Book

Read our book about Utrecht’s queer history:

Utrechtenaren, een queer geschiedenis

Maurice van Lieshout, Marijke Huisman and Evert van der Veen, WBOOKS, 2024

Price: €29.95 – available at Dutch bookstores and online.

Utrechtenaren brings Utrecht's queer history to life

The history of gay men in the Netherlands is so closely tied to the city of Utrecht that for centuries they were commonly referred to as “Utrechtenaren.” Yet Utrecht’s queer history has largely remained untold—until now.

This book, written in Dutch, changes that by telling the stories of people who defied dominant norms around sexuality and gender and still managed to carve out a place in Utrecht society, despite legal and social discrimination. It highlights remarkable lives, such as that of eighteenth-century lime carrier Gilles van Baaden, lesbian icon Sylvia Bodnár, transgender artist Dirkje Kuik, and contemporary Utrechters who are making history today.

The authors interweave these personal narratives with the broader development of the Dutch queer emancipation movement. Featuring numerous unique illustrations, this book uncovers a history that is not only of local significance but also of national and international importance.

Utrechtenaren in the media

In my opinion, this book should be distributed for free in all secondary schools in the Netherlands

Utrechtenaren is an excellent book to get a good overview of the “queer history” of the Netherlands in a short space of time. Clearly written, excellently documented. Without falling into the trap of emancipation history and writing the story primarily as an accusation (…) the book sticks to the facts, lets the reader judge (…) This book deserves to reach a large audience. As far as I am concerned, this book should be distributed free of charge to all secondary schools in the Netherlands, with the powerful hint to write a nice personal paper about it. (Gay News December 2024)

This is how you create a successful book about the queer history of your city

This is how you make a successful book about the queer history of your city. Put together a number of authors with expertise (…) Alternate the whole with interesting sections about prominent personalities (…), write about various themes (activism, culture, parties, care and sports) and use abundant illustrations. And do that in a large format, with beautiful paper. (Head of Collection Wilfred van Buuren on the IHLIA website about the best queer books of 2024)

‘Utrechtenaren’ brings the queer history of Utrecht to life

The book reveals the often hidden history of the city's LGBTQ+ community, highlights stories of Utrecht's queer pioneers and examines the role the city played in developing LGBTQ+ rights in the Netherlands. From personal stories to societal changes: Utrechtenaren brings Utrecht's queer history to life and shows how the city has played a special role in promoting inclusivity and emancipation. (Winq recommends: five new rainbow books, new gems on your bookshelf, November 2024)

This book shows queer desire in all its diversity.

(Gen Magazine March 2025)

‘Utrechtenaren’ tells the story of four centuries of queer Utrecht: ‘This book had to be written’

(AD, October 2024)

Buy this book (...) That will make you wiser (...) Read this book. 

(Column by Koos Marsman (Ton van den Berg) in Utrecht vernacular, DUIC, October 2024)