Myrthe from A.S.V.Gay
Borrel buddy questions
Read below all the reasons to become a member of A.S.V.Gay! Becoming a member is possible in August, September and February, when we also have our introductionperiods. It doesn't matter if you are about to start studying, or if you have been a student for several years. Anyone between 16 and 30 who identifies with student life can become a member of A.S.V.Gay!
Are you curious about how much a membership costs, when our open borrels are or how to join one of our activities? Take a look at our page with frequently asked questions! Can't find your question? Send an e-mail to hello@asvgay.nl.
Becoming a member of a student association ensures that you are not just studying, but that you're also actually a student. You're still settling in Amsterdam and all kinds of new experiences are coming your way. Naturally you want to make new friends as quickly as possible so you can share the joys and sorrows of the Amsterdam (student) life. The fastest way to do this is by joining a student association. But why then become a member of A.S.V.Gay?
The A.S.V.Gay membership completes your student experience. Nowhere else will you find this fantastic combination of the student life and other great LGBTQ+ people. With around 300 members, A.S.V.Gay has grown to be one of the largest student associations of Amsterdam in less than 10 years.
Approximately one fifth of the members of A.S.V.Gay are international students. Whether you're studying a semester abroad, or doing your entire study in the Netherlands, A.S.V.Gay is a wonderful place to get to know other LGBTQ+ students! We ensure our communication is always in Dutch and English, so international members can enjoy every aspect of our wonderful association.
Throughout the year, the board and our 16 committees organise various activities. Because our members all have different interests, there is something for everyone: from ice skating to the annual Pride symposium, from a weekend to Belgium to a midweek to Italy, from playing pool to our parties! It doesn't matter which activity you have or have not participated in, every Wednesday all our members gather at our weekly borrel in the Amstel Fifty Four to catch up while enjoying a drink!
A.S.V.Gay currently has five clubs: groups of members within the association all with their own specific interest or goal! There is The Bridge, a group that connects international members with Dutch members; Trans+ is the group for transgender, non-binary, gender-questioning and gender non-conforming members; Z.O.O.S., a group that focuses on a mutual bond and solidarity with members; the Rhapsodies, the music group of A.S.V.Gay; and Chaotic Queers, the Dungeons and Dragons group of A.S.V.Gay! So there's something for everyone, and if not, members are actively encouraged to start their own club!
Of course there's more to A.S.V.Gay than just parties, borrels and building a large social network! At A.S.V.Gay you can develop yourself and learn communication, organisation and management!
Perhaps you already know how to design, how to organise events, or you're already a great programmer. Or maybe you have always wanted to learn these things. A.S.V.Gay's wide range of different committees, such as the party committee, the travel committee and the website committee offer you the opportunity to do this! In addition, there is the option of doing a board year if you would like to convert your love for the association into a wonderful point on your resume.
The experience of being LGBTQ+ is different for everyone, but no matter if your experience is easy or difficult, being able to share this experience with people who understand what you're going through is a relief for many of us. You can talk to people about your coming out and you don't have to explain much when it comes to your sexuality or gender identity. A.S.V.Gay offers LGBTQ+ students recognition and the feeling of being welcome somewhere that other associations often cannot offer you like A.S.V.Gay can. Because our members feel at home at A.S.V.Gay and feel like they are accepted for who they are, their student experience is all the better for it!
A.S.V.Gay doesn't have any compulsory activities or hazing, takes exam periods into account while scheduling activities and our members often study together. You do not have to worry that being a member of A.S.V.Gay will cause you not to earn enough credits.