Amsterdam’s Red Light District
The red light street is not really a street, but an entire block, affectionately called De Valletjes (“the walls”) by the townspeople themselves, which was once the site of the city’s fortifications. Prostitutes took a fancy to this place in the 14th century: it’s right in the center and not far from the port. Churches, taverns, and brothels have been lying around ever since, waiting for sailors who were tired after their long voyages.
Today the red-light district of Amsterdam is buzzing with life. The most interesting things happen here in the evenings and at night: illuminations, music, heated crowd, prostitutes of all types, sizes and colors, sitting in the illuminated shop windows on high bar stools. There are real beauties, immense Rubensian ladies, and modest middle-aged commoners who look like all the housemates at once.
What to see
By day, when the bright lights of the night fade, the Red Light District is also something to see. There’s a lot of interesting architecture here – after all, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Some of the prostitutes are still working, but they behave more casually: they read Cosmopolitan, talk about what to buy for lunch, and do their nails. And many of the windows are completely empty.
By the way, there was even a peculiar “Open Doors Day”. Armed with a list of 25 establishments, which agreed to arrange a free entrance for all, hundreds of people gladly took the opportunity to peek into a prostitute’s bedroom, see a few seconds of peep show or chat with a stripper. Tourists, mostly male, called the event a very good idea, while locals learned more about all the difficulties of the sex trade profession.
In the Red Light Quarter there is the Museum of Erotica, one of the most famous museums in Amsterdam, representing erotic art from different cultures and historical periods. There are many sculptures, paintings, statues, photos, even old engravings depicting genitals or the sexual act itself, as well as various devices. In short, there’s a lot to see.
A tour of the red light street
The municipality of Amsterdam is not happy that the main attractions of the city are brothels and coffee shops and not the Van Gogh and Rembrandt museums. There have already been several attempts to move brothels from the center to the outskirts. But we can’t take words out of our mouths, because that would mean losing tourists too. Then it was decided to forbid the guides to lead the group tours in the quarter de Vallen.
Especially for all those who disagree with this ban, we have prepared an audio guide for a self-guided tour through the red light district. Just 5 euros and you will see all the most curious alleyways and learn about them in a way that you can’t tell your children. Download the link and enjoy the tour.
When is the best time to visit the red light district?
The most active time on the streets of de Wallen is from 11pm to 2-3am. During these hours you can see the most girls, although many of them will be busy. At the same time, various sex shows, sex bars and sex theaters open. For example, at the so-called Peep Show, after paying a couple of euros, you go into a booth where there will be a performance waiting for you behind the glass for a couple of minutes. The show can range from a very frank one, to a lush prostitute sitting on a chair, nicely filing her nails.
During the daytime there is an opportunity to see the neighborhood and its inhabitants in a quieter setting.