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Earlier we reported about the closure of Club Exit. In an ongoing dispute with brewers and other supply companies, the owner of many of the popular gay venues in the Reguliersdwarstraat is losing one after another his clubs and bars. In this ongoing legal battle, April bar is the next victim. It will be closed by May 19th.

Mister Kooistra is the owner of many bars and clubs in the Netherlands. He started his career in the northern university city of Groningen and has over the years expanded his imperium all over Holland. An important part of his chain of bars has always been gay bars and clubs. The popular gay venues in the Reguliersdwarstraat are almost all owned by mister Kooistra, via an intricate system of holding companies.

In his business model the relationship with drinks companies was always important. Apart from supplying the all important drinks, they were also an important source of loans and drinks equipment like coffee makers. This relationship worked two ways: by giving loans and supplying equipment the drinks companies ensured exclusivity for their products.

Several of these companies wanted their loans paid back and have started legal procedings. Mister Kooistra could hold them off for a long time, thanks to legal entanglements by virtue of is various holing companies structures. The judges found it difficult to determine if and how these companies could be hold accountable.

Late last year Kooistra's system of legal defenses unravelled and the sueing companies got the right to close down his bars and clubs. This meant first the closure of Club Exit and now from the May 19th the April bar.

The gay community has lost two iconic venues in a short period. We hope new and creative entrepeneurs will fill this gap.