Amsterdam Red Light District

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amsterdam red light district windowsThe Amsterdam Red Light District covers a large area of the oldest part of the city. The buildings are tall, thin and crowd together, overlooking the tree lined canals.

The Red Light District Amsterdam is a beautiful area and the later it gets, the busier it gets.

And the darker it gets, the more obvious the glow of the fluorescent red lights above the many windows in the area becomes.

Dating back to the 14th Century when sailors arrived in need of some female company, the redlight area is full of sex shops, brothels, gay bars, cinemas, hotels and different kinds of museums. This infamous part of the city is a major tourist attraction. Each year, millions of visitors come to see this vibrant and exciting part of Amsterdam.


This site answers questions many visitors to Amsterdam have about the Red Light District. Here you will find a lot of tips about Amsterdam to help you enjoy the city and especially this unique part of the city.

The Red Light District is located just south (10 minutes walking) of Centraal Station, the main train station. It consists of theater’s, shops, museums, restaurants, bars, coffee shops and of course the famous windows (about 250) with sexy girls, dressed in eye-popping underwear. And window-shopping, performed by both sexes is a favorite activity in the Red Light District.

amsterdam red light district girlsAlthough there is a lot of adult entertainment, it is much more then just a tourist attraction.

This district of 300-year-old gabled buildings and expensive real estate houses doctors, lawyers and plenty of families.

It is a tolerant community where freedom is highly valued.

Lately the City Counsel is trying to root out money laundering in this area. Business owners are scrutinized and if the can't proof that their earnings are legal, they loose their license. Some sex shops and brothels already closed their doors.

Nevertheless, the prostitution in Amsterdam's Red Light District will stay but will be accompanied by "Redlight Fashion" (young fashion designers) in order to diversify the businesses in this area and keep it an attractive tourist attraction.
 

It is ok to take pictures but not of the girls. Most girls hate it when people take photo's of them.

Don't be surprised if they come after you (or their pimps) and you will not be the first whose camera ends up in the canal after attempting to take pictures of the girls.

In and around Amsterdam are a few swinger clubs but not in the red light district. Two well known swinger clubs are Fata Morgana and Paradise .

The average price is 50 euro for about 15-20 minutes of sex. If you want special things of more time the price goes up. Make sure you agree on the price before you start. During the "act" you don't have much of a negotiating position anymore. If sex is offered for less than 50 euro start to worry what is wrong. For the rest... enjoy the ride.

Yes, there are transsexual prostitutes as well in the Red Light District. They can be found in and around the "Bloedstraat"

The red light area in the center of Amsterdam, where shemales can be found.

shemale prostitutes in amsterdam

If you would like to start as a sexworker in Amsterdam you need to be at least 18 years old. You can find usefull information on the website of the union for sexworkers "De Rode Draad"

The Red Light district is pretty safe as long as you're not stupid and venture into unlit areas or away from the obvious walkways. Stay with the other tourists, don't wear jewellery, don't use shoulder bags, don't put wallets in your back pockets and don't do anything that will make you stand out in a crowd. All things you would tell someone if it was their first trip to London, Paris etc. Careful of pickpockets around the train station, Dam Square especially but basically anywhere. And be careful with taking pictures. If you insist on taking photos in the Red Light District then do it discretely and don't take photo's of the working girls directly, they don't appreciate it.

In the red light district, the girls have sex with man. If you, as a woman, want to have sex with a girl then the best is to invite an escort girl to your hotel.

Testing for STD/Aids is voluntary. So, although it is not common, you cannot be sure the girls are free of STD's. So for your own protection make sure you use a condom and practice safe sex. It is common practice that the girls provide and use condoms.

male prostituteIt is tried out a few times to have male prostitutes alongside the girls but it wasn't a succes. They got a lot of attention but no customers so the experiment was stopped. There are male prostitutes working for escort agencies though.

The entertainment in the red light district is male oriented. You can go to theater Casa Rosso where they preform sex on stage but there is not a place with male strippers performing just for women. You can order a male stripper to come to your hotel though (call an escort agency).

Well, as long as men are willing to pay for the services of the girls, sex will not be for free. And then again, there is nothing against them enjoying their work. It increases the fun for the guys as well.

amsterdam prostitute in red light districtBecause you want to have seen this. A major tourist attraction tucked away in the heart of Amsterdam, it's essentially a series of tiny alleys criss-crossed by canals in the oldest part of Amsterdam, with around 300 tiny booths or cabins lining the streets, each with at least one prosititute a piece.

Because it is legal. Yes sir it is sir, with both prostitution and owning a brothel being allowed by the government – so nothing to worry about. Legally, that is...

Because it is special. That'll be the ability to buy sexual services and smoke marijuana, sir. Besides your regular sex shops, theatres and peep shows, there's also a cannabis museum. And sex museum too, if you're interested – which, if you're wondering around De Wallen, you probably are.

An infamous location worth visiting: Cassa Rosso on the Achterburgwal is well worth a visit (look out for its logo, a giant pink elephant standing up wearing a tie). For €50 you can look forward to a 'couple show', a

The minimum age for entering a coffee shop where they sell soft drugs is 18.

There is no age restriction. It is up to the girls if they accept you as a cliënt or not. They will not accept kids though.

It is easy to get from the airport to the Red Light District. From the airport terminal building trains to Amsterdam Central Station are leaving every 10 minutes. The train ride takes about 25 minutes and this is faster than a taxi (and much less expensive). From Amsterdam Central Station it is 5 minutes walking to the Red Light District. For detailed directions see the map below.

(A)=Central Train Station (B)=Red Light District

Show big map
There are many hotels in and around the red light district. To help you find a hotel you like with rooms available here is a list of hotels around the landmark "Old Church", in the centre of the red light district. The information includes the distance to the red light district.

Girls in the red light district will not come to your hotel however you can invite an escort girl to come to you hotel.

You will see policemen patrolling the streets in the Red Light District and they are there for your protection. They will not bother you because it is legal to go to prostitutes in the Netherlands.

police in the red light district of amsterdam

The Amsterdam police helping a tourist in the Red Light District.

For erotic entertainment you can go to the Banana Bar in the middle of the red light district. They offer erotic entertainment but no sex. A lot of stag parties go there. You can also go to the erotic bar "La vie en proost " for lap dance and topless waitresses. And of cause it is fun to walk around in the red light district and do some window shopping.

During the day, riding a beerbike with your friends is good fun.

A good place to eat with a group is Haesje Claes, 10 minutes walking from the red light district.


If you had a good time with the girl you can give a tip but it is not necessary. The finances are settled before the "act" and once you paid, you don't have to worry about money anymore and can just enjoy. That is unless you change your mind about the service you want (more time, more positions ect.). You then have to pay extra in between.

The things most people who come to the Red Light District like to do is "window shopping" (walking thru the area and looking at all the girls), visiting the theater Casa Rosso to see an erotic show, going to a coffee shop to smoke a joint or to eat space cake and off cause most men like to visit one of the window brothel girls.

The girls start working around 10 am. There will be girls available as long as there are customers. Around 2 or 3 am it starts to quiet down (later during the weekend).