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Amsterdam's
Red Light District
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 Amsterdam
Red Light District
The Capital of Europe for brothels to sex shops to museums, the Red Light District
leaves nothing to the imagination in any ones
mind and desire. You probably have heard about this
place in Amsterdam and to be
realistic everything you
will have heard is really true, but to really put rumours to
rest, you have got to check it out for yourself
with or without your partner. The Rossebuurt, as
the locals in Holland know it, is unlike
any other place. Guaranteed. Certainly, the Red Light District that
everyone knows about is the one where women, of all nationalities,
parade their wares in red-fringed window parlours, many ready to offer
more than a school boy peep-show in a private cabin.
Another familiar image of the Red Light District in Amsterdam is
the men, young and old, couples holding
hands and pointing in shock of it all, giggling groups of women
celebrating a hen nights, and busloads of
Japanese tourists toting cameras (except not in the direction of the
female entertainers!
This is proof enough that the Red
Light District deserves a
visit, if not a little look in.
Perhaps what few really notice is that the Rossebuurt (Dutch for
‘pink’ or ‘red’ neighbourhood) is in fact one of the oldest and most
beautiful parts of the city with its long winding narrow, cobbled
streets and utterly charming 14 th century architecture, such as the
gothic Oudekerk, or Old Church.
The Red Light District in Amsterdam
simply oozes charm and one cannot help but
admire the old buildings that lean at odd-angles, and the
tree-enshrouded canals. Music, especially during the summer season,
invites you to linger just that little bit longer while the arrival
of new classier eateries and great authentic restaurants such as
Café Pacifico, one of Europe 's first Mexican restaurants, make it
so appealing. Recently resurfaced streets, restored façades and
trendier clientele to the area are now transforming what was once a
dark and seedy part of town.
Amsterdam prides itself, and rightly so, on its wholly liberal and
tolerant attitude, embracing the fact that people may be into
prostitution, soft drugs and pornography-and this is only human. So
instead of criminalizing everything, this very upfront city wears
its heart on its sleeve-what you see is generally what you get.
Enjoy the honesty of it all, as you won’t find it anywhere else. So
how do you get to it? It depends which RLD you are looking for as t
here are in fact three Red Light Districts in Amsterdam: the main
area is in the Walletjes area (between Centraal Station and
Nieuwenmarkt), and the other two, in Singel (between Raadhuistraat
and Centraal Station) and de Pijp (behind the Rijksmuseum).
 Prostitution
in Holland
Prostitution is legal in Holland, and in Amsterdam most of it is
concentrated in the Red Light District where it has enjoyed a long
tradition of tolerance. Since October 2000, window prostitutes have
been allowed to legally proceed with their trade. Today, prostitutes in the
Netherlands are also taxpayers. Unfortunately, discrimination is
still very much part and parcel in this trade as many prostitutes
report that some banks even refuse to grant mortgages for example.
However, now as a legal profession, the government ensures that all
prostitutes are able to access medical care and work in better
conditions by regulating and monitoring working practices and
standards. Help is also at hand in the district itself thanks to the
Prostitution Information Center (Enge Kerksteeg 3,
www.pic-amsterdam.com). Also, contrary to popular belief, the RLD is
actually the safest area in Amsterdam as clusters of policemen, and
private bodyguards employed by the girls themselves are always on
duty.
 Did
you know?
Windows prostitution is distinct to
the Netherlands. Until recently, there was also a tipple -zone
(pick-up area) servicing the needs of clientele on the move.
Utrecht, 30 minutes east of Amsterdam, has its own canal-based
Red Light District,
Rotterdam has a number of sex clubs or private houses
as they call them (privenhuizen)
and smaller cities like Groningen and Alkmaar have also jumped on
the red light district bandwagon
to serve the public.
So where to go in Amsterdam? Well, if curiosity does get the better of you, come
down at night when the district really comes to life. During the
day, the district is less lively and even less attractive as the
more sordid aspects reveal themselves in natural daylight. Although
there are women forever tapping on the windows even during the light
hours, most of the action takes place around 11pm , when the
district is swarming with crowds and the red neon lights illuminate
the inky canals. The atmosphere pretty much thrives until around 2
or 3am when the crowds die down and businesses shut up shop.
 Whether
you are window-shopping, Amsterdam style, or actually wanting to buy
something, there is likely to be a place, window, or even two, that
cater to your every whim. For those not easily offended, there are
plenty of live sex shows and the most notorious of these go on at
the theatres Casa Rosa (OZ Achterburgwal) and the infamous Moulin
Rouge (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 5-7). For the merely curious, there
are numerous peep shows that may come with video booths. But of
course, for the more adventurous among us, there are more
interactive shows, for example at de Bananenbar (Oudezijds
Achterburgwal 37). Exactly what goes on in these places is up to you
to discover, if you so wish. For goods, there is a somewhat eclectic
mix of videos, magazines, sex aids and toys. The RLD is also home to
many gay bars and cinemas which can be found on the very busy
Warmoesstraat. If the Red light alleyways are not your cup of tea,
there are a number of brothels and private houses that offer a more
traditional form of prostitution.
For culture, you don’t need to look very far as the very picturesque
Zeedijk, the Jewish quarter, Waterloo Square and Nieuwmarkt Square
lie just around the corner. RLD also boasts a string of unusual
shops and pubs, so be sure to visit. And restaurants? Try the
stylish Mediterranean kitchen , the Blauw aan de Wal ( Oudezijds
Achterburgwal 99), the French brasserie Café Roux (Oudezijds
Voorburgwal 197 or head down to Chinatown.
 Chinatown
in Amsterdam
The Red Light District is arguably one of the few places where you
can get authentic and really tasty Chinese food. These restaurants
are easy to spot as cooked Duck is usually hung in the front window,
admittedly a bit of a stomach-turner for vegetarians! Over the
years, Chinatown has gone from strength to strength and today,
booming businesses are spilling over into the Nieuwmarkt area. Of
course, Chinatown in itself is a bit misleading as there are also
dozens of Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai restaurants and caf és
scattered along the beautiful canals. This buzzing complex of Far
East/Asian restaurants, shops, salons, apothecaries, markets and
martial art schools has received rave reviews, and deservedly so. To
make your dishes truly authentic, visit the Oriental Supermarket
which stocks a vast array of dry goods imported from China. Some of
the supermarkets here even have 5 floors so be sure to go early if
you want to get around the whole building! And make a point of
stepping into the Taiwanese Fo Kuang Sham temple on the Zeedlijk. It
stands as testament to the conviviality between the local Dutch and
Chinese communities, and what’s more, it’s free.
 To
make sure you get the best out of the Red Light District
in Amsterdam and that it
doesn’t get the worse out of you, stick to these tips closely
provded by Rush2go.
Do not take photos of the occupied windows - this is strictly
prohibited and any attempt will be quickly stamped out (it could get
messy, you have been warned!).
Watch out for pick-pocketers, as this is almost always an
extremely overcrowded area.
Try and go in a group or at least go in
twos to avoid attracting any unwanted attention.
Don’t visit the Red Light District first otherwise you may get the
wrong idea about the Dutch and Amsterdam as this is not all
their are about!
Enjoy yourself, as a trip down the
Red Light District which
will leave a lasting impression.
Do not buy from dealers -whether its drugs or bikes- or else you
will find yourself on the other side of the law!
You may have heard about this famous section of Amsterdam, and
quite likely everything you've heard is true! Check it out for
yourself, it's unlike any place else.
 Amsterdam's
famous Red Light District covers a large area in the oldest part of
the city. It has been servicing the personal needs and desires of
locals and visitors for five centuries. There is a certain charm to
the area thanks to the old buildings leaning at odd angles
overlooking tree-enshrouded canals, while inviting pubs, cafes and
coffee shops tempt you to linger longer. Music of every genre can be
heard along the streets from a dozen or more venues late at night.
Recently redone streets, revamped façades, new, classier
restaurants in
Amsterdam are now transforming what was once dark and dingy into one of the
most attractive parts of town! Now there are more reasons then ever
to visit the Red Light district, and experience this very special
place.
The narrow alleyways that reflect the inviting red glow of the large
picture windows where an endless stream of horny men oogle nearly
naked female flesh is of course the main attraction. The women
behind the windows run the gamut from young and beautiful to
grandmotherly and almost revolting. There's enough diversity here
including Asian, Black, Latin and of course European women to
satisfy any fantasy. So why not Get Laid?!
The hoertjes (hookers) are completely legal and regulated by the
government now, ensuring that they have access to medical care.
There is even a sort of union for the prostitutes to help lobby the
government when needed. For more info about prostitution, we
recommend you pay a visit to PIC, the Prostitution Information
Center, where their helpful staff can answer your questions and you
can view their exhibits and purchase condoms and lubricants.
From the gothic Oudekerk, or Old Church, narrow alleyways lead
through the busiest section of the Red Light District. The sacred
and profane have coexisted in this section of Amsterdam for a long
time. The XXX logo of Amsterdam once meant charity, resolution, and
heroism, but now conjures up the image of a lewd city. Indeed one
might get the wrong idea about Amsterdam and the Dutch if one
visited only this area of town. Their tolerant attitudes towards
prostitution, soft drugs and pornography result from an acceptance
that these things are human and a reluctance to criminalize common
(and profitable) vices.
 The
narrow alley ways of the Red Light district are busy all day long.
In the peak evening hours business is so brisk you might have to
wait! Remember, photography of the ladies is not permitted and you
will be in trouble if you try. Along the canals are some of the big
sex shows. The Casa Rosso and the Banana Bar are the most famous.
Hidden away in less obvious locations are a number of brothels that
cater to a more discerning clientele. Some of these brothels have
been around for ages in classy canal houses easy to mistake for a
residence. A few specialize in S&M and other kinky fun. And then
there are escort services that can send you a suitable playmate
during your stay. In Amsterdam, you can have it your way.
Amsterdam is also famous for it's pornography. The sex shops are
located not just in the red light district, but along other shopping
streets. Some of the shops are huge, a few are several stories.
Along with the usual assortment of videos, magazines, sex aids and
toys, there is always something new and unusual to check out.
Unlike similar shops in the U.S. and elsewhere, the Dutch shops
don't usually draw the line at straight or even gay sex.
 There's
the whole gamut of kinky sex including S&M, beastiality, some really
perverse shit, and even kiddie porn (although they have been
cracking down on this). Remember the Dutch might tolerate this, but
bringing some of it back to your home country could get you in a lot
of trouble! Many of the porno shops also have videos to watch and
private cabins. If you can't get it off in Amsterdam, you really
have a problem!
Warmoesstraat, a very busy street in the Red Light district is home
to a number of gay bars and cinemas. But the Red Light district
isn't the only place for the gay scene. Other areas of town are also
popular, especially Reguliersdwarstraat where Havanna Bar hosts a
lively crowd. Further down on Amstelstraat is the famous iT club a
popular gay disco just off the Rembrandtplein.
The Red Light District is one of the few places you can get good
Chinese food, rather than Indonesian style Chinese food. You can
tell these places because they have cooked Duck hanging in the
window. This is Amsterdam's Chinatown, and besides the restaurants
there are other Chinese businesses including a well stocked
supermarket across from the Waag, near the Nieuwemarkt.
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