COC Nederland

[1] COC originally stood for Cultuur en Ontspanningscentrum (Center for Culture and Leisure), which was intended as a "cover" name for its real purpose.

It also trains volunteers from the local organizations in providing information and leading support groups.

COC also works internationally, especially in various Eastern European and Central Asian countries, where it is involved in: mapping the LGBT community, helping with training, providing internships in The Netherlands and providing local support and advice.

The founders were a number of gay men who were active with "Levensrecht" (Right To Live), This magazine was founded a few months before the German invasion in 1940, and re-appeared after the war.

The social emancipation focused on getting article 248bis in the Wetboek van Strafrecht [nl] (the main code for Dutch criminal law) revoked.

In other cities such as Groningen, Leeuwarden and Eindhoven attempts by homosexuals to organize met with resistance from the local authorities.

in the 1950s and 1960s was the emergence of a subculture with bars and dances, as opposed to the pre-war situation where homosexuals mainly met in parks, on the streets and in public urinals.

became more public; evident for example in their name change in 1964: The "Cultuur- en Ontspanningscentrum" became the "Nederlandse Vereniging voor Homofielen COC" (Dutch Association for Homophiles COC); for the first time making clear it was an organization for homosexuals.

Although the COC stayed the largest gay organization, it lost influence and focused more on politics.

The affair led to the founding of the Homo LesBische Federatie Nederland, an initiative from John Blankenstein.