Nipple clamps: the art of pain and pleasure in BDSM
Nipple clamps for women in BDSM: the types, safe tips, and how one small clamp can heighten arousal and connection.
Glossary
Amerikaantjes
Dutch scene slang for the clamp where you set the pressure instead of the spring.
What are amerikaantjes?
Amerikaantjes is the Dutch scene name for nipple clamps with an adjustable screw, which lets you set the pressure yourself instead of leaving it to a spring. There is no fixed English equivalent; in English they are simply called adjustable nipple clamps. Where the Dutch name comes from cannot be traced.
| English term | No word of its own. In English this type is simply called adjustable nipple clamps; the encyclopedia lists the adjusting screw as a feature, not as a separate kind. |
| Also known as | adjustable nipple clamps; the closest relatives are the clamps without a screw |
| What sets it apart | a screw that tightens the jaws further, so the pressure is adjustable |
| What it is for | building up in steps instead of clamping down all at once |
| Main limit | ten minutes, the same as any other clamp |
Why the screw makes the difference
With an ordinary spring clamp the pressure is fixed the moment it goes on. With amerikaantjes it is not: you put them on loose and tighten them in steps, while the person on the receiving end weighs in. That makes them the best choice for a first time, and at the same time more dangerous for anyone who keeps turning, because the resistance builds so gradually.
The pinch is not the whole story. The description of nipple clamps points to why: cutting off the blood supply and then letting it back in hurts, which is why taking them off usually hurts more than putting them on.
What to watch for
Adjustable does not mean casual. The same source lists bruising and lingering soreness with use longer than ten minutes at a stretch, and damage to tissue and nerves when the blood supply is cut off too long. A screw you tightened yourself is also easier to forget than a clamp that hurt right away. On a BDSM date I tighten them in small steps and keep asking how it feels, so the pace stays yours.
Sources
- Nipple clamp. Wikipedia. Describes the adjusting screw as a feature of this type of clamp, the mechanism of cutting off and restoring the blood supply, the ten-minute limit, and the risk of damage to tissue and nerves.
Related terms
- Alligator clamp. The opposite design: fixed spring pressure and a toothed jaw, so nothing to build up, sharp from the start.
- Clamps. The type of tool that amerikaantjes are the adjustable version of.
- Nipple clamps. The parent term that amerikaantjes are the adjustable version of, with the reason that taking them off is the harder part.
- Clover clamps. The model without an adjusting screw, where the pull, not you, decides how hard it pinches.
Frequently asked questions
What people still ask about amerikaantjes.
What are amerikaantjes?
Amerikaantjes is the Dutch scene name for nipple clamps with an adjustable screw, which lets you set the pressure yourself instead of leaving it to a spring. In English they are simply called adjustable nipple clamps.
What is the difference from an ordinary spring clamp?
With a spring clamp the pressure is fixed the moment it goes on; with amerikaantjes you tighten it in steps. That makes them better suited to a first time, but also easier to overshoot with, because the resistance builds so gradually.
Who can you turn to with questions about amerikaantjes?
Victor, a gigolo with twenty-five years of experience in BDSM and a background as a psychotherapist. Nipple clamps are part of what he does, always with a conversation first. You can ask him a question with no obligation through the contact form or chat for free first.
Blog
Articles about nipple clamps
Amerikaantjes are one model out of a bigger family. These articles are about what clamps do and how you build up with them.
Nipple play: a woman's guide to BDSM
Nipple play in BDSM: how firm pinching, touch, and trust can grow your arousal and your confidence.
Related service
Building up with clamps
Adjustable clamps are what I have people start with, because you set the pressure. The service page walks through how a date like that goes.
BDSM date
Book a BDSM date with a gigolo who has 25 years of experience. Safe, intense, always within your limits, from soft bondage to dominance.
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Still have questions about amerikaantjes?
I'm Victor. Clamps with a screw are what I have people start with, exactly because you set the pressure. Want to know how that feels, or just ask me something? Send me a message. No obligation, I'll text you back whenever suits you.