Walk and walk and it’s the world famous Red Light District of Amsterdam, centuries old buildings housing for a unique form of entertainment. This blog post will walk you through what the district is, how the windows work, and how to use a map to get around the district. After all of that, you’re bound to have all of the information you need to have a wonderful visit to this fun side of Amsterdam.
What are the windows in the Red Light District?
A defining feature of the Red Light District are the window, or “kamers” or “rooms” for short. They are private spaces where sex workers, known as ‘window operators’ meet with clients. For this reason, the district is a legally defined and regulated area.
Trying to Understand the Red Light District Windows Map
With a map in your pocket, you will definitely enjoy your stay in the atmospheric location Red Light District. You can find specific streets, find popular places to hang out, and plan the route as a result. Here are some key points to consider:
1. Get to Know Important Streets
The Red Light District consists of several streets, with the most famous being:
Oudezijds Voorburgwal: This is a historic street with many windows coming to separate bars and clubs.
Oudezijds Achterburgwal: This street too offers a good variety of window displays running parallel to Oudezijds Voorburgwal.
Steenstraat: A smaller street with some interesting buildings and a few windows to poke at.
2. Symbol Recognition on the Red Light District Windows Map
When looking at the map, you will notice several symbols that represent different types of venues:
Symbol
Meaning
Bordello or brothel
Strip club
Adult attraction or sex museum
So, if you know what you like, these symbols can help you to plan your trip, based on your preferences.
3. Red Light District Safety Tips
While the Red Light District is generally safe, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:
Do not take pictures or point fingers at the window operators unless they ask you to do so.
It is also advisable to remain alert and wary of pickpockets, especially in crowded zones.
It is illegal, and buying drugs from street dealers is always dangerous.
Listen to your guts and be aware of your surroundings.
4. Exploring Beyond the Windows
The windows of the Red Light District are not the only things they have. Go during the time and visit the kinds of museums you’d be unlikely to come across anywhere else, like the Sexmuseum Amsterdam and the Museum of Prostitution. If you’d rather spend your time delighting the vibrant nightlife of bars, restaurants and coffee shops all over the place, you can do that too.
Conclusion
After having explained the idea of the Red Light District windows and how to travel around in the Red Light District on the map, you can go out and search this very famous part of Amsterdam. Be respectful and open minded and always put yourself before anyone. Enjoy yourself having a good look around at the rich culture and history of this famous district!