Culture in Amsterdam's Red Light District
Discover the Other Side of this Infamous Neighborhood
Jan 2, 2009
Amsterdam’s Red Light District has a reputation as a hotspot for the pleasures of the flesh. While this is certainly true, as the oldest part of the city the Red Light District is also brimming with history and culture. This guide uncovers some of the best cultural, historical and culinary addresses.
Secret Attic Church
Right in the thick of the Red Light District action (Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40) is the remarkable Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic) church and museum. Located in a charming, but otherwise non-descript, 17th-century canal house, is a secret church. Built in the attic during the Reformation in the late 16th century, when Catholics were forbidden from publicly practicing their religion, the church has seating galleries, wall murals, an organ and an altar – in fact, everything one would expect in a place of worship but all on a tiny scale.
The rest of the house and the two adjoining houses at the rear have been turned into a museum. The period rooms from the 17th and 19th centuries provide an interesting look at life at the time, while a sizable collection of paintings, sculptures and silver give an insight into Catholic history in Amsterdam. The museum also hosts regularly changing exhibitions.
The building is open to visitors Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance fee and exact address details are available on the website.
Red Light Fashion
In an effort to gentrify the Red Light District, while still attracting visitors and money, the local government launched the Red Light Fashion project at the beginning of 2008. Sixteen ex-brothels scattered around the neighborhood were converted into studios for young Dutch fashion designers. The government hopes that the studios will provide the designers with the facilities to establish themselves, while filling the neighborhood’s windows with something other than scantily clad women.
Visit the website for a map of all the buildings and details of the participating designers.
Eating and Drinking
The Red Light District provides plenty of options for refreshment. Warmoesstraat and Zeedijk, the two streets that run down either side of the neighborhood, in particular, are packed with restaurants, bars and cafés, many of them very good. Places to look out for include De Bakkerswinkel, an excellent bakery serving homemade sandwiches and pastries (Warmoesstraat 69); Café Latei, which has a quirky interior and great Dutch apple pie (Zeedijk 143); and Little Thai Prince (Zeedijk 33).
One of the area’s best restaurants is the upmarket Blauw aan de Wal (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 99). It is not cheap, but serves high-quality Mediterranean food and gets consistently good reviews from locals. Call +31 (0)20 330 2257 for opening times and reservations.
Looking for more articles on Amsterdam's Red Light District? Find out about Red Light etiquette and safety here.
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