The Red Light District Of Amsterdam: History And Tips For Visiting
The capital of the Netherlands has a unique corner that we cannot find anywhere else. Located right in the center, the Red Light District of Amsterdam owes its name to the lights and neons that adorn the shop windows, shop windows in which prostitutes are shown.
History of the Red Light District in Amsterdam
Today, the Red Light District of Amsterdam is one of the most visited areas of the city, partly because of its history and partly because of the curiosity that its shop windows arouse and the activity that takes place in these places. Such is the number of tourists who visit the area every day that group visits have even had to be regulated.
The neighborhood is located right in the center, in one of the oldest areas of Amsterdam. In fact, the buildings in which the neighborhood settled were fishermen’s houses, since the old city dam was located here.
His relationship with prostitution is ancient. Already in the seventeenth century the neighborhood was a place where prostitution businesses were frequented. But it was in 1911 when the legality of this activity was recognized.
Since then, the Red Light District has established itself as the neighborhood of the pleasure of the forbidden. Its red lights and neon lights illuminate shop windows (about 400) where customers can see prostitutes showing off and accessing their services.
Beyond the lights
In addition to all the things that make this neighborhood special, it is still located in the historic center of the city. Therefore, it is part of most tourist tours. Here you will find the Oude Kerk, the oldest building in Amsterdam, or even the Amsterlkring museum.
However, Warmoestraat street is the best known. It is strewn with bars, pubs, restaurants and prostitution venues. Around it, there are beautiful canals with trees through which you can stroll quietly.
After all, you are still 400 meters from the famous Dam Square and the Nieuwe Kerk, other of the city’s jewels. It can be visited regardless of age, something that does not happen, for example, with the Reeperbahn district of Hamburg, where minors cannot pass.
Why visit the Red Light District in Amsterdam?
If you are not sure whether or not you should visit this place, you should know that prostitution, being legalized, is more than normalized in the country. Nothing strange will happen if you walk through its streets. It is still a picturesque and special place that is not usually found elsewhere and more so naturally …
Prostitutes do not stop contributing with their taxes, so business is common and it is like going out for a nightclub in any other city. In short, a neighborhood with an atmosphere of all kinds that you will not find anywhere else.
Tips for visiting the neighborhood
We anticipated that the city council had made the decision to control group visits to the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Not only that, to guarantee the privacy of women, photographing the shop windows is prohibited, in fact, it is penalized.
Tours that allow drug and alcohol use are not allowed either. In this way, it is hoped to stop the crowds of visitors that occurred in the neighborhood and avoid problems with neighbors, merchants and workers. In short, measures to promote respect in the neighborhood.
So far all the details that may interest you about the mythical Red Light District of Amsterdam. A place full of passionate history that does not come in the books. We recommend you take a walk there at night and experience with your own eyes (remember, no cameras) something that you will not be able to see anywhere else.
Are you ready to fall in love with Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general? It is an open country full of attractions that deserves a visit.
