Grachtengordel in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Max Lievendag
| — | Walk of Pride Amsterdam | — |
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, August 31, 2026
1. Max Lievendag Marker
Max Lievendag
1950-2017
hij/hem he/him
Erected 2026 by Walk of Pride Amsterdam. (Marker Number 21.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Walk of Pride Amsterdam series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 24, 1983.
Location. 52° 22.406′ N, 4° 53.271′ 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
this page online
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: Edgar Caïro (here, next to this marker); Janine Wegman (a few steps from this marker); Inge Intven (within shouting distance of this marker); Tania Leon (within shouting distance of this marker); Bessy Ferrera (within shouting distance of this marker); Stelly Hoeben (within shouting distance of this marker); Georgina Beyer (within shouting distance of this marker); Benno Premsela (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.
Also see . . . Max Lievendag (Walk of Pride Amsterdam). Excerpt:
After having visited the Netherlands numerous times on holiday, Max settled there in the second half of the 1970s. In 1980, Lionel Jokhoe’s Master’s thesis—on Surinamese ‘”homophiles” as a forgotten(Submitted on September 24, 2026.)group in Dutch society—attracted the attention of Zorg en Hoop (“Care and hope”), a Surinamese radio program broadcast by the Dutch public broadcasting corporation. Max and Lionel’s mother went along for an interview. Their collaboration led to the founding of SUHO (Surinamese Homosexuals), the first Black gay organization in the Netherlands and in Europe. …Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 5, 20262. Max Lievendag Marker - wide view
On June 24, 1983, SUHO, together with members of the Surinamese Working Group on Homosexuality (SWH) in Paramaribo, submitted a petition to the Surinamese Embassy calling for the repeal of Article 302 of the Surinamese Penal Code. This article was a colonial-era remnant equivalent to Article 248bis in the Dutch Penal Code. It prohibited sexual acts between two people of the same sex under the age of 21. The provision was discriminatory because the minimum age for heterosexual relationships was sixteen. In the Netherlands, Article 248bis had been abolished in 1971. It would take until 2009 before the Article 302 was finally repealed in Suriname.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 24, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
