Exhibition Queer Utrecht Stories

Queer Utrecht Stories

In October 2024, we presented our exhibition on Utrecht’s queer history at the City Hall of Utrecht.

Utrechtenaar

The history of gay men is so deeply intertwined with the city of Utrecht that for centuries they were nicknamed “Utrechtenaren.” Yet, the queer history of Utrecht remains unfamiliar to many. How did people who didn’t conform to the prevailing norms of sexuality and gender live? How did they fight against legal and societal discrimination? The exhibition Queer Utrecht Stories took visitors on a journey through four centuries of Utrecht’s queer history.

Four Centuries of History

Every era has its own norms and ideas about gender and sexuality. There have always been people who didn’t fit within those frameworks. In the 17th century, courts persecuted witches, and in the 18th century, sodomites became the targets. During the sodomy trials, “Utrechtenaar” became not only a term for a resident of the city but also a slur for gay men. Although homosexuality was removed from criminal law in the 19th century, societal persecution continued unabated.

20th century

In the last century, homosexuality was again criminalized, leading to resistance. In the second half of the 20th century, the first self-organizations emerged, actively working for the acceptance of homosexuality. Especially in the last three decades of the century, they openly fought against discrimination.

21st century

In this century, we celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, but unfortunately, public support for it has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, a hopeful initiative arose during the COVID-19 pandemic: Thirty030, city ambassadors of Utrecht (young Utrechters committed to connecting people and building the city), launched a campaign to reclaim “Utrechtenaar” as a badge of honor. Their slogan:

Get rid of those distinctions because, in the end, we are all Utrechtenaren (Flikker op met dat onderscheid, want we zijn toch allemaal Utrechtenaren).

Fragments and Portraits

The exhibition showcased diverse fragments from Utrecht’s queer history. These included stories about 18th-century molly houses (places where men met each other) and information about 20th-century queer organizations, such as advocacy group COC, youth organization PANN, and feminist bookstore De Heksenketel.

These historical fragments were interspersed with inspiring portraits of well-known and lesser-known “Utrechtenaren,” including:

Petronella Moens, writer and early advocate for women’s rights;
Hubert Schouten, preacher and fierce opponent of discriminatory laws;
Marie Anne Tellegen, World War II resistance hero;
Dirkje Kuik, transgender person and multifaceted artist;
Wim Sonneveld, cabaret artist, singer, and actor of national and international renown;
Jeffrey Wammes, top athlete and openly gay gymnastics champion;
Claudia de Breij, comedian, writer and presenter / icon in contemporary media.

The combination of historical moments and personal stories offered visitors a multifaceted perspective on Utrecht’s rich and diverse queer history.

Expo 'Queer Utrecht Stories', City Hall Utrecht, October 2024

Part about the 18th to 21st century

Expo 'Queer Utrecht Stories', City Hall Utrecht, October 2024

Part on the 21th century

View the exposition

The exhibition of 20 banners can be seen below. Click on the first photo. With the symbol > you walk through the exhibition. You first see a complete banner and then separately the parts on it.