Bsc Thesis - Private Acts - Public Settings. The current state of cruising at Park de Oeverlanden
By David Levi Benjamin
On August 11, 2021, Het Parool headlined “Cruisers have concerns about the future meeting place in the Oeverlanden”. In the coming years, the Nieuw-West district expects an increasing number of visitors to the area – due to urban expansion and a growing need for nature visits and recreation. These developments worry the local cruise community as Nieuwe Meer is the only place where public sex is officially recognized and tolerated.
Due to a lack of historical awareness and prevailing (hetero) norms, cruising is often seen as a negative and undesirable activity. Creating space for this marginalized social practice corresponds to the core values of Amsterdam (read: progressive and inclusive). For this reason, the municipality should take more into account the perspective of cruisers when it comes to managing and maintaining this internationally renowned meeting place.
This article describes small-scale research into the local sexual culture and motives of cruisers in Park de Oeverlanden. Based on observations and interviews, it is concluded that Nieuwe Meer still functions as a popular meeting place where a diverse group of men come together for casual and anonymous sexual contact.