genuinely enjoy. Personally, I’ve always loved visiting naked bars, like L’Impact in Paris, and I used to go to the Stablemaster Bar, a naked bar in Amsterdam back in the day. It’s always a very liberating and sexy adventure. We envisioned Free Willie as a late-night bar, providing a last drink before heading home, especially since most places close around 1am during the week – we stay open until 4am during the week and 5am on weekends. We wanted to be a relaxed men’s bar, so we put in a pool table, but we also wanted it to be cruisy and sexy. We are the owners of Club Church after all.”
The interior is beautiful and chic. Was this a conscious choice?
“We essentially took over the bar in its existing state. Initially designed as Club Yolo, the owners spent quite a lot of money on it so it would have been a waste to change that. It’s also a nutty decor for a gay cruise venue and we found it quite funny to have that contrast.”
Could you tell us about the dress code, or lack thereof? I guess less is more?
“The dress code is, of course, naked, but we do allow underwear. On ‘Onesie Wednesday,’ you can even wear a single article of clothing such as a T-shirt or even a onesie if you so desire!”
The tagline specifically mentions queer men. Could you elaborate a bit more about your gender policy?
“We are a bar for gay men, but we also recognize evolving perspectives on gender. While trans men are of course welcome, we wanted to provide a safe space for trans women as well, acknowledging the limited places where they feel comfortable. So, we offer a space for men and anyone who previously identified as a gay man, including non-binary individuals.”
Naturist environment usually doesn’t equal sex space. How is that in your bar?
“Free Willie is designed as a bar for socializing, chatting, playing pool, and cruising. While there are sexy areas at the back, we don’t officially feature a dark room, glory holes, slings, etcetera. But, we do like it when our customers get hot and horny!”
Free Willie is very centrally located at Amstel 178, which has had many (in)famous queer bars and clubs. Why did you choose this location?
“Indeed, it has been a gay venue since 1976 when it was known as Amstel Taverna Club. One of the owners was Manfred Langer, who later went on to open Club iT. It has changed hands many times since then, but always stayed a queer venue – except for last year when it briefly became a tourist ‘shot’ bar, the last thing Amsterdam needs. So, it has a storied history of almost fifty years being a queer space. The Amstel and Rembrandtplein area used to be a major gay hub with over twenty queer venues. Sadly, all the bars in that area have now disappeared, recently including Montmartre and Amstel 54.”
Are you planning on hosting any special events throughout the year?
“Yes, we will have special events like our ‘Onesie Wednesday’. We’re planning naked pool competitions and even a naked karaoke night. The overarching theme is, I’m sure you’ve gathered, everything naked!”
You recently had the official opening, where, for one time only, guests could come in fully dressed. What was that like?
“The opening was amazing. We received so much publicity – we even got on the Dutch national news and Vandaag Inside, a Dutch talkshow about soccer. Who would have thought opening a little gay bar in Amsterdam would reach the national news? It was a great opportunity to see the space in action, with most guests clothed, but about a dozen choosing to go naked.”
What have the reactions been from your guests so far?
“We’ve received fantastic feedback from our visitors, and already have a group of regulars which is a great sign. The bar, the pool table, and the back areas have seen some lively and exciting nights. While some times have been quieter, we soon hope to have a consistently busy schedule. In any case, most people are just happy that there is finally a new bar in town.”
If our readers want to free their willie, where can they find more information?
“Visit our www.freewillie.nl, check our Instagram and Facebook @freewillieamsterdam, or feel free to send us a message for any specific inquiries via info@freewillie.nl.”
Address
Amstel 178, Amsterdam
Phone +31654926862
Opening hours
Wed/Thurs 20-04h
Fri/Sat 20-5h
Sun 17-01h
(closed Mon & Tues)
