The Cuckoo's Nest sees safer sex as a necessity these days, especially when having sex with multiple partners. We therefore have been promoting safer sex on our premises for years now, and since September 2006 we have been providing our guests with free condoms, which are available from our coat check. Apart from that, we have been providing safe sex information in the form of flyers and leaflets for as long as they have been available. We do feel, though, that practicing safe sex is everyone's own responsibility, and we can only try to assist our guests in making the right choices.

Our advice regarding safe sex

We urge our guests to always practice safer sex: use a condom with enough water- or silicone-based lubricant. However, using a condom may be the best protection from getting and spreading HIV, but it's not enough to stop you from getting other sexually transmitted infections (STI's). It is therefore recommended to have regular check-ups: if you are frequently having sex with casual partners at least 2 times a year. If you think you may have contracted an STI, don't wait for your next scheduled check-up and risk spreading it, but get yourself checked as soon as possible by the STI unit of GGD (public health authority). 

More information and testing locations 

MANtotMAN is a website of Soa Aids Nederland aimed at men who have sex with men (MSM), and not only provides all kind of information on MSM-sex, but also makes it possible to arrange a free and anonymous HIV/STI-test in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. There are more than 50 other local health authorities (GGD or GG&GD) in the Netherlands, where you can obtain personal advice and information on an anonymous basis about STI's, HIV, and safe sex. Just ask for the social nurse for STI's and AIDS. He or she can refer you (free of charge) for further examination. Most local health authorities will test you free of charge (and anonymously) for HIV. The site of GGD Amsterdam has a page with a lot of information on their STI Outpatients Clinic (SOA Poli).