My Visit to the Red Light District in Amsterdam

von Julia – in Europe, Netherlands, Traveldiary
By |2017-01-03T15:24:51+01:00April 7th, 2016|Europe, Netherlands, Traveldiary| 0

My Visit to the Red Light District in Amsterdam


As you know from my 10 Things you need to do in Amsterdam, I visited the Red Light District in Amsterdam. I only went there as a tourist ;) Maybe someone thought otherwise because of the title? Back to the topic. The Red Light District (RLD) is one of the most important tourist attractions in Amsterdam. A lot of travel agencies offer guided tours through the RLD. I think you don’t need to do a tour like this – you should rather check out the RLD on your own. No worries – it’s not dangerous.

Red Light District Amsterdam – everything you need to know

» The Red light District in General:

The Red Light District –De Wallen (or: De Walletjes) is east from Damrak, which is surrounded by Warmoesstraat, Zeedijk dem Nieuwmarkt and Chinatown. The most important streets are Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal. Brothels, Sex-Shops and Museums, the Red Light District in Amsterdamer is full of it. The Rossebuurt can’t be compared to anything else. The showcases with the floozies are famous. Most of the women don’t just offer a Peep-Show an, do you know what I mean? The Red Light District is one of the oldest and prettiest parts of the city. The streets are wonderful with all the cobblestone. The buildings are impressive with their architecture from the 14th century (e.g. the gotic Oude Kerk (old church)). The Red Light District is really charming and you should come visit here.

» Prostitution in Amsterdam:

Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands and especially in Amsterdam there’s a very well known Red Light District. In this district prostitution has a long tradition. Since October 2000 it’s legal. Prostitutes suffer from discrimination – sometimes the banks don’t want to grant them credits. But through legalisation of Prostitution the government ensures medical care for the Prostitutes. The working conditions are monitored strictly. There’s also a Infocenter for the women in the Red Light District.

There’s only a Red Light District like this in Amsterdam. You can find something similar like this in Hamburg, in Paris the Pigalle at Montmartre or in Antwerpen. There are also parts with a Peep-Show and Shops. It seems friendlier, more organised and less criminal in Amsterdam.

  • No Pictures from the girls!!

It’s not allowed to take pictures of the ladies. You can find these notes everywhere. Don’t try it. You will just annoy the women. They will roast you. We experienced this, when a group of chinese tried to take pictures.

  • Don’t talk to the girls!!

Don’t try to talk to these girls or try to interview them. Every showcase is monitored with a camera and most of the time there is a Bodyguard.

  • Don’t buy drugs from Dealers!!

There are a lot of dealers who try to sell you mushrooms, weed or something else. Don’t buy this! If you want to buy weed, then do it in a licensed coffeeshop.

  • Beware of the Pocket Thiefs

In this area there are a lot of pocket thiefs. They know that you’ll be distracted by the ladies and shows. So it will be easy for the thiefs. So take care of your valuables and your cash.

  • Visit the Red Light District in Amsterdam in the evening. (8/9pm!!)

To get the right feeling you need to come to the Red Light District in the evening. The best time is after 9 and 10 pm. We were there shortly before 9 pm and some of the showcases were empty.

Rotlichtviertel Amsterdam

Condomerie. Here’s a huge range of condoms. The business is a Condom Souvenirshop / Museum. There are different shapes or condoms with freezing or warming function as well as glowing ones. It’s funny as a Souvenir or to try this.

Belle Statue. There’s a bronze statue in Amsterdams Red Light District directly at the Oudekerksplein to honour every prostitute worldwide. This statue is the first and only memorial like this. It was created by Els Rijerse.

Peep Shows & Live-Shows. There are a lot of Live-Sex-Shows in Amsterdams Red Light District and the most famous show is at the Theater Casa Rosso (OZ Achterburgwal) and the Moulin Rouge (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 5-7). For those who are curious there are a lot of peepshows.

Rotlichtviertel Amsterdam

Oude Kerk. The Oude Kerk (Old Church) is the oldest building in Amsterdam. Unbelievable, huh? It’s in the middle of the Red Light District – special, right? In between the nearly naked girls, there’s the Oude Kerk, the oldest building in the dutch capital. The church was built in the 13th century in the middle of a cementary.

Zeedijk. There’s also a Chinatown in Amsterdam. Zeedijk is a district in Amsterdamer between the Nieuwmarkt and the Red Light District De Wallen. In 2010 this district became 100Years old. You can find a lot of chinesische Restaurants, oriental shops and a buddhist Temple.

Sex Museum. Amsterdam is famous for their museums. There’s also a Sex Museum. The first and oldest Sexmuseum worldwide has over 500.000 visitors each year. A popular museum with a collection of skulptures, paintings, photographs, videos and objects. The motto is: „Sex is the most natural thing in the  world“. The Museum shows, that Sex has a important role in history. Some are interested in the shown objects, others are just curious.

I think it was very interesting to see the Red Light District of Amsterdam and to observe all the people. A lot of tourists and half naked women. I imagined it much more obscene though. Maybe we were too early.

 What do you say?
  • Did you already come to Amsterdam?
  • Did you visit the Red Light District?
  • What do you say to the legalized Prostitution in Amsterdam?

I look forward to your comments and I hope that you liked my post.


Rotlichtviertel Amsterdam

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