Grachtengordel in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Benno Premsela

— Walk of Pride Amsterdam —

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 31, 2026

1. Benno Premsela Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Benno Premsela
1920-1997
hij/hem he/him

De Joodse Benno Premsela werd een pionier in het maatschappelijke gesprek over seksuele diversiteit door in 1964 als eerste openlijk op televisie gezicht te geven aan het activisme van het COC, waar hij voorzitter van was.

Forced to hide as a Jew during the War, Benno Premsela later refused to hide his sexuality. As chair of the COC in 1964, he was the first to openly discuss the organization's activism on Dutch TV, opening up the public discourse on sexual diversity.

Erected 2026 by Walk of Pride Amsterdam. (Marker Number 28.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Walk of Pride Amsterdam series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.

Location. 52° 22.412′ N, 4° 53.223′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Grachtengordel. It is at the intersection of Raadhuisstraat and Herengracht, on the right when traveling west on Raadhuisstraat. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Raadhuisstraat 142, Amsterdam,

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Noord-Holland 1016 DG, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Georgina Beyer (a few steps from this marker); Bessy Ferrera (a few steps from this marker); Janine Wegman (within shouting distance of this marker); Betty Paërl (within shouting distance of this marker); Brenda Howard (within shouting distance of this marker); Max Lievendag (within shouting distance of this marker); Marielle Franco (within shouting distance of this marker); Edgar Caïro (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.

Also see . . .
1. Benno Premsela (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Benno Premsela (Amsterdam, 4 May 1920 – Amsterdam, 27 March 1997) was a Dutch designer, visual artist and art collector. As designer he was active as textile artist, industrial designer and interior designer.

Premsela
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 31, 2026

2. Benno Premsela Marker - wide view, looking east on Raadhuisstraat
was also chairman of the COC Nederland and made an important contribution to the acceptance of homosexuality in the Netherlands. The Benno Premsela Prize initiated in 2000 was named after Premsela. In 2002 a new national institute for design was named after him as well, the Premsela Dutch Platform for Design and Fashion.

(Submitted on August 31, 2026.)

2. COC Nederland (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

COC Nederland, also known as COC Netherlands, is a Dutch LGBTQ+ rights group founded in 1946. COC originally stood for Cultuur en Ontspanningscentrum (Center for Culture and Leisure), which was intended as a "cover" name for its real purpose. It is the oldest existing LGBT organization in the world.

(Submitted on August 31, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 31, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.