Amsterdam is an energetic city with an exciting cultural landscapes, characterized by canals, and special sights. Another one that interest visitors a lot is its famous Red Light Districts. In this guide, we will look at where to locate the red light areas in Amsterdam and give some useful tips for anyone interested in discovering more about these areas.
What are Red Light Districts?
Red Light Districts are those areas in some given cities like Amsterdam where prostitution is legal and those involved are been regulated. These are geopolitical areas through which the provision of sexual services is legal depending on some guidelines. But the most famous districts in Amsterdam are De Wallen, where several legal brothels are located in the windows of buildings.
In this article, want to hereby brief the reader on De Wallen – more popularly known as Amsterdam’s most famous Red Light District.
De Wallen or the “Rosse Buurt” thus stands for the oldest and the most famous of all the red light districts of Amsterdam. Centrally located and notable for its small street, many historic buildings, and bright red lit windows. This district welcomes millions of tourists a year for the strip clubs and many other bars, clubs and the overall non-stop atmosphere.
In the vicinity of De Wallen, the Oudezijds Voorburgwal is the primary street for all sorts of window brothels and adult theaters and coffee shops as well. When wandering through the streets, you will see that the windows that are marked in the red color mean that there are prostitutes inside of the room.
Responsible Visit to De Wallen
When visiting De Wallen, one can experience interesting things it does pay to respect the people that dwell within it. Here are some tips for visiting De Wallen responsibly:
Do not take pictures of the sex workers in the city. It is completely against the human norm and etiquette to do so.
Either in terms of the customers do not try to touch the sex workers or even propose anything to them. Businesses who have implemented the policy have the right to deny services to LGBT people.
As a tourist, respect the local community, do not raise your voice and do not litter around.
Also, always bear in mind that these zones are professional spaces for the sex workers so don’t trespass their body space.
Other Red Light District: Other Red Light Districts in Amsterdam
It’s however important to note that De Wallen is the most popular but there are other areas in Amsterdam that are involved in prostitution if you want to have a broader view. These areas offer their unique charm and experiences:
1. Singelgebied
Singelgebied is another popular area that features window districts is situated in the area close to the Singel canal. This district has fewer windows as compared to De Wallen and is relatively small and even less noisy. It is normally visited most frequent by the local people and those who are in search of non crowded place.
2. Ruysdaelkade
This is a swinging area of the city well known red light district street that is located in De Pijp. Here they offer a rather vast of the sex workers who are from different origin. There was the transition to the saturated with nightlife atmosphere of De Pijp — the district of the modern coffee shops, bars, restaurants, and the attractive Albert Cuyp Market.
3. De Pijp’s Hidden Corners
Despite the fact that De Pijp is not one of the distinctive red light districts, the area is full of secret spots for prostitution. Walking around this trendy part of the city might take one to some interesting meetings if only a person stays conscious.
Safety Considerations
In exploring the red light districts of Amsterdam certain measures of safety cannot be overemphasized. Here are some general safety tips:
Avoid poorly lit areas where only a few people might be passing around, or areas that are usually very dark such as streets or alleys.
Guard your property and be careful with thieves moving around the world.
Do not consume alcohol or drugs, as they will make one vulnerable and compromise their decision making.
Again if you have a bad feeling or you feel unsafe then it’s best that you should get out of that area.
Conclusion
The red light districts in Amsterdam present visitors with a look at an essential part of the Dutch culture. However seeing other parts supersedes the touristic approach taken in the De Wallen district as it provides a fuller picture. They advised that one should respect the locals and obey the law, as well as stay safe when in the country. To some people, accepting the fact that such districts exist is half the battle when it comes to enjoying the rest of your time visiting these districts because you are not closing your mind from experiencing the other side of Amsterdam’s allure.
