Visiting Amsterdam's Red Light District
A Guide to Etiquette and Safety in this Famous Neighborhood
Jan 2, 2009
The Red Light District is one of Amsterdam’s primary tourist attractions. It can be an eye-opening experience for first-time visitors and is certainly worth a look. However, there is some Red Light etiquette visitors should be aware of before they arrive. Follow these tips for a safe, enjoyable visit.
The area known as ‘De Wallen’, because it is situated between the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal canals, is where most of the action takes places. It is located conveniently close to Central Station and is easy to cover on foot. In fact, this is one of the oldest parts of town, and the crooked buildings and narrow streets, many of which date back four or five centuries, combined with hordes of visitors, make the area almost impassable for anything larger than a bicycle.
Taking Photographs
Prostitution became a legal profession in Holland in 1988. The idea behind the decision shows typical Dutch pragmatism: prostitution is inevitable, so if it is legal, at least it can be controlled. In theory, this means that women (and it is almost exclusively women) can set themselves up as self-employed entrepreneurs, are required to pay taxes and are eligible for health care. The decision was also designed to increase the respectability of the trade and decrease criminal activities such as human trafficking and forced prostitution.
While not all these things have been achieved, the attitude to sex in the Netherlands is probably the most open-minded of any country. In addition, the practice of scantily clad women parading their wares from behind red-lit windows is distinct to Holland and puts the trade in plain view.
The chance to window-shop in this way, whether it is simply out of curiosity or whether there is intent to buy, is what attracts most people to the area. The women are used to being looked at, but please remember that this is what they do for a living and they are not zoo animals.
Unlike zoo animals, it is also not permitted to take photographs of the women. Any attempt to do so will be dealt with swiftly, so it is not even worth trying. Postcards of the area are readily available in newsagents and souvenir shops.
Staying Safe
It is estimated that Amsterdam’s sex trade generates around €500 million a year (nearly $700 million). This is a significant amount, of which the government receives a hefty slice in taxes. In other words, the Red Light District is a good earner and not something the government would want to damage in a hurry.
This means that visitor safety is taken seriously. While it is important to look out for pickpockets here, as elsewhere in Amsterdam, there is a high concentration of security cameras and police patrols, making the Red Light District an extremely safe place to visit.
A word of warning: it is not legal to buy drugs or bicycles from someone on the street. Keep out of trouble by politely ignoring any dealers or touts.
Further Information
Many people visit the Red Light District independently, and it is best seen at night when it really comes alive. For anyone interested in more in-depth information, self-guided and organized tours are also available.
The Prostitution Information Centre, set up by former prostitute Mariska Majoor and located on Enge Kerksteeg 3 in the heart of the Red Light District, provides information and advice on all aspects of prostitution. The helpful website also has a range of low-cost downloads, including a self-guided walking tour, and details of how to join its ‘behind the curtains’ organized tour.
In many people’s minds, Amsterdam will forever be associated with sex and drugs. But this is just one small part of what the city has to offer, so don't forget to discover other neighborhoods too. The Red Light District itself is brimming with history and culture. Find out more here.
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