Red Light District Amsterdam
Discover a different side to Amsterdam that really comes alive at night
There is no denying that the Red Light District Amsterdam has become one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. It is not popular with everyone and can easily be avoided, but if you want a walk on the wild side with a very eyes wide shut attitude then there is plenty to see and experience here.
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands but not out on the streets. So, in Amsterdam you will see the legal tax paying prostitutes behind windows in revealing clothing and the famous neon lights reflecting onto the nearby canals. There are also bars, restaurants, coffee shops, strip clubs, sex shops, and brown cafes.
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When to visit red light district Amsterdam
You can visit at anytime and you may find yourself walking through the district during the day on your way to other parts of Amsterdam anyway. But if you are going for the experience, then it really is a night time attraction. As darkness falls, neon lights the streets and the whole atmosphere changes as everything opens up.
During the weekdays the evenings are generally quieter, but Fridays and weekends bring in younger crowds on stag and hen parties mainly from the UK. This can make the atmosphere much more bawdy. If you are just going for a look around to say you have seen it, then a week day evening is likely to give you a less raucous experience.
As most visitors are visiting Amsterdam on short breaks, often over the weekend, they have no choice but to go at the busiest times. Which in some ways offers the full atmospheric experience unlike any other.
There are current conversations taking place that involve potentially moving the red light district out of the historic centre completely and rehousing it on the edge of Amsterdam. It remains to be seen if this happens, but it is true that the RLD has shrunk over the years, so it is quite possible it could be moved at some point in the future.
Where is red light district Amsterdam
The Red Light District is in the centre of Amsterdam old town, easily reached by foot from most hotels in the historic city centre. It is located in De Wallen and in essence is made up of two streets/canals and interconnecting alleys. These are Oude Zidsvoorburgwai and Oude Zidsachterburgwai.
How to visit Amsterdam Red Light District
You can walk to the RLD and explore completely on your own at anytime. There are no real opening times, as it is just a public neighbourhood, but things are busier at night when the theatres, clubs, restaurants and bars open. The most famous of these is Casa Rosso, Moulin Rouge and The Banana Bar.
If you are not comfortable exploring on your own then take a guided walking tour of the red light district. A knowledgeable local guide will walk you through the area, entertain you and arm you with the knowledge and history of the red light district. The best tours, like the one below, will visit other attractions in the area, like Oude Kerk so you get a full experience of the whole area.
There are plenty of other tours of the red light district to choose from including ones designed for stag and hen parties. Being in a small group is a great way to feel a bit more confident should you want to explore again on your own at a later time or just to get a taste of the area and tick it off your list. It is worth checking closely the details of the tour you choose as there can be restrictions in place, especially for larger groups.
Sex Museum
You could also visit the Amsterdam Sex Museum which is on the edge of the red light district, this is a museum like no other. It explores the history of sex through the ages with paintings, photography, artefacts and attractions to open your eyes a bit wider. It is a fun way to introduce yourself to the area and is one of the Netherlands most popular museums hosting around 500,000 visitors every year.
Red Light Secrets
Another popular museum is the Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution. This museum will give you access behind the neon red windows and closed doors. You’ll learn about how it all works, how they look after their workers and see some of the surprisingly lavish rooms. You’ll see more sex toys than 50 Shades of Grey’s Red Room, can pose for pictures and even confess in writing on the wall.
Read all about our visit on our Red Light Secrets page.
Finally, there is the Hash Marajana Museum in the heart of the red light district too.
Is the De Wallen area safe?
As with anything, there is no guarantee of safety anywhere in life. But there are things you can do to be aware of any potential dangers. The main issue in Amsterdam RLD is pickpockets. This is due to the crowded streets full of tourists and the many distractions surrounding them that can make them an easier target. Forewarned is forearmed and keeping an eye on your surroundings and your belongings is sensible, as is leaving your valuables at the hotel before your visit.
The area as a whole though is generally safe as there are lots of people and tourists around throughout the evening and into the early hours and the vibe can feel like a noisy party on the streets or a little more seedy, we’ll leave you to decide which it is.
Rules of the Red Light District
There are simple rules that are easy to follow:
- Do not take pictures of the sex workers, ever.
- Don’t drink alcohol out on the streets (it is prohibited).
- Avoid standing gawking in front of a window.
- Be respectful to sex workers.
- Do not engage with street dealers, you have no idea what you are buying.
- It is a neighbourhood where people live so don’t behave badly, littering, screaming, singing and creating a nuisance to residents.
Where to stay in Red Light District Amsterdam
If you are looking for a busy and exciting location full of nightlife, then staying in and around the Red Light District is a good option.
The Red light district in Amsterdam is actually pretty central, so if you are staying in the centre of Amsterdam, then you are not likely to be very far from this area anyway. A short walk will bring you to all the bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs.
You can though locate yourself right in the heart of the action. Two of the most popular hostels are featured below, that put the Red Light District on your doorstep.
St Christopher at Winstons Amsterdam Hostel
If you are looking to stay near the Red Light District and Dam Square and close to Central Station then this hostel will fit you perfectly.
Situated in the heart of Amsterdam, St Christopher at Winstons certainly delivers on entertainment, with its own bar that features in a pub crawl, free walking tour of the local area, its own beer garden and a nightclub downstairs.
Free ear plugs are given to guests which will give you a clue as to the type of hostel you are staying in, but St Christopher’s has previously been voted the most popular hostel in Amsterdam and continues to receive rave reviews.
Flying Pig Downtown
Another hostel close to the Red Light District and Dam Square and just a 5-min walk from Central Station. This hostel offers both private and dorm accommodation, guest kitchen, luggage storage, free Wi-Fi and a popular bar with live DJ sets.
Stepping outside the hostel you will find a busy shopping street and many, many cafes, restaurants and coffee shops. There is plenty to do in the area both day and night making The Flying Pig Downton a very popular hostel.
XXX Amsterdam
Yes, the red light district is home to x-rated entertainment and it is easy to assume that the XXX’s you see around the city perhaps represent this too, but you’ll soon realise they do not.
Amsterdam city has a 500-year-old coat of arms that feature three St Andrew’s Crosses. You’ll see this important symbol of Amsterdam everywhere as you explore the city. Amsterdam XXX appears on flags, buildings, souveniers and even on roads.
Of course you’ll see XXX in the red light district too, but for entirely different reasons.
Brief history of red light district Amsterdam
De Wallen
De Wallen has been around since Amsterdam’s earliest days. It’s become known as the red light district, but is a pretty neighbourhood in the heart of historic Amsterdam.
In its early days De Wallen became a draw for sailors as in 1270 a bridge was built to connect Amsterdam’s islands, making the connections between each place permanent. As De Wallen grew so did its reputation and that further fueled its growth as a place of disrepute.
The red light district term actually refers to any concentration of sex workers and refers to the red lights that were used to subtly attract those in the know. Nowadays, the gas filled lamps have been replaced with neon red that is anything but subtle.
During its history De Wallen and the red light district have become illegal, underground and then legal again under certain circumstances. In the early days a prostitute could solicit work from the streets but nowadays they are behind closed doors or as you will no doubt see, behind windows in revealing outfits.
The RLD in Amsterdam has shrunk over the years, in times past the area was a sprawling mass, but now it is focussed on two main streets and a few side alleys. It is worth remembering that the area is actually a business and residential area and is full of shops, markets, cafes and people.
From Central Station you can walk to the red light district in less than 10-minutes and it is a short walk from other main attractions like Dam Square. If you are staying in the Museumplein area then you’ll likely take a tram there unless you are feeling particularly energetic.
De Wallen – other attractions
De Wallen is actually a very pretty area with lovely looking canal houses. It is in the historic part of Amsterdam so fans of architecture will find plenty to inspire as they walk around De Wallen. One of the main attractions is Oude Kerk. A beautiful ‘old church’ that is an icon of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. It is open as a museum now and features fine art within its historic walls. You will see it overpowering the skyline as you walk around the red light district and is definitely a place worth visiting whilst you are in the area.
If you are interested in the history of the red light district then the museum of prostitution will have everything you need to learn about the history of prostitution in Amsterdam and the modern day issues too.
The future of red light in Amsterdam
In the last few years various plans have been looked at to move the red light district out of the heart of Amsterdam. The rational to this is to have an ‘erotic centre’ on the edge of the city that is easier to manage, safer for the sexworkers and reduces the vast number of visitors to the small De Wallen neighbourhood at night.
It is also an attempt to clean up Amsterdams image to tourists and attract a different type of visitor. The red light district is a big attraction to stag and hen parties and is often roudy, loud and very very busy.
Will this happen? It is difficult to say. Firstly no outside area wants an erotic centre built on their doorstep, most people working in the current red light district area also do not want it to move as the visitor numbers and their income from shops, bars etc will fall dramatically. It is also muted that an erotic centre could take up to 10 years to be operational. So for now the RLD in Amsterdam seems to be safe at least for the short term.
