Interview with Lola Edo: WorldPride Amsterdam

As a DJ, entrepreneur, and one of the people shaping Amsterdam’s queer nightlife landscape, Lola has been instrumental in creating spaces where community, creativity, and celebration come together. We spoke about her work, the importance of queer spaces, what she recommends during WorldPride, and how Amsterdam can continue to become a more inclusive city.

Can you introduce yourself?

I’m Lola. Lola Edo is my DJ name. I’m a DJ and entrepreneur in Amsterdam. I’m one of the founders of the queer bar Pamela and one of the people who helped set up several queer spaces here in Amsterdam.

My latest project was TILLATEC, which is a queer-minded club. I also org anise different events, like the Flinta Sex Party, and a queer basketball tournament. I love Amsterdam, I love to party, and I love music.

WorldPride Amsterdam is coming up. What events or experiences would you recommend people check out?

I would recommend Topicali. It’s a really nice event for the community, by the community.

I’ll also be playing at the HE.SHE.THEY. event at Paradiso together with DJ Bone, which will be really special.

If you want to experience something that feels a little more queer-focused, I would also recommend looking at events from Queer Agenda. They organise more events that are specifically created with inclusivity in mind.

What would you like allies to keep in mind when celebrating queer pride?

For all the allies who love celebrating queer pride: remember that it’s not only a party, it’s also something to fight for. We need support throughout the whole year, not just during Pride. Give the queer community space, celebrate with us, and stand with us.

Can you talk a little bit about inclusivity in Amsterdam?

What I love about Amsterdam is that we have around 180 different nationalities, which is a lot for a city. I think Amsterdam has developed a different social mindset compared to other parts of the Netherlands. We are a very social city, and that’s something I’m proud of.

When it comes to queer life, there are still things that can improve. We do have some spaces, and Amsterdam is working on creating more, but there are not enough. There are buildings in Amsterdam that are affordable, but often the same people own these spaces and don’t use them as creative or community spaces. They use them mainly to make money.

I think it would be better if more people had the opportunity to own and create these kinds of spaces — spaces where communities can grow. I also think we need better public transportation at night. That would make the city more accessible and safer for everyone.