Top 10 Amsterdam Sex Show in 2025
Posted on: March 1, 2025
Top 10 Amsterdam Sex Shows 2025
BOOK TICKETS NOW >Unveiling the alluring veil of Holland’s nightlife, our spotlight turns to the vibrant realm of entertainment – the famed sex shows in Amsterdam.
Don’t miss out on must-know information on The Moulin Rouge, The Peep Show, Casa Rosso and even world’s first 5D Porn Cinema. Discover it now!
10 Best Sex Shows in Amsterdam
The best sex show in Amsterdam: Moulin Rouge
Looking for an unforgettable experience in Amsterdam’s Red Light District? We’ve got you covered!
After thorough exploration and firsthand experiences, we’ve curated a list of the top 10 must-see sex shows in Amsterdam.
During our visit, we delved into the heart of Amsterdam’s vibrant nightlife scene to uncover the most exhilarating and captivating performances.
Discover this free, updated list with the 10 best sex shows in Amsterdam. Here’s what we found:
1 | Moulin Rouge Amsterdam
Moulin Rouge is surrounded by red light windows.
During our visit to Moulin Rouge, we were blown away by the sheer excitement and variety of entertainment offered. In just one hour, we experienced an incredible four sex shows, each more captivating than the last.
When we tested this place, we indulged in the local culture by ordering four Dutch beers at the bar, which we savored as we immersed ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere.
From sultry stripteases to electrifying live sex performances, Moulin Rouge delivers an unapologetically bold and titillating evening of adult entertainment that is a must-see for any adventurous visitor to Amsterdam.
Buy Moulin Rouge tickets online here. And make sure you have an entrance. The tickets sell out quickly. Are you looking for an original gift in Amsterdam? Then give someone a ticket for Moulin Rouge as a gift.
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Sex shows in Moulin Rouge are amazing! Buy a ticket and enjoy 4 different performances in 60 minutes. Sex show at Moulin Rouge Amsterdam include: female stripteases, live couple sex, writing shows, banana shows and ribbon shows.
Order a drink inside at the trendy bar. Or, just enjoy the sex shows on one of the comfortable chairs inside.
Expect a roster of seductive artists performing unforgettable shows. All the theatre seats are positioned close to the stage so prepare for an immersive experience.
Do you need to book in advance to visit Moulin Rouge?
Yes, it is recommended that you book in advance to visit Moulin Rouge in Amsterdam. This amazing venue has a lot to offer and can make the perfect gift or fun experience.
It offers saucy sex shows that you can’t see elsewhere. By booking ahead of time, you can ensure that you don’t miss out on your desired performance and are able to purchase tickets at the best price.
Book the Moulin Rouge tickets in advance via our website.
Moulin Rouge Reviews from Tourists
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | I will give 5 stars for the young couple, the handsome blond and tall man and his charming partner with a fit body. Very passionate congratulations! Reviewed by Aishwarya G.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Me and 3 buddies went to this place curious to what it is. As soon as we went in it was a crazy experience and all had us laughing and shocked. The staff were friendly and the actresses very eager to get me up on stage which made the show even more enjoyable. 100% recommend was a great laugh and experience. Reviewed by L. McKinney
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | If you’re curious about a sex show in Amsterdam check out this place. At first it was a little uncomfortable but then once we settled in it was really fun! Super interesting to just see people so free with their bodies. I loved that they had a bunch of different performers— some of them looked like they weren’t having fun, but others were really good. Especially when they were a couple. My fave tho were the two girls who did solo acts!! They were powerful and badass and you could tell they were having fun bc they were smiling! They also were amazing dancers takes so much core strength to dance on the pole !! I highly recommend just to have the experience. Reviewed by B. Fleck
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Overall a five stars for the performance and shows. The performer all have skills like some have indicated and it is very entertaining and fun which was totally unexpected but surprisingly good. I would recommend this place for anyone to enjoy a good shows. As for the small spaces, let’s be reasonable we are in Europe so small spaces are expected and they made the best of what they have so we can appreciate that. Reviewed by V. Luu
Me and 6 friends visited Amsterdam at the start of January and decided that a sex show in Amsterdam was one of our “musts”. We picked Moulin Rogue partly for the name and also the price wasn’t too bad at 40€. Overall an interesting and funny experience with two strip-acts and two full blown sex acts. Overall a must to-do in Amsterdam but couldn’t see myself doing it again now I have done it once.
✦ TripAdvisor: 358 reviews – 3 out 5 stars.
✦ Yelp: 10 reviews – 2,5 out 5 stars.
Price
✦ Entrance ticket = 40,-
One of our tour guides visited Moulin Rouge together with two female customers after a Red Light District tour. We had a great time and to us it’s the best sex show in Amsterdam. Discover how it went down in our review:
READ REVIEW >2 | Male Strip Show in Amsterdam For Women
Women are getting ready for male strippers in Amsterdam
NOW, something just for the ladies! Amsterdam’s newest erotic venue is this place that offers the perfect girls night out. It’s of one the first sex shows in Amsterdam specifically for women!
Amsterdam is a city famed for its raucous nightlife, and a male strip show is the perfect way to add a bit of spice to a girls night out. The shows are professionally choreographed and the performers are always in top physical shape, making for an incredibly visually pleasing experience.
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And while the performers may be scantily clad, they are never lewd or vulgar, so you can enjoy the show without feeling uncomfortable.
Amsterdam’s male strip shows are also unique in that they often incorporate comedy and audience participation into the act, ensuring that there is never a dull moment. So if you’re looking for a fun and unique way to add some excitement to your next girls night out, Amsterdam’s male strip shows are a must-do.
About
It offers muscular, handsome male strippers who give the best erotic shows in town – just for female customers. This place looks really cool from the inside and the atmosphere inside is amazing! Women go crazy during the men’s performances.
“Freak me, baby! Oooh yeah…”
The visitors can also get a personal striptease on stage or at their seat among the other guests which can be great for a bachelorette. The waiters here serve delicious drinks in a stylish and sizzling setting.
The crowd is having a blast!
Opening Hours
This male strip show in Amsterdam is hosted on Saturday’s. From 10:30 pm till 00:30 am.
Afterwards the party continues in trendy club Jimmy Woo in the city centre. For those who are looking for a complete night out experience, this organisation also offer a dinner option beforehand and a free afterparty entrance to one of Amsterdam’s most coolest club afterwards.
A bachelorette is getting a private lapdance.
Reviews
✦ Google: 241 reviews | 4,9 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 74 reviews | 5 out of 5 stars.
I was skeptical when I booked this as part of my friends bachelorette weekend, but thought it would be funny at least.
We were 8 girls and we’re all awed and wooed by the performances! Highly entertaining, surprising, engaging and funny. Definitely the highlight of our weekend and I can’t wait to bring more girlfriends for a fun night out.
We followed to the Jimmy Woo for the after party but it wasn’t my vibe/crowd, I’d probably pick a different plan for the after.
Overall, highly recommend this show for a fun girls night out! Source: https://g.co/kgs/Zw24m9
Prices
✦ Regular ticket = 35,-
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3 | 5D Porn Cinema
Inside Amsterdam 5D Cinema.
This isn’t really one of those typical sex shows in Amsterdam. This is the first 5D sex show in the world! Strap yourself in and prepare for a bumpy and sexy ride.
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In world’s first 5D Porn Cinema all your senses will be triggered. Inside the cozy theatre a X-rated 3D film is displayed. To make the experience 5D, other effects are added like moving seats, water, wind, lights and bubbles. All the effects sync to what’s happening on screen.
The short 3D film takes place in and around the Red Light District area and lasts around 10 minutes. This is a funny experience, especially together with a group of friends.
Reviews
✦ Google: 55 reviews | 3,5 out of 5 stars.
Price
✦ Entrance = 12,50
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4 | Stripclub BonTon
A party inside Club BonTon.
Club BonTon is without a doubt the best strip club in Amsterdam! Here everyone can have a great night.
About
It was opened in april 2019 – just next to the Heineken Experience. It has a super sexy, luxurious design which was made by Casper Reinders – one of the most succesful hospitality entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.
BonTon is a chique club with beautiful ladies inside who give the best sex shows in Amsterdam. Here, both men as women can have an unforgettable, exciting night out. This place has a great variety of delicious cocktails and the best champagnes at the bar, including Dom Pérignon and other Moët & Chandon’s.
One of the strippers with luminous heels.
Sex Rooms
Club BonTon also offers bedrooms on the top floors. Here you can have sex in one (or several) of the strippers.
Not all strippers provide these erotic services though. But some do!
They are offered by sex workers inside (who sometime also work as escorts). Ask the ladies themselves, if you’re interested.
TIP: Before or after your visit to Club BonTon, go to one of the bars or restaurants around the corner – on the Marie Heinekenplein. This square has a lively atmosphere and it is filled with other great places too!
Amsterdam Brothel Tour
During the daytime (when there are no customers), this place offers the Amsterdam Brothel Tour hosted by real prostitutes.
Reviews
✦ Google: 68 reviews | 4,3 out of 5 stars.
Prices
✦ Entrance ticket = 50,-
✦ Lap dance = > 20,-
✦ Drinks = > 5,-
✦ Private room = 300,- per hour
5 | Sex Palace Peep Show
The most accessible sex show in Amsterdam. 2 euro for 2 minutes.
When we tested this venue, Sex Palace Peep Show proved to be an intriguing glimpse into Amsterdam’s underground adult entertainment scene. Step inside the iconic red-lit booths for a discreet and tantalizing voyeuristic experience.
For just 2,- euro you get a front seat to the action: live stripteases from female strippers. And live sex from man and woman one stage. The show last 2 minutes for 2 euro.
All can be experienced from a small private booth. The awkward and funny thing about this sex show is that in the booth not only sees the strippers, but also all the other people in the other booths. Everybody sees each other.
The female strippers don’t use sex toys. But they do make the shows exciting and go completely naked. Before getting naked, they show off their hot outfits and lingerie from the neighborhood sex shops.
The last peep show in Amsterdam! Jan Otten owns this peep show, Casa Rosso Erotic Theatre, the Banana bar, the Hospital Bar and the Erotic Museum. All located on the main street of the Red Light District.
Peep Show Video
During our visit to the Sex Palace Peep Show in Amsterdam we made this review video. To us, it felt like a clean, exciting and fun venue that 100% belongs in the Red Light District.
Jan Otten is also one of the 22 experts in our Amsterdam Audio Stories app which is available in the Apple App Store.
Download the app and learn everything you need to know about this area during a Red Light District tour with a virtual guide. Hear stories of real sex workers, historians, police officers, locals and many other experts.
This app offer two hours of audio, GPS, photos and can be played anywhere. Listen to it at home or in your hotel as a podcast. Or, in the Red Light District of course.
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Another historic feature of this place are the video booths. Travel back into time (1970’s) when there was no internet and no porn on television.
Back then, people used these video booths to watch porn videos. In those years, that was super popular. One can choose between 400 videos.
Reviews
Google: 148 reviews | 4,2 out of 5 stars.
Price
✦ Live peep show = 2,- per 2 minutes
SHOW ME MORE! >6 | Casa Rosso Sex Shows
During our visit to Casa Rosso Theater, we were immediately struck by the opulence and comfort of the cinema-like seats, adding a touch of luxury to the adult entertainment experience.
The live shows on stage were undeniably impressive, showcasing a diverse range of erotic performances that kept us mesmerized throughout our time there.
However, to us, the entrance price felt somewhat steep for the overall experience offered.
It’s worth noting that while we enjoyed the entertainment at Casa Rosso, we couldn’t help but compare the staff’s demeanour to our experience at Moulin Rouge.
The staff at Moulin Rouge seemed notably more polite and attentive compared to Casa Rosso, which left a lasting impression on us. Despite this, Casa Rosso Theater remains a notable destination in Amsterdam’s Red Light District for its high-quality shows and lavish atmosphere.
This Amsterdam live sex show theatre was established over 50 years ago and has ever since been a main venue of the Red Light District area.
The shows inside run in a continuous loop of around 60 – 90 minutes. In that time slot you can experience 9 professional acts, 4 of which are couple sex.
We find Casa Rosso overpriced. It’s 60 euro for an entrance ticket. We believe that is too expensive because a better show is for offer at Moulin Rouge on the same street.
One of the acts inside Casa Rosso Amsterdam.
For 16 years, a couple have been working together who gets paid to have sex with each other. You can see how he eats her pussy and how they do all positions, like missionary, to the beat of the the music.
At Casa Rosso you can also see how a woman smokes a cigar with her vagina and a mistress who “punishes” a volunteer.
Casa Rosso is located on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
Once you enter you can stay inside till closing time but you’d be seeing the same performances every 60 – 90 minutes.
Erica & Udy having sex on stage.
Whilst inside expect some amazing, high skilled sexual performances combined with a little bit of comedy. Important to know: there’s only limited seating available (especially in June, July, September and December).
This means you’ll often have to wait in line.
Reviews
✦ Google: 16 reviews | 4,7 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 673 reviews | 3 out of 5 stars.
Prices
✦ Entrance ticket = 60,-
7 | Bananenbar
Front view of this sex show in Amsterdam.
Spoiler alert: the theme of the Bananenbar is the tropical fruit called the banana. Besides all the beautiful women the banana takes center stage, as a prop, held onto by the performer without using her hands.
At the entrance of the Bananenbar you can choose between two areas: the regular strip club (banana club) area or the classic bananabar area. Choose the classic Banana Bar area if you want to take a bite of a banana whilst its still inserted in a vagina. Interesting times!
Besides bananas the female performers also use their vaginas to sign postcards and do some other unimaginable feats. We would not really recommend this sex show to women.
Reviews
✦ Google: 213 reviews – 3,3 out 5 stars.
Prices
✦ Entrance ticket = 50,- (including one hour unlimited drinks.)
✦ Entrance club = 25,-
8 | Hospital Bar
The Hospital Bar in Amsterdam is a venue where strippers work as nurses. It’s the newest of all sex shows in the Red Light District. The Hospital bar is an exciting lap dance bar with a modern, spacious and relaxed atmosphere. It’s not mandatory to take a lap dance here. It is frowned upon if you don’t order any drinks inside.
It looks inside as you would expect from a modern strip club. LED lights, leather benches, strip poles and uplifting music. The Hospital Bar can be a good choice if you want to surprise a friend with a lap dance. For example because he is getting married or has a birthday.
This sex show in Amsterdam is located on the main street of the Red Light District. Almost half of the reviews on TripAdvisor are negative. But, it must be said that only 11 reviews can be found online.
Reviews
✦ TripAdvisor: 11 reviews | 2,5 out of 5 stars.
Price
✦ Entrance: 25,- (including two drinks).
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9 | Club LV
It must be said that Club LV is a sex club – a brothel – but men can also get very good sex shows here. This is one of Amsterdam’s most exclusive sex clubs and has been serving clients for more than 14 years. This is why it deserves a spot on this 10 sex shows in Amsterdam list.
Club LV is really something for men who want to get intimate with the sex workers inside. At the bar area one can talk to any of the 12 ladies who are present. When you find one that you like simply head back to one of the 8 luxury private rooms for some intimacy.
Reviews
✦ Google: 82 reviews | 3,9 out of 5 stars.
Prices
✦ Entrance = 75,-
✦ Private room = 300,- per hour
10 | La Vie en Proost – Lapdance Bar in Red Light District
It’s located in a narrow alley called Bethlehemsteeg.
During our visit to La Vie en Proost, we found the ambiance somewhat dated and lacking in excitement.
The live shows, while decent, felt repetitive, and the overall energy from the performers was lacking. Additionally, the service left much to be desired, with staff appearing disinterested.
Considering the high drink prices and underwhelming experience, we left feeling disappointed and unlikely to return.
This strip club in Amsterdam is situated well hidden at the end of an alley of the Red Light District. Just next to the Trompettersteeg – Amsterdam’s narrowest alleyway filled with window brothels.
This is a low-end strip club is definitely not the best one in Amsterdam but due to its location you might want to go here when you’re in De Wallen.
Warning
The strippers here will try to sell you some expensive drinks. It’s something that many customers experienced. You can also read that in La Vie en Proost reviews. Ladies, we advise you to avoid this strip club if you are with friends.
Reviews
✦ Google: 120 reviews | 3,5 out of 5 stars.
Prices
✦ Entrance = 5,-
✦ Lap dance = > 10,-
Erotic Massage
Amsterdam’s Red Light District is a place where curiosity meets adventure, offering unforgettable experiences that cater to every taste.
While iconic sex shows often steal the spotlight, a lesser-known yet equally alluring option is an erotic massage—a perfect way to unwind and explore a different side of sensual indulgence.
This intimate experience combines relaxation with a touch of excitement, making it a must-try for visitors seeking something unique. Discover how an erotic massage can elevate your Amsterdam adventure. After all, in Amsterdam, the extraordinary is just a step away.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best sex shows to see in Amsterdam?
The best sex shows in Amsterdam include Moulin Rouge, Bananenbar, Sex Palace Peep Show, Casa Rosso and Club LV. These venues are known for their high-quality performances, diverse acts, and vibrant atmospheres.
2. Is it legal to attend a sex show in Amsterdam?
Yes, it is legal to attend sex shows in Amsterdam. It’s required to be 18 years old. The city has strict regulations to ensure the safety and rights of performers and patrons, making it a safe and regulated activity.
3. How much do tickets for sex shows in Amsterdam cost?
Ticket prices for sex shows in Amsterdam vary depending on the venue and the type of show. On average, tickets range from €2 to €60. The Sex Palace Peep Show cost 2 euro. Moulin Rouge cost around 40 euro. Casa Rosso is most expensive and cost 60 euro. It’s advisable to book tickets in advance.
4. Are sex shows in Amsterdam safe to attend?
Yes, sex shows in Amsterdam are generally safe to attend. Venues operate under strict regulations to ensure the safety of performers and guests. Always follow the venue’s rules and guidelines to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience.
5. Can tourists attend sex shows in Amsterdam?
Absolutely, tourists are welcome to attend sex shows in Amsterdam. The city’s adult entertainment venues are popular tourist attractions and offer a unique insight into Amsterdam’s vibrant nightlife and culture.
6. What should I expect when attending a sex show in Amsterdam?
When attending a sex show in Amsterdam, expect a professional and artistic performance that blends eroticism with entertainment. Venues typically offer a comfortable and respectful environment. Remember to purchase tickets in advance, follow the venue’s guidelines, and maintain respectful behavior throughout the show.
7. What is a Sex Show in Amsterdam?
A sex show is a form of life performance featuring one or more performers who engage in some form of sexual activity on stage for the entertainment or sexual gratification of spectators (source). Amsterdam offers different kind of sex shows: erotic theatres, stripclubs, lapdance bars, peep shows, strip shows, and much more.
8. With whom to visit a sex show?
Going to a sex show in Amsterdam is an experience unlike any other, and so it should be shared with someone special.
Whether that person is your partner, a friend, a colleague or even a sex date, whomever you ultimately decide to bring should fit well within your comfort zone and share your enthusiasm for this unique experience.
Ultimately, it’s important to carefully consider who the right person is to best enjoy the show with you.
Are sex toys used during the sex shows?
In Amsterdam, the spectacular sex shows are wild and outrageous and can be quite shocking for the uninitiated visitor. Sometimes sex toys – like vibrators – are used in the sex shows.
The quality of these shows certainly has no lack of entertainment value. Amsterdam’s vanilla-style sex shows draw excited tourists from all around the world seeking to experience the openminded and liberal Dutch culture. Visit one of the many sex shops in Amsterdam. This is where you can discover all physical sex toys yourself.
We listed many other entertaining things to do in Amsterdam Red Light District. Discover 15 great activities below.
15 THINGS TO DO IN AMSTERDAM >To enhance your visit to Amsterdam’s Red Light District, exploring indoor activities can provide a unique perspective and memorable experiences, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
A highlight is the Moulin Rouge show, renowned for its captivating performances and the unforgettable experience it offers.
For those seeking alternative entertainment options beyond the district’s traditional attractions, discovering these indoor activities can enrich your adventure. Dive deeper into what the Red Light District has to offer by visiting indoor things to do in Amsterdam Red Light District for a comprehensive guide to make the most of your visit, rain or shine.
Have you visited one of these sex shows in Amsterdam? Let the world know how it was by posting a reply below.
ALSO READ:
Amsterdam Red Light District Prices
Top 9 Sex Date Sites in Holland
10 Cheap Hotels Near Amsterdam Red Light District in 2025
Posted on: February 1, 2025
Top 10 Cheap Hotels in City Centre: Affordable & Prime Location
Looking for good, cheap hotels in Amsterdam Red Light District?
DISCOVER HOTELS >Finding affordable lodging near this popular destination can be a challenge, but don’t worry! We’ve done the research and compiled a list of 10 budget-friendly hotels that are conveniently located near all the action.
In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to some affordable hotels that won’t break the bank, so you can enjoy your stay without sacrificing quality or location.
Say goodbye to the stress of finding affordable lodging and hello to an unforgettable trip to Amsterdam. Let’s dive in!
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The oldest canal in Amsterdam located in ‘De Wallen‘.
This article shows hotels in adjacent neighbourhoods, like Rembrandt Square, Raadhuisstraat, Amstel, etc. All hotels have a great location, not too far away from the Red Light District. Scroll down and discover now.
Top 10 Cheap Hotels In Amsterdam
10 | Amsterdam House Hotel
The most expensive on this list of cheap hotels near Amsterdam Red Light District. This beautiful hotel is situated in a monumental building and is located close to several entertainment areas such as Rembrandt Square, the Reguliersdwarsstraat and the Amsterdam Flower Market.
The Flower Market offers all kinds of bulbs. Great as a souvenir!
We find this also one of the better cheap hotels near Amsterdam Red Light District. The hotel offers a great view over the amazing Amstel River. All the rooms have a private bathroom and tea/coffee making appliances. A large separate seating area is also provided. Most of the rooms have views over the canal.
Rather want to avoid cheap hotels? Then discover the top 25 luxury hotels in Amsterdam and get more comfort.
Reviews
Everything was perfect. We stayed in a deluxe double room with river view in the annex building. The room was a very generous size by Amsterdam standards, very clean and the bed very comfortable. The location was absolutely perfect and the view from the room idilic. The hotel is located in a lovely part of Amsterdam, not too noisy when you want to chill in the room but just busy enough to absorb the atmosphere when you have the windows open. It is a stones throw from everything in Amsterdam. We will definitely stay here again on our next trip.
C. HulmeMy friends and I booked two rooms months in advance. When we arrived they only had one room and our friends had to stay somewhere else. Really bummed us out since we wanted to stay together, host didn’t offer us anything for the inconvenience.
✦ Google: 223 reviews – 4 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 425 reviews – 3,5 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 1,454 reviews – 8,3 out 10
97,- euro per night | 291,- euro for three night stay.
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9 | Rembrandt Square Hotel
This hotel is located at the Rembrandt Square entertainment area which is just a 10 minute walk away from the Red Light District. The area has many cafes, a coffeeshop, a club, restaurants and the Albert Heijn supermarket is also around the corner. This is where the locals get their groceries.
The hotel offers free WiFi too. The rooms in the Rembrandt Square Hotel have shared bathrooms. Coffee and tea facilities are available in the hotel lounge area. Another advantage of this hotel is that it’s just a 2 minute walk away from the Amsterdam Flower Market.
Reviews
✦ Google: 422 reviews – 3,7 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 368 reviews – 3,5 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 1,780 reviews – 7,4 out 10.
Price
94,- euro per night | 283,- euro for three night stay.
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7 | Hotel La Belle Vue
Amsterdam, Raadhuisstraat – next to the Herengracht.
A beautiful hotel located in a monumental building. Situated at an ideal location. It’s super close to the Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, Nine Streets, Dam Square and near the Red Light District.
All rooms have a private bathroom and have a flat-screen TV. At Hotel La Belle Vue you either get a room with a balcony or garden view. The tram stops in front of the hotel. This hotel near Amsterdam Red Light District does not offer free WiFi.
Reviews
✦ Google: 323 reviews – 2,8 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 328 reviews – 2,5 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 1,960 reviews – 5,8 out 10
Price
87,- euro per night | 260,- euro for a three night stay.
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6 | Budget Hotel Hortus
Hotel Hortus is located in the eastern part of Amsterdam close to the botanical gardens and Artis Zoo. Other attractions can easily be reached via public transport. The rooms are non-smoking and can provide accommodation for up to 6 people. Rooms have their own TV and safe. Bathrooms are shared and located in the hallway. Free WiFi is available throughout the building.
Reviews
✦ Google: 401 reviews – 3,7 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 498 reviews – 3,5 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 2,087 reviews – 7,8 out 10
Price
80,- euro per night | 239,- euro for a three night stay.
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5 | Budget Hotel Tourist Inn
Budget Hotel Tourist Inn is one of the cheapest hotels near Amsterdam Red Light District. This hotel is centrally located close to the Anne Frank House and Dam Square. The Red Light District is just a 10 minute walk away. All rooms in Budget Hotel Tourist Inn have private bathrooms, a TV and air-conditioning. A daily continental breakfast in included in the price. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.
Reviews
✦ Google: 615 reviews – 4 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 1,452 reviews – 4 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 2,234 reviews – 8,3 out 10
Price
77,- euro per night | 232,- euro for a three night stay.
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4 | Generator Amsterdam
This is one of the most cheap hotels near Amsterdam Red Light District. It’s the latest designer hotel in town, but this one offers an affordable price! The hotel is located next to the Oosterpark – a beautiful park which is not really discovered by tourists.
For visiting the main attractions you will have to use public transport. All rooms come with airconditioning and a private bathroom with shower. Free WiFi is available throughout the building.
Reviews
✦ Google: 2,479 reviews – 4,2 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 1,203 reviews – 4 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 4,676 reviews – 8,1 out 10
Price
73,- euro per night | 220,- euro for a three night stay.
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3 | Ecomama
The first hostel on the list is Ecomama. This hostel is located in the eastern part of Amsterdam city centre and within walking distance of the Red Light District and Dam Square. The hostel has a bar, a shared lounge area, a garden and the WiFi is free. The hostel also has an open kitchen, a great way to get to know your fellow travellers.
Reviews
✦ Google: 424 reviews – 4,4 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 348 reviews – 4,5 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 700 reviews – 8,3 out 10
Price
49,- euro per night | 147,- euro for a three night stay.
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2 | ClinkNoord Hostel
This hostel is situated in a former laboratory in Amsterdam North, dating back to the 1920’s. Many of the original features of the time remain. Central station and the Red Light District are a short (free) ferry trip and short walk away (around 10 minute).
The hostel has many lounge areas, its own café and even a library. Prepare your own food in the shared kitchen. Free WiFi is available throughout the building.
Super safe, squeaky clean & fully flexible. This is what this hotel in Amsterdam promises all guests.
Reviews
✦ Google: 5,863 reviews – 4,5 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 1,919 reviews – 4,5 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 5,487 reviews – 8,7 out 10
Price
48,- euro per night | 144,- euro for a three night stay.
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1 | Hans Brinker
You can stay here from 34 euro per night! This accommodation is located on the Kerkstraat which is only a 17 minute walk away from Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
It’s recommended for young travellers who like to meet other people who don’t want to spend too much on an accommodation but still like to have a centrally located stay.
This modern budget hostel is situated nearby Amsterdam Leidse Square. Both Museum Square and Rembrandt Square are within easy walking distance. Hans Brinker gives you the option of a private room or a shared dormitory. All the rooms at Hans Brinker have a private bathroom and a safe. WiFi is available throughout the building.
Reviews
✦ Google: 2,635 reviews – 3,8 out of 5 stars
✦ TripAdvisor: 1,649 reviews – 3,5 out of 5 stars
✦ Booking: 8,982 reviews – 7,8 out 10
Price
34,- euro per night | 102,- euro for a three night stay.
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Where to find the cheapest hotels in Amsterdam Red Light District?
If you are looking for affordable accommodation in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, Durty Nelly’s Inn is a cheapest option to consider. This hotel is conveniently located just a 7-minute walk from the Central Station and a 1-minute walk from Dam Square, making it easy to explore the city’s attractions. The rooms at Durty Nelly’s Inn are equipped with modern amenities including rain showers and free toiletries. The property also features a bar – named Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub – where guests can enjoy cocktails and take advantage of hostel discounts on food and drinks. The staff at Durty Nelly’s Inn are multilingual and happy to provide guests with practical advice like things to do in Amsterdam.
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Public Transport
Another great advantage of cheap hotels near Amsterdam Red Light District is that public transport is within easy reach.
Tip: use www.9292.nl/en for all information about public transport in the Netherlands. This is what all Dutch people use. This public transport website is free, available in English and always up to date!
Amsterdam Red Light District in summer time.
How much to tip hotel shuttle bus driver in Amsterdam?
If you’re planning on visiting Amsterdam, you’ll probably want to use the hotel shuttle bus at some point. But how much should you tip the driver? In general, it’s customary to give a few euros to the driver when taking the shuttle bus. However, this amount can vary depending on the length of your journey and the level of service you received. If you had a particularly long or difficult journey, feel free to give a little extra. Similarly, if the driver went above and beyond to help you with your luggage or answer any questions, a larger tip is always appreciated. Ultimately, it’s up to you how much you want to tip, but a few euros is a good starting point. Thanks for using the hotel shuttle bus!
Do you know other cheap hotels near Amsterdam Red Light District? Please share them with the world by dropping them in the comment section below.
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10 Hotels in Amsterdam Red Light District
Top 15 Things Things To Do in Amsterdam For Young Adults in 2025
Top 15 Things to Do in Amsterdam for Young Adults
Are you looking for the best things to do in Amsterdam for young adults? You’ve come to the right place! Imagine exploring a city where vibrant nightlife (like Moulin Rouge), unique museums, and thrilling adventures await at every corner.
Whether you’re a culture enthusiast, a party lover, or an adventurer, Amsterdam has something for you. Dive into our top 15 list and discover the ultimate experiences tailored for young adults!
Amsterdam is a city that never ceases to amaze, especially for young adults aged 18 to 25.
Whether you’re into nightlife, culture, outdoor adventures, or unique experiences, Amsterdam has something for everyone.
Here are the top 15 things to do in Amsterdam for young adults, guaranteed to make your trip unforgettable.
Things To Do in Amsterdam for Young Adults
1 | Explore the Nightlife at Paradiso
Amsterdam’s nightlife is legendary, and Paradiso is at the heart of it. This former church turned nightclub and concert venue offers a diverse range of music genres, from rock and electronic to hip-hop and indie.
With an ever-changing lineup of local and international artists, Paradiso is a must-visit for anyone looking to dance the night away in an iconic setting. When we visited this place, our locals concluded that Paradiso’s unique atmosphere and stellar acoustics make it a top nightlife destination.
Paradiso in Amsterdam has hosted legendary acts like Nirvana (1991), The Rolling Stones (1995), The B-52’s (1979), Depeche Mode (1983), Metallica (1984), and Iggy Pop. These performances cement Paradiso’s status as a premier live music venue (uDiscover Music) (Internet Archive) (Internet Archive) (Wikipedia).
2 | Experience the Moulin Rouge Amsterdam
Located in the vibrant Red Light District, the Moulin Rouge Amsterdam offers an unforgettable evening of entertainment. Known for its live sex shows, erotic performances, and amazing adult acts, this venue combines sensuality with artistry. In our opinion, the Moulin Rouge perfectly encapsulates Amsterdam’s open-minded and playful spirit.
While reviewing this venue, we found the performances to be both captivating and tastefully done, providing a memorable experience. It offers the real Amsterdam experience, in our opinion.
3 | Amsterdam 5D Porn Cinema
For a one-of-a-kind experience, visit the Amsterdam 5D Porn Cinema. This isn’t your typical cinema; it offers a multi-sensory adventure with 3D visuals, moving seats, and special effects like wind and water.
It’s an entertaining and cheeky way to explore Amsterdam’s liberal attitude towards sex and entertainment. When we visited this place, our locals found it to be a fun and unique activity that adds a playful twist to traditional cinema.
4 | Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum
Amsterdam is famous for its relaxed cannabis laws, and the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum provides an insightful look into the history and culture of cannabis. The museum covers everything from the plant’s medicinal uses to its industrial applications.
In our opinion, this museum offers an educational experience that highlights the legal journey of cannabis in Amsterdam and beyond. Our locals concluded that it’s a must-visit for anyone interested in the cultural significance of cannabis.
5 | Amsterdam Brothel Tour
Gain a deeper understanding of Amsterdam’s Red Light District with the Amsterdam Brothel Tour. This guided tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the city’s legal sex industry, including visits to working brothels.
We believe this tour provides a respectful and informative way to learn about the lives of sex workers and the history of the district. When we visited this place, we found it to be an eye-opening experience that challenges common misconceptions.
6 | The Upside Down Museum
The Upside Down Museum is a social media sensation. This interactive museum is designed with Instagram in mind, featuring rooms that play with perspective, gravity, and reality. When testing this venue, our locals found it to be a fun and whimsical place to capture incredible photos and create lasting memories with friends. We believe it’s a must-visit for anyone looking to add some playful creativity to their Amsterdam trip.
7 | Red Light Secrets Museum
The Red Light Secrets Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Amsterdam’s sex workers. Located in a former brothel, the museum provides personal stories and historical context, helping visitors understand the complexities of the sex industry in a respectful and engaging way.
It has a red-light windows too. Stand in the window and show yourself to the public, if you are not afraid to do so. When we visited this place, we found it to be an enlightening experience that promotes empathy and awareness.
8 | Wijnand Fockink
Step back in time at Wijnand Fockink, a traditional Dutch tasting room and distillery dating back to the 17th century. Here, you can sample a variety of Dutch liqueurs and genevers while learning about the history of Dutch spirits.
Our locals conclude that the cozy, old-world atmosphere makes it a unique and enjoyable experience. We believe it’s the perfect spot for those interested in the rich history of Dutch beverages.
9 | Cafe de Prael
Cafe de Prael offers more than just great beer. This brewery is dedicated to social responsibility, providing employment opportunities for people facing barriers to the labor market. Enjoy a locally brewed beer in a welcoming environment while supporting a good cause. When we visited this place, our locals found it to be a relaxing spot with a great selection of brews. We believe it’s the perfect place to unwind after a day of sightseeing.
10 | Vondelpark
For a breath of fresh air, visit Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest and most famous park. It’s the ideal place for a leisurely bike ride, a picnic with friends, or simply to relax and people-watch.
During the summer, you can catch free concerts and performances at the park’s open-air theatre. In our opinion, Vondelpark offers a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Our locals concluded that it’s a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy nature in the heart of Amsterdam.
11 | Anne Frank House
A visit to the Anne Frank House is a profound and moving experience. This museum, located in the house where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II, offers a poignant look at the life of the young diarist.
When we visited this place, our locals found it to be an important cultural and historical site that provides valuable insights into the human side of history. We believe it’s a must-see for anyone interested in understanding the impact of the Holocaust.
12 | A’DAM Lookout
For stunning views of Amsterdam, head to A’DAM Lookout. This observation deck offers panoramic views of the city and features Europe’s highest swing, ‘Over the Edge,’ which lets you swing out over the edge of the building. When testing this venue, our locals found it to be an exhilarating experience that combines adrenaline with breathtaking scenery. We believe it’s a must-visit for thrill-seekers and those looking to capture the perfect photo.
13 | Heineken Experience
Beer enthusiasts will love the Heineken Experience, an interactive tour through the original Heineken brewery. Learn about the brewing process, the history of the brand, and enjoy a tasting session at the end of the tour. When we visited this place, our locals found it to be a fun and informative way to appreciate one of the world’s most famous beers. We believe it’s a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of brewing.
14 | Jordaan District
The Jordaan District is one of Amsterdam’s most charming neighborhoods, filled with narrow streets, quaint cafes, and boutique shops. It’s a great place to wander and explore, with plenty of hidden gems and picturesque canals. When we visited this place, our locals concluded that the Saturday markets offer a taste of local life and delicious street food. We believe it’s a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the authentic charm of Amsterdam.
15 | NDSM Wharf
For a taste of Amsterdam’s alternative culture, visit NDSM Wharf. This former shipyard has been transformed into a creative hub, featuring street art, music festivals, and quirky bars. When testing this venue, our locals found it to be a vibrant area that showcases the city’s artistic and unconventional side. We believe it’s the perfect place for young adults looking for something different and exciting.
FAQ About Things To Do in Amsterdam for Young Adults
1. What are the best nightlife spots in Amsterdam for young adults?
The best nightlife spots for young adults include Paradiso, a vibrant nightclub with diverse music genres, and the bustling bars in Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. Don’t miss the unique experience at the Moulin Rouge Amsterdam for an unforgettable evening.
2. Which museums should young adults visit in Amsterdam?
Young adults should visit the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum for an insight into cannabis culture, the Upside Down Museum for interactive and Instagram-worthy exhibits, and the Anne Frank House for a poignant historical experience.
3. What are some unique experiences for young adults in Amsterdam?
Unique experiences include visiting the Amsterdam 5D Porn Cinema for a multi-sensory adventure, taking the Amsterdam Brothel Tour to learn about the city’s sex industry, and swinging over the city at A’DAM Lookout.
4. Where can young adults relax and enjoy nature in Amsterdam?
Vondelpark is the perfect spot for young adults to relax and enjoy nature. It offers beautiful scenery, bike paths, and summer concerts. It’s a great place for picnics, leisurely walks, and people-watching.
5. What are the top places for food and drink in Amsterdam for young adults?
Top places include Cafe de Prael, known for its locally brewed beer and social impact, and Wijnand Fockink, a historic tasting room offering Dutch liqueurs and genevers. The Jordaan District also has many quaint cafes and street food markets.
6. Are there any unique shopping destinations for young adults in Amsterdam?
Yes, the Jordaan District is excellent for unique shopping, with its boutique stores and Saturday markets. NDSM Wharf also offers quirky shops and street art, perfect for those seeking alternative and creative finds.
Amsterdam offers a diverse range of activities and experiences that cater to young adults. From its vibrant nightlife and unique museums to its charming neighborhoods and outdoor spaces, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Make the most of your trip by exploring these top 15 things to do in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam offers a diverse range of activities and experiences that cater to young adults. From its vibrant nightlife and unique museums to its charming neighborhoods and outdoor spaces, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Make the most of your trip by exploring these top 15 things to do in Amsterdam for adults.
Top 11 Amsterdam Apps You Should Not Forget in 2025
Top 11 Amsterdam Apps To Have
Amsterdam apps can significantly ease the challenge of navigating a new city, especially when it comes to transportation, weather, and finding local attractions.
Without these tools, you can waste a lot of time trying to figure out the best way to get around, what the weather will be like, and what sights and activities to enjoy.
Moreover, the stress of navigating unfamiliar streets is compounded by the frustration of not having real-time information at your fingertips. This lack of immediate access can lead to missed opportunities, unnecessary delays, and an overwhelming sense of frustration.
Amsterdam Red Light District – in opposite of Moulin Rouge.
To make your trip to Amsterdam a success, we have compiled a list of 10 must-have Amsterdam apps that will help you navigate the city like a pro.
These apps are available for both Android and iOS, and they offer features such as real-time weather updates, transportation information, and audio tours of the city.
1 | Buienradar
This app is a must-have for anyone visiting Amsterdam, especially if you are visiting during the rainy season. Buienradar provides real-time weather updates and forecasts, so you can plan your day accordingly. The weather in the Netherlands is changeable and rain can fall just like that. BuienRadar prevents you from getting wet thanks to the real-time rain information. Every Dutchman has this app! The app is available in Dutch and English and can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.
When I used the Buienradar app in Amsterdam I really liked that I can look 3 & 8 hours ahead and see the rain forecast. Very useful, imo.
2 | 9292
This app is your one-stop-shop for all things transportation in Amsterdam. 9292 provides real-time information on public transportation, including buses, trams, and trains. You can plan your route, see arrival times, and even buy tickets directly through the app.
In terms of comprehensive travel information, 9292 is considered a better option compared to the NS app. 9292 provides a one-stop-shop for all modes of transportation in the Netherlands, including trains, buses, trams, and ferries. This means that users can plan their entire journey from start to finish, including transfers and alternate routes, in a single app.
9292 is available in Dutch and English and can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.
3 | Amsterdam Audio Stories
Of course you also want to learn something about this beautiful city. This is the best app for that!
This Amsterdam app offers an amazing Red Light District tour, allowing you to discover the rich history and culture of Amsterdam at your own pace. The app features dozens of stories 22 experts, a virtual guide, images and a GPS-guided map.
The virtual guide and the experts will teach you more about highlights such as the world’s first condom shop, the Oude Kerk, the peep show, etc. Amsterdam Audio Stories is available in English and can be downloaded from the App Store.
Become an Amsterdam connoisseur and learn the must-know facts in record time.
4 | Find My Phone & Device Tracker
Losing your phone or device can be a stressful experience, especially when traveling in an unfamiliar city like Amsterdam. Imagine the frustration and panic of realizing your phone is missing when you need it the most, whether for navigation, communication, or capturing memories.
Download the Find My Phone & Device Tracker app! This app allows you to locate your lost or stolen device quickly and accurately. It offers real-time tracking, remote alarm activation, and even device locking to ensure your data remains safe. Don’t let a lost phone ruin your trip—download the Find My Phone & Device Tracker today and travel with peace of mind.
Download it now from the App Store.
5 | Uber
We all know this app, right? Not an Amsterdam app perse as it can be used worldwide. If you are looking for a convenient and affordable way to get around Amsterdam, Uber is the way to go. This app allows you to request a ride, track your driver, and make payments all from your smartphone. Uber is available in multiple languages and can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.
How does the Uber taxi app works?
The Uber taxi app works in Amsterdam in a simple and accessible way. To get started, you need to download the app on your smartphone and create an account. Then you can indicate your current location and enter the destination you want to go to. The app will then find a ride for you and determine the price of the ride based on distance and other factors, such as traffic conditions.
When a ride is accepted, you’ll see the driver’s details, including name, car model, and license plate number. You can also track where the car is in real time. When the driver arrives at your place, you can get in and go to your destination.
At the end of the ride you simply pay via the app and you can also give a rating to the driver. It is a fast, convenient and reliable way to travel around Amsterdam and the surrounding area.
6 | NS
This app is the official app of the Dutch rail network, providing real-time information on train schedules, arrival times, and delays. You can also buy tickets directly through the app and view your travel history. NS is available in Dutch and English and can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.
7 | FlitsMeister
This app provides real-time traffic information, including road closures, accidents, and speed cameras. FlitsMeister is an excellent app for those who are driving in Amsterdam, as it will help you avoid traffic and find the quickest route to your destination. This is a must-have app for anyone who is going to rent a car in the Netherlands. It prevents you from getting fines for speeding by warning you about speed cameras along the road. The app is available in Dutch and English and can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.
8 | Google Maps
This app is a must-have for anyone visiting Amsterdam, as it provides real-time navigation, traffic information, and public transportation options. Google Maps is the ideal tool to discover how to get to your destination in the Dutch capital.
9 | Schiphol Amsterdam
This Amsterdam app is a must-have for anyone arriving at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. The app provides real-time flight information, interactive maps, and information on shopping, dining, and other airport services. With Schiphol Amsterdam, you can also plan your onward journey, check baggage drop-off points, and find your way around the airport.
10 | MirrorMeister
With MirrorMeister, you can now enjoy your favorite content on a larger screen in the comfort of your hotel room. Whether you’re streaming movies, catching up on the latest news, or just want to share your photos and videos, MirrorMeister makes it easy to wirelessly connect your smartphone to your Smart TV.
Simply download the app and in just a few clicks, you can screen mirror anything you want from your smartphone to your TV. No more annoying cables or expensive hardware. Just a user-friendly and accessible way to enjoy all your favorite media on a big screen.
So, why settle for a small smartphone screen when you can upgrade your viewing experience with MirrorMeister? Download the app now and experience the convenience and simplicity of wirelessly casting your smartphone to your Smart TV.
11 | Booking.com
Booking.com is a must-have app for anyone looking to book hotels in Amsterdam. With over 40,000 properties to choose from, the app makes it easy to find the perfect place to stay, whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly hostel, a luxury hotel, or anything in between. The app also includes reviews and ratings from other travellers, helping you make informed decisions about your accommodation.
Are you looking for fun activities in the city? Check out these 32 things to do in Amsterdam. Or, just go to one of the 10 sex shows in Amsterdam. Then you will certainly have an unforgettable time.
But before you start planning your travel program it might be smart to book a hotel first.
These are the 10 best Amsterdam apps. Do you know any super good applications that should be added to this top 10? Share it with the world by posting a comment here. Thank you in advance!
Top 8 Karaoke Bars In Amsterdam Where You Can Sing Your Heart Out
Posted on: January 1, 2025
The Ultimate Guide to Karaoke Bars in Amsterdam
Experience the thrill at a karaoke bar in Amsterdam! Get ready to take the mic and make your singing dreams come true in this vibrant city. From belting out showtunes in a cozy bear bar to serenading friends with ’80s jams in a private room, Amsterdam’s karaoke scene offers something for everyone. Explore the best places for an amazing night of high spirits and possibly even higher notes. So, grab your vocal cords and let loose—karaoke adventure awaits. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the top 8 karaoke bars in Amsterdam.
1 | Casablanca
Ready for a night of singing and swinging? Casablanca in Amsterdam’s Red Light District is the place to be! It’s surrounded by other bars, restaurants, sex shows and window brothels around the corner. A Holland classic, this former club jazz bar has been around since before most party-goers were born.
Grab your mic and bring out those crooning vocals. They’ve got you covered with all songs available. And don’t worry about having to go home early; they keep it going til 4am on weekends or 3 am any day of the week. Plus, private booking is also available during daylight hours…so what are ya waiting for?! Let’s sing!
We find this karaoke bar in Amsterdam truly the best choice. Also because of its location. Casablanca is located on the Zeedijk. Walk to this place from Amsterdam Central Station in less than 9 minutes.
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2 | Duke of Tokyo
A popular karaoke bar in the Reguliersdwarsstraat area, Duke of Tokyo offers a Tokyo-inspired design and delicious cocktails and bites. Sing to your heart’s content in one of their private karaoke booths. Duke of Tokyo is open from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday and from 5:00 pm to 3:00 am Friday and Saturday. They are closed on Tuesdays.
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3 | Ginger
A private karaoke bar with three closed rooms, Ginger is the perfect place for a karaoke party with friends. The rooms can accommodate up to 24 people and the rent is free if the bill exceeds € 250. With an expanded Dutch-language music selection, Ginger is open from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and from 5:00 pm to 3:00 am Friday and Saturday and from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am on Sunday. They are closed on Tuesdays.
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4 | The End
This late-night bar is always a hit, with a karaoke installation that stays on even when other bars close. When it gets busy, the stage and microphones are shared, and everyone is invited to sing along. The End is open from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am Monday to Thursday and from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am Friday and Saturday and from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am on Sunday.
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5 | Karaokebar 24K
A karaoke bar located near Rembrandtplein, Karaokebar 24K offers a wide range of music in ten different languages, including Dutch, English, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Mandarin. They are open from 7:30 pm to 1:00 am Monday to Thursday, from 6:00 pm to 3:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am on Sunday.
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6 | Bar Karakter
A bar with a karaoke room in the basement, Bar Karakter is best enjoyed with a group of at least 8 people. Choose from a variety of packages that include food and drinks. Bar Karakter is open from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am Tuesday to Thursday and from 5:00 pm to 3:00 pm Friday and Saturday. They are closed on Sunday and Monday.
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7 | Café Plan
A bar with an open window in good weather, Café Plan also offers a 5-course menu for €34.50. The basement houses a huge karaoke space with a separate bar, which can be rented for €25 per hour. Café Plan is open from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am Tuesday to Thursday, from 5:00 pm to 3:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and from 1:00 pm to 1:00 am on Sunday. They are closed on Mondays.
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8 | Los bij Jos
This karaoke bar in Amsterdam is located in the center of the city. At Korte Reguliersdwarsstraat 12 to be precise. Craving a little excitement? Look no further than the allure of karaoke! It’s perfect for celebrating any occasion and will surely turn an ordinary night out into one to remember. At Los bij Jos they have an extensive selection of songs that you can sing. Something for everyone. Sing a ballad, a good oldie, or of course the latest hits! This makes every night a proper party! This bar used to be called Feestcafe Knalle bij Rich, but in 2019 this changed to Los bij Jos. This karaoke bar in Amsterdam is rated 4 out of 5 stars by 145 reviews on Google. Quite good!
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Get ready to rock the stage and make memories with friends at these top karaoke bars in Amsterdam! As you revel in the vibrant karaoke scene of Amsterdam, remember that the city offers a plethora of other thrilling experiences. If you’re looking to explore beyond the melody and find intimate connections, Amsterdam’s diverse landscape caters to this as well. For those interested in discovering the best sex date sites in Holland, a world of enchantment and excitement awaits. Dive into this unique aspect of Amsterdam’s nightlife and explore responsibly and respectfully.
Top 13 Amsterdam Red Light District Rules & Laws in 2025
Amsterdam Red Light District Rules & Laws: Avoid Fines or Violations
Before visiting the most fascinating area in the world it might be a good idea to get acquainted with the most important Amsterdam Red Light District rules & laws. You don’t want to accidentally break the rules, do you? Discover this useful list with 13 laws in Amsterdam Red Light District.
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1 | Public Alcohol Ban
In some areas in Amsterdam a public ban on alcohol is enforced. The Red Light District is one of those areas. It is therefor forbidden to drink alcohol in the public spaces (on the streets) and it’s forbidden to have bottles or cans of alcoholic drinks on you. A fine of € 95,- is imposed on violations of the alcohol ban. The local police and municipality enforcers uphold the ban.
The main street of the Red Light District (Oudezijds Achterburgwal).
Street signs with red circles indicate that something is not allowed in the Netherlands. The sign in the picture above means that it is not allowed to drink alcohol on the streets in this area; the Red Light District.
How old do you have to be to drink in Amsterdam?
In Amsterdam, the legal drinking age for beer and wine is 18 years old. However, the legal drinking age for spirits and other distilled beverages is 18 years old as well. It’s important to note that bars and restaurants in Amsterdam are required to check IDs to ensure that their customers are of legal drinking age. Failing to comply with this requirement can result in significant fines or even the loss of the establishment’s liquor license. Additionally, public drinking and public intoxication are not allowed and can also result in fines or other penalties.
2 | Street Prostitution Is Illegal
It’s forbidden for sex workers to offer or promote their services on the streets of Amsterdam’s Red Light District or elsewhere in the city.
The law applies on, or next to the road, or in a publicly accessible building. It’s also forbidden for possible customers to in any way accept proposals, in whatever form, to make use of their services. The fine for street prostitution for both the sex worker and the customer is € 115,-.
Sex workers statue next to Amsterdam’s Old Church.
3 | Smoking Cannabis Outside
Current Red Light District laws do not prohibit the smoking of cannabis outside on the streets. There are some public places in Amsterdam where smoking a joint outside is prohibited though. These places are for example: children’s playgrounds and school squares. In the Netherlands you are legally allowed to have 5 grams of weed on you, for personal use.
The terrace of coffeeshop The Bulldog on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal.
The unwritten law when it comes to smoking weed in the Netherlands is that people do it at home or in a coffeeshop. If you do smoke outside make sure that you are not a hindrance to other people. So don’t smoke a joint in front of houses with open windows for instance. Not everybody enjoys the smell.
4 | Compulsory Identification
Everyone aged 14 and older in the Netherlands must be able to identify himself or herself with a valid ID. For persons aged 16 or over who fail to comply with the obligation to identify themselves the fine is € 60,-. For persons aged 14 and 15, the fine is € 30,-.
Only certain government officials can ask for your ID. These are: police officers, ticket inspectors (public transport) and special enforcement officers (BOA’s in Dutch) like labor inspectors and forest wardens.
Amsterdam’s most narrow alley including 9 window brothels.
5 | Amsterdam Window Brothel Opening Hours
Window prostitution businesses are allowed to be open to visitors from 08:00 am to 06:00 am. Yes, the window brothels are op 22 hours a day! The sex workers tend to work in 8 hour shifts and are not allowed to work more than 11 hours a day.
6 | Littering in Amsterdam is Not Allowed
Do not throw soda cans, plastic bags or other (empty) product packagings onto the streets. If the local authorities catch you doing this, it will cost you € 140,-. Besides, why even litter in such a beautiful city?
Dutch cops are very friendly if you just stick to the rules.
7 | Sleeping In A Car Is Forbidden
In Amsterdam it is forbidden to use the road as a place to sleep or to use a vehicle, boat, caravan, tent or any other accommodation as a place to sleep or to offer these options. The authorities lately have been clamping down hard on people who sleep in their own car. The price for some nice quiet time in your own car is € 140,-
8 | Prostitution Hotels Are Illegal
It is currently forbidden to operate prostitution-hotels in the city of Amsterdam. In prostitution hotels rooms are made available to prostitutes who recruit their clients elsewhere. These types of hotels are forbidden because they go hand in hand with street prostitution.
However, Amsterdam escorts often go with their clients to hotels. Sometimes, customers invite escorts to Red Light District Amsterdam hotels. That is legal. The staff at the hotels are of course allowed to refuse an escort – if they know they are a sex worker.
Police also patrol the area by horse making the district even safer.
An alternative option would be to arrange a sex date in Holland. Discover these popular sex date platforms where men and women are just searching for sex dating without any strings attached.
9 | Red Light District Tour Regulations
Providers of tours in the Red Light District have to comply with rules that were in implemented in April 2018. If a guide gives a tour to five people or more, he/she needs a government exemption. With larger tour groups there is currently a set limit of 15 participants. If the tour group is bigger than this, local authorities can end the tour, and the guide will be fined.
It’s also mandatory for tour guides to inform the participants that it is not allowed to take pictures of the sex workers.
Do you want to learn everything about De Wallen? Then download our app with Red Light District tour and listen to fascinating stories of 22 experts. A virtual guide will show you around.
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10 | Promoting Prostitution On The Streets Is Illegal
It is forbidden for sex workers (or anyone else) to advertise sex services on the streets. The fine for this is € 115,-. In general, prostitutes do not want to work on the street at all because it is less safe, less comfortable and it makes less money. In the 1950’s & 1960’s, some prostitutes worked on the streets in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Also because there were less window brothels. Those days are over now partly because Amsterdam has more than 350 window brothels.
11 | Tours
Our local guide with more than 11 years experience in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Red Light District tours with tour guides are banned by the local government. The only way to get a Red Light District tour is with our app. It contains an interesting audio tour, virtual guide, map and stories of 22 experts. Here you can read all other new rules for tours in the Red Light District.
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12 | Minimum Age Of Sex Workers
One of the last Red Light District laws you have to know about is the following. The prostitutes in Amsterdam’s Red Light District need to be at least 21 years old to work in the windows. Every time they rent a window brothel, they are required to show their ID to the brothel operator.
13 | Urinating In The Street Is Prohibited
It is strictly forbidden to urinate on the streets of the Red Light District. The local residents hate it when visitors urinate in the street. Do not do this or risk a fine of 140 euros.
Please visit Sexy Loo instead. It’s a public restroom that looks like the Red Light District, filled with imitation red light windows.
10 Amsterdam Red Light District Do’s and Don’ts
15x Must See in Amsterdam Red Light District in 2025
Posted on: February 1, 2025
Top 15 Must See in Amsterdam Red Light District
A must-see in Amsterdam Red Light District tops the list when visiting this iconic city. You don’t want to miss the highlights and have a less-than-stellar experience, right?
Imagine hearing friends talk about an unforgettable spot they visited in Amsterdam, and you missed out! Here’s the solution: an overview of the top 15 must-sees in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Two of the red light district windows in Amsterdam Red Light District.
1 | Sex Shows
Step into the bold and liberating world of Amsterdam’s famous sex shows, a highlight of the city’s liberal culture. Explore Amsterdam’s famously progressive attitudes towards sex through vivid live performances, showcasing a unique blend of artistry and adult entertainment renowned for its boldness and creativity. While there, absorb the historic ambiance of the Red Light District, one of Amsterdam’s oldest and most infamous areas, rich in history and character. Feel the excitement of experiencing provocative and boundary-pushing performances in one of the most iconic and vibrant neighborhoods. Add this unique and enlightening experience to your Amsterdam itinerary. Book your tickets early to ensure you witness this unforgettable part of the city’s cultural heritage.
A visit to the Red Light District isn’t complete without visiting one of the sex shows in Amsterdam. We’d recommend visiting Moulin Rouge.
The Moulin Rouge in Amsterdam’s Red Light District is a historic adult entertainment venue, known for its burlesque shows and racy atmosphere. Tourists should see it for a glimpse into Amsterdam’s controversial and legendary nightlife. The venue has a rich history, having been in operation since the late 19th century, and has become a well-known landmark in the Red Light District. Visitors can expect a lively atmosphere with engaging performances from talented dancers and musicians. Although not for everyone, the Moulin Rouge in Amsterdam’s Red Light District offers a unique and memorable experience that provides a window into the city’s notorious and vibrant nightlife scene.
For those who’re into exciting shows, tickets to Moulin Rouge in Amsterdam should be high on your list. One of the best decisions you can make when purchasing tickets is to buy them online ahead of time. Online tickets come with several advantages over getting tickets at the door; most importantly, they guarantee entry into the show: just print off your tickets and go! And if that wasn’t enough, tickets purchased online are great as a gift for your friend, partner or colleague! So don’t miss out on a great opportunity; save yourself some hassle and purchase tickets to Moulin Rouge online today!
2 | Window Brothels
The windows brothels are definitely a must see in Amsterdam Red Light District.
The best must see in Amsterdam Red Light District is of course a window brothel, or 288 window brothels if you’re lucky enough to find them all. Amsterdam and prostitution are inextricably linked. Prostitution has been legal in the Dutch capital since 1811 and prostitution has always taken place in De Wallen area. This is one of the few places on earth where you can see this. Learn more about this unique part of the Netherlands during a Red Light District with a licensed guide or with the Amsterdam Red Light District Tour app.
Discover the Amsterdam Red Light District map with all window brothels. It also contains great bars, hotels and coffeeshops. Do you want to see it?
YES, SHOW ME THE MAP!3 | Coffeeshops
The first cannabis shops in the world are definitely a must see in Amsterdam.
Cannabis coffeeshops in Amsterdam’s Red Light District are a unique feature of the city’s liberal drug policy and are popular destinations for tourists.
Visitors should see them to experience Amsterdam’s relaxed attitude towards marijuana consumption and to learn about the city’s progressive drug policies. Coffeeshops offer a comfortable and safe environment for adults to purchase and consume cannabis products.
They also provide an opportunity to learn about the various strains of marijuana and the different forms it can be consumed, such as through edibles, vaporizers, or traditional smoking methods. With their unique atmosphere and knowledgeable staff, cannabis coffeeshops in Amsterdam’s Red Light District offer a one-of-a-kind experience for those interested in learning about the city’s progressive stance on drug use. Amsterdam has 164 coffeeshops. The first one was founded in 1972. Back in the 1990’s there used be over 400 coffeeshops in the Dutch capital.
We asked more than 200 frequent coffeeshop visitors which coffeeshop they think is the best coffeeshop in town. This resulted into a list of 10 best coffeeshops in Amsterdam. Are you curious which received the most votes?
SHOW ME! >4 | Condomerie
Since 1987, this shop sells condoms only.
The first shop in the world completely dedicated to condoms. The idea came to the owners at the start of outbreak of the HIV-Aids epidemic in the 1980’s. They were of the opinion that the public needed a store with professional staff that could give advice on condoms. At the time you could already buy condoms at pharmacy but there were too few option, hardly any choice or any good information. Thus the Condomerie was born and it is a featured highlight on our Red Light District tour. Theodoor van Boven is the founder of the Condomerie and one of the 22 experts in the app Amsterdam Audio Tours.
GET THE APP >5 | Old Church Amsterdam
Religious or not. De Oude Kerk is a must see in Amsterdam!
Amsterdam’s oldest building the Old Church stands proudly between the window brothels and coffeeshops. This church dates back to the founding of Amsterdam. The first records of the church come from the year 1213. A lot has happened since then and the church has undergone numerous reconstructions and a switch from Catholicism to protestantism. The wooden ceiling, which is the largest of its type in Europe, is made from Estonian oak and dates back to 1390. Very special!
6 | Narrow Alleys
Nine windows in Amsterdam’s most narrow alley.
The Red Light District is home to the narrowest alley in Amsterdam. At its narrowest point this alley is just 1 meter wide. Besides being very narrow it also has nine window brothels so this is quite an intimate experience.
DISCOVER RED LIGHT DISTRICT >7 | The Waag
Amsterdam’s second oldest building.
The 15th century former city gate still stands beautifully at the center of the Nieuwmarkt Square. The building has had many different functions throughout its life. These include being a guild house, a museum, a fire station an anatomical theatre, and currently it’s The Waag Restaurant. Rembrandt even made one of his art works here. The famous painting by Rembrandt called “The anatomical lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulip” shows an anatomical dissection taking place inside The Waag.
8 | FEBO
FEBO is Holland’s most famous snack-bar with typical Dutch food.
Food lovers pay attention. This is the most iconic snack-bar in the Netherlands. FEBO is a popular Dutch fast food chain known for its automated vending machines that serve up delicious and affordable snacks and meals. Tourists should visit FEBO because it offers a unique dining experience and a taste of authentic Dutch cuisine. With its convenient locations and 24/7 availability, FEBO is a great option for those looking for a quick bite or a late-night snack. Its iconic yellow and red vending machines, which dispense classic Dutch treats like kroketten (croquettes) and frikandellen (fried sausages), are a must-try for anyone visiting the Netherlands.
Walk on in and pull a deep fried snack from the automatique. Try out local delicacies like the kroket – a breaded deep fried cow or veal meat ragout which is super crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside.
9 | Amsterdam 5D Cinema
The 5D Porn Cinema next to the church, window brothels and a day-care.
The first 5d Porn Cinema in the world! This truly unique experience is a must for those who want to have a laugh. Inside the theatre you take a seat in moving chairs as a 3d porn movie is projected on the screen. The movie is about someone who visits the Red Light District for the first time. A plethora of other effects including wind, foam and water are then added in sync to the pictures on screen. This is a fun ride that you can only experience Amsterdam.
BUY TICKETS >10 | Our Lord In The Attic
The last hidden church is definitely a must see in Amsterdam.
A hidden church museum right in the middle of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. This church is located in the attic of a completely restored 17th century canal house.
This little hidden church is a great symbol of tolerance in Amsterdam. Back in those days celebrating mass was forbidden, but in the case of hidden churches they were tolerated.
This museum is a must for those who’d like to see the inside of an old canal house and learn about world famous Dutch tolerance. You can find more information or buy your tickets via the link below:
BUY TICKETS >11 | Museum Of Prostitution
Red Light Secrets on the famous Amsterdam Red Light District street.
Ever wondered what a brothel looks like from the inside? The Red Light Secrets museum is actually a repurposed former brothel. Inside you get to see the many different luxurious rooms. You even get the option to sit in a Red Light District window brothel. Try and find out if any of the passer-byes are interested in your flirting-skills.
12 | Chinatown
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Zeedijk.
Amsterdam has its very own little Chinatown. It was first established in the year 1911 and is the oldest Chinese neighbourhood on European soil. Since the year 2000 the area has had a Fo Guang Shan He Hua Tempel which is the largest Chinese style religious building in Europe. Visit this temple for free!
Besides this highlight this is the place you want to be for asian food. All types of Asian restaurants can be found in this area including Thai, Indonesian, Japanese and Malaysian food.
13 | Sex Worker Statue
Belle statue. Respect sex workers all over the world.
There are only two places in the world where there are statues for sex workers and one of them is in the middle of Amsterdam Red Light District – just next to The Old Church. The Dutch are quite tolerant and open-minded. Just two reasons why you can find this sex worker statue here, right in the old city centre.
14 | Amsterdam’s Oldest House
On one of the oldest streets in the capital you can find the oldest house. Funny thing is is that this house was only discovered to be the oldest house back in 2010. The old house with a wooden skeleton dates back to 1485 but stands hidden behind a facade dating back to 1800. Before this discovery the wooden house at the Begijnhof was considered to be the oldest house in Amsterdam. Amsterdam’s oldest house is currently functioning as a gay club named Dirty Dicks.
Or try the Frikandel, a minced meat deep fried snack that can be covered in a sauce of your liking. Tip: try it with mayonaise, curry and unions.
15 | Street Art
One of the many boobs you can see in the Red Light District.
De Wallen is filled with street art from graffiti to actual bronze items. This bronze plaque was placed secretly at night on the street of the Oudekerksplein. After noise complaints from the neighbourhood from people stepping on the plaque it was removed by the municipality. The secret artist came forward and a deal was struck with the municipality. The plaque was placed at another spot and the artist remains anonymous.
We made a great app that offers a Red Light District tour with audio from 22 experts who share their expertise about Amsterdam. This piece of street art is one of the 30 highlights. The app contains almost two hour of audio with beautiful picture and cost just 5 euro. You can list to it at home or in De Wallen. Do you want to learn more about Amsterdam?
De Wallen Amsterdam
First of all, some basic information: De Wallen – the Dutch name for the Amsterdam’s Red Light District – is the oldest and most fascinating part of Holland’s capital. And, it’s one of the three prostitution areas in the capital. The other two are located on the Ruysdaelkade and the Singel and the Spuistraat.
The Dutch liberal and open-minded culture can be seen everywhere in the Red Light District. Only here you can see a church that’s surrounded by window brothels with sex workers, coffee shops, beautiful houses and a 5d porn cinema with a daycare next door.
Amsterdam’s oldest canal.
This list contains 15 must see in Amsterdam Red Light District items that everyone will like. Whether you’re into architecture, art, Dutch culture, history, religion, food or (erotic) entertainment. There’s really something for everyone. It’s not without reason that more than 4000 people from different parts of society live in this part of town.
More Must See in Amsterdam
Need more tips? Discover these 15 things to do in Amsterdam for young adults.
Indoor Things To Do in Amsterdam
When the weather is bad it’s best to go inside. Discover these 10 fun indoor things to do in Amsterdam and get the most out of your trip.
ALSO READ:
10x Cheap Hotels Near Amsterdam Red Light District
Top 5 Bars In Amsterdam City Centre in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
5 Best Bars in Amsterdam City Centre
Discover the top 5 bars in Amsterdam City Centre for a fun night out! With so many spots surrounded by the city’s beautiful streets and historic buildings, finding the perfect place can be tough.
But don’t worry—we’ve put together a list of must-visit bars, from cozy lounges to lively hangouts. Check out these awesome spots and make your nights in Amsterdam unforgettable!
Right in the center of the Dutch capital you will find a beautiful square that has several important historical highlights, which you must see.
For example Amsterdam’s Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the National Monument. Furthermore, Dam Square is surrounded by beautiful buildings of typical Dutch architecture.
SHOW BEST BAR >
All of these highlights are fantastic to watch – especially when the sun is out. And what is nicer to see these cultural highlights from a terrace while enjoying a nice drink?
This list includes 5 good bars in Amsterdam Dam Square where this is all possible. Five places in a prime location, in the middle of the city and all easily accessible by taxi, public transport and on foot.
Amsterdam’s Dam Square, Royal Dutch Palace and New Church in the back.
This list starts with number five and ends with what we think is the best bar in Amsterdam Dam Square.
5 | Yip Fellows
A typical Dutch brown bar.
This bar has a relatively small terrace overlooking Dam Square and it is also not too big from the inside. Nevertheless, this pub always exudes vibrancy, partly due to the beautiful wooden bar. “Gezelligheid” is what we would say in Dutch. Inside it has that old-fashioned look, but with modern amenities – including neat toilets. Also a good place for a first or last drink in town.
Order A Drink In Dutch
Wanna order a beer in Dutch? Just say these four magic words: ‘Mag ik een biertje?’
TIP: Do you rather want to taste real Dutch gin which is called ‘jenever’? Visit the Wijnand Fockink bar around the corner.
Reviews
✦ Google: 181 reviews – 3.8 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 87 reviews – 3.5 out of 5 stars.
✦ Sluurpy: 669 reviews – 72% out of 100%.
✦ Foursquare: 26 reviews – 6,6 out 10.
4 | ‘t Nieuwe Kafé
The New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) and its cafe on Dam Square.
As the name suggests, this is more of a cafe than a bar. Located on a fantastic location, next to the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) – one of the oldest buildings in the city – with a friendly atmosphere.
Most people who visit this place come here for lunch supplemented with a drink. In our opinion, you won’t find many tipsy people here. We find it a cozy, quiet place.
During our visit, we noticed that you can sit both inside and outside on a terrace where you can enjoy people-watching. Dutch tourists regularly come here to visit an exhibition (such as the World Press Photo) in the Nieuwe Kerk.
TIP: Order coffee with Dutch apple pie or a delicious pancake here – we believe they have the best apple pie in the centre. Mind the opening hours which are between 8:30 AM and 6 PM.
Reviews
✦ Google: 224 reviews – 3.7 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 265 reviews – 3.5 out of 5 stars.
✦ Facebook: 41 reviews – 4.0 out of 5.
3 | Cafe Zwart
“If we can enhance your Dam Square experience in any way, kindly let us know“
That is written on the awnings of this place (originally from 1927), located on the corner of Dam Square and Damstraat. This shows that they find high service very important here. For more than 30 years, Cafe Zwart (Cafe Black) is owned by one of the best catering entrepreneurs in the Netherlands – Won Yip – who also owns other good bars in Amsterdam Dam Square.
The terrace (with heaters) is relatively small, but it has the right, lively atmosphere. At Cafe Zwart they also have very modern and clean toilets which can be used for free. Cafe Zwart is also a great spot for people-watching! See how fast Amsterdammers ride through the city on their bicycles. Or listen to all the different languages you can hear from the terrace. There is always something special to see here! One side faces ‘De Dam’ and one side faces the busy Damstraat.
Amsterdam’s beautiful Damstraat.
Cafe Zwart is a good place to enjoy a good glass of beer or wine after a busy day. It’s a nice spot to celebrate that you are in the most beautiful city in the world. Perhaps this bar is not much visited by Amsterdammers, but there are always many cheerful Dutch and foreign tourists. Here they serve all kinds of European beer such as Bavaria, Palm, La Trappe, Guiness, and whatnot. But you can also go here for wines, cocktails, whiskey, shots and soda. Take into account that the prices are higher here than elsewhere in the city because of the fantastic prime-location.
Reviews
✦ Google: 380 reviews – 3.4 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 293 reviews – 3.0 out of 5 stars.
✦ Facebook: 64 reviews – 4.2 out of 5.
2 | Euro Pub
Euro Pub sits on the corner of the Warmoesstraat.
The Euro Pub is located on the corner of Dam Square and Warmoesstraat (which is part of the Red Light District). It has a larger terrace than Cafe Zwart and a good view of the rear part of the square and the monument on Dam Square. The Euro Pub is located on the corner of Dam Square and Warmoesstraat. It has a slightly larger terrace than Cafe Zwart and a good view of the rear part of the square and the National Monument. This is also a pub where sports matches are broadcasted. It is often visited by foreign tourists and football fans. This pub is often used as a meeting place to start a nice day in Amsterdam. Inside is a round bar, where visitors can stand around. Downstairs you can find clean and modern toilets, just like at Cafe Zwart.
Reviews
✦ Google: 514 reviews – 3.8 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 238 reviews – 3.0 out of 5 stars.
✦ Facebook: 11 reviews – 4.0 out of 5.
1 | Majestic
The big terrace of Majestic offers sun and shade.
If you want to drink or eat something on Dam Square, this is the best place to go. Why? First of all, Majestic has the biggest terrace and the best view of all bars on Dam Square. Moreover, inside restaurant Majestic you will find a beautiful bar, lots of space, a luxurious interior and an extensive menu. Again, this is not the cheapest place in Amsterdam but certainly one of the better catering establishments that offers a fantastic view of the central, historical point of the capital.
From here you can see whole Dam Square perfectly.
In general, the crowd at Majestic is a bit neater compared to most of the bars in Amsterdam Dam square. The people who come here love quality and are willing to pay for that. Especially with good weather it’s really nice to sit on the terrace here. It has spots with shade and sun.
Reviews
✦ Google: 783 reviews – 3.6 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 943 reviews – 3.5 out 5 stars.
✦ Facebook: 213 reviews – 4.2 out of 5.
✦ Sluurpy: 4.946 reviews – 71% out of 100%.
Dam Square Advantages
Undoubtedly there are cheaper options in the city to get a drink, but these good bars in Amsterdam Dam Square do offer the following benefits.
✦ Prime location
✦ Fantastic view
✦ Easily accessible
✦ Ideal for sun lovers
✦ Good place to meet other travellers
✦ Surrounded by attractions and shops (like De Bijenkorf)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top 5 bars in Amsterdam City Centre?
The top 5 bars in Amsterdam City Centre around the main square are:
- Majestic: Known for its prime location and vibrant atmosphere, Majestic offers a wide selection of drinks and a lively setting perfect for any night out.
- Euro Pub: Situated in the heart of the city, Euro Pub is famous for its extensive beer selection and welcoming vibe.
- Cafe Zwart: A classic spot with a modern twist, Cafe Zwart serves up unique cocktails and traditional Dutch ambiance.
- ‘t Nieuwe Kafé: A hidden gem that combines cozy interiors with innovative drink menus, perfect for those looking to explore local flavors.
- Yip Fellows: Renowned for its eclectic decor and expertly crafted cocktails, Yip Fellows provides a unique bar experience in Amsterdam.
How do I choose the best bar for my night out in Amsterdam?
Consider what type of atmosphere you’re looking for: cozy and quiet, or lively and bustling. Check online reviews and menus ahead of time to see which bar suits your taste preferences and budget. Additionally, location can be crucial, so look for bars that are easily accessible from your accommodation or near Amsterdam’s main attractions.
Are these bars suitable for tourists?
Yes, these bars are highly suitable for tourists! Each bar offers a unique aspect of Amsterdam’s nightlife, from traditional Dutch brown cafés to modern cocktail bars. They’re great spots to experience the local culture, meet new people, and enjoy a wide range of beverages.
Do I need to make reservations for these bars?
For the best experience, especially at Majestic and Yip Fellows, it’s recommended to make reservations, especially on weekends or during peak tourist seasons. For Euro Pub, Cafe Zwart, and ‘t Nieuwe Kafé, reservations might not be necessary but checking in advance can ensure you get a good spot.
How far is Vondelpark from Dam Square?
Vondelpark is a large public park in Amsterdam that is very popular with locals and tourists alike. It is well known for its beautiful gardens, tranquil pond, and Amsterdam’s Open Air Theatre. The park is located just south of Dam Square, making it very easy to get to. In fact, it is only about a 30 minute walk or a 15 minute tram ride from Dam Square. This makes Vondelpark the perfect place to go for a leisurely stroll or picnic lunch, especially on a sunny day. So if you’re ever in Amsterdam, be sure to check out Vondelpark – you won’t be disappointed!
How far is Dam Square from Red Light District?
Amsterdam is a city renowned for its liberal attitude and vibrant nightlife, and the Red Light District is one of its most famous tourist destinations. However, many visitors are surprised to learn that Dam Square, the city’s central square, is only a 5-minute walk from the Red Light District.
Fun To Do In Amsterdam
Learn everything about Holland’s most fascinating area with this Red Light District tour and become an Amsterdam connoisseur in record time.
In less than two hours you learn everything you need to know about the Red Light District. Afterwards, treat yourself on a drink at one of these good bars in Amsterdam Dam Square.
One of Amsterdam’s best highlights.
Looking for something else? Visit Madame Tussauds, Body Worlds or Moulin Rouge.
ALSO SEE:
Top 13 Amsterdam Red Light District Facts in 2025
13x Amsterdam Red Light District Facts
We listed the 13 most common misconceptions about Amsterdam’s Wallen area and answered them with the right Red Light District facts.
1 | Sex workers have high debts because of high rental costs
Not true!
Red Light District Facts: Sex workers rent their window brothels on a day-to-day basis and have to pay the rent before they start their shift. If the sex workers can not pay the rent, they won’t get a window brothel from the brothel operator. The large majority of window brothel operators require the rent to be paid upfront. The chance to incur debts with your landlord is therefore minimal.
2 | Sex workers in the Red Light District do not earn much
Not true!
Red Light District Facts: A really good night can bring in around 1000 euro for a sex worker. For normal evenings profits can range between 200 to 600 euros. Evenings that bring in less than 200 euros in profits are considered to be bad evenings. There will of course always be less successful sex workers, not every self-employed person can be successful after all.
The income of a prostitute in Amsterdam strongly depends on the day, the work location, her appearance, the weather, the competition, the season and the times.
3 | Sex workers have to accept every customer
False!
Red Light District Facts: Sex workers run their own business and can reject any person they want. Very often men are refused at the entrance of a window brothel. It could be that they offered too little or that they want something that the sex workers don’t offer.
4 | Sex workers earn just 50 euros or less per customer
Red Light District Facts: The starting price for negotiations is usually 50 euros for 15 to 20 minutes. For additional services customers have to pay extra. This does not automatically mean that the sex worker also has to spend more time with a client. It is very common for sex workers to earn more than 50 euros per customer.
Click on the button below to read the ‘Amsterdam Prostitution Menu‘. That article offers more information about Amsterdam’s Red Light District, (window) brothels and escorts.
ALL SERVICES & PRICES >
It is recommended to make clear agreements in advance with sex workers about the services and the corresponding prices. This prevents confusion & hassle and usually results in a better experience.
5 | Sex workers work at different window brothels every day
Incorrect!
Red Light District Facts: In general, sex workers prefer to have the same workplace for every working day.
6 | Rents for window brothels have risen drastically in the last 10 years
Correct!
Red Light District Facts: The supply of window brothels in the Red Light District has decreased considerably in the last 10 years due to the Amsterdam’s purchasing of window brothel real estate. However the scarcity in window brothels has not led to a drastic increase in rent prices.
On average, the rent price for a window brothel in the Red Light District is 165 euros. The price has risen by 15 euros over the past 10 years. That is a price increase of around 1% per year.
Currently, Amsterdam’s Red Light District has 288 window brothels. Before the municipality of Amsterdam launched the gentrification project – called Project 1012 -, there were 369 window brothels in the Red Light District. In other words; 77 windows have been closed down by the local government.
7 | Sex work in Amsterdam Red Light District is not safe
Incorrect!
Red Light District Facts: Amsterdam’s Red Light District is one of the safest prostitution areas in the world. This is due the following reasons: Prostitution in the Netherlands is legal, strict legislation applies, there is a lot of police and social control present.
Recent research in the Netherlands has shown that sex workers who work outside the licensed circuit are at significantly greater risk. Working in a massage parlor, hotel room or at home brings greatly increased safety risks. Working in a window brothel or a erotic club yielded a number of significant protective results. Some comments on safety by sex workers from the research paper:
‘I find the work in a massage-parlor much more dangerous than other types of sex work. Especially because it is not clear in advance what the service entails and what the customer can expect.’
Moulin Rouge offers sex shows.
8 | There are many male sex workers in the Red Light District
Red Light District Facts: There are no male sex workers in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Male sex workers in the Netherlands tend to work as escorts and thus don’t need a window brothel to offer their services. There are however some transgender sex workers.
9 | The minimum age for sex work in the Red Light District is 18
False!
Red Light District Facts: The minimum age for sex work in Amsterdam’s Red Light District is 21. The minimum age for sex work is arranged locally, not nationally, as result of this sex workers can work as an escort from the age of 18. We listed the 10 best escort agencies in Amsterdam in this free article.
10 ESCORTS IN AMSTERDAM >
10 | Sex Workers spend a lot of money on STD testing
Not true! STD testing for sex workers is free in the Netherlands. Sex workers do check ups on a regular basis. These check ups are not mandatory though.
11 | Amsterdam’s Red Light District does not contain coffeeshops
False! There are 14 coffeeshops in the Red Light District – including two of Amsterdam’s oldest ones.
12 | The Red Light District does not have any residents
Incorrect. The neighborhood has 4,295 inhabitants, which is 0.5% of the total number of residents of Amsterdam. (Source: Amsterdam Red Light District Wiki)
13 | The Red Light District is not open on Sunday
Nope! Amsterdam Red Light District is always open. It can always be visited and people live and work here too. Also on Sunday’s 😉
Amsterdam Tours
Also read:
30x Amsterdam Fun Facts
Amsterdam Red Light District Rules
Top 9 Sex Date Websites In Holland in 2025
Posted on: March 1, 2025
Top Sex Date Sites For Men & Women To Find Casual Sex
Discover the top 9 sex date sites in Holland and embark on an exhilarating journey of pleasure. In the digital age, it’s crucial to navigate online sex dating with confidence and without strings attached.
GET SEX DATE >
Whether you’re experienced or new, our guide provides essential knowledge and insights. Connect with like-minded individuals who crave thrilling experiences. Get ready for electrifying encounters and explore the best sex date sites the Netherlands has to offer! Let’s dive in!
GET SEX DATE >
Discover this free overview with 9 reliable, transparent and accessible sex dating websites. We review MySecretDate, Parship, Lexa, Second Love and many others. Find out how to get a sex date.
I WANT A SEX DATE! >
Top 9 Sex Dating Sites In The Netherlands
If you’re looking for a sex date in Amsterdam, then have a look at the best sex dating sites in the Netherlands below.
1 | MySecretDate
Some of the members of this exciting sex date site.
We believe this is definitely one the best dating websites if you’re looking for a sex date in Amsterdam. MySecretDate is fully focussed on erotic and sexual hookups in the Netherlands.
“This site easily helped me to have an incredibly exciting evening!”
Whether you’re single or in a relationship Mysecretdate makes wishes come true.
Whether you’re experienced or new, our guide provides essential knowledge and insights. Connect with like-minded individuals who crave thrilling experiences.
Get ready for electrifying encounters and explore the best sex date sites the Netherlands has to offer! Let’s dive in!
GET SEX DATE >
They are looking for a date as well!
The website is Dutch but it’s very accessible for everybody. Even if you don’t speak the language, you can easily navigate through the website.
It is good to know that the Dutch can always speak English if desired. At this dating website it does not matter where you come from, as long as you enter your profile information correctly and completely.
“Would recommend this platform. A lot of people looking for the same thing! ? ?
Create a profile for free, post your photos and find a nice contacts based on your profile.
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
2 | Second Love
Sign up for free and get in touch with someone today!
Second Love is not just any dating site. This Dutch dating platform specifically focuses on people where the routine has crept into their relationship.
People looking for excitement and adventure in Amsterdam. However, they do not want to give up their current relationship for this. Second Love is an online service that helps you find like-minded people.
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
How does it work?
Second Love is a website that facilitates sex-only dating, allowing members to date without the pressures of forming romantic relationships.
Whether you’re a resident Holland or tourists visiting Amsterdam, or simply visiting in search of new experiences, Second Love is the online platform of choice for sex-minded adults.
From casual encounters to one night stands, this website easily links users with like-minded individuals who live nearby.
With profiles and chat options that utilize modern techniques, this digital space is completely safe from prying eyes and can be enjoyed worry-free by consenting adults.
As an added bonus, Second Love also provides specialized tutorials to help members effectively manage potential conflicts related to sex-driven dating.
If you’re looking for no strings attached sex dates in Amsterdam or Holland, then this might be the choice for you.
I really liked Second Love’s user interface. I experienced it as a professional company.
An innocent flirt or an actual date are all possible. Privacy and quality are paramount. For a discreet date in Amsterdam, go to Second Love!
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
3 | Parship
You want to have a better sex life, but don’t know where to start. It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to improving your sex life.
You might feel embarrassed or ashamed, like you’re the only person who doesn’t have everything figured out.
Parship is here to help. We are the largest online dating site in Europe and have helped millions of singles find love and happiness. With our scientifically-proven matching system, you’ll be paired with compatible partners in no time at all.
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
What is Parship?
Parship is a dating platform that uses a unique matching algorithm to connect compatible singles. The platform offers a comprehensive personality test that helps to identify compatible partners.
The test is based on a scientific approach and takes into account factors such as personality, values, and lifestyle.
What does Parship cost?
The cost of using Parship depends on the length of the membership.
There are three different membership options: a one-month membership, a six-month membership, and a twelve-month membership.
Prices vary depending on the option chosen, but the longer the membership, the lower the monthly cost.
Parship benefits
- Access to a large pool of compatible singles
- Personalised matchmaking experience
- The ability to communicate with potential partners in a secure and safe environment.
Range of features, such as the ability to send and receive messages, view profiles, and receive notifications when someone is interested in your profile.
Another benefit of Parship is the level of privacy and security it offers to its users. Parship uses a variety of security measures to protect its members’ personal data, including encryption and SSL certification. The platform also has a team dedicated to moderating profiles and ensuring that all members are genuine.
Parship Review
As someone who has ventured into the world of online dating, trying out various platforms, I have to say that Parship has made a significant difference in my quest for love. Being over 30, I was on the lookout for a mature platform that catered to a more serious and sophisticated demographic, and this website definitely delivered.
Overall, Parship is a great option for singles looking for an exciting date. The platform’s unique matching algorithm, comprehensive personality test, and range of features make it a convenient and effective way to connect with compatible partners. The cost of membership may vary, but the benefits and security features make it worth it.
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
4 | C-Date
C-Date is the matching site for people who are looking for an adventure, an open relationship or an exciting erotic date in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and in 11 other countries.
It’s the largest international erotic matchmaker and is active in 12 countries and on 4 continents.
This dating platform combines style with eroticism and offers exciting variety. They offer a 72% succes rate!
C-Date focuses on target groups of 25 years and older, men and women, straight or homosexual.
This dating company appeals to a very broad group. It does not matter whether you are single, in a relationship or married, it is even possible to register as a couple. And, registering is free!
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
5 | Rich Meet Beautiful
RichMeetBeautiful is only interesting for an exclusive group of men.
This online dating website is for successful and economically established men who want to meet beautiful ladies for exciting dates or perhaps even more.
The site brings together Sugarbabies – intelligent and charming women who date in exchange for gifts (like dinners), trips or financial support.
RichMeetBeautiful offers users in over 30 different countries the opportunity to meet successful and economically established gentlemen to meet beautiful young women for relationships or for dates worldwide.
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
6 | Ondeugend-Daten
Ondeugend-Daten.nl (translated: Naughty Dating) is a professional Dutch dating site that focuses on both men and women in the Netherlands who love excitement and eroticism.
The term “Naughty” offers participants the opportunity to give their own interpretation of the degree of eroticism. As a result, Ondeugend-Daten.nl attracts a very wide audience.
On this platform you can search for new contacts in a trusted environment in a simple and safe way.
After registering for free, you can quietly look for a nice and suitable candidate who matches your search profile.
By emailing or chatting with other participants first, you can convert the contact at your own pace.
By sending the messages via this website you remain anonymous as long as you want: so you keep the reins yourself and decide when you are ready for a possible appointment in “real life”.
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
7 | Ashley Madison
“Life is short. Have an affair.” With this slogan, dating site Ashley Madison has been promoting cheating for many years.
This international dating site in the Netherlands is for all singles who want an affair. With various features to keep your private information secret, anonymity is an important factor.
It’s active in 52 countries which is great while traveling.
“Fucking hell… I had amazing sex through this website”
The members of Ashley Madison are single, married, or in a relationship. Anyone looking for something different is welcome!
You can download the free Ashley Madison App or just visit the website and register today.
8 | Victoria Milan
Victoria Milan is an international dating platform specialised in affaire dating. It’s the world number one dating site for married and attached. Victoria Milan guarantees top privacy, discretion and even anonymous profiles can be made.
Just give it a try. You might like it!
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
9 | Passie Voor Twee
Passievoortwee.nl (translated: Passion For Two) is another great Dutch accessible erotic dating site!
That is to say … for those looking for exciting contact, but also for those who want to count themselves among the target group on the basis of life experience.
This target group approach was deliberately chosen, because the familiar click mainly arises between people who are like-minded.
And… This dating website in the Netherlands focuses mainly on women and couples. Passion For Two would like to have a bit more class in the world of erotic dating, but also wants to distinguish itself with reliability, integrity and transparency.
YES, I WANT A DATE! >
Sex Date Tip
Pro tip: In the Netherlands it is very common to talk about the weather.
So if you don’t know what to talk about, it’s always good to talk about the weather. After all, the weather changes every day in the Netherlands.
6 Ways To Get A Sex Date
- Use dating companies such as MySecretDate, Parship, Lexa or Ashley Madison. (More sites below)
- Join speed-dating events (when available).
- Meet someone via sex dating sites in the Netherlands.
- Get a paid date by booking an escort in Amsterdam.
- Go to the Red Light District with its sex workers.
- Visit a sex club in Amsterdam.
Popular Sex Dating Questions
1 | How do I set boundaries when engaging in online sex dating?
Setting boundaries is an important part of engaging in online sex dating. Be clear about what you are and are not comfortable with, and communicate these boundaries clearly to potential partners.
2 | How can I communicate my sexual preferences and desires to potential partners?
Communication is key when it comes to sexual preferences and desires. Be open and honest with potential partners about what you’re looking for, and be willing to listen to their preferences and desires as well.
3 | How do I handle rejection or disappointment when engaging in sex dating?
Rejection and disappointment are common in the world of sex dating. Try not to take it personally, and remember that everyone has their own preferences and desires.
Find some distraction if necessary. Go exercise. Meet up with friends. Visit a museum. Read a book.
4 | What should I do if I start to develop feelings for someone I met through sex dating?
If you start to develop feelings for someone you met through sex dating, be honest with yourself and with them about how you’re feeling.
If you’re both on the same page, you may be able to explore a more serious relationship. However, if you’re not, it’s important to be prepared for the possibility of things not working out.
These were the nine best erotic dating platforms in the Netherlands. Do you want to be successful on a date? Then read the dating tips below.
Tip: A canal cruise is fun to do during a date in Amsterdam.
5 | How do I find a sex date?
Finding a sex date is a personal choice and may depend on individual. However, here are some general suggestions for finding a sex date:
- Dating Apps and Websites: There are countless apps and sex dating sites specifically aimed at finding casual encounters and sexual relationships. Popular platforms in the Netherlands include MySecretDate, Parship, SecondLove, C-Date, Naughty-Daten, Ashley Madison, Vicotoria Milan, Passie Voor Twee, etc. You can explore these apps and websites and customize your profile to suit your interests and preferences to give.
- Social Networks and Forums: There are online communities (such as facebook groups) and forums where people with shared interests come together. By participating in these platforms, you may be able to find like-minded individuals who are also looking for a casual meeting.
- Local Events and Clubs: Some cities have special events, parties, or clubs focused on sexual encounters. You can try attending these events to meet people interested in casual sexual relationships.
- Communication is important: It is essential to communicate openly and honestly about your intentions and expectations with potential partners. This prevents misunderstandings and ensures that both parties are on the same page.
- Be respectful and consensual: It is very important to always be respectful of your potential partners and respect their boundaries. Ensure that both parties agree to the desired activities and that there is mutual consent.
6 | How does a sex date go?
A sex date can take different forms depending on the individuals involved and their preferences. The course of a sex date can vary, but in general there are a few steps that are common:
Getting acquainted: If you don’t know each other yet, there is usually a phase of getting to know each other. This can take place through online communication, dating apps or face-to-face meetings. The goal is to get to know each other better, share interests and determine if there is mutual attraction.
Making a deal: Once there is interest and attraction between both parties, a deal is usually made. This could be meeting in a public place, such as a cafe, restaurant, or bar, or it could take place directly in a private setting, such as a home or hotel room.
Intimacy and sexual activities: After the meeting, the phase of intimacy and sexual activities begins, which depends on the wishes and boundaries of both parties. This can range from light physical touching and kissing to sexual acts and intercourse. It is important to communicate and obtain mutual consent for any action.
Aftercare and farewell: After the sexual activities there may be room for some aftercare and debriefing. This can include exchanging experiences, compliments or feedback. Then both parties say goodbye and go their separate ways.
7 | What is a good sex date site?
MySecretDate is a Dutch sex dating site that is popular for several reasons:
Reliability: MySecretDate is known for its reliability and security measures. They do their best to ensure that all profiles are authentic and that users have a safe environment to connect with like-minded individuals.
Privacy: The site values privacy and anonymity. They have privacy features, such as the ability to blur photos and restrict access to certain users. This allows users to protect their identities until they are ready to share more information.
User-friendliness: MySecretDate is user-friendly and has an intuitive interface. The registration process is simple and finding suitable matches is easy thanks to the search and filter functions.
Diverse user base: The site has a diverse user base, which means there are different people with different interests and preferences. This increases the chance of finding someone who fits you and meets your expectations.
Communication options: MySecretDate offers various communication options, such as messages, chat rooms and webcam chats. This allows users to connect and get to know each other in a variety of ways.
Dating Tips
Are you not looking for a sex date, but for a ‘normal’, fun date with the potential for a relationship? Then discover Breeze Social. This new dating app might be something for you.
1 | Be Prepared
Fun to do in Amsterdam: Visit the Moco Museum and see Banky’s art.
How can you prepare yourself for a first date? First of all, make sure you are rested. If you’ve been in a rush all day, you won’t have a relaxed date in Amsterdam.
So take it easy and treat yourself for a nice bath or an extra long shower. Go to the hairdresser, trim your nails, wash well and have a good shaving session.
This may sound obvious, but grooming has more influence than you think. Be fresh! If you look good you will feel better too. You radiate that and your date will see that too!
2 | Be on Time
The Waag: Amsterdam’s second oldest building.
Make sure you got enough time for your (beauty) rituals, so that you can be sure that you will arrive on time for your date.
Because arriving late is really not done (in the Netherlands) on a first appointment. The Dutch like to be on time! And obviously you want to make a good first impression. Right?
3 | Wear Nice Clothes
The Nieuwmarkt Square in Amsterdam.
Before you go on a date, think carefully about what clothes you will be wearing. Choose comfortable (and neat) clothes that make you feel attractive.
But: don’t lose sight of the fact that the chosen clothing must suit you.
Clothing tells a lot about your identity, and your date will remember that. In addition, an outfit that suits you will make you feel more confident. And that’s how you want to come across on your first date!
11 Tried And True Dating Tips
A date in Amsterdam.
We have created 11 fantastic date tips on how to prepare for a first date. Do you want to get better at dating? Hit the button below!
YES, SHOW DATE TIPS!
Do you know even better websites in the Netherlands where you can arrange a (sex) date in Amsterdam? Please share it with the world by posting it in the comment section below.
ALSO SEE:
18x Red Light District Amsterdam Cost in 2025
Red Light District Amsterdam Cost: All You Need To Know
Say goodbye to overpaying in Amsterdam! Don’t let high costs ruin your trip. Explore the cost of Amsterdam Red Light District below and save money on your unforgettable adventure!
Prices for food and drinks, sex shows, public transport, Moulin Rouge, weed, magic truffles, prostitutes, museums, etc.
BOOK SEX SHOW >
Updated monthly, our guide reflects the latest pricing, legal changes, and safety measures implemented in the Red Light District to ensure visitors have the most current information.
Recognized as a leading source by major news outlets and academic journals, our in-depth analysis on Amsterdam’s nightlife economy has been featured in multiple publications.
How much does Moulin Rouge Amsterdam cost?
Looking for an affordable thrill in Amsterdam’s Red Light District? Experience the famous Moulin Rouge show without overspending.
Our tickets offer an exciting night at a great price. Don’t miss this budget-friendly entertainment highlight – book your Moulin Rouge Amsterdam tickets today and enjoy a sensational show while keeping your expenses in check!
Understanding the various costs associated with visiting Amsterdam’s Red Light District can significantly enhance your travel experience, ensuring you’re well-prepared for everything the area has to offer, from entertainment to dining.
To fully enjoy your trip without any financial surprises, it’s also crucial to have a good grasp of the local currency and how it translates to your own.
For a comprehensive overview of Amsterdam’s currency, including tips on getting the best exchange rates and avoiding unnecessary fees, visit our detailed guide on Amsterdam Currency.
This resource will help you make informed decisions, allowing you to focus on enjoying the vibrant culture and unique attractions of Amsterdam.
Use this list below with Amsterdam Red Light District prices and avoid paying too much.
How Much Does Amsterdam Red Light District Cost?
Love our insights on Amsterdam Red Light District prices? Please support us to keep this guide accurate, up-to-date, and free for everyone. Every little contribution helps maintain this essential resource!
1 | Prostitutes
Full disclosure: Two of our tour guides have visited window prostitutes. Mark, one of our tour guides even got into a relationship with a window prostitute who he fell in love with.
During their visit, they paid between 50 and 60 euros to the sex worker prior to their visit. But that was years ago.
Nowadays, it cost 100 euro to have sex with a prostitute on Amsterdam Red Light District.
This is also evident from this documentary about Amsterdam Red Light District. In it, a prostitute is asked what it costs to have sex with her.
We always ask for a 100 euros… We try to stick to that and maintain a standard price.
In addition, our Dutch employees obtain the correct, latest information through direct contact with stakeholders of the Amsterdam Red Light District and local media.
So a lot of what you will learn here about visiting the girls is direct information from our local experts.
Window prostitution is a form of prostitution in which a sex worker acquires customers by displaying herself in a window visible along the public road.
Usually, sex workers (also known as a window worker or window prostitute) rent a window brothel from a brothel operator for a certain period of time, for a fixed pre-paid price.
Window brothels in ‘De Wallen‘ of Amsterdam.
In general, prostitutes rent a window for 6 to 8 hours. Sex workers are not allowed to work more than 11 hours per day.
The sex workers are independent and acquire customers themselves. Prices and services are usually negotiated at entrance of the window brothel.
Amsterdam, Ruysdaelkade.
Amsterdam Red Light District Areas
Amsterdam has 3 window prostitution areas in total:
✦ ‘De Wallen‘ – the biggest and most famous prostitution area in the Netherlands.
✦ ‘Ruysdaelkade‘.
✦ ‘Singel & Spuistraat area.
Window Prostitution Prices
The sex workers standing in Amsterdam’s window brothels typically have a starting price of approximately 100 euros for approximately 20 minutes of sex.
Red Light District prices can sometimes be negotiated at the door. Offering less than 100 euro is often frowned upon by the sex workers.
Prostitutes usually only offer safe sex with a condom.
Tip: Be aware of the fact that starting off with a low price offer is disrespectful.
The Molensteeg in the Red Light District has windows, night shops and small bars.
Rent Window Brothels
All independent window workers in Amsterdam rent a window. They pay rent to a window brothel operator – who are legitimate entrepreneurs who rent out windows.
The brothel operators are responsible for the safety, hygiene and maintenance.
The rent of a window brothel in Amsterdam is 100 euros to 120 euorsduring the day and 150 to 180 euros in the night.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District has currently 201 window brothels and approximately 350 prostitutes.
Amsterdam has around 500 sex workers in total. (source)
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Stoofsteeg.
If you want extra services or stay a little longer you’ll have to pay more and the price will depend on your negotiating skills and the wishes of the prostitute.
Of course you can stay with the prostitute without having any sex and just talk. For these types of services the regular price of 100 euros for 20 to 25 minutes is usually maintained.
The Oudekerksplein with window brothels next to the church.
Tip: Be respectful and make clear agreements in advanced. This prevents problems due to unclear agreements.
2 | Escorts
In addition to window prostitution, there are also many sex workers in the Netherlands who work as an escort. This is also legal.
The advantage is that it’s not necessary to rent a red light window and it is more discreet.
However, it is essential for escorts to advertise. Something that window workers do not do, as they acquire enough customers walking by.
Escorts charge higher prices for sexual services than window prostitutes. An escort costs at least 150 euros per hour in the Netherlands.
Sex work is legal in the Netherlands and it is most likely the safest place on earth for sex workers to operate.
Thanks to these two reasons, there are many escorts in the Netherlands.
The large majority work independently and are registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.
Almost all sex workers in the Netherlands work safely with condoms and are regularly tested.
The advantage of an escort is that you can select a woman from the comfort of your hotel room instead of having to walk the streets in the Red Light District. It adds a level of discreetness too.
The average starting price for 1 hour is around 150 euros in the Netherlands. For two hours, it’s 300 euros.
Hit the button below for further information on Amsterdam Escorts.
SHOW BEST ESCORTS NOW! >
3 | Sex Shows
Confused about where to go for the best sex shows in Amsterdam and worried about the cost?
Choosing the right spot can be tricky with so many options and varying prices.
Simplify your choice with our guide to Amsterdam’s finest venues like Sex Palace Peep Show, Moulin Rouge, La Vie & Proost, Casa Rosso, Hospital Bar, and Banana Bar.
Starting prices are just 2 euro for a 2 minute show at the peep show.
However, we believe that Moulin Rouge – which cost 40 euro – is absolutely the best live adult show in Amsterdam.
Our local guide Jasper visited the venue and attributed to this Moulin Rouge review.
Enjoy a safe, exciting experience without breaking the bank.
4 | Tours
Walking tours WITH a guide in Amsterdam Red Light District are no longer allowed.
The best way to discover the Red Light District is with our app! It offers a Red Light District tour with the 22 very best experts in the area.
Listen to fascinating stories of historians, socialists, sex workers, police officers, sex experts and many others.
You will be accompanied by a virtual guide who will introduce you to incredible highlights in De Wallen. Learn everything you need know, today!
DOWNLOAD APP NOW >
In this app you hear fascinating stories from real prostitutes, local residents, police officers, historians, entrepreneurs, sociologists, writers and many other experts.
Within 2 hours you will learn everything from 22 people who know the most about Amsterdam Red Light District.
This Amsterdam app works on iPhone and iPad and on all Android mobile phones.
If you want you can also listen to this super interesting audio tour at home as a podcast.
DOWNLOAD APP NOW >
Learn about Dutch culture, Amsterdam and the Red Light District with is app .
We show you the very best highlights and we really tell you everything about this unique Dutch place.
You can ask everything to our local experts. No need to be shy. Our tour guides are very open-minded and already answered all “awkward” questions.
5 | Sex Show Ticket: Moulin Rouge
Experience the ultimate thrill at Moulin Rouge, the unrivaled sex show in Amsterdam!
Located in the heart of the iconic Red Light District, indulge in 4 seductive performances within one hour.
Experience one of the best indoor things to do in Amsterdam Red Light District. Witness breathtaking stripteases, passionate couple encounters, and even a unique writing show.
Brace yourself for an unforgettable adventure, as a daring volunteer gets an unforgettable message imprinted on their chest – a memory to cherish forever!
Discover the difference with Moulin Rouge – not only does it offer an extraordinary experience, but it also saves you 20 euros compared to the pricier Casa Rosso nearby.
Don’t miss out on this exceptional opportunity in the capital of Holland. Secure the best online Moulin Rouge ticket now for an unbeatable price of just 40,-. Prepare to be captivated.
Price: 40,99
GET TICKETS NOW>
6 | Amsterdam Brothel Tour
You’ve experienced the Red Light District, now go behind the scenes with the Amsterdam Brothel Tour.
At strip- and sex club BonTon you’ll get a peek behind the curtains. Outside of regular opening times real sex workers host an informative tour who will tell you all about prostitution and the history of sex work in Amsterdam.
Price: 20,-
I WANT THIS TOUR >
7 | Amsterdam App
You can now explore Amsterdam’s Red Light District on your own and at any time, all you need is your smartphone and some earphones.
A virtual audio tour guide will show you around the Red Light District using the GPS on your smartphone.
Meet The Fokkens in the Amsterdam Audio Tours App.
Virtual guide – Sophie – will introduce you to 22 experts who tell you everything you need to know about Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Hear stories of real prostitutes, real police officers, residents, historians, sexologists, local entrepreneurs, etc.
Our Amsterdam Red Light District tour gives you the option to start, pause or finish whenever you like. Experience the audio tour in Amsterdam or at home as a podcast.
Price Amsterdam Audio Tour App
Red Light District Audio Tour: 5,-
GET THE APP >
8 | Prices For Drinks
A selection of delicious Dutch beers.
| Coffee or Tea | € 2,50 – 3,50 |
| Cola or Soda | € 2,50 |
| Draft beer | € 2,70 – 4,50 |
| Special beer | € 5,50 – starting price |
| Pint of beer | € 4,50 |
| Glass of wine | € 3,50 – 5,00 – starting price |
9 | Prices For Food
A typical Dutch “kroket” from famous local automatiek snackbar the FEBO.
| Budget breakfast | € 3,50 – 12,00 |
| Budget lunch | € 4,49 – 15,00 |
| Budget diner | € 7,00 – 17,50 |
| Burger (fast food) | € 3,00 |
| Sandwich | € 3,00 – 12,00 |
| Kebab | € 3,50 – 5,00 |
| Turkish pizza | € 2,50 – 3,50 |
| Dutch Fries | € 3,50 |
| A slice of pizza | € 3,00 – 4,00 |
| Pizza | € 8,00 – 15,00 |
| Croquette from the FEBO | € 1,60 |
| FEBO kaassoufflé (cheese souffle) | € 1,60 |
| Herring sandwich | € 2,50 – 4,50 |
| Donut | € 2,00 |
| Piece of pie | € 3,00 – 4,00 |
| Waffle | € 3,00 – 4,00 |
| Pancake | € 8,00 – 14,00 |
The BurgerFabriek in Amsterdam has delicious Dutch fries!
10 | Amsterdam 5D Cinema
The porn cinema has finally returned to Amsterdam’s Red Light District. And not just any kind of porn cinema, a 5D porn cinema!
Besides watching a short porn movie in 3D, all your other senses will also be triggered via its 5D features!
Think of smell and wind and much more! The rest we’ll leave up to your imagination! 🙂 For further information and reservations hit the book-button below.
Price
5D Porn Cinema Ticket: 12,50 euro
I WANT TICKETS >11 | Weed
| Weed (per gram) | € 5,00 – average starting price. Can go up to € 42,00 per gram. |
| Hash (per gram) | € 8,00 – average starting price. Can go up to € 35,00 per gram. |
| Pre -rolled joint Amsterdam price | € 5,00 – is the average price in the city centre. |
Get informed on marihuana before smoking a joint and visit the Hash Museum in Amsterdam.
12 | Amsterdam Red Light District Hotels
The price for a hotel in Amsterdam varies greatly depending on your wishes and requirements.
There are very affordable hostels for backpackers but also many luxurious hotels, like Hotel Sofitel Legend The Grand.
The rooftop terrace of a hotel in Amsterdam Red Light District.
We made a selection of the best hotels for every budget. Prices for a 2 person bedroom in a quality hotel start from around € 95,- euro per night.
HOTEL TOP 10 >
13 | Museums
Currently there are five museums in the Red Light District. They are listed below.
1 | Our Lord In The Attic | Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder
What looks like an ordinary canal house in the Red Light District turns out to have an entire Catholic church hidden inside it. Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder was built in the mid-1600s in defiance of the Calvinists, and tolerated by the city. Inside you’ll experience a labyrinthine of staircases, rich artwork, period decor and the soaring two-story church itself.
Opening Hours
Open Monday through Saturday from 10 am till 6 pm. Sunday from 1 pm till 6 pm. Holidays from 10 am till 6 pm.
The ticket desk closes at 5.45 pm.
Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38, Amsterdam.
A church hidden in an attic in the Red Light District.
| Adults | € 12,50 |
| Children ages 5 till 18 | € 6,00 |
| Children ages 0 till 4 | Free |
2 | Museum Of Prostitution
The only museum in the world dedicated to prostitution. It’s located in the heart of the Red Light District in a former brothel. The museum is part of the Project 1012 effort to revamp the Red Light District. Within the museum itself you step inside a world that remains hidden for most and you can experience what it feels like to sit behind a window in Amsterdam’s Red District!
The front side of Red Light Secrets – Amsterdam’s Museum of Prostitution.
| All ages | € 10,50 |
3 | Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum
This unique marihuana museum in Amsterdam was founded by Ben Dronkers in 1985. He is one of the most important figures in the Dutch cannabis industry. He owns Sensi Seeds too.
The Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum is located on one of the oldest streets in Amsterdam. It describes the past, present & future of the cannabis plant. Really educational!
The exhibition shows how the Cannabaceae plant species enabled the development of medicine, clothing, sea travel and farming. And of course, this museum also demonstrates how cannabis and hemp – which are simply different strains of the same plant – have been part of life for thousands of years.
Ticket Price:
| All ages | € 9,00* |
4 | Salvation Army Museum
Statue of well known Salvation Army officer Majoor Bosshardt.
Many tourists are surprised to learn that the Salvation Army is located in the Red Light District. It has two buildings where volunteers provide assistance to the homeless. In addition, the employees of the Salvation Army also regularly visit the sex workers in the window brothels. This is done while offering free coffee and tea. The Salvation Army plays an important role in social control within the Red Light District. Learn about this while visiting their museum.
Opening Hours
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am till 16:00 pm.
Henny Tinga – one of the leaders of Amsterdam’s Salvation Army.
Prices
| Adults | € 2,50 |
| Children ages 0 till 12 | Free |
For more details visit the website of the Salvation Army Museum.
5 | Erotic Museum
| All ages | € 6,50 |
14 | Red Light District Attractions
De Oude Kerk (The Old Church)
The Old Church is the oldest church in Amsterdam and stands in the heart of the Red Light District. We tell you all about it during our tours.
Open Monday trough Saturday from 10:00 am till 18:00 pm and Sunday from 13:00 pm till 17:30 pm. Ticket sales always end 15 minutes before closing time.
The Old Church is located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
| All ages | € 10,00 |
The Buddhist Temple
The Chinese He Hua Temple in Amsterdam is the biggest Chinese temple in Europe! Open on Tuesday from 12:00 am toll 17:00 pm and on Sunday from 10:00 am till 17:00 pm.
| All ages | Free |
15 | Amsterdam Transportation Prices
Amsterdam’s Metro Station.
| 1 hour public transport ticket | € 3,00 – not valid in train |
| Day pass public transport | € 7,50 – starting price, not valid in train |
| Bike rental per day | € 14,75 – starting price |
| Train ticket, Schiphol to Amsterdam Central station | € 4,30 – (2nd class ticket) |
| Taxi from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station | € 18,50 – starting price |
16 | Public Transport
Amsterdam’s Red Light District itself is a pedestrian friendly area. There is no public transport within the district itself. When looking at the map of Amsterdam, note that “De Oude Kerk” building stands at the heart of the Red Light District.
Public Transport Close to the Red Light District
- Amsterdam Central Station (train, cabs, bus, tram & subway)
- Dam Square (bus & tram)
- Nicolaaskerk (bus)
- Nieuwmarkt (subway)
From Amsterdam Central Station it is a 5 – 10 minute walk to the Red Light District. This is the fastest and cheapest option. Another option from central station is taking the subway to Nieuwmarkt Station via line 51, 53 or 54.
Prices
A ticket cost € 2,90 and is valid for one hour.
17 | Sex Shops
Sex shops in Amsterdam Red Light District are quite affordable compared to those found in other parts of the Netherlands. The range in sex shop prices varies significantly ongoing from as low as 10 Euros for simple sex toys up to 100s of Euros for more advanced sex toys and special lingerie. On the website of one of the sex shops on the Warmoesstraat you can see that they offer a product worth 3120. It concerns a quality sex doll.
When looking for sex shops within the district there is a wealth of options from quaint family owned shops to bright and vibrant ones which offer colorful sex accessories sure to please every need. With years of experience and having walked through most streets of the area we can personally vouch for the quality, affordability, and variety that sex shops in Amsterdam Red Light District have one offer; making it definitely worth a visit if you’re ever here!
18 | Sex Dating Sites In Holland
In the Netherlands there are also websites specialised in adult online dating. MySecretDate offers advertisements of people who would like to have a sex date. Scroll through the thousands of profiles and get in touch with others today. Registration is totally free!
GET A SEX DATE >19 | Amsterdam Red Light District Map
Oudezijds Achterburgwal street in De Wallen.
Hit the button below to see the Amsterdam Red Light District map containing all window brothels and great restaurants, bars, cannabis shops & erotic places. It’s really useful!
SHOW THE MAP >
When planning your visit to Amsterdam’s Red Light District, understanding the costs is crucial for a smooth experience. Beyond the famous attractions, Amsterdam offers a wide array of activities tailored for adults.
For a comprehensive guide on exciting activities, including cultural spots, nightlife, and unique experiences, check out our detailed list of things to do in Amsterdam for adults. This guide ensures you make the most of your time in this vibrant city.
Understanding the nuances of expenses in Amsterdam, especially within the Red Light District, is crucial for a well-planned visit. While this guide gives you a detailed breakdown of the costs you might incur, ranging from entertainment options to basic necessities, it’s equally important to be informed about the local currency and its value.
For more insights, consider exploring our dedicated page on Amsterdam currency, which offers valuable information on monetary matters, ensuring you make informed financial decisions during your trip.
Join the conversation on our social media platforms or leave a comment below. We value your insights and experiences in Amsterdam and aim to create a vibrant community of informed travelers and locals
ALSO SEE:
10x Hotels in Amsterdam Red Light District
Top 5 Amsterdam Red Light District Museums You Shouldn’t Miss
Posted on: January 1, 2025
5 Best Amsterdam Red Light District Museums
Amsterdam Red Light District museums offer a unique glimpse into the history, culture, and hidden stories.
Many people think the district is only known for its nightlife, but there’s so much more to discover.
These five museums provide a deeper, richer understanding of this iconic area. Want to explore the district’s hidden gems and uncover a new side of Amsterdam? Keep reading!
There is a lot to do in ‘De Wallen‘. Also for those who want to learn something. There are currently five museums in Amsterdam Red Light District. At these museums you can learn more about cannabis, prostitution, the Red Light District, religion, erotica and… watches.
1 | Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum
In this museum in Amsterdam you can view cannabis plants up close, among others.
The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam is a must-see for anyone interested in the history and culture of cannabis. The museum traces the plant’s history from its earliest known use in ancient China to its present-day role in the Netherlands. Visitors will learn about the different ways that cannabis can be used, from medication to recreation, and will see a wide variety of artifacts, including pipes, bongs, and other smoking paraphernalia. The museum also contains a “grow room” where visitors can see how cannabis is cultivated. With its informative exhibits and engaging displays, the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum provides a fascinating look at one of the world’s most controversial plants.
Located on the famous street in the Red Light District one can find Amsterdam’s cannabis museum. It was founded in 1985 by one of Holland’s most important cannabis pioneers: Ben Dronkers – who’s also the CEO of Sensi Seeds. He was one of the first to become commercially involved with cannabis in Amsterdam from the 1970s onwards.
Did you know that at one time in Europe 80% of all clothing was made out of cannabis hemp? And did you know that it is illegal to grow cannabis commercially in the Netherlands? Just two fun facts you learn at the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum.
It offers audio tours in many languages.
Visitors to the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum can expect to find world’s largest collection of artefacts relating to the history of cannabis, its cultivation and its uses over the centuries.
The cannabis collection is located on the ground floor where one can get an audio tour in six different languages. This museum in Amsterdam Red Light District is not too big and a visit takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Reviews
✦ Google: 3,715 reviews | 4,3 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 729 reviews | 4 out of 5 stars.
Tickets
✦ Hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
✦ Price: 9 euro
2 | Red Light Secrets – Museum of Prostitution
An interactive exhibition inside the Museum of Prostitution.
Do you want to know what it is like to stand in the windows? Do you want to learn how prostitutes become successful? Or, do you want to see what a brothel looks like from the inside?
Then visit this Museum of Prostitution in Amsterdam, named Red Light Secrets. Learn more about legal sex work in the Netherlands. It’s super interesting!
What does it feel like to stand in the windows?
Become A Successful Prostitute
Inside you can also read 10 ways how sex workers become successful. We listed 3 most important sex work secrets:
- POSTURE. Pout those lips and work those hips. Stand upright and accentuate your curves.
- CHEERFUL. Make sure you look cheerful. Men don’t enjoy spending money in a surly woman.
- STAND OUT. Sitting quietly like the Mona Lisa will not get you attention. When you go unnoticed, you will have no business. Make sure to stand out.
The museum even has an imitation window brothel.
Red Light Secrets used to be a building with real window brothels, but the city of Amsterdam bought it from a sex entrepreneur during Project 1012. The municipality wanted more variety in the Red Light District, so since 2014 the Museum of Prostitution has been around. Visit this attraction and get educated about one of the oldest professions in the world.
Reviews
✦ Google: 15,576 reviews | 4,2 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 2,339 reviews | 4 out of 5 stars.
Tickets
✦ Hours: 10 AM – 12 PM
✦ Price: 12,50 euro
3 | Our Lord in the Attic
Inside Ons Lieve Heer op Solder.
One of the best hidden gems in Amsterdam is this secret church. It’s located at number 40 on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal in the Red Light District. Our Lord in the Attic is one of the oldest museums in Amsterdam. The second oldest to be exact.
Only the Rijksmuseum is older. It was established in 1888, its attic served as a Catholic church for two centuries. A hidden church in which Catholics could worship covertly when it was forbidden to do so in public.
The last hidden church in Amsterdam may not be missed!
FACT: This church museum in Amsterdam is located next to a cannabis coffeeshop.
This church within a 17th-century Dutch house has been beautifully preserved. It offers an authentic glimpse into a house of a rich man during the affluent Dutch Golden Age. Here you can learn more about the history of Amsterdam and religion in Holland.
The director of this museum in Amsterdam – in the attic of Ons Lieve Heer op Solder.
Our Lord In The Attic is also one of the highlights in the Amsterdam Audio Stories app. It offers a red light district tour with stories of 22 experts, including the director of this museum and Russell Shorto – writer and historian, about the Red Light District. For just 5 euro you can learn everything about the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Download the app today in the Apple App Store.
Reviews
✦ Google: 2,089 reviews | 4,7 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 3,373 reviews | 4,5 out of 5 stars.
Tickets
✦ Hours: 10 PM – 6 PM
✦ Price: 12,50 euro
4 | Erotic Museum
One of the funniest museums in Amsterdam.
Looking for a fun and unique way to spend an afternoon in Amsterdam? Then be sure to check out the Erotic Museum! This quirky museum offers visitors a rare glimpse into the history of sex and sexuality.
From ancient Egyptian artifacts to vintage pornography, there is something to interest everyone. The Erotic Museum is also home to the world’s largest collection of erotica, making it a must-see for anyone with an interest in the topic.
The Erotic Museum in Amsterdam is located on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal – just in opposite of the Moulin Rouge. It portrays the history of eroticism and sex through the ages. This is one of those museums in Amsterdam where you can take perfect photos for your Instagram account. It is a kind of Instagram museum as it offers numerous erotic art objects that will impress your followers.
The Erotic Museum is a great place to update your Instagram-account.
This museum is owned by the same entrepreneur who also manages the erotic theatre Casa Rosso, strip club Hospital Bar, Sex Palace Peep Show, The Bananenbar and Sexy Loo.
So why not add it to your list of things to do in Amsterdam? You might just be surprised at what you learn!
Reviews
✦ Google: 2,120 reviews | 3,6 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 454 reviews | 2,5 out of 5 stars.
Tickets
✦ Hours: 11 AM – 12 PM
✦ Price: 7 euro
5 | Sex Museum Amsterdam
We believe the Sex Museum in Amsterdam, also known as “Venustempel,” or “Museum of Sex” is a fascinating destination for those intrigued by the history and art of human sexuality. Located near Amsterdam’s Central Station at Damrak 18, it stands as the world’s first and oldest museum dedicated to eroticism. We find its collection, including erotic art, sculptures, and photographs, both educational and thought-provoking. The museum offers a unique glimpse into how sexual themes have influenced culture and art through the ages.
We think it’s a must-visit for open-minded adults seeking a deeper understanding of sexuality’s role in human history. However, due to explicit content, it may not be suitable for everyone. We suggest avoiding it if sexual themes make you uncomfortable or if you’re accompanied by children. In our view, the Sex Museum is a place for mature audiences ready to explore this integral aspect of human nature.
Other Museums
If you’re planning to explore the cultural side of Amsterdam, don’t miss out on its intriguing museums. Among these, the Upside Down Museum offers a unique, interactive experience that flips the conventional museum visit on its head—literally! This attraction is perfect for those looking to add an unconventional twist to their itinerary, blending art with playful engagement.
ALSO SEE:
15 Things To Do In Amsterdam Red Light District
Top 15 Things To Do in Amsterdam For A Day in 2025
Posted on: February 1, 2025
Top 15 Things to do in Amsterdam for a Day
Looking for the top 15 things to do in Amsterdam in one day? Our local experts understand how overwhelming it can be to fit this vibrant city’s must-sees into a single day.
That’s why we’ve crafted this guide to simplify your itinerary, ensuring you experience the best of Amsterdam without missing a beat.
From iconic landmarks to culinary delights, we’ve got you covered with trustworthy and insightful recommendations. Ready to discover Amsterdam’s highlights in just 24 hours? Let’s dive in!
Top 15 Things to Do in Amsterdam for a Day
1. Moulin Rouge
Amsterdam’s Moulin Rouge is a must-see attraction, offering a unique blend of adult entertainment and humor.
Located in the heart of the Red Light District, this iconic venue captivates visitors with its vibrant shows and historic charm. The performances include a mix of comedy, dance, and music, ensuring an entertaining evening for all.
Booking tickets in advance is recommended to secure your spot.
This venue also offers an amazing sex show, featuring four different shows every hour. You can enjoy the performances up close near the stage or take a seat at the bar.
It is designed for both women and men aged 18 and above. We consider it the best sex show in Amsterdam because of its reasonable pricing (Casa Rosso is 15 euros more expensive) and the high quality of the performers. For those feeling adventurous, audience members can even join as volunteers during the shows.
2. Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is one of the most visited sites in Amsterdam. This museum provides a poignant look into the life of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis during World War II.
Visitors can explore the hidden annex where Anne wrote her famous diary, offering a deeply moving experience. The museum’s exhibits provide historical context and personal stories that resonate with visitors of all ages.
3. Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is the Netherlands’ premier art museum, housing an extensive collection of Dutch Golden Age masterpieces, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer. The museum’s stunning architecture and beautifully landscaped gardens enhance the cultural experience. Spend a few hours exploring its vast galleries to fully appreciate the art, history, and culture it showcases.
4. Nieuwe Kerk or Oude Kerk
Both the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and the Oude Kerk (Old Church) are significant historical landmarks in Amsterdam. The Nieuwe Kerk, located on Dam Square, hosts royal ceremonies and high-profile exhibitions. The Oude Kerk, Amsterdam’s oldest building, offers a serene escape with its Gothic architecture and impressive organ. Each church provides a glimpse into the city’s religious and architectural history.
5. Adam Tower (Europe’s Tallest Swing)
For a thrilling experience, visit the Adam Tower, home to Europe’s tallest swing. The “Over the Edge” swing offers breathtaking views of Amsterdam as you soar high above the city. This attraction is perfect for adrenaline seekers and provides a unique perspective of the Dutch capital. After your swing, enjoy the observation deck for panoramic views and a drink at the rooftop bar.
6. Fabel Friet
No visit to Amsterdam is complete without trying some authentic Dutch fries, and Fabel Friet is the place to go. Located near the bustling city center, Fabel Friet serves crispy, golden fries with a variety of delicious sauces. This popular snack spot is perfect for a quick bite while exploring the city.
7. Lunch at The Waag
The Waag is a historic building that now houses a charming restaurant, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely lunch. Located on Nieuwmarkt square, The Waag offers a menu filled with Dutch and international dishes. The building’s medieval architecture and cozy interior create a unique dining atmosphere, perfect for a midday break.
8. Stroopwafel from Albert Cuyp Market
Head to the Albert Cuyp Market for an authentic Dutch treat: the stroopwafel. These thin, waffle-like cookies filled with caramel syrup are a local favorite. Watching them being made fresh at the market is a delightful experience, and enjoying one while strolling through the bustling stalls is a must-do.
9. Diner at the Vijf Vlieghen
For a memorable dinner, visit the Vijf Vlieghen, a historic restaurant known for its unique atmosphere and culinary excellence. The restaurant consists of five interconnected 17th-century houses, each with its own distinctive decor. The menu features Dutch cuisine with a modern twist, making it a perfect spot for a special evening meal.
10. Wijnand Fockink
Wijnand Fockink is a traditional Dutch distillery and tasting room located in the heart of Amsterdam. Established in 1679, it offers a wide range of genevers and liqueurs. The knowledgeable staff provide insights into the history and production of these spirits, making it an educational and enjoyable stop for connoisseurs.
11. Coffeeshop Grey Area
Coffeeshop Grey Area is renowned for its high-quality cannabis and welcoming atmosphere. Popular among locals and tourists alike, it offers a wide selection of products and expert advice. Weed loves claim Grey Area to be the best coffeeshop in Amsterdam. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a curious first-timer, this iconic coffeeshop provides a quintessential Amsterdam experience.
12. Canal Cruise
A canal cruise is one of the best ways to see Amsterdam’s picturesque waterways and historic architecture. Various operators offer guided tours that highlight the city’s famous landmarks, including the Anne Frank House and the Westerkerk. Choose a daytime cruise for stunning views or an evening cruise for a romantic ambiance.
13. Free Ferry Behind Central Station
Take advantage of the free ferry service behind Amsterdam’s Central Station to explore the city’s northern districts. The short ride offers beautiful views of the IJ River and provides easy access to attractions like the Eye Film Museum and the NDSM Wharf, a vibrant cultural hotspot.
14. Vondelpark
Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s largest and most popular park, perfect for a relaxing stroll or a picnic. The park features beautiful landscapes, ponds, and gardens, as well as open-air theatre performances in the summer. It’s a great place to unwind and enjoy nature in the heart of the city.
15. Pride Statue
The Pride Statue in Amsterdam is a symbol of the city’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity. Located near the Homomonument, it commemorates the struggles and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. Visiting this statue is a meaningful way to acknowledge Amsterdam’s progressive values and rich history of diversity.
One Day Itinerary for Amsterdam
8:00 AM – Vondelpark
Start your day with a healthy stroll or a morning picnic in Amsterdam’s largest and most popular park.
9:00 AM – Anne Frank House
Explore the poignant history of Anne Frank and her family’s hiding place.
10:30 AM – Canal Cruise
Enjoy a scenic boat tour through Amsterdam’s picturesque canals.
11:30 AM – Rijksmuseum
Discover Dutch Golden Age masterpieces and explore the museum’s extensive collections.
1:30 PM – Lunch at The Waag
Enjoy a delicious meal in a historic building on Nieuwmarkt square.
2:30 PM – Nieuwe Kerk or Oude Kerk
Visit one of these historic churches to admire their architecture and history.
3:30 PM – Stroopwafel from Albert Cuyp Market
Taste a fresh stroopwafel and browse the vibrant market stalls.
4:00 PM – Fabel Friet
Grab a quick snack of Dutch fries with a variety of delicious sauces.
4:30 PM – Adam Tower (Europe’s Tallest Swing)
Experience the thrill of swinging high above the city and enjoy panoramic views.
5:30 PM – Wijnand Fockink
Visit this traditional distillery and tasting room for a taste of Dutch genevers and liqueurs.
6:30 PM – Dinner at the Vijf Vlieghen
Indulge in a memorable dining experience in a historic restaurant.
8:30 PM – Moulin Rouge
Watch an entertaining adult show in the famous Red Light District.
9.30 PM – Amsterdam Red Light District Tour
Explore Holland’s most fascinating area, see the red-lit windows and take this Amsterdam Red Light District tour
11:30 PM – Paradiso to Party
Dance the night away at one of Amsterdam’s most iconic music venues.
Bonus Activities:
- Coffeeshop Grey Area
Stop by for a unique Amsterdam experience with high-quality cannabis. - Free Ferry Behind Central Station
Take a short ferry ride to explore the northern districts. - Pride Statue
Visit the Pride Statue to honor Amsterdam’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity.
What are the top attractions to see in Amsterdam in one day?
Amsterdam’s top attractions include the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, and a canal cruise. Don’t miss the unique experience of the Moulin Rouge and the thrill of Europe’s tallest swing at the Adam Tower.
Where can I get the best Dutch food in Amsterdam?
For authentic Dutch food, try Fabel Friet for fries, stroopwafels at Albert Cuyp Market, and enjoy a memorable dinner at the historic Vijf Vlieghen. Lunch at The Waag offers a delightful blend of local and international dishes.
What is the best way to explore Amsterdam’s canals?
The best way to explore Amsterdam’s canals is by taking a canal cruise. Various operators offer guided tours that showcase the city’s picturesque waterways and famous landmarks.
Is the Anne Frank House worth visiting?
Yes, the Anne Frank House is a must-visit. It offers a poignant and educational experience, allowing visitors to learn about Anne Frank’s life and the history of World War II in a deeply personal way.
Can I experience Amsterdam’s nightlife in one day?
Absolutely! Amsterdam’s nightlife is vibrant. Start with a show at the Moulin Rouge, then head to Paradiso for live music and dancing. These venues offer a perfect glimpse into the city’s dynamic evening entertainment.
Are there any free attractions in Amsterdam?
Yes, there are several free attractions in Amsterdam. Enjoy a stroll in Vondelpark, take a free ferry ride behind Central Station, and visit the Pride Statue to appreciate the city’s inclusivity and cultural significance.
What to do in Amsterdam for 3 hours?
1. Discover Amsterdam’s Red Light District with a Guided Tour
One of Amsterdam’s most iconic areas, the Red Light District, offers a unique mix of history, culture, and entertainment. A guided walking tour is the best way to explore this vibrant neighborhood while learning about its intriguing past and present. Experienced guides provide insider knowledge, ensuring you gain a deeper understanding of this world-famous district. Walking through its narrow streets and canals, you’ll witness the district’s blend of old-world charm and modern-day allure, with stories that highlight the district’s significance in Amsterdam’s history.
2. Visit the Oude Kerk – Amsterdam’s Oldest Building
While exploring the Red Light District, take a moment to visit the Oude Kerk (Old Church). This stunning 800-year-old church is not only the oldest building in Amsterdam but also a remarkable piece of Gothic architecture. The church offers a serene contrast to the bustling streets outside, with its beautiful stained glass windows, ancient gravestones, and a unique art exhibition space. The panoramic views from the bell tower are a must-see, offering a unique perspective of the city’s rooftops.
3. Experience the Moulin Rouge Sex Show
No visit to the Red Light District would be complete without experiencing its famous nightlife. The Moulin Rouge Sex Show is an iconic part of the district’s entertainment scene, offering a provocative yet tasteful display of Amsterdam’s adult culture. Located in the heart of the district, this erotic show is known for its artistic performances that blend sensuality with humor and live entertainment. It’s an experience that’s both daring and unforgettable, adding a bit of spice to your Amsterdam adventure.
4. Relax at a Traditional Brown Café
After exploring the Red Light District and its attractions, unwind in one of Amsterdam’s traditional brown cafés. These cozy, historic pubs offer a warm atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a Dutch beer or a coffee. With wooden interiors and dim lighting, these cafés are a great place to experience local culture, meet residents, and reflect on your visit. De Karpershoek, located near the district, is one of the oldest brown cafés in the city and a perfect spot to relax before continuing your journey.
Amsterdam Prostitution Menu: Prices & Services in 2025
Posted on: March 1, 2025
Amsterdam Prostitution Menu: Paid Sex In Holland
You’re in Amsterdam and you want to know the going rates for prostitutes. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to find out how much they cost.
FIND ESCORTS >With our Amsterdam prostitution menu, you can discover all prices of prostitutes in Amsterdam. We list the prices for both brothels and street prostitution so you can make an informed decision about where to go.
The Dollebegijnensteeg in Amsterdam Red Light District.
What’s for sale, where to get it, what are the prices and how about the Dutch prostitution laws? This Amsterdam Prostitution Menu has everything you need. Learn more about the famous window brothels in Amsterdam, private brothels and Amsterdam escorts. Discover it below!
FIND ESCORTS NOW >
This Amsterdam Prostitution Menu shows what is generally offered in the Red Light District and beyond. The prostitutes do not work by just one set of rules and do not have one specific menu.
“I’m glad I found this prostitution menu online because I had no glue how things worked in Amsterdam. It surprised me that sex work is so well organized in the Netherlands. I also thought it would be really much more expensive.”
Is Prostitution Legal In Amsterdam?
Yes, in prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. It’s legal everywhere in The Netherlands. And a regulated profession too. So sex work is also legal in the capital Amsterdam.
Brothels, escorts, homeworkers, webcam sex, window prostitution is legal in the Netherlands! As long as the rules, laws and obligations are adhered to.
Window prostitution laws
The minimum age to work as a sex worker in Amsterdam Red Light District is 21 years. Window sex workers also have to show their ID when they rent the window brothel from the brothel owner. There are more laws for window prostitution listed here.
Amsterdam Prostitution Menu: Prices & Services
A stripbar ad in an alley in the Red Light District.
So what does the Amsterdam Prostitution Menu looks like? Below you’ll find a very useful overview divided into 4 parts:
✦ Amsterdam Window Brothel Prices
✦ Amsterdam Brothels Prices
✦ Sex Dating Websites
✦ Escorts in Amsterdam
The Trompettersteeg in De Wallen.
Each part dedicated to their own unique experience and accompanying prices. Please note that this Amsterdam Prostitution Menu shows what is generally offered. It’s wise to discuss everything with the sex worker beforehand and to make clear agreements about the services and additional prices.
You can always ask respectfully, if she (or he) is up for the service you’re looking for.
For curious travelers looking to learn more about Amsterdam Red Light District, there is a great way to prepare! Our Red Light District tour app is available as a virtual guide and audio tour combined. With 22 experts sharing stories and insights, this audio download offers an educational and interesting view of the culture and history of the Red Light District that wouldn’t normally be found in a regular tour. Whether you are planning a physical visit in the future or just looking for an informative experience, this Red Light District app promises a unique perspective behind this infamous part of Amsterdam.
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1 | Amsterdam Window Prices & Services
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Sint Annenstraat.
The Amsterdam Prostitution Menu starts with explanation on window prostitution. It’s the most accessible form of prostitution.
Amsterdam has 3 Red Light District area’s and around 360 window brothels in total.
The biggest and most famous Red Light District of the Netherlands is locally known as De Wallen. Most tourists talk about this area as Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
This area has currently 201 window brothels and approximately 350 prostitutes who work during the day or night shifts.
The Moulin Rouge on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
Most prostitutes are from Eastern Europe, but there’s also a big group of sex workers who are from Latin-America. Just a few are actually Dutch. Foreign prostitutes work here because in the Netherlands they can work safely.
Window brothels in Amsterdam can be rented by the prostitutes during the day or the night. So usually there are different sex workers between 10 am & 6 pm than from 7 pm till 5 am.
Learn everything about Amsterdam’s most famous area during this Red Light District Tour App in which 22 experts explain everything you need to know.
Amsterdam Window Prostitutes
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Stoofsteeg.
The window brothels are set up for a relatively short visit. Generally customers pay between 100 to 150 euro for around 15 to 20 minutes of sex. But if you want, you can also stay longer (30 to 60 minutes). Obviously this cost more.
The sex workers in the window brothels differ in the services that they offer and everything can be negotiated. As long as it is done respectfully. The starting rate for every window prostitute negotiation is usually around 100 euro.
The transgender sex workers in the Blue Light District also charge at least 100 euros for their services.
Window brothels
Oudekennissteeg.
It’s good to know that the window brothels in Amsterdam are quite small. Window brothels are just small rooms with a plastic or leather bed, a washing table, a chair and toilet in the back. It’s nothing fancy like a “normal” brothel.
This is also why prices are lower at the window brothels compared to brothels (like Club LV or Club BonTon) that are mentioned below. All window brothels in Amsterdam are clean though.
Gender and Sexual Orientation
The big majority (around 95%) of all Amsterdam window prostitutes are female and straight. A smaller part of the window workers are transgender.
Payment
The prostitutes who work in the window brothels of Amsterdam accept only cash money. No credit- or debit card payments. One reason that sex workers cannot be paid digitally is because (listed) banks do not want to be associated with sex work and therefore do not facilitate digital payments. The Red Light District has many ATM’S.
Amsterdam Prostitutes Health
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Old Church Square.
The sex workers in Amsterdam’s Red Light District only do safe sex, with a condom. They only accept their own condoms which they often buy at the Condomerie – world’s first condom shop – located on the Warmoesstraat in the Red Light District.
A condom shop in Amsterdam Red Light District.
In the Netherlands it is not mandatory for sex workers to be tested on sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s). Prostitutes are regularly tested on a voluntary basis. They can be tested for free and anonymously by professionals.
For example at the Geneeskundige en Gezondheidsdienst Amsterdam (GGD) or at P&G292. In general, the health of the sex workers is good.
Prostitutes in the Netherlands know the risks of their profession and take it into account through safe sex and regular STD tests.
Amsterdam Window Workers Prices
- Starting rate: 100 – 150 euro for 15 – 20 minutes.
- Services: Oral sex | Sex | Erotic massage | Hand-job | Stripping | Cuddling.
2 | Services & Prices in Amsterdam Brothels
Strip Club BonTon
A stripper inside Club BonTon.
Club BonTon is one of the newest erotic venues in Amsterdam. It’s a stripclub and a brothel. The great thing about this chique club is that you can enjoy the atmosphere of a beautiful strip-club and when you see a lady that you really like, you can take her upstairs and have some more fun together in a private room. Not all the girls inside offer these erotic services though.
✦ Rates: Entrance: 50,- | Lapdance: 20,- | Private room: 350,-
✦ What’s on BonTon’ Amsterdam prostitution menu? In the club: Lapdance | Upstairs: Striptease | Sex | Oral sex | Erotic massage | French (69) | | Trio with male | Trio with female | S&M role-play, Dominant or submissive | Foot fetish | Sex Toys
Club LV
Club LV has been Amsterdam’s most exclusive brothel for over 14 years now. Enjoy a delicious cocktails, champagnes or nice wines in the bar area and let yourself be seduced by one of the 12 ladies that are always present.
Pick the one you like most and take her upstairs to one of the 8 luxury private rooms equipped with large bathtubs and master beds.
Rates: Entrance: 75,- | Private room: 350,-
Services: French Kissing | Striptease | Sex | Oral sex | Erotic massage | French (69) | Golden shower | Threesome | S&M role-play, Dominant or submissive | Foot fetish | Toys
3 | Adult Dating Websites in Holland
There are also websites in the Netherlands where it is possible to organise sex dates. Also legal! One is mentioned below. It just requires free registration.
MySecretDate is made for men and women who are looking for a pleasant or exciting contact. Create a profile for free, post photos, send messages and find a nice date in the Netherlands based on your profile.
“I’d definitely recommend trying this sex dating site. At least once. You can make an end of your boring sex life with just a few clicks. It’s soooooo exciting!”
Maria Anderson, 32 year.
Get An Erotic Date Today!
4 | Escorts in Amsterdam: Services & Prices
Definition Escorts
Also part of the Amsterdam Prostitution Menu are escorts. An escort, is the provision of company by a sex worker with, if desired, sexual acts with the customer. Escorts offer a more expensive form of prostitution that gives the client more privacy. The meeting takes place, for example, at the customer’s home, in the hotel where the customer is staying, or in a hotel proposed by the escort (hotel prostitution).
Advantages
✦ More discrete/ more privacy
✦ Customised service
✦ More time
✦ Can be combined with dinner, walking, shopping, etc.
✦ More comfortable
✦ More choice
Prices
Most escort services in Amsterdam work with a flat hourly rate. This flat rate includes the standard services like regular and oral sex (with protection).
The other services that are advertised fall outside of the flat rate and cost extra. These extra services are not guaranteed beforehand and can only be negotiated when the lady has arrived at your place.
The lady decides what extras she’s up for and will set the prices then and there.
Flat hourly rate: 150,-
Amsterdam Prostitution Menu: French Kissing | Striptease | Sex | Oral sex | Erotic massage | French (69) | Golden shower | Trio with male | Trio with female | S&M role-play, Dominant or submissive | Foot fetish | Sex-Toys | Overnight stay | Drinks | Diner | Clubbing
5 | Escort Service Agency: Escort Amsterdam
EscortAmsterdam.com has almost 40 professional sex workers most of whom live in the Dutch capital. This escort agency in Amsterdam wants to offer as much diversity and realism as possible, so that it becomes easy for men to find the right lady.
This company distinguishes itself through a simple & safe ordering process, 24/7 accessibility, very serious discreetness and the best escort service in Amsterdam.
All their escorts are licensed professionals who know how to provide your sexual & nonsexual desires.
The women are displayed on with pictures, additional information and services on the site of this agency. EscortAmsterdam can be contacted by phone, via the live-chat or through the booking form on their website.
✦ Flat hourly rate: 150,-
✦ Services: Sex | Erotic massages | Tantra | Oral sex | Threesomes | Stripteases | S&M | Golden showers | French 69
6 | Escort Service Agency: Amsterdam Finest
Staying in a hotel in Amsterdam? Hotel Escort Amsterdam it the company for you. It has been serving clients at many hotels for quite a long time.
An added bonus is that the ladies always show up in normal clothing. They know how to discreetly get to your hotel room. A massage, regular- and oral sex are all included in the flat rate.
✦ Flat hourly rate: 150,-
✦ Services: French Kissing | Striptease | Sex | Oral sex | Erotic massage | French (69) | Golden shower | Trio with male | Trio with female | SM role-play, Dominant or submissive | Foot fetish | Toys | Overnight stay | Drinks | Diner | Club
7 | Escort Service Agency: Desire Escort Schiphol & Escorts In Schiphol
Desire Escort Schiphol and Escorts in Schiphol are both good options for those who are staying in a hotel close to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (Holland’s main airport).
The services of these specific companies are useful for layovers or a short visit to Amsterdam. With these companies you can expect gorgeous, experienced and friendly escorts. They maintain a minimum age of 21.
✦ Flat hourly rate: 150
✦ Services: French Kissing | Striptease | Sex | Oral sex | Erotic massage | French (69) | Golden shower | Trio with male | Trio with female | SM role-play, Dominant or submissive | Foot fetish | Toys | Overnight stay | Drinks | Diner | Club
8 | Escort Service Agency: Perfect Escorts Amsterdam
Perfect Escorts Amsterdam has just perfect ladies. This company operates 7 days a week. Like all other escort companies in Amsterdam their workers get regular medical checkups and they all practise safe sex with a condom. Your health and the health of the ladies is a top priority. Tip: a lot of the ladies at this company are specialised in erotic massages.
✦ Flat hourly rate: 150
✦ Services: French Kissing | Striptease | Sex | Oral sex | Erotic massage | French (69) | Golden shower | Trio with male | Trio with female | SM role-play, Dominant or submissive | Foot fetish | Toys | Overnight stay | Drinks | Diner | Club
Did this Amsterdam Prostitution Menu answer all your questions?
ALSO DISCOVER:
10 Best Escort Sites in Holland
Top 10 Coffeeshops in Amsterdam With Best Weed & Hash in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Coffeeshops In Amsterdam: Ultimate Coffee Shop Guide (For Cannabis)
When in Holland, it’s important to know where to find the best coffee shops in Amsterdam. Having a bad experience can ruin your trip, and that’s especially true if you’re looking for cannabis.
Unfortunately, there are many companies in Amsterdam that offer poor quality products at high prices, and the same goes for some of the city’s coffee shops.
At a terrace of an Amsterdam coffeeshop.
We have the solution for you! An overview of the 10 best coffeeshops in Amsterdam created by frequent coffeeshop visitors. Votes from 224 cannabis lovers.
10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
This list with the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam was based on 224 votes from members of the Dam Jam – Amsterdam Coffeeshop Culture Facebook group and the Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Facebook group.
The Facebook group Dam Jam has currently 14.401 members and is described as: “A page about Amsterdam, its coffeeshops and a cheeky bit of culture all rolled into one“.
The other one currently counts 60.612 members and uses this description: “A place for members of the ACD forum and fans of ACD to come on Facebook to discuss current coffeeshop culture and share info”.
Some of the members prefer to lounge whilst others only vote for the quality of the cannabis.
With this top 10 best coffeeshops in Amsterdam you can’t go wrong during your visit.
1 | Coffeeshop Grey Area
Number one on our list with a total of 31 votes out of 224 is coffeeshop Grey Area. This coffeeshop is a regular cannabis-cup winner and the staff is really knowledgeable. It’s named Grey Area because the Dutch law on using weed isn’t exactly clear-cut.
Here you see a photo of Snoop Dogg during his visit to coffeeshop Grey Area in 2013:
Picture by Nick Bieneck in Grey Area.
It also turns out that this is one of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam because Grey Area is frequented visited by famous people. Snoop Dogg, Kelis, Cypress Hill, Woody Harrelson and many others have been here.
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The shop is located in the center of Amsterdam and is world renowned for the quality of their weed. Most visitors go there to buy their weed but not to chill as the coffeeshop itself is quite small. Due to the central location and popularity of the coffeeshop, it can get busy so expect to have wait in line.
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Reviews
✦ Google: 2.919 reviews – 4,5 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 247 reviews – 4,5 out of 5 stars.
2 | Coffeeshop 1e Hulp
This coffeeshop in Amsterdam came in a close second with 28 votes out of 224. Coffeeshop 1e Hulp (translated: First Aid) is located at the outskirts of the city center making it relatively quiet. A really relaxed, very comfortable and cozy coffeeshop perfect for chilling.
Oh, and the weed is great too! This isn’t the cheapest coffeeshop in Amsterdam but they serve some unique and excellent strains. The staff is also really friendly and will help you out with making your selection. This is one of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam and is well known for their moon rocks.
Reviews
✦ Google: 2.001 reviews – 4,5 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 100 reviews – 4 out 5.
3 | Coffeeshop Boerejongens Center
Boerejongens is without a doubt one of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam. This is a very modern coffeeshop with a touch of class. Boerejongens got a total of 20 votes out of 224. It’s very easy to reach due to it being located close to Rembrandt Square, on the Utrechtsestraat 21.
The staff wear crisp white shirts combined with black bowties and white aprons. They are also very friendly and knowledgeable. Expect a great selection of strains and to wait in line as this is a really busy shop. You can sit and chill in the cozy upstairs however most people just go here to get some of the best cannabis in town, and leave. This is because the upstairs is quite small.
Reviews
✦ Google: 3.526 reviews – 4,7 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 131 reviews – 4,5 out 5.
✦ Greenmeister: 60 reviews – 5 out 5.
4 | Coffeeshop Het Ballonnetje
Het Ballonnetje attracts a wide variety of guests, including tourists, musicians, artists and students. The staff here is friendly and they sell their top quality weed and hash for reasonable prices. Het Ballonnetje is located in Amsterdam Oost (east).
Tip: get your supplies at het Ballonnetje and visit Artis Zoo located just around the corner. It can be a fantastic experience to see all the wild animals stoned.
Reviews
✦ Google: 600 reviews – 4,5 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 15 reviews – 4,5 out of 5.
✦ GreenMeister: 7 reviews – 4 out of 5.
5 | Coffeeshop The Plug
Number five on our best coffeeshops in Amsterdam list is The Plug. This place was formerly Coffeeshop Utopia but has merged with The Plug in Barcelona back in May 2018. This has greatly improved their original selection and menu. It is a small coffeeshop with the option to sit outside in the sunlight. The staff is friendly and patient. They also serve great coffee here. Come for the weed, stay for the coffee ?.
Reviews
✦ Google: 518 reviews – 4,3 out 5 stars.
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6 | Coffeeshop The Stud
This is another shop on our list that is located at the outskirts of Amsterdam’s city center. The Stud was established back in 1982 and serves a good mixture of local regulars and tourists. It’s a small shop so seating is limited. Expect the best herbs for a fair price served by friendly staff. Coffeeshop The Stud also has a few (“old dated”) computers that visitors may use. The shop is located close to the Amsterdam Muiderpoort train station – in the more eastern part of the city. At Cannabis Liberation Day 2018 The Stud was nominated for the best coffeeshop in Amsterdam!
Reviews
✦ Google: 2.124 reviews – 4,7 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 70 reviews – 4,5 out 5 stars.
7 | Green House Coffeeshop
The atmosphere in Green House is completely unique. Green House has four separate locations spread out over Amsterdam. We’re talking about the Green House at the Oudezijs Voorburgwal located in the Red Light District. Great central location. All Green House coffeeshops have a high quality reputation and great quality products. One of those places where you can buy with your eyes closed.
Reviews
✦ Google: 4.124 reviews – 4,4 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 702 reviews – 4,5 out 5.
✦ Smokers Guide: 181 reviews – 7,6/10.
8 | Coffeeshop Abraxas
Located in the heart of Amsterdam close to Spui Square and Rokin street, this is one of the oldest and the best-known coffeeshops in Amsterdam. Coffeeshop Abraxas is also known from a scene in a famous movie.
The interior is really unique and “mind expanding” by itself. The place is really hospitable and they serve a nice selection of high quality coffee and tea. A fantastic coffeeshop to enjoy a relaxing joint.
Reviews
✦ Google: 4.094 reviews – 4,6 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 819 reviews – 4,5 out 5.
9 | Coffeeshop Easy Times
This is one of the more larger coffeeshops on our best coffeeshops in Amsterdam top 10. The vibe here is good and relaxing with plenty of comfortable seating for everyone. They also have some canal side tables outside for when the sun is shining. Besides serving up some great bud they also play quality music. Right next door are a McDonalds and Burger King for those who get the munchies.
Reviews
✦ Google: 3.162 reviews – 4,5 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 354 reviews – 4,5 out 5.
10 | Coffeeshop Voyagers
Coffeeshop Voyagers in the Red Light District.
This coffeeshop is actually a hotel and coffeeshop in one. Its location is great! It is situated at one of the entrances to the Red Light District from Amsterdam’s Central Station. This is a great place to start your adventure. The staff is really friendly and the weed selection is good. It is a cozy coffeeshop, surrounded by two canals, with limited seating so not ideal for long chill sessions, unless you also booked a hotel room there.
Reviews
✦ Google: 184 reviews – 4,4 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 55 reviews – 4 out 5.
Legal Cannabis In Holland
On the 11th of February, 2020, we posted a poll on our Facebook-page.
We asked whether the content of cannabis should be checked by the Dutch government. This is what 294 respondents answered:
10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam Map
We listed all the 10 best coffeeshops in Amsterdam in Google Maps (below) so that you can easily find them.
Zoom in with your fingers.
The Legality of Cannabis in Amsterdam
While it’s true that cannabis is widely available and consumed in Amsterdam, it’s important to note that it’s not completely legal. Rather, the government has adopted a policy of “tolerance,” which means that while cannabis possession and consumption are technically illegal, they are not actively prosecuted in small amounts.
The sale of cannabis is regulated and taxed, and coffeeshops are subject to strict regulations to ensure that they operate within the bounds of the law. Visitors to Amsterdam should also be aware that while cannabis consumption is tolerated in some public spaces, it’s illegal to consume cannabis in other areas, such as parks, on the street, or in public transportation.
It’s also important to be mindful of your surroundings and to avoid consuming cannabis in areas where it’s not allowed. While cannabis is tolerated in some public spaces, it’s important to be aware of the laws and regulations in Amsterdam to avoid getting into legal trouble.
Finally, it’s important to remember that cannabis consumption can have different effects on different people. Some people may feel relaxed and euphoric, while others may experience anxiety or paranoia. If you do experience negative side effects, it’s important to seek medical help or to talk to a healthcare professional. Overall, by following these tips and being mindful of the laws and regulations, you can have a safe and enjoyable experience exploring the cannabis culture in Amsterdam’s top 10 cannabis coffeeshops.
Tips for Visiting Cannabis Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
Visiting a cannabis coffeeshop can be a unique and enjoyable experience, but it’s important to do so in a responsible manner. Before you visit a shop, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations, and to be aware of the potential risks and consequences of cannabis consumption.
When visiting a cannabis coffeeshop, it’s important to be respectful of other patrons, and to consume cannabis in a responsible manner. This means starting with a small amount and waiting to see how it affects you before consuming more.
Amsterdam Ban Tourists From Coffee Shops
Tourists have long flocked to Amsterdam’s world-famous coffee shops, where they can purchase and consume cannabis. However, the current mayor of Amsterdam – Femke Halsema – is proposing a ban on tourists visiting these establishments.
The rationale for this proposal is that tourists cause too much crowds in the center of Amsterdam. The left mayor wants fewer domestic and foreign tourists in the city. Additionally, the mayor argues that tourism is putting a strain on Amsterdam’s infrastructure, and that restricting access to coffee shops would help to alleviate this problem.
While it remains to be seen whether this proposal will be enacted, it highlights the complex issues surrounding tourism and drug policy in Amsterdam. Many Amsterdammers and other political parties do not want a coffee shop ban for tourists.
Museum About Cannabis in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is world-famous for its relaxed attitude toward cannabis, and exploring the city’s best coffeeshops is a must for many visitors. But for those curious about the history and culture behind this iconic herb, a visit to the Amsterdam Hash and Hemp Museum is a perfect addition to your itinerary. This fascinating museum dives into the many uses of cannabis throughout history, offering insights into its cultural, medicinal, and industrial significance. Learn more about this unique attraction and how it complements Amsterdam’s coffeeshop culture. Expand your cannabis journey with a deeper appreciation of its story!
Coffeeshop Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some Amsterdam coffeeshop FAQ’s.
1 | What does coffeeshop mean in Amsterdam?
For some this is a superfluous question, but many wonder what a coffeeshop means in Amsterdam.
Meaning: A coffeeshop in the Netherlands is a company where cannabis (weed and hash) can be offered and sold.
When the Dutch refer to coffeeshops, this expressly means that it concerns drug-related matters. If a Dutch person says that he or she is going to visit a coffee shop, then the person will buy weed or hash. No coffee or tea.
The Netherlands works with a tolerance policy (Dutch: gedoog-beleid), which simply means that it is allowed to sell and buy soft drugs (= weed & hash) in coffeeshops. However, it is illegal to produce cannabis commercially in the Netherlands.
This means that almost all coffeeshops in Amsterdam obtain their cannabis from illegal sources, or criminals. In that respect, the Netherlands works with a strange, clumsy and old-fashioned drug policy. This Dutch drug policy has been active in this way since the 1970s.
2 | What’s the number of coffeeshops in Amsterdam?
The Bulldog was not the first coffeeshop in Amsterdam but the third. It was founded in December 1975, after Mellow Yellow & Rusland.
Amsterdam has currently 164 coffeeshops (source). 14 of them can found in the Red Light District. There used to be more coffeeshops in Amsterdam, but the government has closed many.
In the 1990s, the Dutch capital even had more than 400 coffeeshops, reported Dutch newspaper Parool (source). Most coffeeshops in Amsterdam were closed because of criminal activities. With such a complicated drug policy, that is almost unavoidable.
3 | Are tourists allowed in Amsterdam coffeeshops?
Yes, Amsterdam coffeeshops allow tourists! Only a few coffeeshops close to the border with Germany and Belgium are prohibited for tourists. Coffeeshops in Amsterdam can let everyone in as long as they are 18 years old.
4 | Do coffeeshops in Amsterdam roll for you?
Yes! All coffeeshops in Amsterdam sell weed and hash in pre-rolled joints and small seal-bags. Almost all shops have pre-rolled joints in stock. If not, you can always ask the staff to work for you. They will do this for you – if it’s not too busy.
5 | Where do coffeeshops in Amsterdam get their weed from?
Almost all coffeeshops in Amsterdam get cannabis via illegal suppliers and illegal growers. This is because it is prohibited in the Netherlands to cultivate cannabis for commercial purposes.
An exception to this is the so-called closed ‘coffeeshop chain experiment’ to clarify whether legal delivery, purchase and sale of cannabis is possible. The quality of this cannabis is also checked. This new experiment is also called the weed experiment or weed trial, in which growers will produce cannabis under the supervision of the Dutch government.
6 | How long does weed stay in your system?
Although the effects of weed only last for a few hours, the plant itself can stay in your system for much longer. THC, the active ingredient in weed, is detectable in urine for 5 days to 3 weeks after use. This wide range is due to a number of factors, including frequency of use, body fat percentage, and metabolism. In occasional users, THC may only be detectable for a few days. However, in heavy users, THC can build up in fatty tissue and be detectable for several weeks. So if you’re worried about a drug test, it’s best to err on the side of caution and assume that weed will be detectable in your system for at least a week.
7 | How to stop smoking weed?
It is no secret that smoking weed has both short term and long term effects on the human brain. These effects can be both mental and physical, and they are not always pleasant. Some people find that they need to smoke weed in order to cope with anxiety or depression, while others use it recreationally. However, there are many ways to stop smoking weed, and it is important to find the method that works best for you. One way to stop smoking weed is to write down your triggers. What situations make you want to smoke? Once you know what your triggers are, you can work on avoiding them. If you are struggling to do this on your own, there are many support groups available to help you quit smoking weed. Another way to stop smoking weed is to exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, which can help to reduce stress and improve your mood. It can also help to take your mind off of smoking weed. There are many different ways to stop smoking weed, so it is important to find the method that works best for you.
8 | Do Amsterdam coffee shops have a grinders available?
Most of the coffee shops in Amsterdam will have a grinder available for use. This is because most coffee is roasted and then ground right before brewing. This helps to ensure that the coffee is fresh and flavorful. If you’re not sure whether or not a particular coffee shop has a grinder, just ask. The staff will be happy to let you know.
9 | What coffee shops in Amsterdam are open past 1 AM?
Amsterdam is a city that is well known for its coffee shops. tourists from all over the world come to experience the unique atmosphere and try the various strains of cannabis. However, what many people don’t realize is that no coffeeshop in Amsterdam is open past 1 AM. The Municipality of Amsterdam has made this coffee shop policy such that all coffee shops close at 01:00 at the latest.. As a result, if you’re looking for a late night cannabis fix, you’ll need to find an alternative source. Whatever you do, just be sure to plan ahead so you don’t end up being caught out after last call.
10 | What is the age limit for entering coffee shops in Amsterdam?
The age limit for entering coffee shops in Amsterdam is 18 years old. Visitors will need to provide a valid form of identification, such as a passport or driver’s license, to prove their age.
11 | Can I buy alcohol in Amsterdam coffee shops?
No, it is not legal to sell alcohol in Amsterdam coffee shops that also sell cannabis products. However, some coffee shops may sell non-alcoholic drinks or snacks.
5x Drugs Facts
1 | “Only” 7.2% of the Dutch adults used cannabis last month (source)?
2 | >95% of all cannabis in the Netherlands is produced illegally. Here it’s only tolerated to buy and sell cannabis. The commercial production of cannabis is not legal.
(It’s only legal when done via the new so called ‘weed-experiment’ or ‘weed test’ what goes through the Dutch government and in which only a few coffeeshops may participate).
3 | Ever heard of the Dutch Cocaine Factory that legally produced cocaine in Amsterdam? From 1870 till 1919 cocaine was a legal product in the Netherlands. In the 1910’s the Netherlands was actually a global market leader in the production of cocaine.
4 | The Netherlands is one of the biggest XTC producing countries in the world.
Which venues do you find the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam? Please share your opinion in the comment section below.
ALSO SEE:
10 Tips For Using Drugs in Amsterdam
Top 10 Indoor Things To Do in Amsterdam Red Light District in 2025
Ultimate Guide For Indoor Things To Do in Amsterdam Red Light District
Bad weather in the forecast? The indoor things to do in Amsterdam Red Light District are your savior.
Rain often deters exploration. Yet, the district brims with indoor treasures beyond its neon glow. Delve into our top 10, and transform a gloomy day into an unforgettable experience.
Top 10 Indoor Things To Do in Amsterdam Red Light District
1) Moulin Rouge
Located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District, Moulin Rouge offers a variety of live adult entertainment in a historic setting. Offering four captivating sex shows every hour, it has garnered a reputation as one of the district’s must-visit venues.
All shows are inside (duh!). So while it’s raining outside, you stay dry while enjoying Amsterdam.
Its immense popularity isn’t just by chance; countless visitors and locals alike frequently recommend it, lauding it as an essential experience when navigating the district’s electrifying atmosphere.
Whether you’re a curious traveler or a seasoned local, the Moulin Rouge promises an unforgettable show. Get the best Moulin Rouge tickets online here.
2) Oude Kerk
As the city’s oldest building and parish church, Oude Kerk stands as a testament to Amsterdam’s rich history. With stunning Gothic architecture, this church also frequently hosts art exhibitions, making it a blend of ancient reverence and modern culture.
3) Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum
This museum offers a deep dive into the world of cannabis. From its cultural history to its medicinal uses, visitors will be enlightened about the various facets of this controversial plant and its significance in Dutch culture. Learn more about the Hash Museum in Amsterdam today.
The founder of this museum is Ben Dronkers. He is also one of the cannabis pioneers in the Netherlands.
4) Red Light Secrets: Museum of Prostitution
An eye-opening journey into the lives of sex workers, the Red Light Secrets museum provides visitors with an understanding of the profession in the Netherlands. With interactive displays and personal testimonies, it’s both an educational and empathetic exploration.
5) Our Lord in the Attic
This 17th-century canal house hides a secret Catholic church in its attic, a remnant from the time when Catholicism was banned in Amsterdam. The museum offers a rare glimpse into religious life and architecture during a time of persecution.
6) Bar Brouwerij de Prael
Tucked away in an alley, this brewery boasts a range of handcrafted beers. With a charming ambiance and the opportunity to learn about traditional Dutch brewing methods, it’s a must-visit for beer enthusiasts. Discover De Prael today.
7) Sex Palace Peep Show
As the last traditional peep show in Amsterdam, the Sex Palace offers a nostalgic look into adult entertainment from yesteryears. With its vintage design and coin-operated booths, it provides a unique experience different from modern adult venues.
8) De Waag
Originally a city gate and later used as a weighing house, De Waag stands as one of Amsterdam’s oldest non-religious buildings. Today, it houses a restaurant and exhibits detailing the city’s historic trade practices.
9) Erotic Museum
Dedicated to erotic art and artifacts, this museum provides a comprehensive history of human sexuality. From ancient artifacts to modern art, visitors can explore how perceptions and expressions of eroticism have evolved over time. Discover the Erotic Museum in Amsterdam now.
10) Wynand Fockink Proeflokaal and Spirits
Established in the 17th century, this tasting room and distillery is a haven for liqueur and genever enthusiasts. Visitors can sample traditional Dutch spirits, learn about their production, and even purchase bottles to take home.
Historic Canal Houses and Museums
The Amsterdam Red Light District is not only about nightlife; it’s also home to many historic canal houses and museums that offer a deeper understanding of the city’s rich history. For instance, the Museum of Prostitution – Red Light Secrets provides an empathetic insight into the world’s oldest profession, displaying the stories of those involved and debunking many myths. On the other hand, Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic) gives a glimpse into the days when practicing Catholicism was forbidden in Amsterdam.
Culinary Experiences
Beyond its famous nightlife, the Red Light District also boasts a plethora of culinary delights. The area offers traditional Dutch treats like stroopwafels, herring, and bitterballen. However, it’s not just about traditional food; the district is dotted with numerous unique dining establishments and cafes that reflect Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan culinary scene, making it a haven for food lovers.
Cultural and Artistic Venues
The Red Light District serves as a cultural hotspot, teeming with art galleries, theaters, and live music venues. The Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic) museum stands out as a hidden gem, presenting a clandestine church right in the heart of the district. Whether you’re a history buff, an art enthusiast, or someone looking for a unique performance, this district won’t disappoint.
Shopping and Unique Boutiques
Shopping in the Red Light District is an experience in itself. The area boasts a myriad of quirky boutiques, souvenir shops, and traditional Dutch stores, allowing tourists to pick up a variety of mementos. The eclectic mix of avant-garde fashion stores and age-old establishments provides something for every shopper.
Educational Tours
One of the best ways to truly understand the Red Light District is with this Amsterdam Red Light District tour. Knowledgeable experts offer insights into the history, culture, and operations of this unique area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top indoor attractions in Amsterdam Red Light District?
The most popular indoor attractions in Amsterdam’s Red Light District include the Museum of Prostitution – Red Light Secrets, the Oude Kerk, the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum, Our Lord in the Attic, Moulin Rouge, and the Erotic Museum. These sites offer a mix of history, culture, entertainment, and education.
Is the Red Light District in Amsterdam safe for tourists?
Yes, Amsterdam’s Red Light District is generally safe for tourists. While it’s bustling, especially at night, local authorities and police maintain a strong presence. As with any tourist spot, it’s always advisable to be aware of your surroundings and avoid engaging with street hawkers.
Are there family-friendly activities in the Red Light District?
While the Red Light District is known for adult-oriented attractions, there are family-friendly activities as well. Venues like the Oude Kerk, De Waag, and certain canal tours offer experiences suitable for all ages. However, it’s recommended to research in advance to ensure age-appropriateness.
What are the best culinary experiences in the Red Light District?
The Red Light District boasts a range of culinary delights, from traditional Dutch treats like stroopwafels and herring to international cuisines. Notable mentions include Bar Brouwerij de Prael for beer enthusiasts and Wynand Fockink Proeflokaal for traditional Dutch spirits.
How does bad weather affect indoor activities in the Red Light District?
Bad weather, such as rain, often makes indoor activities in the Red Light District even more appealing. Most indoor attractions remain operational, offering visitors a cozy escape from the elements while still enjoying the district’s rich offerings.
10 Unmissable Things to Do in Amsterdam for Adults in 2025: Your Ultimate Adventure Guide
Top 10 Things to Do in Amsterdam for Adults
Looking for the top things to do in Amsterdam for adults? This vibrant city offers a blend of culture, nightlife, and unique experiences tailored just for you.
Whether you crave history, culinary delights, or adventurous activities, Amsterdam has it all. Discover why this iconic city is the perfect destination for your next adult getaway. Read on to uncover the best attractions and hidden gems!
Top 10 Things To Do in Amsterdam for Adults
- Rijksmuseum: Explore Dutch Golden Age masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer.
- Anne Frank House: Visit the historic hiding place and learn about Anne Frank’s story.
- Microbreweries and Craft Beer Tasting: Sample local brews at lesser-known microbreweries like Brouwerij De Prael, Oedipus Brewing, and Butcher’s Tears. Discover the extensive collection of Vincent van Gogh’s artwork.
- Moulin Rouge AmsterdamEnjoy provocative and entertaining live sex shows in a vibrant setting. Experience an unforgettable evening at the Moulin Rouge Amsterdam, featuring four captivating adult shows within one hour. Get the best Moulin Rouge Amsterdam tickets here online.
- Paradiso and Melkweg: Experience live music and events at these iconic venues.
- Foodhallen: Savor diverse culinary delights at this indoor food market.
- Michelin-Starred Restaurants: Indulge in fine dining at Ciel Bleu or Restaurant Vinkeles.
- Canal Cruises and Bike Tours: See the city from its waterways or explore like a local on a bike.
- Vondelpark and Amsterdamse Bos: Relax and unwind in Amsterdam’s beautiful green spaces.
- Red Light District and Brothel Tour: Explore Amsterdam with this Red Light District tour or take this fascinating Amsterdam Brothel tour hosted by a former sex worker and learn more about the liberal Dutch culture.
These activities ensure a well-rounded and memorable visit to Amsterdam, offering something for every interest.
Cultural and Historical Things to Do in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is rich in culture and history, making it a paradise for museum lovers and history buffs. The Rijksmuseum is a must-visit, housing masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer.
Don’t miss the Anne Frank House, where the poignant story of Anne Frank comes to life in the very place she hid during World War II.
Another highlight is the Van Gogh Museum, which offers an extensive collection of Vincent van Gogh’s artwork, providing a deep insight into the artist’s life and work.
In addition to these famous museums, Amsterdam is home to numerous smaller galleries and historical sites.
Consider visiting the Rembrandt House Museum or the Amsterdam Museum to learn more about the city’s vibrant past.
These cultural and historical attractions provide a profound understanding of Amsterdam’s heritage and artistic legacy.
Nightlife and Entertainment
Amsterdam’s nightlife is legendary, offering something for everyone. Whether you’re into dancing the night away or enjoying a quiet drink, the city has it all.
Popular venues like Paradiso and Melkweg host a variety of live music events, from international bands to local talent.
If you prefer a more laid-back evening, Amsterdam’s numerous bars and pubs, such as Café Belgique or Proeflokaal Arendsnest, offer a cozy atmosphere to enjoy a drink.
For a unique experience, consider visiting the Moulin Rouge Amsterdam, known for its provocative and entertaining shows. This venue adds a touch of the risqué to your Amsterdam adventure, making for a memorable night out.
The city’s vibrant nightlife scene ensures that every evening can be different and exciting, catering to diverse tastes and preferences.
Culinary Experiences
Amsterdam’s culinary scene is as diverse as its population. Food lovers will relish the chance to explore the city’s dining options, from traditional Dutch cuisine to international flavors.
The Foodhallen, an indoor food market, offers a variety of stalls serving everything from sushi to gourmet burgers. For a more upscale experience, Amsterdam boasts several Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Ciel Bleu and Restaurant Vinkeles, where you can indulge in exquisite fine dining.
Don’t forget to try local specialties like stroopwafels and Dutch cheese. For a truly authentic experience, visit the Albert Cuyp Market or the Dappermarkt to sample a wide array of local delicacies.
Whether you’re a foodie or just looking to try something new, Amsterdam’s culinary offerings will leave you satisfied and eager for more.
Outdoor Activities and Tours
Amsterdam’s picturesque scenery and flat terrain make it perfect for outdoor activities.
Canal cruises are a popular way to see the city from a different perspective, offering a relaxing journey through Amsterdam’s iconic waterways.
For those who prefer to stay on land, bike tours are an excellent way to explore the city like a local. Companies such as Mike’s Bike Tours offer guided experiences that cover major sights and hidden gems.
The city’s green spaces, like Vondelpark and Amsterdamse Bos, provide a tranquil escape from the urban hustle.
Here, you can enjoy a leisurely walk, have a picnic, or even rent a paddleboat.
These outdoor activities offer a refreshing contrast to the city’s bustling streets and are a great way to unwind and enjoy Amsterdam’s natural beauty.
Unique Local Experiences
To truly immerse yourself in Amsterdam’s unique charm, venture off the beaten path. The Jordaan neighborhood is a delightful area to explore, with its narrow streets, quirky shops, and cozy cafes.
For a breathtaking view of the city, visit the A’DAM Lookout, where you can enjoy panoramic views from the observation deck and even take a thrilling swing over the edge.
Amsterdam Red Light District is world-famous, and a self-guided audio tour app can provide an insightful and respectful way to explore this historic area.
For an even deeper dive into this part of the city, consider the Amsterdam Brothel Tour, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the local sex work industry.
Additionally, the Amsterdam 5D Porn Cinema provides a unique, adult-only experience that combines film with special effects for an immersive adventure.
These local experiences showcase the diverse and open-minded spirit of Amsterdam, offering something truly different for adventurous travelers.
1. What are the must-visit museums in Amsterdam?
The must-visit museums in Amsterdam include the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Anne Frank House. These museums showcase Dutch art, history, and culture, providing a deep insight into the city’s rich heritage.
2. Where can I experience Amsterdam’s nightlife?
For a vibrant nightlife experience, visit popular venues like Paradiso and Melkweg for live music and events. The Red Light District also offers unique entertainment options, including the Moulin Rouge Amsterdam.
3. What are some unique activities for adults in Amsterdam?
Unique activities for adults in Amsterdam include canal cruises, bike tours, and visiting the Amsterdam 5D Porn Cinema.
The Red Light District tour and the Amsterdam Brothel Tour also offer insightful and memorable experiences.
4. Where can I enjoy fine dining in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam boasts several Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Ciel Bleu and Restaurant Vinkeles. Additionally, the Foodhallen offers a diverse range of gourmet food stalls for a more casual dining experience.
5. What outdoor activities are recommended in Amsterdam?
Recommended outdoor activities in Amsterdam include canal cruises, bike tours, and visiting parks like Vondelpark and Amsterdamse Bos. These activities allow you to explore the city’s scenic beauty and relax in its green spaces.
6. How can I explore Amsterdam’s Red Light District safely?
To explore Amsterdam’s Red Light District safely, consider using a self-guided audio tour app. This provides a respectful and informative way to learn about the area’s history and culture.
For a deeper understanding, the Amsterdam Brothel Tour offers guided insights into the local sex work industry.
9 Secrets About The Blue Light District in Amsterdam
Ultimate Blue Light District Amsterdam Guide
Did you know that Amsterdam has a Blue Light District? This mysterious and lesser-known area of the city is full of surprises and unique facts that even locals may not be aware of.
In this blog post, we’ll explore nine fascinating things that you didn’t know about the Blue Light District. From its history to its modern-day significance, get ready to discover a whole new side of Amsterdam. Let’s dive in!
1 | Meaning
Window brothels on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
The Blue Light District in Amsterdam is where transgender sex workers practice their trade in sex rooms. It mainly concerns people who have not had an operation to remove their male genitalia.
This prostitution area in Amsterdam is called the Blue Light District because the sex workers usually use blue lights (instead of red lights) to illuminate their sex rooms.
The blue-lit windows with transgender sex workers are mainly visited by male customers. These windows can be found, for example, on Bloedstraat, on the corner of Oudezijds Achterburgwal. Near the Cafe The Old Sailor and Moulin Rouge.
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2 | Is the Blue Light District real?
Yes, it’s totally real! What is good to know is that not all transgender sex workers use blue lights to offer their services. Moreover, it is also not a requirement to do so.
Female window prostitute also work in this district. Therefor you’ll see both red as blue-lit window brothels.
3 | Where is the Blue Light District in Amsterdam?
The Blue Light District can be found on the Bloedstraat and Gordijnensteeg in Amsterdam. It’s just next to the Red Light District main street: the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. This is the street with most red light windows and sex shows like Moulin Rouge.
4 | Sex workers
The transgender sex workers in the Blue Light District are particularly concerned about their privacy and very wary of tourists who – despite all warnings – still want to take pictures.
The stigma, their status and their secret double life are often the reasons for this. The transgender sex workers are very afraid that photos will end up with their friends, family or other acquaintances.
5 | Blue Light District Prices
The prices for paid sex are very similar to the other sex workers in the Red Light District.
The window prostitutes in the Blue Red Light District charge prices from 50 euros for sexual services. This rate is usually for a maximum of 30 minutes.
The prices are negotiable and the window prostitutes also regularly refuse customers.
6 | Customers
There is no existing research into the clients of transgender sex workers in the Amsterdam Red Light District. But in the past, our guides saw almost exclusively male customers entering these transgender sex workers.
The sex workers mostly target middle-aged men who walk the streets alone. To attract the attention of the man, they tap on the window and sometimes they briefly show their genitals.
Usually the clients of transgender sex workers are also specifically looking for what sex workers have to offer: feminine looks with a male genitalia. This is also confirmed by a transgender sex worker during an interview of a Dutch program about trans sex workers. Read the quote below.
Transgender sex worker quote
“I am a trans woman with no gender reassignment. This means I still have my penis. The customers I receive are really looking for what I have to offer them. Namely a female appearance, but with male genitals. I often get men who don’t dare to tell their wives honestly what they really like and horny in the bedroom. As a man, if you want to be taken by a woman with a cock, the label ‘gay’ is unfortunately still often given to you. That barrier is not there for me and they can really be themselves.”
7 | Tours in Blue Light District
Learn all about this interesting and unique neighborhood in the Netherlands and become a real Amsterdam connoisseur. Download this app and take a Red Light District tour with audio guide.
During this audio tour you will hear amazing stories from 22 different experts. The virtual guide Sophie will guide you through this neighborhood in Amsterdam. Hear stories from real sex workers, police officers and historians.
This is currently the only legal option to take a Red Light District tour. The municipality of Amsterdam has banned all tours with large groups and real guides.
You are still allowed to use our audio tour with a virtual guide. Explore this neighbourhood in Amsterdam with our app and educate yourself.
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8 | Blue Light District in Daylight
The Blue Light District looks completely different during the day than at night. This is also evident from the snowy photo above taken on the Gordijnensteeg.
During the day it is quieter here. Less visitors and fewer windows are filled with sex workers. And, the blue lights are hard to spot. Nevertheless, this neighborhood is also very special during the day.
9 | Laws
Exactly the same rules and laws apply to the transgender sex workers in Amsterdam Blue Light District as to the female window prostitutes elsewhere in the city.
When exploring the unique aspects of Amsterdam’s Blue Light District, it’s essential to understand its place within the broader context of the city’s famous Red Light District.
The latter not only defines the nightlife and cultural landscape of Amsterdam but also offers a deep dive into the historical and social fabric of the area.
For those curious about the origins, significance, and current state of the Red Light District, our article on What is the Red Light District in Amsterdam? provides a comprehensive overview, enriching your visit to this iconic part of the city.
FAQs About the Blue Light District in Amsterdam
1. What is the Blue Light District in Amsterdam?
The Blue Light District in Amsterdam is a specific section within the larger Red Light District, known for its blue-lit windows which feature transgender sex workers.
It is part of Amsterdam’s renowned adult entertainment scene and attracts visitors from around the world for its unique atmosphere and open approach to sex work.
2. Where is the Blue Light District located?
The Blue Light District is located within the De Wallen area of Amsterdam, which is the city’s primary Red Light District.
It is situated in the heart of the city, near other famous landmarks and canals, making it easily accessible to tourists.
3. Is it safe to visit the Blue Light District?
Yes, the Blue Light District is generally safe for visitors. The area is well-patrolled by police and has a strong presence of security cameras.
However, like any busy tourist area, it is advisable to stay aware of your surroundings, keep an eye on personal belongings, and avoid any illegal activities.
4. What can tourists expect to see in the Blue Light District?
Tourists can expect to see blue-lit windows showcasing transgender sex workers, as well as numerous bars, nightclubs, and shops. The area is also known for its historic buildings, canals, and vibrant street life. It’s a unique blend of old-world charm and modern adult entertainment.
5. Are there any rules or etiquette to follow when visiting the Blue Light District?
Yes, there are several important rules and etiquette to follow:
- Do not take photos or videos of the sex workers or their windows.
- Be respectful and avoid inappropriate behavior or language.
- Follow local laws and regulations, including those related to drug use and public behavior.
- Use designated areas for purchasing and consuming food and drinks.
ALSO DISCOVER:
10 Best Amsterdam Red Light District Tips for Tourists
Posted on: February 1, 2025
Top 10 Amsterdam Red Light District Tips
Feeling unsure about exploring Amsterdam’s iconic Red Light District? These Amsterdam Red Light District tips will help you navigate safely, respectfully, and confidently.
Don’t let confusion or hesitation spoil your visit—follow these essential insights to uncover the history, culture, and unique charm of this fascinating neighborhood. Ready for a worry-free experience? Keep reading!
Top 10 Tips for Visiting Amsterdam’s Red Light District
Amsterdam’s Red Light District, or De Wallen, is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the city. While it’s famous for its adult entertainment – like sex shows – there’s much more to this area than meets the eye. To help you make the most of your visit, here are 10 essential tips to ensure an enjoyable and respectful experience.
1. Understand the Area and Its History
The Red Light District is a blend of history, culture, and modern-day tourism. Dating back to the 14th century, it’s one of Amsterdam’s oldest neighborhoods.
Its canals, narrow streets, and historical buildings provide a glimpse into the city’s past.
2. Respect the People and the Environment
Respect is paramount when visiting the Red Light District. While the area is a tourist attraction, it’s also a workplace for sex workers and a residential neighborhood for locals. Always follow these basic rules:
- No photography of sex workers: It’s not only disrespectful but also prohibited. Failure to comply can result in fines or confrontations.
- Be mindful of noise levels: The streets can get crowded, but avoid shouting or disruptive behavior.
- Respect personal boundaries: Avoid staring or engaging with workers unless invited to do so.
By showing consideration, you’ll enjoy a more positive experience while contributing to a safe and respectful atmosphere.
3. Follow Safety Tips for Visitors
Safety should always be a priority when exploring busy tourist areas. Here are a few tips to stay secure in the Red Light District:
- Keep an eye on your belongings: Pickpockets often target crowded areas. Use a crossbody bag or keep valuables in a secure pocket.
- Stick to well-lit areas: While most parts of the district are safe, some alleys may feel less secure at night.
- Travel in a group if possible: Especially if it’s your first visit, staying with friends can make the experience more comfortable.
Remember, Amsterdam is generally safe, but a little extra caution goes a long way.
4. Avoid Taking Photos in Prohibited Areas
Many tourists are tempted to snap photos of the windows or workers, but this is strictly forbidden. Taking photos is invasive and can lead to fines or confiscation of your camera or phone. Stick to capturing the beautiful canals and architecture instead.
Consider asking permission if you want to take general photos in the district. Some workers and establishments allow photography under certain conditions, but it’s better to err on the side of caution.
5. Explore Beyond the Stereotypes
The Red Light District isn’t just about adult entertainment. It’s a vibrant area with plenty of cultural and historical attractions:
- Visit the Red Light Secrets Museum, which provides insight into the lives of sex workers.
- Explore Oude Kerk, Amsterdam’s oldest church, located in the heart of the district.
- Enjoy a meal or drink at one of the district’s many cozy cafes or fine dining restaurants.
By broadening your exploration, you’ll discover the multifaceted nature of this fascinating neighborhood.
6. Choose the Right Time to Visit
The atmosphere of the Red Light District varies greatly depending on the time of day. If you’re interested in a quieter, more relaxed visit, go during the morning or early afternoon.
Evenings are livelier, with crowds and illuminated windows creating a different kind of energy.
Keep in mind that weekends can be particularly crowded, so if you prefer a less hectic experience, aim for weekdays.
7. Be Aware of Local Laws
Amsterdam has liberal policies, but it’s essential to know the rules:
- Cannabis is legal but only in designated coffee shops. Avoid smoking in public spaces within the district.
- Drinking alcohol on the streets is prohibited. Stick to bars or cafes for your drinks.
- Respect the local authorities and follow their instructions if you’re stopped or questioned.
Staying informed ensures you don’t unintentionally break any laws.
8. Visit Moulin Rouge
Looking for the ultimate adult experience in Amsterdam? The Moulin Rouge Amsterdam delivers thrilling live sex shows that combine artistry, passion, and excitement.
Perfect for those seeking something daring and unforgettable, it’s a one-of-a-kind venue in the heart of the Red Light District. Ready to spice up your night?
Book your tickets now for an experience you won’t forget!
9. Support Local Businesses
The Red Light District is home to many unique shops, cafes, and restaurants. By supporting these businesses, you’re contributing to the community and helping the area maintain its charm.
From boutique chocolatiers to family-owned restaurants, there’s plenty to enjoy. Don’t hesitate to try traditional Dutch treats like stroopwafels or fresh herring while you’re there.
10. Stay Open-Minded & Respectful
The Red Light District is a place of contrasts. While some may find it unconventional, others see it as a testament to Amsterdam’s progressive attitude. Approach your visit with an open mind and avoid judgment.
This attitude will not only enrich your experience but also help you better understand the district’s cultural significance.
Top 15 Things to Do in Amsterdam for Men in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
15 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam for Men
When exploring the vibrant city, discovering the best things to do in Amsterdam for men can be overwhelming.
Whether you’re seeking thrilling adventures, cultural enrichment, or lively nightlife, Amsterdam has it all. Struggling to narrow down the must-see attractions and experiences?
This guide provides the top 15 activities tailored for men, ensuring you make the most of your Amsterdam adventure. Keep reading to unlock the ultimate male-friendly itinerary!
Top 15 Things to Do in Amsterdam for Men
Cultural and Historical Attractions
1. Visit the Rijksmuseum
In our opinion, the Rijksmuseum is one of Amsterdam’s most iconic cultural attractions.
This museum houses an extensive collection of Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages to the present day. Highlights include works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other Dutch Masters.
The museum also features beautiful gardens, a cafe, and a gift shop, making it a perfect cultural experience for men interested in art and history.
2. Explore the Anne Frank House
During our visit to the Anne Frank House, we found it to be a deeply moving experience.
This historic building is where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II. The museum provides an intimate look into the life of Anne Frank, her diary, and the hardships faced during the war.
It’s an essential stop for anyone interested in history and human rights.
3. Discover the Van Gogh Museum
We think the Van Gogh Museum holds the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s artwork.
Men who appreciate art will find the museum’s extensive collection of paintings, drawings, and letters fascinating. The museum provides insights into Van Gogh’s troubled life and his significant contributions to the art world.
Nightlife and Entertainment
4. Experience the Moulin Rouge Amsterdam
For an unforgettable night out, we suggest visiting the Moulin Rouge in Amsterdam. It’s the best sex show in Amsterdam, in our opinion.
5. Red Light District Audio Tour
Explore Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District with an informative audio tour. This tour provides historical context and intriguing stories about the area.
It’s a great way to learn more about this unique part of Amsterdam while enjoying its vibrant nightlife. Do not miss this informative Red Light District tour.
6. Cafe Old Sailor
Located in the heart of the Red Light District, Cafe Old Sailor is a historic pub known for its lively atmosphere and friendly patrons.
It’s an excellent spot to grab a beer and soak up the local culture.
Outdoor and Adventure Activities
7. Amsterdam Canal Cruise
One of the best ways to see Amsterdam is from the water. When we tested the Amsterdam Canal Cruise, it offered a relaxing and picturesque tour of the city’s historic canals.
Enjoy the beautiful architecture and learn about the city’s history from a unique perspective.
8. Amsterdam Swing at A’DAM Lookout
For a thrilling adventure, visit the A’DAM Lookout and take a ride on Europe’s highest swing.
The swing offers stunning panoramic views of Amsterdam and is sure to get your adrenaline pumping.
9. Biking through Vondelpark
Rent a bike and explore Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest and most famous park.
It’s a beautiful place to enjoy a leisurely ride, have a picnic, or simply relax. Biking is a quintessential Amsterdam experience, and Vondelpark is the perfect place to start.
Food and Drink Experiences
10. Beer Tasting at De Prael Brewery
De Prael Brewery offers a fantastic beer tasting experience in the heart of Amsterdam. We enjoyed a variety of locally brewed beers and learned about the brewing process.
The brewery also has a restaurant where you can pair your beer with delicious food. Visit their website here for more details.
11. Dining at a Brown Cafe
Amsterdam’s brown cafes are traditional Dutch pubs known for their cozy atmosphere and hearty food.
Places like Cafe Hoppe and Cafe Chris offer a great selection of local beers and classic Dutch dishes. It’s a must-visit for a taste of authentic Dutch culture.
12. Coffeeshop Grey Area
For those interested in experiencing Amsterdam’s famous coffeeshop culture, Grey Area is one of the best spots in the city.
Known for its high-quality cannabis and relaxed vibe, it’s a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
Sports and Fitness
13. Attend an Ajax Football Match
Ajax Amsterdam is one of Europe’s top football clubs, and attending a match at the Johan Cruyff Arena is an exhilarating experience.
The stadium atmosphere is electric, and it’s a great way to see some top-tier football while in the city.
14. Gym and Fitness Centers
Amsterdam offers numerous fitness centers and gyms for those who want to stay active while traveling.
Popular spots like TrainMore and Fit For Free provide excellent facilities and a range of classes to keep you in shape.
15. Water Sports at Amsterdamse Bos
Amsterdamse Bos is a large park just outside the city, offering a range of outdoor activities, including rowing, canoeing, and paddleboarding.
It’s a perfect place for men who enjoy water sports and outdoor adventures.
FAQs About Things to Do in Amsterdam for Men
1. What are the best nightlife spots for men in Amsterdam?
The best nightlife spots for men in Amsterdam include the lively Moulin Rouge cabaret, the historic Cafe Old Sailor, and the unique experiences at the 5D Amsterdam Porn Cinema.
These venues offer a mix of entertainment, drinks, and an unforgettable night out.
2. What cultural attractions should men visit in Amsterdam?
Men should visit the Rijksmuseum for Dutch art, the Anne Frank House for historical insights, and the Van Gogh Museum for a deep dive into the life and works of Vincent van Gogh.
These spots offer rich cultural and historical experiences.
3. Are there any outdoor activities for men in Amsterdam?
Yes, men can enjoy a range of outdoor activities such as biking through Vondelpark, taking an Amsterdam Canal Cruise, or experiencing the thrill of the Amsterdam Swing at A’DAM Lookout.
These activities provide both adventure and relaxation.
4. Where can men find the best food and drink experiences in Amsterdam?
For the best food and drink experiences, men can visit De Prael Brewery for beer tasting, dine at traditional brown cafes like Cafe Hoppe, and enjoy the unique atmosphere of Coffeeshop Grey Area. These spots highlight Amsterdam’s culinary delights.
5. What sports activities are available for men in Amsterdam?
Men can attend an Ajax football match at Johan Cruyff Arena, work out at top gyms like TrainMore, and engage in water sports at Amsterdamse Bos. These activities cater to various fitness interests and preferences.
6. How can men explore the Red Light District in Amsterdam?
Men can explore the Red Light District through an informative audio tour that covers the area’s history and stories.
Key spots include the Red Light District Audio Tour, offering a comprehensive and engaging way to experience this famous part of the city.
Sex Dating After 50: Top 5 Sites for Easy & Exciting Hookups
5 Best Sex Dating Sites After 50
Sex dating after 50 can feel daunting, but it’s an exciting way to rediscover intimacy and connection.
Many struggle with finding the right platform or worry about judgment—but the truth is, you deserve fun, passion, and fulfillment at any age.
The good news? There are safe, user-friendly sites designed just for you. Ready to explore? Let’s uncover the top platforms to reignite your spark.
Top 5 Sex Dating Sites for Women and Men Above 50
Finding the right platform for casual dating or intimate encounters after 50 requires evaluating specific factors such as ease of use, privacy, and a supportive community.
Below are five top sex dating sites tailored to older adults, along with essential tips to maximize their benefits.
1. MySecretDate
Why It’s Great:
MySecretDate is an excellent choice for users over 50 seeking discretion and simplicity. The platform is designed to cater to individuals looking for casual relationships or exciting encounters without judgment.
It boasts an intuitive interface, making it perfect for those less experienced with technology.
Tips for Men and Women Above 50:
- Use the site’s compatibility algorithm to find matches who share your lifestyle and preferences.
- Take advantage of the anonymous messaging feature to build trust before sharing personal details.
2. Second Love
Why It’s Great:
Second Love is popular among people in long-term relationships or marriages seeking something new. Its emphasis on creating connections for discreet encounters makes it ideal for older individuals seeking adventure.
Tips for Men and Women Above 50:
- Complete your profile thoughtfully; highlight hobbies and interests to attract like-minded individuals.
- Review the site’s safety guidelines to ensure your online interactions remain private and secure.
3. Victoria Milan
Why It’s Great:
Victoria Milan specializes in discreet dating for people in their golden years. It offers robust privacy features, including a panic button to exit the site quickly and anonymous browsing.
Tips for Men and Women Above 50:
- Explore its unique “Who’s Near Me” feature to discover local matches for spontaneous dates.
- Use the photo-blurring tool to keep your identity confidential until you’re comfortable.
4. Ashley Madison
Why It’s Great:
A globally recognized platform, Ashley Madison caters to individuals of all ages seeking discreet relationships. Its mature audience makes it a suitable choice for those over 50 looking for no-strings-attached connections.
Tips for Men and Women Above 50:
- Invest in a premium membership to access advanced features like priority messaging and profile visibility.
- Participate in discussion forums to gain insights and tips from other users in your age group.
5. No Strings Attached
Why It’s Great:
No Strings Attached focuses on connecting users for casual, one-time encounters. Its straightforward design and niche audience make it attractive for older users seeking simplicity and clear intentions.
Tips for Men and Women Above 50:
- Use detailed search filters to find matches based on specific preferences, such as location and interests.
- Engage with the site’s customer support team for guidance if you’re new to online dating.
General Advice for Choosing a Sex Dating Site After 50:
- Prioritize Privacy: Ensure the platform has features like encrypted messaging and identity protection to keep your information safe.
- Stay Open-Minded: Many users on these sites are exploring new chapters in life. Approach interactions with curiosity and understanding.
- Take Your Time: Don’t rush into meeting someone in person. Use the site’s communication tools to build rapport first.
- Use a Secure Payment Method: If upgrading to a premium account, use a secure payment option to protect your financial details.
- Be Honest About Your Intentions: A clear and authentic profile helps attract matches who align with your desires and lifestyle.
By choosing a site tailored to your preferences and following these tips, you can have a fulfilling and exciting online dating experience after 50.
6 Most Popular FAQs About Sex Dating After 50
1. Is sex dating after 50 socially acceptable?
Absolutely! Attitudes toward dating and relationships have evolved, making it normal and empowering for individuals over 50 to explore their desires and connect with others seeking similar experiences.
2. How can I stay safe while sex dating online?
Choose reputable dating platforms with privacy features, avoid sharing personal information too soon, and meet in public places initially. Trust your instincts and take things at your own pace.
3. Which are the best sex dating sites for people over 50?
Top options include MySecretDate, Second Love, Victoria Milan, Ashley Madison, and No Strings Attached. These sites cater to mature audiences and prioritize privacy and ease of use.
4. What should I include in my dating profile after 50?
Highlight your personality, interests, and what you’re looking for in a connection. Be honest and confident about your goals, as authenticity attracts like-minded matches.
5. Do I need to pay for sex dating sites?
Many sites offer free memberships with limited features, but upgrading to premium plans often unlocks advanced options like unlimited messaging and detailed search filters, enhancing your experience.
6. Can I find meaningful connections through sex dating sites?
Yes! While many users seek casual relationships, some find deeper connections. Clear communication about your intentions helps you meet compatible partners for any type of relationship.
Top 10 Amsterdam Escorts Sites in 2025
Posted on: March 1, 2025
Top 10 Amsterdam Escorts Sites in 2025
Looking for Amsterdam escorts with no strings attached? Avoid unpleasant surprises with unexpected costs by checking out this certified overview with every good Amsterdam escort agency out there.
Find the best escort sites in Amsterdam below.
FIND ESCORTS NOW >
This article includes prices, photos, contact information and sex services. Learn more below.
Escort Agency Meaning & Definition
An escort agency is an establishment where people can get in touch with sex workers. Reservations can be made for the services of the sex worker through the escort agency.
Escorts can work as a self-employed person and use the escort agency as a marketing tool. It’s also possible that the escort is employed by the escort agency.
Escort agencies generally work with multiple escorts, so the client has a lot to choose from.
What Are Escorts?
Escorts are individuals who provide companionship to clients in exchange for payment. They may offer sexual services, but this is not always the case.
Escorts can be men or women, and their services are typically advertised online, telephone or through word of mouth. Some escorts work independently, while others are employed by an agency.
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The nature of the escorting business means that escorts must be very discreet and professional in their dealings with clients. In return, they can expect to be well-compensated for their time and companionship. The customers are mainly men.
Amsterdam Red Light District
Window brothels in Amsterdam Red Light District.
When you think of paid sex, people quickly think of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. That form of sex work is called window prostitution.
Escorts generally do not work in window brothels. These are two completely different methods.
Escorts in Amsterdam
Escorts in Amsterdam do not meet their clients in red light windows but elsewhere. For example in hotels. They also do not have to stand in a window brothel to advertise. Instead, they use escort agencies to get in touch with clients.
SHOW BEST ESCORT AGENCY >
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands!
While choice is always good, it does make finding the right escort tough. With so much variety, you might wonder what you should be doing.
For example, how do you book an escort service in Amsterdam? Where to find an escort that you’re looking for? Get your answer here below!
Tips For Booking Escorts in Amsterdam
✦ Find an escort service that you can trust.
✦ Look at the escorts which are on-offer from that particular business.
✦ Contact the escort agency or contact the escort directly. Contacting an agency often provides help with finding the perfect accommodation.
✦ Once you have spoken to the agency or escort, you can discuss services, times, dates, and set up the right payment plan.
✦ One other factor about booking an escort is that you need to have everything agreed beforehand.
✦ Read the terms and conditions of the escort company. Contact their support team if you have any questions.
Escort Service Fees
Escort service fees in Amsterdam vary depending on the escort and the services required. However, most escort services will charge an hourly rate, with rates starting at around 100 euros per hour.
For longer bookings or more specialised services, escort service fees can increase to 500 euros or more per hour.
In addition to the hourly rate, escort services may also charge an additional fee for travel expenses. For bookings outside of Amsterdam, escort service fees can range from 150 to 400 euros depending on the distance travelled.
When choosing an escort service, it is important to consider all fees before booking to avoid any surprises.
How To Find A Good Amsterdam Escort Agency?
What kind of escort are you intend to book? What makes an Amsterdam escort service the ‘right’ service for you? What’s important for you?
✦ Make sure you use a legitimate escort agency. They should have some form of registration and they should hold a clear profile on the internet.
Do not trust any sites that appear to have been made fly-by-night. Without extensive profiles and information, look elsewhere.
✦ Book an escort service that manage your needs.
✦ It could be the best escort agency in the world but if the prostitutes aren’t up for much, it’s no use. Make sure you thorougly explore their database of escorts. As good as everything else should be, the standard of escorts is not something to negotiate over.
✦ Book escorts who do the job that you have asked for. This is important: booking escorts that simply just do their own thing is sadly common, but in no way lined-up with what you asked for. Ensure they have a plan and stick to it!
✦ Make sure that the escort company you are using has good value. How do they get the escort to you? What kind of features do they provide to make sure you can both get a safe, satisfying, enjoyable experience? Is anything done to ensure protection for you both?
Top 10 Amsterdam Escorts Sites
This article offers 10 top agencies to book escorts in Amsterdam. All with their own specialities. Discover the ten best escort sites in the Netherlands now:
1 | Desire Escorts
The first escort company in the Netherlands we’d like to recommend is Desire Escorts. This Dutch escort agency has 60 different sex workers. The escorts can be booked via the online chat function, contact form or phone.
When we tested Desire Escorts, we found their commitment to discretion and client satisfaction impressive. We believe they set a high standard in the industry. Our local experts have curated a list of the top 10 agencies based on reputation and service quality. Book with confidence from our recommendations for a memorable experience in Amsterdam.
Desire Escorts pride themselves on being an escorts company that offers nice, professional and exciting women.
This agency has dozens of beautiful and professional women. The escorts here can be booked everywhere in the Netherlands. It’s required to pay the escort upfront. The women here accept cash, debit card and credit cards.
The starting price for an escort is 150 euro per hour. This is the average cost of an escort in The Netherlands.
Reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tim van der Spek: I booked an escort in Amsterdam via the WhatsApp number that I found on the Desire Escort website. I was helped quite quickly and within a few hours later I had a lady in my bed. I thought she was nice, sexy and in my opinion she was also a good massager 🙂⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steven: During my visit to the Netherlands I went to De Wallen. I don’t like visiting window prostitution. In my opinion, an escort is much nicer. Okay, it is more expensive, but the lady from Desire Escorts gave me much more value for my money. I was sad she didn’t want to kiss, but the sex was great, in my opinion.
Cost & Prices
✦ 1 hour = 150
✦ extra hour = 150
2 | Escort Amsterdam
This is without a doubt one of the best agencies to book escorts in Amsterdam. They say that the best things in life explain themselves simply and professionally. Well, if you want to get an escort agency that does just that, you could do a lot worse than Escort Amsterdam.
By taking out much of the work involves in being with an escort, they ensure that you can spend more time having fun and less time worrying about how the fun is being had.
With a comprehensive collection of ladies to choose, Escort Amsterdam is a great place. The rich variety of sex workers to pick from is a good starting point, as is the sheer variety and simplicity involved in the service. Simply tell them what you are looking for and they will help you to find the perfect lady.
Part of the reason so many clients choose this escort agency in Amsterdam, is the availability. The escorts here are active. This means that despite having busy schedules, getting fitted-in by your favourite is pretty easy!
Prices
✦ 1 hour = 150
SHOW ALL ESCORTS! >
3 | High Class Escorts in Amsterdam
A high class escort is a professional companion who provides companionship, conversation, and sometimes sexual services, for a fee.
High class escorts are usually well-educated and well-spoken, and they are often hired by businessmen and high-profile clients. They may also be hired to accompany clients to social events or on business trips.
While high class escorts are not required to be beautiful or sexy, they must be able to maintain a certain level of poise and sophistication. In addition, high class escorts typically have high levels of discretion and confidentiality.
Sometimes, you need someone who can step in and make your life a bit easier. You need someone to take with you to a fancy meeting, business dinner or cooperate event. Then we’d recommend High Class Escorts Amsterdam!
Some of the most beautiful women in the Netherlands are working for this company. This ensures that you can easily pick up someone for the evening who is sexy, stylish, exciting, and perfectly suitable for you to bring to some kind of formal event.
When you contact High Class Escorts Amsterdam, they can easily hook you up with a special date for the evening who can spend all night making sure you have something to look forward to. When the business-meeting is done, this is when you and your date can truly enjoy the night.
Prices
✦ 1 hour = 350
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4 | Erotic Massage Amsterdam
When you feel stressed, you just need a helping hand! And what better pair of hands to rely upon than the help of those at Erotic Massage Amsterdam?
As masters of pleasure and of making sure you can enjoy a truly tremendous time, EMA makes sure you can spend more time moaning in pleasure than in frustration. A tremendous experience, an erotic massage often leaves you with a tingle that you cannot get on your own.
It allows you to relieve some of that stress in a big way, whilst making sure you can spend some time with a truly stunning escort.
Prices
✦ 1 hour = 150
✦ extra hour = 150
5 | Escort Amsterdam Finest
When you want to book an escort with a bit of extra class and charm, you might not be sure about a specific escort agency. After all, aren’t all escorts party animals who might not be suitable for a more formal event? Not at all.
This is a common fallacy that is not based in truth whatsoever, and it’s not a train of thought we recommend following. We recommend the services of Escort Amsterdam Finest.
Quality always counts in the bedroom – especially when meeting up with someone who you do not know so well. That’s why so many visit this Amsterdam escort agency. The escorts here make sure that you can get the best.
By taking out the stress in finding someone who wants to have a good time, they make sure you can just pick and then arrive in good time, ready to have some luscious fun along the way.
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6 | Passion Escorts
Passion Escorts is the perfect choice for those who enjoy a bit more commitment to having fun in the bedroom. Escort agencies such as Passion Escorts make it easy to find someone who is a bit more ‘you’ – someone who fits in with what you want to do.
This is an agency with many women who are really proud of what they do, and who love spending time with their clients. This means that you can book an escort in Amsterdam knowing that they have the interest to spend some time with you. These women love the job!
The ladies at this company are making sure that you can feel like you have been suitably rewarded by spending time with them. That’s one of the main reasons why it’s recommended to meet an escort in Amsterdam via Passion: you’ll be sure to have your expectations met in kind.
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7 | Escorts in Amsterdam
When you intend to spend some time in a city like Amsterdam, one problem you probably have is filling up your schedule. Doing so can be tough: a city that has so much to do can be tough to work out. That is why, we recommend using Escorts in Amsterdam.
Put simply, they take out the question of what you should do, and replace it with another question entirely. Instead, you will be asking yourself who would you like to meet. It will make sure you can spend the time you have in the city with special people who know how to flick your switches, tick your boxes, and press the right buttons.
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8 | Escorts at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is a perfect place to meet someone in private. Amid the hustle and bustle of an airport, booking a beautiful woman at Escorts in Schiphol helps you to enjoy the cloak of anonymity. Now, you can both meet-up, head off to somewhere a touch more private and just have some fun.
It’s one of the main reasons why escorts in Schiphol tend to use this service: it keeps them near to one of the highest traffic points in all of major Europe. This allows you to make that as soon as you arrive, you have something – or someone – to look forward to.
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9 | Sensual Escorts in Amsterdam
Of course, you might be on the lookout for something a bit more romantic, a touch more sensual. Whether you intend to meet a hotel escort in Amsterdam. Or, you want to go for the classic ‘girlfriend experience’, you will find that this is a city that very much lives up to its reputation.
As a fun place to spend your time and an excellent location to enjoy spending time with a sexy lady. Perfect Escorts Amsterdam is a great escort agency to work with.
It’s all about enjoying yourself with a beautiful and professional escort, something that many of us find hard to understand at first. You might feel nervous, but the friendly and sensual nature of the girls here will make sure that you can just settle in and relax.
So, for a more sensual sexual experience that still ensures a quality evening had by all, be sure to take a look at the talent on-offer with Sensual Escorts in Amsterdam.
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10 | Escort Angels
Last but definitely not least, for those who have hit the end of the evening and want to make sure a good evening in Amsterdam can end perfectly, we’d recommend Escort Angels Amsterdam. Why?
Because this company works with amazing girls who will be happy to see you, and very happy to spend a bit of personal time with you. When you get into the bedroom with one of these girls, you’ll soon see why they are available all-night: they sure love to party!
This is the ideal choice for those who have turned up to Amsterdam looking for a good time. When the night is drawing to a close, you may wish to bring in someone who can make sure you have the perfect end to the evening. Why not use one of the many escorts that they have here?
Compatibility is easily handled when you first turn up. If they have agreed to your proposal, then you can be sure that she is very much up for whatever you have planned to start – and finish – the evening with!
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If you’re looking for a great time with a beautiful woman, we recommend using one of the best escort sites in the Netherlands. These websites are safe, easy to use, and full of gorgeous women who want to make your night special. So what are you waiting for? Book an escort today!
Sex Dating
Amsterdam is a city where opportunities for connection and adventure abound, making it a top destination for those seeking unique experiences. For visitors exploring the best escort agencies, the city also offers alternative ways to arrange a memorable encounter.
Whether you’re new to the scene or a seasoned traveler, finding a sex date in Amsterdam can be an exciting and rewarding adventure. Discover eight creative and practical ways to make it happen here.
With so many options, Amsterdam ensures there’s something for everyone seeking a little extra magic in their visit!
Legal Landscape and Regulations
In Amsterdam, the escort industry operates within a well-defined legal framework, setting it apart from many other cities globally. The Dutch government, known for its progressive approach to sex work, has established laws that legalize and regulate escort services. This legal environment prioritizes the safety, rights, and dignity of those working in the industry. Key aspects include mandatory licensing for escort agencies, strict age restrictions (with both escorts and clients required to be over the age of 18), and regular health checks to ensure the well-being of all parties involved. Additionally, these regulations aim to prevent human trafficking and exploitation, showcasing the Netherlands’ commitment to ethical and responsible governance in this sensitive sector. Understanding these laws not only sheds light on the legalities but also emphasizes the country’s efforts in protecting those who work in this field.
Safety and Health Considerations
Safety and health are paramount in Amsterdam’s escort industry. Recognizing the potential risks associated with sex work, both the government and the industry itself have put in place stringent measures. Escorts undergo regular health screenings to ensure their well-being and to safeguard public health. Agencies also play a crucial role in ensuring safe working conditions, often providing support and resources related to health and security. On the client side, there’s an emphasis on respectful and safe behavior, with many agencies advocating for mutual consent and clear communication. This focus on health and safety not only protects individuals involved but also helps in maintaining high professional standards within the industry.
The Role of Discretion and Privacy
Discretion and privacy are cornerstones of the escort industry in Amsterdam. Given the sensitive nature of the work, escort agencies and independent escorts place a high premium on confidentiality. Clients’ personal information is handled with the utmost care, often through encrypted communication channels and strict privacy policies. Escorts also benefit from these privacy measures, as their identity and personal details are safeguarded. This commitment to discretion underscores the professional and respectful nature of the industry, ensuring a trustworthy environment for both clients and escorts. It also reflects a broader societal respect for personal privacy, a value deeply ingrained in Dutch culture.
Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions
The escort industry, often shrouded in stereotypes and misconceptions, demands a closer, more informed examination. Escorts in Amsterdam come from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique reasons for choosing this profession. By highlighting these varied narratives, this section aims to humanize those in the industry, challenging outdated and often incorrect assumptions. Contrary to common misconceptions, many escorts in Amsterdam are empowered individuals who choose this line of work for various reasons, including financial independence and personal choice. By addressing these stereotypes and offering a more nuanced view, this section not only educates the readers but also fosters a deeper understanding and respect for those in the industry.
Cultural and Historical Context
Amsterdam’s escort industry is not only a contemporary phenomenon but also a part of the city’s rich cultural and historical tapestry. The Red Light District, known globally, serves as a testament to Amsterdam’s liberal and open-minded approach to sex work. This section delves into how the industry has evolved over the years, adapting to changes in societal attitudes and regulations. It also examines the role of this industry in shaping the city’s identity, often perceived as a symbol of Amsterdam’s progressive and tolerant spirit. Understanding this historical and cultural context is crucial for appreciating how the escort industry fits into the broader narrative of Amsterdam’s history and its reputation as a vibrant, inclusive city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are escorts sites legal in The Netherlands?
Escort websites are legal in The Netherlands because they provide a platform for voluntary, consensual sex work.
Escort websites operate within the law by screening their clients and only connecting them with sex workers who are over the age of 18. These sites also require their clients to agree to certain terms and conditions, such as not to engage in any illegal activities during their time with the escort.
In addition, escort websites take measures to ensure that the personal information of both clients and escorts is protected. As a result, escort websites provide a safe and legal way for people to engage in consensual sex work.
Are escort agencies legal?
The legality of escort agencies varies from country to country. In some countries, such as The Netherlands, escort agencies are legal and regulated.
This means that the agency must have a license in order to operate, and it must adhere to certain rules and regulations.
The agency must also screened its employees to ensure that they are over the minimum age and do not have any criminal convictions.
In other countries, such as the United States, escort agencies are not specifically regulated by law. However, there are various laws that apply to the business, such as laws against prostitution and laws against trafficking. As a result, escort agencies in the US typically operate in a legal grey area.
Do escorts in The Netherlands allow sex toys?
When it comes to sex toys, whether or not this is allowed depends on the individual sex worker. Some escorts may offer services involving the use of sex toys while others may not, as they could have their own reasons for this. Therefore, before entering into a business relationship with an escort in The Netherlands, it’s important to communicate your expectations and make sure that both parties are comfortable with the arrangement.
Countries where escort is legal?
There are a number of countries where escort services are legal. This includes countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria.
In these countries, the escort industry is regulated and taxed in the same way as other businesses. This means that escorts in these countries are required to undergo regular health checkups and to have a valid work permit.
As a result, the escort industry in these countries is often of a higher quality than in countries where it is illegal. In addition, legal escort services provide an important source of revenue for these countries.
For example, the Dutch government collected over €100 million in taxes from the escort industry in 2017. This revenue helps to fund vital public services such as healthcare and education.
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Amsterdam Brothels Guide 2025: Legal Tips, Etiquette & Key Changes
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Amsterdam Brothels: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit
Amsterdam brothels have long been a major draw for curious tourists, but nowadays, visiting them comes with new rules and ethical considerations.
Whether you’re planning a trip or just intrigued by the Red Light District, understanding the evolving landscape is essential. Discover the latest legal changes, visitor etiquette, and the future of Amsterdam’s famous sex industry.
1. Legal Status and Regulations
Amsterdam’s brothels operate within a highly regulated framework, making the city one of the few places in the world where sex work is both legal and openly practiced.
Since the legalization of prostitution in the Netherlands in 2000, the industry has been subject to strict rules to ensure the safety and rights of sex workers.
Brothels must obtain a government-issued license, and workers are protected under labor laws that grant them the same rights as other professions, such as access to healthcare and pensions.
These regulations continue to evolve, with authorities focusing on the well-being of sex workers and cracking down on illegal activities such as human trafficking.
To visit a brothel legally, customers must be at least 18 years old, and workers must also be over 21. The city government regularly inspects licensed establishments to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
Understanding the legal framework helps ensure that visitors engage with the industry responsibly and ethically.
2. Red Light District Overview
Amsterdam’s Red Light District, also known as De Wallen, remains one of the most iconic parts of the city, attracting millions of tourists each year. This historic area has been at the heart of Amsterdam’s sex trade for centuries and is known for its red-lit windows where sex workers display their services.
The Red Light District is still a major tourist attraction, but the local government has introduced new measures to curb overcrowding and promote responsible tourism.
Recent efforts to clean up the area have included campaigns encouraging visitors to treat sex workers with respect and avoid disruptive behavior. Additionally, the city has proposed plans to relocate some of the brothels to designated “erotic centers” outside the main tourist zones. These changes are part of a broader initiative to balance tourism with the safety and dignity of workers, ensuring the area remains a safe and welcoming space for all.
While Amsterdam continues to debate relocating some of its brothels outside the city center, it’s important to consider the perspective of the workers themselves. A recent Survey: Amsterdam Sex Workers Want to Stay in Red Light District highlights their strong preference for remaining in the iconic area, citing safety, visibility, and access to clients as key reasons for their stance.
If you’re exploring Amsterdam brothels and want to learn more about other options for adult entertainment, it’s worth considering Amsterdam escorts as a personalized alternative. Unlike brothels, escort services offer a more private experience, and you can find some of the best agencies in the city by checking out this list of top recommendations for escorts in Amsterdam.
3. Brothel Experiences and Etiquette
For those interested in visiting a brothel in Amsterdam, it’s essential to understand the process and proper etiquette. Most brothels in Amsterdam operate within the Red Light District, though some are located elsewhere in the city. Typically, services are negotiated through the windows, where sex workers present themselves. Once an agreement is made, customers are invited inside for a private session.
Visitors should always be respectful and mindful of the workers’ boundaries. It’s important to ask for consent and adhere to the terms agreed upon. Prices can vary depending on the services, and payment is usually made upfront. Photography is strictly prohibited throughout the Red Light District, as it violates the privacy of sex workers. Treating the workers with kindness and dignity is not only ethical but ensures a positive experience for both parties.
4. Impact of Tourism and Ethical Considerations
The sex industry in Amsterdam has long been tied to tourism, with millions of visitors coming to explore the Red Light District each year. However, this has brought challenges, particularly with overcrowding and the sometimes exploitative behavior of tourists. To address these issues, the city has taken steps to promote ethical tourism, urging visitors to respect the sex workers and understand the broader implications of the industry.
Supporting the rights and well-being of sex workers is an important aspect of responsible tourism. Many brothels operate with a focus on worker safety, offering secure environments where sex workers have control over their schedules and clients. By choosing licensed establishments and respecting workers’ autonomy, visitors can contribute to an industry that prioritizes worker welfare while avoiding illegal or unsafe operations.
5. Ongoing Changes and Future of Brothels in Amsterdam
Looking ahead, the future of Amsterdam’s brothels is likely to see further regulation and shifts in location.
The city continues to debate moving many of the Red Light District’s brothels to new “erotic centers” outside the main tourist area. These efforts aim to protect both sex workers and residents from the negative effects of mass tourism, such as noise, overcrowding, and public nuisance.
In addition, there is ongoing discussion around increasing the legal protections for sex workers, with new proposals focused on improving working conditions and preventing exploitation. These developments indicate that Amsterdam is committed to maintaining a legal, safe, and respectful environment for the sex industry while addressing the concerns of the community.
Visitors should stay informed about these changes to ensure they are engaging with the industry responsibly and ethically.
If you’re curious about exploring Amsterdam’s vibrant adult scene, the city’s renowned brothels offer a glimpse into its open-minded culture, providing a safe and regulated environment for adult entertainment. For those seeking more personal connections, check out this guide to sex dating, which highlights practical tips and insights on how to navigate Amsterdam’s diverse dating opportunities. Together, these resources provide a comprehensive view of the city’s unique approach to intimacy and nightlife.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amsterdam Brothels
1. Are brothels legal in Amsterdam?
Yes, brothels are legal in Amsterdam. Since 2000, prostitution has been regulated by the government. Brothels must have licenses, and sex workers are protected under Dutch labor laws, ensuring their safety and rights.
2. What is the minimum age to visit a brothel in Amsterdam?
The minimum age to visit a brothel in Amsterdam is 18 years old. Sex workers themselves must be at least 21 years old, and strict regulations are in place to ensure compliance.
3. Where are most of the brothels located in Amsterdam?
Most brothels in Amsterdam are located in the Red Light District, known as De Wallen. However, some are found in other parts of the city, and new “erotic centers” may be developed outside tourist zones.
4. How much does it cost to visit a brothel in Amsterdam?
Prices can vary depending on services and the specific brothel, but the general cost starts around €50 for a short session. Be sure to discuss pricing upfront with the worker to avoid misunderstandings.
5. Is it safe to visit brothels in Amsterdam?
Yes, visiting licensed brothels in Amsterdam is generally safe. The government enforces strict health and safety standards, and sex workers operate in regulated, secure environments.
6. Can I take photos in the Red Light District?
No, taking photos of sex workers or brothels in the Red Light District is strictly prohibited. It violates workers’ privacy and can result in fines or other penalties.
Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Amsterdam in 2025
Posted on: January 2, 2025
25 Best Luxury Hotels in Amsterdam in 2025
Luxury hotels in Amsterdam redefine elegance, offering world-class service, breathtaking canal views, and exclusive experiences. But with so many high-end options, how do you choose the perfect stay?
Whether you crave historic charm, modern opulence, or a boutique retreat, our top 25 Luxury Hotels in Amsterdam guide ensures you book the best.
Discover unparalleled comfort—your dream stay awaits!
Crane Hotel Faralda
- Description: A one-of-a-kind luxury hotel housed in a converted crane, offering stunning panoramic views of Amsterdam from its unique suites.
- Useful Info: Located in NDSM Wharf, ideal for adventurous travelers looking for a blend of exclusivity and quirkiness.
- Average Price: €700–€1,200 per night.
- Reviews:
- “Incredible views and such a unique experience. Definitely a bucket-list stay!” – Google Review
- “The crane concept is amazing, but it’s quite pricey for what you get.” – TripAdvisor
- “A thrilling stay with impeccable service. The hot tub on top was a highlight!” – Booking.com
Amstel Hotel
- Description: A historic riverside hotel known for its classical elegance, fine dining, and iconic terrace overlooking the Amstel River.
- Useful Info: Great for couples seeking timeless luxury and serenity.
- Average Price: €600–€900 per night.
- Reviews:
- “Truly a masterpiece of historic charm and luxury.” – Google Review
- “The staff went above and beyond to make our stay memorable.” – TripAdvisor
- “Amazing location with world-class service and dining.” – Booking.com
Pulitzer Amsterdam
- Description: A unique hotel made up of 25 restored canal houses, offering charming rooms and a tranquil courtyard garden.
- Useful Info: Great for history buffs and art lovers.
- Average Price: €450–€750 per night.
- Reviews:
- “Quaint and beautiful. The canal house concept is amazing, in my opinion” – Google Review
- “In my experience it has exceptional service in a truly unique setting.” – TripAdvisor
- “I find it a perfect blend of history and modern luxury.” – Booking.com
The Dylan Amsterdam – The Leading Hotels of the World
Nestled in the heart of the city, this boutique hotel is known for its intimate atmosphere, elegant design, and Michelin-starred dining.
Average Price: €600–€1,200 per night.
Reviews:
- “Absolutely stunning hotel with top-notch service.” – Google Review
- “The restaurant alone is worth the visit.” – TripAdvisor
- “A luxury oasis in the middle of Amsterdam.” – Booking.com
Conservatorium Hotel
One of Amsterdam’s most iconic luxury hotels, offering spacious rooms, a world-class spa, and stunning contemporary architecture.
Average Price: €800–€1,500 per night.
Reviews:
- “The design is breathtaking, and the service is impeccable.” – Google Review
- “My favorite hotel in Amsterdam—luxury at its best.” – TripAdvisor
- “The spa and dining options are fantastic.” – Booking.com
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
A truly opulent hotel composed of six 17th-century canal palaces, offering Michelin-starred dining and an exquisite spa.
Average Price: €1,000–€2,000 per night.
Reviews:
- “Unparalleled luxury and impeccable service.” – Google Review
- “The best hotel experience I’ve ever had.” – TripAdvisor
- “Perfect for a once-in-a-lifetime stay.” – Booking.com
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
A former royal residence, this hotel offers grand interiors, a serene courtyard garden, and Michelin-starred dining.
Average Price: €600–€1,000 per night.
Reviews:
- “A stay fit for royalty—amazing experience.” – Google Review
- “The Grand lives up to its name in every way.” – TripAdvisor
- “Perfect mix of history and luxury.” – Booking.com
Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam
- Description: This iconic hotel on Dam Square – just next to the Red Light District – offers a mix of historic charm and modern luxury, with a Michelin-starred restaurant.
- Useful Info: Ideal for travelers wanting a central location near museums and shopping.
- Average Price: €400–€800 per night.
- Reviews:
- “Superb location and fantastic dining experience.” – Google Review
- “Rooms are spacious, and the service is flawless.” – TripAdvisor
- “The best choice for a luxurious city center stay.” – Booking.com
W Amsterdam
A trendy hotel offering modern luxury, rooftop views, and a lively atmosphere. Perfect for younger travelers seeking sophistication with a fun vibe.
Average Price: €400–€800 per night.
Reviews:
- “The rooftop pool and bar are amazing.” – Google Review
- “Great for those who want a chic and vibrant hotel.” – TripAdvisor
- “Trendy, fun, and luxurious!” – Booking.com
Hotel TwentySeven
An ultra-luxurious boutique hotel on Dam Square, offering opulent suites with lavish decor, personalized services, and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Average Price: €1,000–€2,500 per night.
Reviews:
- “The most extravagant stay I’ve ever had. Worth every euro!” – Google Review
- “Perfect for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” – TripAdvisor
- “Unparalleled attention to detail in every aspect.” – Booking.com
The Diamond Amsterdam
- Description: A luxurious hotel embodying elegance with diamond-themed decor and top-notch amenities.
- Useful Info: Located centrally, making it ideal for exploring Amsterdam’s highlights.
- Average Price: €500–€850 per night.
- Reviews:
- “Gorgeous interiors and exceptional service. Truly luxurious!” – Google Review
- “The diamond theme adds a special touch to the experience.” – TripAdvisor
- “Comfortable, elegant, and close to all the sights.” – Booking.com
Hilton Amsterdam
Located in the upscale Zuid district, this hotel is famous for being the site of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Bed-In for Peace.” It offers luxurious rooms with views of the city’s canals.
Average Price: €250–€450 per night.
Reviews:
- “Beautiful hotel with great history and stunning canal views.” – Google Review
- “Excellent service, perfect for a quiet and relaxing stay.” – TripAdvisor
- “Wonderful staff and convenient location.” – Booking.com
De L’Europe Amsterdam
A historic hotel with classic Dutch charm, offering luxurious rooms, Michelin-starred dining, and views of the Amstel River.
Average Price: €700–€1,500 per night.
Reviews:
- “Iconic and elegant—a true Amsterdam landmark.” – Google Review
- “The best mix of luxury and history in the city.” – TripAdvisor
- “Exceptional service and beautiful surroundings.” – Booking.com
Okura Amsterdam
A sophisticated hotel with Japanese-inspired luxury, featuring two Michelin-starred restaurants, a sky bar with panoramic city views, and a relaxing wellness center.
Average Price: €400–€900 per night.
Reviews:
- “The Japanese touches make this hotel a unique experience.” – Google Review
- “Dining here is an absolute must—worth every penny.” – TripAdvisor
- “Stunning views and luxurious amenities.” – Booking.com
NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace
Combining historic architecture with modern design, this hotel features a spa, luxurious rooms, and a central location near Amsterdam Central Station.
Average Price: €350–€600 per night.
Reviews:
- “The perfect mix of history and modern comfort.” – Google Review
- “Close to everything yet peaceful and elegant.” – TripAdvisor
- “A great choice for travelers who value convenience and luxury.” – Booking.com
DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
A modern luxury hotel known for its rooftop bar with stunning city views, located conveniently near Amsterdam Central Station.
Average Price: €300–€500 per night.
Reviews:
- “The rooftop bar alone is worth the stay!” – Google Review
- “Very modern and conveniently located.” – TripAdvisor
- “Great views and exceptional service.” – Booking.com
Andaz Amsterdam, Prinsengracht, By Hyatt
A modern boutique hotel designed by Marcel Wanders, offering vibrant interiors and a central location along the canals.
Average Price: €500–€800 per night.
Reviews:
- “Unique and artistic design—a truly special hotel.” – Google Review
- “Great location and fantastic service.” – TripAdvisor
- “Highly recommend for art and design lovers.” – Booking.com
Hotel 717
A boutique hotel offering opulent decor and an intimate experience, located in a restored canal house.
Average Price: €500–€850 per night.
Reviews:
- “Beautifully decorated with a personal touch.” – Google Review
- “The attention to detail here is incredible.” – TripAdvisor
- “Amazing service in a historic setting.” – Booking.com
Pestana Amsterdam Riverside
Set in a historic building along the Amstel River, this hotel blends heritage and modern luxury. Guests enjoy its wellness facilities and picturesque surroundings.
Average Price: €300–€600 per night.
Reviews:
- “The spa and river views are fantastic. Very relaxing.” – Google Review
- “Beautiful restoration of an iconic building.” – TripAdvisor
- “Great mix of history and modern luxury.” – Booking.com
Brasss Hotel Suites
A boutique hotel offering luxurious suites with personalized service in the heart of Amsterdam.
Average Price: €350–€600 per night.
Reviews:
- “Hidden gem with fantastic rooms and service.” – Google Review
- “Feels more like a private retreat than a hotel.” – TripAdvisor
- “Absolutely perfect for a romantic getaway.” – Booking.com
Canal House
A boutique hotel set in a historic canal house, offering contemporary luxury with a mix of old-world charm and modern amenities.
Average Price: €350–€600 per night.
Reviews:
- “Quaint and beautiful, with excellent service.” – Google Review
- “A true taste of Amsterdam’s charm.” – TripAdvisor
- “Luxurious and perfectly located.” – Booking.com
INK Hotel Amsterdam – MGallery
A design-forward boutique hotel with a literary theme, offering a stylish and creative atmosphere for guests. Located in the heart of the city.
Average Price: €250–€400 per night.
Reviews:
- “Unique design and a wonderful concept.” – Google Review
- “The perfect choice for a design enthusiast.” – TripAdvisor
- “Highly recommend for its central location and creative vibe.” – Booking.com
Morgan & Mees
A stylish boutique hotel that combines classic Dutch charm with a modern vibe, situated in the trendy Jordaan district. It’s a perfect choice for design-conscious travelers.
Average Price: €250–€450 per night.
Reviews:
- “Chic and comfortable—a hidden gem.” – Google Review
- “The perfect boutique hotel for exploring Amsterdam.” – TripAdvisor
- “Loved the stylish rooms and neighborhood feel.” – Booking.com
All You Need to Know About Amsterdam Red Light District Girls in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Amsterdam Red Light District Girls: Your Complete Guide to Prices, Laws, and What to Expect
Amsterdam Red Light District girls have long been a topic of curiosity and controversy. With new regulations and changing cultural attitudes, understanding the reality behind the red-lit windows is more important than ever.
Whether you’re planning a trip or simply intrigued by the world’s most famous district, this guide will give you everything you need to know. Keep reading to learn more!
Amsterdam Red Light District Regulations
Prostitution in Amsterdam’s Red Light District remains legal, but it’s heavily regulated to ensure the safety and rights of the workers.
The Dutch government continues to require sex workers to obtain permits and adhere to strict health and safety standards.
The city’s approach to legalized prostitution is intended to protect the sex workers, like red light district girls, from exploitation while also reducing illegal trafficking.
Recent discussions in Amsterdam’s city council have focused on further tightening regulations to protect vulnerable workers and combat human trafficking.
Authorities are considering changes, such as relocating sex work establishments away from the tourist-heavy areas and increasing oversight on who can obtain permits.
As a visitor, it’s important to understand these laws to engage respectfully and ethically during your visit.
Working Conditions and Safety Measures
Sex workers in Amsterdam’s Red Light District benefit from well-established safety measures, which include health checks and security systems.
These measures are crucial for ensuring a safe working environment, with many establishments featuring panic buttons and CCTV cameras to help protect both the workers and their clients.
Local police regularly patrol the area to maintain a secure atmosphere.
In addition to these protections, sex workers have access to health services and legal support. Organizations like the Prostitution Information Center (PIC) offer resources on sexual health, personal safety, and workers’ rights.
The Dutch government enforces mandatory health screenings to ensure both workers and clients are protected, contributing to an overall safer environment for all.
Red Light District Prices
Prices in Amsterdam’s Red Light District can vary significantly depending on the service, the worker, and the location.
The typical starting rate for basic services is around €100 for a short session (10-15 minutes), though prices can rise depending on specific requests or extended time.
It’s important to note that all negotiations are done privately between the worker and client, and prices can differ from window to window.
Before engaging, ensure you are respectful during negotiations and understand that pricing reflects the sex workers’ skills, experience, and the safety of the environment they work in.
It’s advised to have cash on hand, as most services in the district are cash-only, and always confirm what is included in the agreed-upon price beforehand.
If you’re curious about the Red Light District but looking for a more private experience, exploring Amsterdam Escorts might be the perfect alternative.
These services offer discreet, professional encounters outside the district, providing a tailored experience to meet your needs. Discover the best escort sites in Amsterdam to discover the top-rated options for an unforgettable stay!
Amsterdam’s Red Light District is world-famous for its transparent and regulated approach to adult entertainment, offering a safe environment for visitors to meet the district’s professional workers.
If you’re looking to explore more personalized encounters in the city, this helpful guide on sex dating provides practical advice and strategies for connecting with like-minded individuals.
Together, these insights offer a complete understanding of Amsterdam’s unique approach to adult interactions
Ethical Considerations and Responsible Tourism
When visiting the Red Light District, it’s important to act responsibly and respect the workers and the local community.
As a visitor, keep in mind that sex work is a legal and legitimate profession in the Netherlands, and those working in the district deserve respect and privacy.
One of the key rules is that photography and video recording of workers are strictly prohibited.
Additionally, as tourism has grown, so has the concern around “tourist voyeurism” and the exploitation of the district for entertainment.
It’s essential to avoid treating the area as a spectacle and instead approach your visit with an open mind, understanding the cultural context.
Changes in the Red Light District (Gentrification and Relocation Plans)
Amsterdam Red Light District has seen significant changes in recent years due to gentrification and ongoing debates about its future.
City officials have considered relocating the sex workers to an “erotic center” outside the city’s central area to reduce overtourism and improve living conditions for residents.
While no final decisions have been made, this plan could reshape the district as we know it.
Additionally, as the Red Light District becomes more gentrified, there is increasing pressure from businesses and residents to curb the number of tourists, limit disruptive behavior, and shift the focus of the neighborhood.
If these changes go through, the Red Light District could look quite different by the next years, so it’s worth staying informed about ongoing developments if you’re planning a visit.
Cultural Significance and Alternatives to the Red Light District
Amsterdam’s Red Light District holds a unique place in the city’s cultural history.
While its reputation often centers on sex work, it also has a broader significance as a center of free expression and progressive attitudes.
Over the years, the district has been home to artists, activists, and countercultural movements, making it a key part of Amsterdam’s liberal identity.
For visitors looking for alternatives to the Red Light District, there are plenty of other adult-themed attractions in the city.
Amsterdam is home to museums dedicated to sex, erotica, and cannabis culture, offering educational experiences in a more controlled environment.
Additionally, visitors can explore the city’s thriving arts scene, vibrant nightlife – like Moulin Rouge, and historical landmarks for a well-rounded experience of Amsterdam.
1. Is prostitution legal in Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
Yes, prostitution is legal and regulated in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Sex workers must have permits, and they work in safe, secure environments with protections like free health checks and security systems in place.
2. How much do services cost in Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
Prices typically start around €100 for basic services, with costs varying depending on the worker, services, and duration. Prices are always negotiated directly with the sex worker before any service begins.
3. Can tourists take pictures in the Red Light District?
No, taking photos or videos of sex workers in the Red Light District is strictly prohibited. Violating this rule is considered highly disrespectful and can result in fines or other consequences.
How to Get Locksmith Help in Amsterdam In 2025?
Locked Out in Amsterdam? Here’s How to Find a Trustworthy Locksmith Quickly
Locked out or dealing with a broken lock? Finding an Amsterdam locksmith quickly can feel overwhelming, especially during an emergency.
Whether you’ve lost your keys or need urgent repairs, the stress can escalate fast. But don’t worry—this guide will help you locate a reliable locksmith in no time. Read on to solve your lock problems efficiently and avoid costly mistakes!
This is among the most disadvantageous and frustrating situations one could find in, especially while in a busy city like Amsterdam.
The last thing you want during such a moment is to fall into the hands of some untrustworthy locksmith. This article will walk you through the steps involved in finding a trusted locksmith as quickly as possible for your protection and safety.
Check for Local Locksmiths with Good Reviews
Look for a locksmith in Amsterdam on review sites like Google, Yelp, or Trustpilot, and try to target the ones with the highest review rating along with positive reviews.
Pay attention to remarks that mention dependability, response time, and price. You should avoid those locksmiths who have many negative reviews and complaints concerning hidden prices.
Check whether the locksmith has professionally responded to a negative review since good customer service will handle the matter amicably.
Quickly on site
Opt for those locksmiths that promise less than 30 minutes of arrival time. Verify with them over the phone on this estimate.
Ensure the locksmith company is based locally in Amsterdam and will be more prepared to reach you sooner. See reviews to make sure people mention them as timely. When possible, choose locksmiths that have GPS tracking on their service vehicles so that you can see in real-time when they will arrive.
24/7 Availability
Choose those locksmiths that offer 24/7 emergency services so that at any time, one is sure of someone being able to help. Inquire during the call if they offer round-the-clock service.
Check their website or online profiles if they say 24/7 service. Look at reviews rating how responsive they are even at odd hours of the day. Having a locksmith ready to assist you at any time gives peace of mind, especially in a lockout at the oddest of night hours.
Cheap and Reliable
Look for locksmiths whose prices are upfront and have no hidden fees. Show quotes from numerous locksmiths to ensure your rate is competitive. Reviews will also give insight into which locksmiths are more reasonable and reliable. Individually low prices may mean some compromise on quality. Make sure you get a detailed estimate of what it will take to complete the work before accepting any service. Reliable locksmiths will have clear pricing and quality in service without taking shortcuts.
Confirm Their Identity Upon Arrival
When they arrive, ask them to present their identification and professional certifications. They should also come in a marked vehicle with the company’s logo. Match his name and photo with what was provided to you through your call. If something feels incorrect, don’t hesitate to call the company to verify. Good locksmiths would never complain if you asked them for identification and credentials to prove themselves.
People Also Ask
1. Can a locksmith open a locked door?
Yes, a locksmith can open a locked door using specialized tools and techniques without damaging the lock or door. They are trained to handle various lock types efficiently.
2. How much does it cost to hire a locksmith in Amsterdam?
The cost of hiring a locksmith in Amsterdam typically ranges from €60 to €450, depending on the time, type of service, and lock complexity. Emergency services may cost more.
3. How quickly can a locksmith arrive in Amsterdam?
A professional locksmith in Amsterdam can typically arrive within 20-30 minutes for emergency services, especially if they are located nearby.
4. What services does a locksmith in Amsterdam provide?
Locksmiths in Amsterdam offer services like:
- Emergency lockouts
- Key replacements
- Lock repairs and installations
- Rekeying locks
- Car and safe unlocking
5. Can a locksmith replace all types of locks?
Yes, professional locksmiths can replace and install various locks, including residential, commercial, and high-security locks. They can also handle electronic and smart locks.
6. Is it possible to call a locksmith in Amsterdam 24/7?
Yes, many locksmiths in Amsterdam provide 24/7 emergency services, ensuring help is available anytime, day or night, for urgent lock-related issues.
As a resident of The Netherlands, having the right tools can make daily life easier and more efficient. Whether you need to quickly find a reliable Amsterdam locksmith or navigate the city with ease, using the right resources is key. Discover the most useful Amsterdam apps to help with everything from transportation and local services to staying connected in the city. Amsterdam Apps can simplify your day-to-day life in this bustling city.
Inside Amsterdam Red Light District Windows
Posted on: December 1, 2024
Inside Amsterdam Red Light District Windows
Amsterdam Red Light District windows have become an iconic feature of Holland’s capital, attracting millions of visitors each year. But beyond the intrigue and curiosity lies a complex world of sex work, regulation, and controversy.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of Amsterdam’s red light district windows, what goes on behind the windows, the experience of visiting as a tourist, regulation and controversies, and the ongoing debates about the future of the red light district.
Get ready for an in-depth exploration of this fascinating topic.
1 | The History of the Red Light Windows
Amsterdam’s red light windows have a long history dating back to the 14th century when sailors would come to the city looking for female companionship.
Amsterdam Red Light District, 1968.
In those days, women would offer their services from behind curtains, which eventually evolved into windows with red curtains or red lights to indicate their profession. The tradition of sex work behind windows continued to grow, and by the 20th century, it had become an established industry in Amsterdam’s red light district.
Amsterdam Red Light District, 1905.
In the early days, sex workers had few legal protections, and many were vulnerable to exploitation by pimps and other criminals. However, in recent years, Amsterdam has taken steps to improve the working conditions and rights of sex workers, including providing legal recognition for sex work and creating a union for sex workers.
Amsterdam Red Light District, Oudekerksplein, 1969.
Today, sex work is a legitimate profession in the Netherlands. No longer do sex workers have to offer themselves in window brothels perse. Nowadays sex work is a broad concept and can be done in many other ways. There are escorts, strippers, erotic masseurs, webcam sex workers, porn actors, etc. And, sex workers are protected by law and have access to healthcare, social security, and other benefits.
In the past, the red light windows were mainly filled with Dutch ladies. Since worldwide travel has become more accessible and the formation of the European Union, mainly foreign prostitutes work in the window brothels of Amsterdam.
2 | Behind and Inside Amsterdam Red Light District Windows
Daily Routines and Operations
Renting the Window: Sex workers in Amsterdam’s Red Light District typically rent windows for specific shifts, which can range from a few hours to an entire day. These windows are part of small, individual rooms that function as both a display area and a workspace.
Preparation: Before starting their shift, workers prepare their rooms. This involves cleaning the space, arranging personal items, and setting up any amenities that might be needed for their work, such as towels, condoms, and lubricants. The goal is to create a comfortable and inviting environment for potential clients.
Attracting Clients: Once the window is ready, the sex worker stands or sits behind the large glass pane, often illuminated by the iconic red neon lights. They might engage in eye contact, gestures, or brief conversations through the slightly open door to attract clients. The visibility from the street is crucial for their business, as it allows them to showcase themselves while ensuring safety through public exposure.
Inside the Rooms
Negotiation: When a client shows interest, the worker and client discuss the terms of the service. This negotiation includes the type of services offered, duration, and price. This conversation usually happens through the door or once the client steps inside the room.
Safety Measures: Safety is a top priority. The rooms are equipped with security buttons or alarms that the workers can press if they feel threatened. Many rooms also have CCTV cameras at the outside of the door and ensure swift action in case of emergencies.
Service Provision: After agreeing on the terms, the client is invited inside, and the door is closed for privacy. The rooms are typically small but functional, with a bed, sink, mirror, and often a small seating area. Services are provided in a professional manner, adhering to the agreed terms.
Regulations and Worker Support
Health Checks: Sex workers in the district are required to undergo regular health checks to ensure they are free from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is part of the broader regulatory framework aimed at maintaining public health and safety.
Legal Framework: The district operates under strict regulations. Workers must be registered and adhere to labor laws, ensuring their rights are protected. These regulations are enforced by local authorities to create a safe and orderly environment.
Support Services: Numerous NGOs and support groups operate in the area, providing services such as legal advice, health care, and counseling. These organizations help workers navigate the legal system, access medical care, and receive emotional support.
Interaction with Tourists
Respectful Behavior: Tourists visiting the Red Light District are encouraged to be respectful. Photography of the windows and workers is strictly prohibited to protect their privacy and dignity. Engaging respectfully and understanding the professional nature of the work is crucial for a positive experience.
Working as prostitute is a unique experience, and it’s not for everyone. Sex workers sit behind a window, waiting for customers to approach them. When a customer is interested in their services, they negotiate the terms and price of the encounter, and if they come to an agreement, the customer is invited into the sex worker’s room for the encounter.
All window brothels in Amsterdam are quite small. There is a bed, a sink, a mirror, a table and other simple amenities. The client is generally asked to sit on the bed. There, the customer and the sex worker can immediately proceed to have sex. Or, if desired, a conversation takes place to put the client at ease and perhaps foreplay.
While sex work is a legal profession in Amsterdam, it is still stigmatized by many, and sex workers face many challenges, including harassment, violence, and discrimination. However, there are many organizations and support networks for sex workers in Amsterdam, including the Prostitution Information Center, which offers information and resources for sex workers, and the Red Thread Foundation, which provides support and advocacy for sex workers.
3 | The Experience of Visiting the Red Light Windows
Visiting the red light windows can be a unique and memorable experience, but it’s important to be respectful of the sex workers and their profession. The red light windows are located in the heart of Amsterdam’s red light district and can be easily identified by the red lights above the windows.
When walking down the streets, visitors will see rows of windows with women inside, dressed in lingerie or other provocative clothing. While it’s common for visitors to take photos, it’s important to remember that these are real people, and they deserve to be treated with respect. Visitors should never touch the windows or harass the sex workers, and they should be mindful of their behavior and language.
The window prostitutes try to attract the attention of men on the street by knocking on the window and then gesturing invitingly. These sex workers prefer to work daily in the same window brothel. This is because they have a reliable business relationship with the landlord, because of the agreed rental price, the location and because they have regular customers who can find them so easily.
4 | Regulation of Sex Work in the Red Light Windows
A red-lit window brothel on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
Sex work in the red light windows is legal and regulated in Amsterdam, and sex workers are protected by law. The Dutch government has taken steps to ensure the safety and rights of sex workers, including requiring sex workers to register with the Chamber of Commerce, free health checks, and pay taxes on their income.
Additionally, the government has set up a system of licenses for brothels and sex businesses, which must meet certain health and safety standards to be eligible for a license. This system has helped to reduce the amount of exploitation and trafficking in the sex industry, and it has given sex workers greater control over their work.
5 | Criticisms and Controversies
Despite the efforts to regulate and improve the conditions for sex workers in Amsterdam, there are still many criticisms and controversies surrounding the red light windows. Some argue that the industry still enables exploitation and trafficking, and that sex workers are not truly empowered in their work.
Dutch Christian Political Party
Gert-Jan Segers, former party chairman of the ChristenUnie in the Netherlands, wants the cabinet to start an investigation into banning prostitution, he said during a show on BNR radio. He wants to look at the ban in Sweden.
‘We have to learn from Sweden. In the Netherlands, many victims fall into prostitution,’ says Segers. ‘With a ban you have to consider two things. The importance of people who do their work voluntarily and freely, and people who are forced to do so. To protect the freedom of the latter, you could limit the freedom of the former.’
Others argue that the influx of tourism to the red light district has led to an increase in crime and nuisance in the area.
However, advocates for the sex industry argue that sex work can be a legitimate profession, and that the focus should be on improving the rights and working conditions of sex workers, rather than on attempting to eliminate the industry altogether.
Dutch Social Liberal Political Party On Prostitution
D66 has come into serious conflict with coalition partners CDA and ChristenUnie about policy towards sex workers. D66 MP Anne-Marijke Podt believes that the stigma of sex workers should be removed by recognizing, among other things, that prostitution is “just work”.
“Abuses in the sex industry get worse when you keep it a secret,” Anne-Marijke Podt said during a debate in the House of Representatives.
There are ongoing debates about the best way to support sex workers and reduce exploitation and trafficking in the industry, and the future of the red light windows in Amsterdam is still being actively discussed.
Quote Former Sex Worker Mariska Majoor
Mariska Majoor – former sex worker and founder of the Prostitution Information Center – said in 2020 during a Dutch current affairs programme:
A sex worker can decide for him or herself whether sex work is contemporary or not. Others have nothing to say about that. Some may have ended up in prostitution from difficult circumstances, but many today opt for it from an economic perspective, as so many working people do. And that is their right.
Sex Shows
Exploring the vibrant streets and unique offerings of Amsterdam’s Red Light District extends beyond its iconic windows. For those intrigued by the district’s diverse entertainment options, a visit to a sex show in Amsterdam offers an eye-opening experience into the world of adult entertainment. These shows are renowned for their artistic and sometimes theatrical presentations, providing visitors with a glimpse into a less frequently discussed aspect of the city’s nightlife. Discover the top 10 sex shows in Amsterdam to consider for your next visit, where sensuality and performance art blend in unforgettable ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are tourists allowed to visit the red light windows?
The outside of Moulin Rouge Amsterdam.
Yes, tourists are allowed to visit the red light district and the red light windows. It’s a public area. However, visitors should be respectful of the sex workers and follow the rules of De Wallen area.
An app is available for tourists to explore this area. It features an Amsterdam Red Light District tour with 22 experts who provide insight into the area within a two-hour timeframe. The app includes a GPS guided map, virtual tour, and images. It’s currently the only Red Light District tour available due to the ban on guided tours.
How do the red light windows work?
The red light windows are small rooms with a large window facing the street. Sex workers stand or sit behind the window, and potential customers can approach them to negotiate a price for their services.
Is it safe to visit the red light district?
While the red light district is generally safe, visitors should be aware of their surroundings and take appropriate safety precautions. It’s a good idea to stay in well-lit and crowded areas, and to avoid walking alone at night.
Contact the police (call: 112), the local government or seek help at bouncers if you need help.
What should I expect when visiting the red light windows?
Visitors to the red light windows can expect to see a wide variety of sex workers, ranging from women to men to transgender individuals. Visitors should be respectful of the sex workers and not take photos or videos.
How is sex work regulated in Amsterdam’s red light district?
Sex work is legal in the Netherlands, but it is heavily regulated in the red light district. Sex workers must be at least 21 years old, have a valid work permit, and can take health checks. They also have the right to refuse clients, and are protected by the law.
What are the hours of operation for the red light windows?
The hours of operation can vary, but currently do the red-lit window brothels only have to be closed between 6 am to 8 am. From April 2023, the prostitution windows must close at 3 AM instead of 6 AM.
How much does it cost to visit a sex worker in Amsterdam’s red light district?
The cost of visiting a sex worker can vary widely depending on a variety of factors, such as the type of service and the location of the worker. Visitors can expect to pay around 50 to 100 euros for a brief encounter. Detailed prices, services and associated costs can be found in the Amsterdam Prostitution Menu.
Can I take photos or videos in the red light windows?
No, taking photos or videos is strictly prohibited in the red light district. Violating this rule can result in fines and even confiscation of your camera.
Is prostitution legal in Amsterdam?
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, but it is heavily regulated. Sex workers must be at least 21 years old, have a valid work permit, and undergo regular health checks.
Are there naked women in the red light windows?
No, all window prostitutes wear clothes when they advertise themselves in the windows. They are scantily clad, several parts of their body are visible. The sex workers always have clothing over their private parts.
Why are red lights used in window brothels?
The use of red lights in window brothels likely originated in the red-light districts of Amsterdam and other European cities, where sex work is legal and regulated. In these areas, sex workers often work in storefront windows, and the red light is used to signal to potential clients that the establishment is open for business.
The use of red light has several potential explanations. One theory is that red light is associated with eroticism and sexuality, and thus is a natural choice for sex work establishments. Another theory is that red light has a practical advantage in that it is easily visible from a distance and stands out against the dark background of the street.
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Unlock the Secrets of the Red Street in Amsterdam: A 2025 Insider’s Guide
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Exploring Red Street in Amsterdam: All You Need to Know
Diving into the vibrant Red Street in Amsterdam reveals more than its neon glow. Nowadays, this iconic district not only embodies Amsterdam’s liberal spirit but also stands at the forefront of significant cultural and legal transformations.
Understanding its layers offers not just a visit, but an experience, enriching your travel narrative.
Read on to explore the heart of Amsterdam’s most famous area, where history, regulation, and future prospects intertwine, promising a journey unlike any other.
Oudezijds Achterburgwal: The Heart of “Red Street”
Oudezijds Achterburgwal, often dubbed “Red Street,” is the pulsating heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
This historic canal, lined with age-old buildings that now house a variety of bars, coffee shops, and the famed red-lit windows, offers a direct glimpse into the district’s bustling nightlife and cultural depth.
As you wander along Oudezijds Achterburgwal, you’re walking through a living history book, where every corner tells a story of Amsterdam’s past and present.
Whether you’re exploring its hidden alleys, enjoying a drink at a cozy café, or simply soaking in the vibrant atmosphere, “Red Street” offers an unparalleled experience of Amsterdam’s legendary district.
Venues on red street in Amsterdam
On Oudezijds Achterburgwal, you find a diverse mix of venues that cater to various tastes and interests. Here’s a list of 10 notable spots located on this historic street:
- Excalibur Café – A heavy metal and hard rock themed café known for its unique decor, including knight and biker memorabilia. It’s a place where visitors can enjoy pool tables, televisions, and friendly service.
- Moulin Rouge – An iconic adult entertainment venue offering a variety of shows in the heart of the nightlife scene.
- Cafe Remember – A cozy café that features live sports on multiple big screens, a separate smoking area, and a small dance floor. It’s praised for its friendly staff and perfect coffee.
- Mata Hari – A restaurant located in a quieter part of Oudezijds Achterburgwal, offering food at pub prices in a living-room setting, just a short stroll from the more bustling parts of the Red Light District.
- Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum – This museum is dedicated to cannabis, offering insights into its history and impact through exhibits and an audio tour available in multiple languages.
- Hotel Torenzicht – A hotel situated in the heart of Amsterdam, offering guests a variety of rooms with shared bathrooms, free WiFi, and an on-site restaurant serving local cuisine.
- Banana Bar – A well-known bar offering a unique and surprising experience in the center of the Red Light District.
- Theatre Casa Rosso – A famous strip club recognized by its pink elephant facade, offering entertainment in the Red Light District.
- Cannabis College – An educational center offering comprehensive information about marijuana, located on Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
- Hempstory – A boutique cafe near the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum, offering fair-trade hemp products and delicious coffee and hemp teas.
The Red Light District, also known as the “Red Street” in Amsterdam, is known for its open and vibrant atmosphere.
It reflects the city’s liberal approach to adult entertainment. For those interested in making personal connections, this guide on sex dating offers simple tips and helpful advice. These resources make it easy to explore Amsterdam’s unique adult scene at your own pace.
Historical Context and Evolution
The Red Light District, nestled in the heart of Amsterdam, is a testament to the city’s rich and often controversial history.
Originally emerging as a district with a high concentration of brothels and bars as early as the 14th century, it has since evolved into a unique blend of historical charm and modern-day liberalism.
This area, known for its iconic neon windows and vibrant nightlife, offers more than meets the eye. By understanding its evolution—from a sailors’ haven to a tourist hotspot—you gain insight into how Amsterdam has become a symbol of tolerance and openness.
This transformation reflects the city’s ongoing dialogue with its past, making it a must-visit for those interested in the layers of history that contribute to Amsterdam’s unique character today.
Current Regulations and Legal Framework
These days, Amsterdam’s Red Light District operates under a well-defined legal framework that ensures the safety and rights of sex workers while maintaining the area’s appeal as a major tourist attraction.
The Netherlands has been at the forefront of legalizing and regulating sex work, with policies focusing on health, safety, and preventing human trafficking.
Recent regulations may include mandatory licensing for brothels, health and safety inspections, and initiatives aimed at reducing stigma and ensuring the economic rights of sex workers.
As laws and policies continue to evolve, the emphasis remains on creating a safe and respectful environment for both workers and visitors. Understanding these regulations can enhance your visit, ensuring it is both enjoyable and respectful of the community that calls the Red Light District home.
Cultural & Social Aspects
We believe that the Red Light District is not just about its red light windows; it’s a melting pot of culture and social exchange.
The area serves as a living classroom where visitors can immerse themselves in Amsterdam’s liberal values, learn about the sex work industry in a non-judgmental setting, and engage with the local culture through art galleries, cafes, and museums.
Initiatives like guided tours aim to educate tourists about the realities of sex work and the district’s history, challenging stereotypes and fostering a deeper understanding of this unique community.
This blend of education, entertainment, and enlightenment makes the Red Light District a fascinating study of Amsterdam’s social fabric.
Take this Red Light District tour and become an Amsterdam connoisseur in record time.
Safety and Etiquette Tips for Visitors
Visiting the Red Light District requires mindfulness and respect towards those who work there and the local regulations.
Here are some key tips to ensure a positive experience: always ask for consent before taking photos, as photographing sex workers is prohibited; avoid loud and disrespectful behavior; stay aware of your surroundings and belongings; and respect the rules set by businesses and local authorities.
Remember, the Red Light District is a professional working area as much as it is a tourist attraction. By following these guidelines, you contribute to a respectful atmosphere that honors the dignity of all individuals.
Do not forget to read these Amsterdam Red Light District rules for tourists summarised by our local experts.
Future Outlook & Developments
The Red Light District stands at a crossroads between tradition and transformation.
As Amsterdam faces challenges related to tourism, urban planning, and the rights of sex workers, the future of this iconic area is a subject of lively debate.
Plans for redevelopment, efforts to combat overtourism, and initiatives aimed at further empowering sex workers are part of the ongoing discussion about what the Red Light District will look like in the years to come.
Staying informed about these developments not only enriches your visit but also connects you to the broader conversations shaping the future of Amsterdam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are most red-lit windows in Amsterdam Red Light District?
The most concentration of red-lit windows in Amsterdam’s Red Light District can be found around Oudezijds Achterburgwal, Oudekennissteeg, and Stoofsteeg.
These areas are known for their historical and cultural significance, offering visitors a glimpse into Amsterdam’s unique approach to the legality and regulation of the sex work industry.
The Red Light District, with its distinctive red-lit windows, showcases a longstanding tradition within the city, attracting tourists from around the world due to its openness and regulated environment.
Where is the narrow alley?
Trompettersteeg is a very narrow alley located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
It can be found next to the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and close to the Oudekerksplein, near the bustling area of the city known for its historic buildings, unique shops, and the famous red-lit windows.
Trompettersteeg is particularly notable for being one of the narrowest streets in Amsterdam, making it a point of interest for visitors exploring the city’s intricate network of alleyways and canals.
Use this Amsterdam Red Light District map to get to the Trompettersteeg.
What is the Red Light District in Amsterdam?
What is the Red Light District in Amsterdam?
Dive into “What is the Red Light District in Amsterdam?”—a place where history, culture, and controversy collide.
This iconic area isn’t just about its neon glow; it’s a testament to Amsterdam’s unparalleled openness and the complex issues surrounding legality and morality.
Discover why it’s a must-see for travelers seeking more than just surface-level tourism.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District, known as De Wallen, is one of the city’s most famous and controversial attractions.
Drawing in tourists from around the globe, it offers a unique glimpse into the liberal attitudes that the Netherlands is renowned for.
This guide aims to provide tourists with a comprehensive understanding of the area, covering its history, cultural framework, economic impact, and the social issues it faces, all while offering tips on how to respectfully navigate this unique part of Amsterdam.
Highlights
For those intrigued by the vibrant and unique atmosphere of Amsterdam’s Red Light District, the exploration doesn’t end with its neon lights and historic streets.
Beyond its initial allure, there’s a plethora of activities that cater to the curiosity of every visitor. From engaging cultural experiences to tantalizing culinary adventures, the district offers more than meets the eye.
To discover a curated selection of activities that promise to enrich your visit, delve into our guide on things to do in Amsterdam Red Light District.
Here, you’ll find recommendations that highlight the area’s diverse attractions, ensuring your experience is both memorable and respectful towards this unique community.
History and Evolution
The Red Light District has a long and complex history, dating back to the 14th century when sailors arrived in Amsterdam, seeking entertainment during their time ashore.
Over the centuries, De Wallen evolved from a maritime district with a few brothels and taverns to become the legalized, regulated area known for sex work and cannabis coffeeshops today.
This transformation reflects changes in societal attitudes and government policies towards sex work, aiming to provide safety and reduce stigma for those working within the industry.
Understanding this history is crucial for tourists, as it adds depth to the visit, transforming it from mere curiosity to an appreciation of the area’s significance in Amsterdam’s cultural tapestry.
Cultural & Legal Framework
The Netherlands is known for its progressive laws regarding prostitution and cannabis, which are crucial aspects of the Red Light District’s identity.
Since 2000, sex work has been fully legalized and regulated, with workers required to register and receive regular health checks. Similarly, the sale and consumption of cannabis in designated coffee shops are tolerated under strict conditions.
For tourists, this legal framework ensures a safe and regulated environment but also requires an understanding of the rules.
For instance, photographing sex workers in their windows is strictly forbidden, a rule set to protect the privacy and dignity of the workers.
By respecting these laws, tourists contribute to the respectful and responsible tourism that Amsterdam strives for.
Tourism and Economy
Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of the Red Light District, attracting visitors with its unique offerings that are not found in most other places.
However, the influx of tourists also presents challenges, such as overcrowding and the commodification of local culture.
The city government has been working to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the quality of life for residents and the sustainability of the district.
Tourists can contribute positively by being mindful of their impact, spending their money in local businesses, and engaging with the area in a way that respects its residents and cultural heritage.
Social Issues and Controversies
While the Red Light District is a major tourist attraction, it’s also at the center of various social issues and controversies, such as human trafficking and the exploitation of sex workers.
he Dutch government and non-governmental organizations have implemented numerous initiatives to combat these problems, focusing on ensuring the safety and rights of sex workers.
Tourists should be aware of these issues and support businesses and practices that promote ethical and responsible interactions within the district.
By staying informed and conscientious, visitors can help in the fight against exploitation and contribute to the positive development of the area.
Experience and Etiquette
Visiting the Red Light District offers tourists a unique experience, but it comes with the responsibility to act respectfully and ethically.
Observing local laws and customs, such as not taking photos of the sex workers and not consuming cannabis in public spaces outside designated areas, is essential.
Tourists should remember that the district is not just an attraction but also a place where people live and work. Exploring other attractions in the area, like the Oude Kerk or participating in red light district tours that focus on the history and culture of the district, can enrich the experience. By approaching their visit with respect and curiosity, tourists can ensure that their presence is positive for both themselves and the community they are visiting.
By covering these aspects, tourists can gain a deeper understanding of the Red Light District, ensuring their visit is both enjoyable and respectful. Amsterdam’s approach to managing this unique district offers a fascinating glimpse into how cities can balance the needs and rights of residents, workers, and visitors alike.
Prices
Exploring the vibrant and historic Red Light District of Amsterdam reveals a unique tapestry of culture, legality, and social dynamics that captivate visitors from around the globe.
However, beyond the neon-lit allure and cultural intrigue, understanding the practical aspects of visiting this iconic area is equally important.
For those curious about navigating the district with insight into expenses, our guide on Red Light District prices offers comprehensive details on what to expect financially.
This essential read complements your journey through Amsterdam’s most famous district, ensuring a well-rounded and informed experience that spans from its rich history to the practicalities of its contemporary allure.
Directions
When visiting Amsterdam’s Red Light District, having a map is very useful. You can see where to walk and find interesting places. Look at our Amsterdam Red Light District Map for easy directions.
This map helps you not get lost and enjoy more. Perfect for tourists who want a simple guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Red Light District in Amsterdam so distinctive?
Amsterdam’s Red Light District, also known as De Wallen, stands out for its legalized sex work, adult entertainment shops, and marijuana dispensaries.
This district showcases Amsterdam’s progressive stance on issues like sex work and cannabis use, drawing in a global audience eager to experience its uniquely liberal culture.
Is it permissible for tourists to explore the Red Light District?
Indeed, tourists are allowed to visit Amsterdam’s Red Light District, immersing themselves in its extraordinary cultural landscape. While exploring, visitors must observe local regulations and customs, including restrictions on photographing sex workers and rules regarding the use of cannabis.
Are photographs allowed in the Red Light District?
Photography of sex workers in their display windows is forbidden in the Red Light District to safeguard their privacy and respect. Tourists should heed this important rule to prevent any legal complications and to show respect towards the workers.
Other than that is photographing in Amsterdam Red Light District allowed. Just do not take pictures of the sex workers – without permission.
Street artist on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal street.
When is the Red Light District accessible?
The Red Light District operates around the clock, though the hours for its various attractions, such as red light windows, bars, sex shops, cannabis shops, and sex shows can differ.
Sex workers’ windows tend to be more active during the night, whereas cannabis shops usually close by 1 AM.
How should tourists behave respectfully in the Red Light District?
Visitors demonstrate respect in the Red Light District by complying with local laws and social norms, such as refraining from taking pictures of sex workers, avoiding littering, and keeping noise to a minimum.
Participating in guided tours and appreciating the district’s rich history and culture also helps in honoring the local community.
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Top 10 Escort Sites in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide to Safe & Legal Adult Services
Escort Sites in Holland: All You Need To Know
Navigating escort sites can be a daunting task, fraught with legal pitfalls and safety concerns. Staying informed and secure is crucial.
This guide will explore the top 10 adult sites, offering insights to ensure a safe, satisfying experience. Dive in to make empowered choices.
Overview of the Legal Landscape
The legal framework surrounding escort services varies significantly across different jurisdictions. We believe it’s essential for users and service providers to be well-informed about the regulations that apply in their regions.
In our opinion, platforms like Desire Escorts and Escort Amsterdam are exemplary in complying with local laws, ensuring that all interactions facilitated through their services adhere to the legal standards.
This overview not only helps users navigate the complexities of legality but also shields them from potential legal repercussions.
Furthermore, we find that the evolving legal landscape can impact the features and availability of services in various areas. For instance, regions with stringent regulations might have limited services compared to areas with more liberal policies. Understanding these legal nuances is crucial for users seeking services and for providers aiming to operate within the bounds of the law.
Escort Sites Services
Escort sites have diversified the range of features and services they offer, enhancing user experience and satisfaction.
Sites such as High Class Escorts in Amsterdam and Erotic Massage Amsterdam, in our opinion, set industry standards with features like advanced search filters, privacy-enhanced browsing, and real-time chat options. These functionalities not only facilitate smoother user interactions but also help in matching the right services with client preferences.
We believe that additional services, such as calendar integration for scheduling appointments and multilingual support for international users, significantly enhance user engagement.
Sites like Escort Amsterdam Finest and Passion Escorts offer these features, making them user-friendly for a global audience. This adaptability and attention to user needs are what keep these platforms at the top of the list for consumers.
Safety and Security Protocols
Ensuring user safety and security is paramount for escort sites. We find that platforms like Escorts in Amsterdam and Escorts at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam prioritize these aspects by implementing robust verification processes and end-to-end encryption for communications. These measures protect users’ identities and personal information, fostering a secure environment for both clients and service providers.
Moreover, regular audits and updates of security protocols, as practiced by Sensual Escorts in Amsterdam and Escort Angels, play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the platforms. In our opinion, continuous investment in security technologies and staff training are critical for maintaining trust and safety on these sites.
Escort Sites Reviews & Site Reputation
The reputation of escort sites is often reflected in user reviews and testimonials. Sites like Desire Escorts and High Class Escorts in Amsterdam, for instance, frequently receive positive feedback for their customer service and the quality of the experiences offered. We believe that prospective users should consider these reviews as they provide insights into the reliability and professionalism of the services.
Additionally, platforms like Escort Amsterdam and Passion Escorts actively engage with their user base to gather feedback and make improvements. This proactive approach not only enhances user satisfaction but also contributes to the site’s reputation. In our opinion, a strong focus on user experience and responsive customer service are key indicators of a reputable escort site.
Escort Sites Comparative Analysis
When comparing the top 10 escort sites, it’s important to consider various factors such as user base size, interface usability, subscription costs, and unique features. From our analysis, we find that while all listed organizations offer high-quality services, they differ significantly in their value propositions. For example, Escort Amsterdam Finest and Erotic Massage Amsterdam might cater more to those looking for luxury experiences, whereas Sensual Escorts in Amsterdam might appeal to those seeking a more intimate and personalized service.
In our opinion, a detailed comparison based on user preferences and specific needs can greatly assist in choosing the right platform. Factors like accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and the range of services offered play crucial roles in determining which site best suits an individual’s requirements.
People Also Ask
Why are escort sites legal in Holland?
In the Netherlands escort sites are legal because the government regulates this industry. Here’s why they do this:
- Safety and Health: The government wants to make sure that both the workers and their clients are safe. This includes regular health checks and promoting safe practices.
- Human Rights: The Netherlands sees escort work as a legitimate job, just like any other. This means workers choose this job freely and have rights just like other workers.
- Crime Reduction: By regulating this industry, it’s easier to stop illegal activities like human trafficking. When everything is open and checked, it’s simpler for the police to keep an eye on things.
- Tax Revenue: Legal escort services are taxed. This tax money helps fund public services, including programs that support sex workers.
What escort sites are legit?
Determining which escort sites are legitimate involves checking for several key factors, such as whether they comply with local laws, offer transparent and professional services, and have good safety protocols and positive user reviews. For a site to be considered legitimate, it often needs to have verifiable contact information, a secure website, and a clear explanation of services provided along with pricing.
Desire Escorts in the Netherlands is an example of a legitimate escort service. They operate within the legal frameworks set by Dutch law, which is crucial for legitimacy. Desire Escorts is known for offering a variety of services, which are clearly detailed on their user-friendly website. They also prioritize the safety and privacy of their clients and employees, which is a hallmark of a reputable service provider. Additionally, they have positive reviews from customers, further indicating their reliability and professionalism.
How to buy safely on escort sites?
When using escort sites in the Netherlands, particularly in Amsterdam where such services are legal, it’s important to prioritize safety and discretion. Here are some tailored tips to ensure a secure experience:
- Choose Reputable Sites: Opt for well-established and reputable sites. Look for user reviews and confirm that the website uses secure connections (check for “https” in the URL). Sites like this often have strong privacy policies and thorough verification processes.
- Understand Dutch Laws: Familiarize yourself with the local laws regarding escort services in Amsterdam. Even in places where it’s legal, there are specific regulations that need to be followed.
- Privacy Measures: Use services that protect your privacy. Many sites offer anonymous payment options or discreet billing descriptions to keep your transactions private.
- Clear Communication: Clearly communicate your expectations and boundaries to the service provider. Respectful and clear communication helps prevent any misunderstandings and ensures a more satisfactory encounter.
- Meeting Safely: For initial meetings, consider a public place like a hotel lobby to assess comfort and safety. Trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, feel free to end the meeting.
- Secure Payment Methods: Stick to secure payment methods such as credit cards, which often provide some level of buyer protection. Avoid platforms that request untraceable or irreversible payment methods.
- Health Precautions: Discuss and agree on health safety practices, including the use of protection. Reputable providers in Amsterdam will prioritize health and safety for both parties.
6 Best Burgers In Amsterdam To Try in 2025
Top 6 Burgers in Amsterdam Red Light District
You’re in Amsterdam and you want a burger. But where do you go? With so many burger joints in Amsterdam, it can be hard to know which one is the best.
The ultimate burger guide is here to help. We’ve compiled a list of the top places to get a burger in Amsterdam, based on expert reviews and personal experiences. Whether you’re looking for a classic cheeseburger or something more adventurous, we’ve got you covered.
6 Best Burger Joints In Amsterdam
Okay, let’s go. Here are the six best burger venues in Amsterdam, starting with number 6.
6 | Nude Burger
Nude Burger in Amsterdam is the real deal when it comes to delicious burgers and fresh ingredients. The reviews speak for themselves – this place is a must-visit for anyone visiting the city.
The burgers are juicy and flavourful, and the fries are crispy and perfect. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, and the staff are friendly and helpful. If you’re looking for a great burger joint in Amsterdam, Nude Burger is the place to go.
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5 | Charlie’s Kitchen
If you’re looking for one of the best burgers in Amsterdam, look no further than Charlie’s Kitchen in the Red Light District. This unassuming little burger joint serves up some of the juiciest, most flavorful burgers in the city.
The secret to their success is simple: they only use the freshest, highest quality ingredients. The beef is perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection, and the buns are light and fluffy.
Add in some fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, and you’ve got a burger that’s guaranteed to satisfy. So if you’re ever in the Red Light District, be sure to stop by Charlie’s Kitchen and try one of their delicious burgers. You won’t be disappointed.
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4 | 4 Seasons Burgers
4 Season Burgers is a restaurant in Amsterdam that is becoming increasingly popular among locals and tourists alike. The reason for its popularity is simple: the burgers are delicious.
4 Season Burgers uses only the freshest ingredients, and the beef is cooked to perfection. The result is a juicy, flavorful burger that is sure to satisfy even the most demanding appetites.
It offers 5 different burgers:
- Irish Beef
- Black Angus
- Wagyu Beef
- Chicken Burger
- Vegetarian
You can choose between a 175 gram or 225 gram burger, if you take an Irish Beef, Black Angus or Wagyu Burger.
In addition to its great food, 4 Season Burgers also offers an excellent selection of drinks. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, 4 Season Burgers is a good spot.
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3 | Burger Bar
In our opinion, Burger Bar is a great place to get a burger for a number of reasons. First, the burgers are quite delicious. The beef is perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection, and the bun is always fresh and fluffy. Every time we went here.
Second, Burger Bar is conveniently located in the heart of Amsterdam Warmoesstraat. It’s just a short walk from Dam Square and Central Station, so it’s easy to get to no matter where you’re coming from. A tram-stop is just around the corner, really.
Third, Burger Bar has a great atmosphere. We find the staff friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant has a casual, relaxed vibe.
So whether you’re looking for a delicious burger or just a place to relax and take a break from sightseeing, Burger Bar on Amsterdam Warmoesstraat is the perfect spot.
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2 | Favorite Chicken & Ribs
Chicken lovers pay attention because this burger bar has really delicious chicken burgers, ribs, wings and whatnot. We are talking about Favorite Chicken & Ribs.
When you walk in here, it certainly don’t not look like a place where you can score the best burger in Amsterdam. But don’t be delusional. We find their chicken burgers so freaking delicious! Oh, my goodness…
After tasting their chicken, you couldn’t care less about the mediocre decor and lagging service.
They season the chicken products very well by using tasty herbs. The fries are also quite tasty here. The disadvantages of this place are that they use bright lighting, that it is small inside and that there are occasionally street dealers inside. We never experienced doing anyone harm though. Anyway, if you ignore that and only visit this venue for their chicken products – you will definitely enjoy yourself.
The boneless chicken here is also really fantastic!
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1 | Burgerfabriek
Without a doubt, we believe that the Burgerfabriek has the best burgers in Amsterdam Red Light District. Why?
Well, first of all, because their burgers are made on charcoal. We think that this really makes the burger so much better. The Burgerfabriek is one of the few burger bars that prepares its products in this way.
Secondly, you can choose from various toppings, including some typical Dutch ones – such as Old Amsterdam cheese.
Thirdly, they have such delicious Dutch fries here. Not those weak, skinny, long French fries, but real thick fries. Those are the best! You can also get different sauces with that. When we tested this place, we took the real Dutch mayonnaise for a full Dutch experience in Amsterdam.
What is also nice about the Burgerfabriek is that you can tap your own beer here. They have a few tables where this is possible. Especially if you are out with some friends, it is ideal to tap your own beers because then you do not have to wait for the waiters. Great for bachelor parties too.
Get the best burgers in Amsterdam at the Burgerfabriek on the Warmoesstraat.
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Conclusion
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start trying some of the best burgers in Amsterdam! You really can’t go wrong with any of the choices on this list. And who knows, maybe you’ll find a new favorite burger spot that didn’t make our list. Be sure to let us know below in the comments which restaurant you thought had the best burger in Amsterdam.
ALSO DISCOVER:
Top 30 Mistakes To Avoid On Trip To Amsterdam
Amsterdam Travel Mistakes: Essential Tips for a Flawless Trip
Attention travelers! Don’t let Amsterdam travel mistakes tarnish your trip! The travel mistakes mentioned below have been shared by fellow Amsterdam visitors who are members of the Facebook group called Amsterdam Secrets.
Their candid accounts and personal experiences provide valuable insights for anyone planning a trip to this enchanting city. By taking note of these firsthand experiences, you can avoid common pitfalls and ensure a smoother and more enjoyable journey.
Discover the top 30 Amsterdam travel mistakes to avoid and ensure a smooth, unforgettable adventure in the vibrant Dutch capital.
1 | Getting a taxi from the airport into the city! DON’T DO IT! get the train and save A LOT of money!
2 | Not moving fast enough when you hear that bike bell ring!
3 | Not stayed long enough.
4 | Not booking the Anne Frank tour in advance and I couldn’t go.
5 | Taking the spanish boat tour was not as informative as I would have liked.
6 | Fell asleep on the train after an all night rave in Utrecht, ended up near zandvoort.
7 | Getting too fucked up on the first night.
8 | Not realising that some supermarkets take debit cards while others don’t, even the same chains sometimes.
9 | Wrong travelling companion!
10 | Not seeing the cities and towns outside of Amsterdam. Visit Zandvoort, Haarlem
11 | Not stayed long enough.
12 | Never go to a coffee shop then go rent a bike.
13 | Not being there long enough
14 | Not having much time , and not renting a bike!
15 | Wearing platform boots, take sensible shoes… most pathways are uneven and you will most likely twist your ankle a few times
16 | Getting lost getting on the wrong metro 4
17 | My constant mistake is that I always somehow book for not long enough.
18 | Not practicing my bike riding.
19 | Didn’t eat at the FEBO enough.
A kroket from the FEBO.
20 | Didn’t go to the Van Gogh museum
21 | Smoking a full blunt at a coffee shop after having gone a full week without. The nicotine combined with the THC put me out cold. Luckily I revived.
22 | Ate the whole box of magic truffles and smoked three zoots in the middle of amsterdam. By far worst experience I’ve ever been through.
23 | Not going to more museums or other historical markers, not getting a place to stay that had a kitchen…we spent way to much on take away, when we could have saved hundreds.
24 | Going into a blue light window (accidentally) whilst tripping on mushies. Never quite get over that experience
26 | Paying €12 for a waffle in dam central where all the cakes look so pretty on the window.
From practical advice such as opting for the train instead of a taxi from the airport to save money, being mindful of bike bells, and understanding the importance of pre-booking popular attractions like the Anne Frank tour, to cultural nuances like being aware of different payment methods at supermarkets and respecting local customs in the Red Light District, these insights cover a wide range of travel considerations.
Moreover, the shared experiences shed light on the importance of time management, from staying long enough to truly experience the city to allocating ample time for museum visits and exploring Amsterdam’s neighboring cities and towns. The tips also highlight the significance of practicalities like wearing appropriate footwear on the uneven pathways and being cautious about personal belongings.
By learning from the experiences of others, you can enhance your Amsterdam adventure and make the most of your time in the city. Remember to plan your itinerary wisely, take note of the valuable suggestions, and ensure a memorable and hassle-free trip to Amsterdam.
Keep these Amsterdam travel mistakes in mind as you embark on your journey, and embrace the wisdom shared by fellow travelers to create unforgettable memories in the remarkable Dutch capital.
How to Easily Find the Red Light District in Amsterdam?
Directions to the Red Light District in Amsterdam: A Comprehensive Guide
Struggling to find the Red Light District in Amsterdam? You’re not alone!
With its maze-like streets and bustling canals, navigating this iconic area can be confusing. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
In this guide, we’ll simplify Red Light District Amsterdam directions, ensuring you arrive easily and enjoy your visit stress-free. Keep reading to explore this must-see destination!
Overview of the Red Light District
The Red Light District, or De Wallen, is one of Amsterdam’s most iconic and historic areas. Known for its vibrant nightlife, unique culture, and adult-themed entertainment, the district attracts millions of visitors every year.
Nestled in the heart of the city, it also boasts a rich history, charming canals, and stunning medieval architecture.
Whether you’re curious about its storied past or simply exploring Amsterdam’s many attractions, the Red Light District offers something for everyone.
From its famous red-lit windows to quaint cafes and museums, the area provides a mix of entertainment and culture. Understanding how to get there and navigate it is essential for a smooth visit.
Red Light District Entry Points
The Red Light District is conveniently located in the center of Amsterdam, making it easy to access from key points in the city.
One of the main entry points is Amsterdam Central Station, just a short 10-minute walk away. From the station, head towards Damrak, the main thoroughfare, and then follow the signs or your map to Oudezijds Voorburgwal or Oudezijds Achterburgwal, the two main canals running through the district.
Another prominent entry point is Dam Square, a central hub surrounded by shops and landmarks like the Royal Palace. From Dam Square, it’s a 5-minute walk via Damstraat, which leads directly into the heart of the Red Light District.
Keep an eye out for street signs indicating “De Wallen” to ensure you’re headed in the right direction.
Transportation Options
Getting to the Red Light District is simple, thanks to Amsterdam’s efficient transportation network. If you’re staying in the city center, walking or cycling are the most convenient options.
For those further out, the Amsterdam tram systemoffers reliable service. Take any tram that stops at Central Station or Dam Square, such as Tram 4, 14, or 24, and follow the walking directions from there.
For an eco-friendly option, consider renting a bike, as Amsterdam is one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the world. Bike rental shops are plentiful, and there are clearly marked paths leading to the Red Light District. If you prefer taxis or ride-sharing, services like Uber are also available but may be slower during peak hours due to narrow streets and heavy foot traffic.
Navigating in Amsterdam Red Light District
Once you’re in the Red Light District, navigating the area can be a bit tricky due to its maze-like streets and canals. The district is primarily pedestrianized, so walking is the best way to explore.
The main streets to focus on are Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Oudezijds Achterburgwal, and Warmoesstraat, where you’ll find the majority of attractions, cafes, and shops.
For first-time visitors, using Google Maps or another navigation app can be incredibly helpful. Be mindful of the district’s busy atmosphere, especially during evenings when crowds peak.
If you’re exploring specific landmarks like the Old Church (Oude Kerk) or the Red Light Secrets Museum, make note of their locations to avoid wandering aimlessly.
Safety & Etiquette Tips
While the Red Light District is a must-see destination, it’s essential to be aware of the local rules and etiquette. Taking photos or videos of the workers in the windows is strictly prohibited and can result in fines or confrontation. Always ask permission before taking pictures of other attractions or storefronts.
Stay alert to your surroundings, especially during the evening when the area becomes busier. Keep your belongings close and avoid flashing valuables to minimize the risk of theft. Stick to well-lit, busy areas, and avoid wandering into less frequented alleys if you’re unfamiliar with the district.
Respect the culture and the people who live and work there. Many locals call the Red Light District home, so keep noise levels down and follow local laws regarding public behavior. Finally, if you’re planning to indulge in the area’s nightlife, consume responsibly and ensure you have a safe way to return to your accommodation.
Getting to Amsterdam’s Red Light District is easy with the right directions, and we believe it’s a must-see for anyone exploring the city’s unique culture.
In our opinion, there’s more to experience here than just the iconic windows. If you’re curious about making personal connections, we find this guide to sex dating incredibly helpful.
It offers practical advice on meeting like-minded people and navigating Amsterdam’s open-minded approach to dating. With these resources, your visit can be both exciting and memorable.
People Also Ask
1. How do I get to the Red Light District in Amsterdam?
The Red Light District is located in the city center, just a 10-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station. Follow the signs to Dam Square, then head towards streets like Oudezijds Voorburgwal or Warmoesstraat to enter the district.
2. What tram stops are closest to the Red Light District?
The closest tram stops are Central Station and Dam Square, both of which are within walking distance. Trams 4, 14, and 24 are common options to reach these stops.
3. Can I bike to the Red Light District?
Yes, you can bike to the Red Light District. Use Amsterdam’s bike paths and park your bike at designated racks near the district to avoid fines.
4. Is the Red Light District walkable?
Absolutely! The district is compact and primarily pedestrianized. Exploring on foot is the easiest way to navigate the area’s narrow streets and canals.
5. What landmarks should I look for in the Red Light District?
Key landmarks in the Red Light District include the Oude Kerk (Old Church), Amsterdam’s oldest building with stunning Gothic architecture, and the Red Light Secrets Museum, offering insights into the area’s history. Don’t miss the Moulin Rouge Amsterdam, a famous adult-themed cabaret showcasing live performances in a vibrant setting.
6. Is it safe to visit the Red Light District at night?
Yes, the Red Light District is generally safe at night, but stay alert. Stick to busy areas, respect local rules, and keep your belongings secure.
8 Fascinating Facts About Sex Workers You Can Learn In Record Time
The Ultimate Sex Workers Guide
It is said that sex work is the oldest profession in the world, although this is not true according to experts. In this article you will learn only the most fascinating facts about sex workers.
1 | Sex Worker Definition
There is no single definition of a sex worker. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a sex worker is “someone who earns money by providing sexual services.”
However, this definition is quite limited, as sex workers can provide a wide range of services beyond simply sex. For instance, sex workers may also work as erotic dancers, escorts, or webcam performers.
In general, sex workers are any individuals who receive payments in exchange for sexual services or related activities. This includes but is not limited to prostitution, stripping, and pornography.
While sex work is often associated with criminal activity and exploitation, many sex workers choose to engage in this line of work willingly and safely. With that said, it is important to remember that sex workers are diverse and that there is no single experience that represents all sex workers.
“I believe that sex is one of the most beautiful, natural, wholesome things that money can buy.” Steve Martin
In exploring the multifaceted world of Amsterdam’s Red Light District, it’s intriguing to delve into the lives and experiences of sex workers who form the vibrant tapestry of this unique area.
These individuals, each with their own stories and backgrounds, contribute to the diverse character of the district, offering insights into a world often misunderstood and stereotyped.
For those curious about the more personal and intimate aspects of connecting within this intriguing environment, understanding how to navigate and respectfully engage in seeking a sex date in Holland can offer a deeper appreciation of the dynamics at play.
This exploration not only broadens one’s perspective about the Red Light District but also underscores the importance of mutual respect and understanding in all personal encounters.
2 | Types of Sex Workers
Sex work is a profession with many different types of professions. Every profession is different. Sometimes with different rules or laws.
What all sex workers have in common is that they receive money or goods in exchange for consensual sexual services or erotic performances, either regularly or occasionally, according to Open Society Foundation.
Escorts
Escorts are male or female sex workers who provide certain (sexual) services for payment. They are hired through escort agencies or through their own (online) advertisements.
The clients meet the booked escort in hotels, restaurants or sometimes at the client’s home. It also happens that wealthy clients take escorts abroad for a holiday or business trip. Sometimes escorts pose as the client’s girlfriend or partner.
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Window Prostitutes
Window prostitutes are the only sex workers who recruit their clients by standing in red-lit window brothels. These window brothels can often be found in Dutch cities such as Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam.
But some Belgian and German cities also have comparable Red Light District areas. Unlike escorts, window prostitutes do not accompany their clients.
In fact, the customers enter the relevant window prostitute, after which the sex worker closes the curtain and takes the customer to the bed in the small brothel. Window prostitutes pay rent to a brothel owner. This is necessary to use a window brothel. These sex workers then charge their clients a certain rate.
Strippers
Strippers are erotic dancers who typically perform in stripclubs, bars, peep shows or gentlemen’s clubs. They may also work at sex shows, private parties or events.
Strippers typically wear revealing clothing, such as lingerie, and perform sensual dances involving body movement and contact with patrons.
In some cases, strippers may also offer lap dances or other forms of erotic entertainment. While strippers are often associated with negative stereotypes, many dancers view their work as a form of art and enjoy performing for an audience.
Nonetheless, the occupation can be physically demanding and sometimes dangerous, as dancers are often exposed to drugs and alcohol abuse, sexual harassment, and violence.
Webcam Performers
Webcam performers are people who engage in sexual activities in front of their webcams. This can include masturbation, sexual intercourse, and other sex acts. webcam performers can be either solo or have sex with another person.
Many webcam performers are also involved in webcam shows, which are live broadcasts that allow viewers to watch and interact with the performer.
Some webcam performers also sell access to recorded videos or photos of their performances. webcam performers typically charge by the minute, and some offer discounts for longer sessions. webcam performers typically cater to a specific niche or audience, and many have fans who follow their work.
Cam4 is a webcam-based chat service that allows users to connect with each other for sexual purposes. The service is available to anyone over the age of 18, and users can sign up for free.
Cam4 offers a variety of features, including the ability to search for other users based on location, age, and sexual preference. In addition, users can also pay to watch webcam sex shows, which are live broadcasts of sexual activity between two or more people. Cam4 is one of the most popular webcam-based chat services, and it has been used by millions of people around the world.
Street Prostitutes
Street prostitutes are sex workers who sell sexual services on the street. They are typically young women who are street-dependent and may be addicted to drugs.
Many street prostitutes have been sexually abused as children and/or have little or no support from family or friends. They are often homeless and have no other source of income.
Street prostitution is a dangerous occupation, and street prostitutes are at high risk for violence, rape, and robbery. They also face arrest and prosecution.
Street prostitutes typically work in areas that are known for drug activity or prostitution, such as inner city neighbourhoods or red-light districts.
Street prostitution is illegal in most jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions, street prostitution is tolerated or regulated. In others, street prostitutes are subject to crackdowns by law enforcement. Amsterdam has no street prostitution. In the Netherlands there are only three cities with street prostitution, namely: Nijmegen, Arnhem and Utrecht. In 2020, the Dutch public-service broadcaster NTR published a documentary about the last street prostitutes in the Netherlands. This documentary was presented by the well-known Dutch presenter Danny Ghosen.
Porn actors
Porn actors are commonly considered to be sex workers. This is because they are paid to engage in sexual activity on film. Porn actors are often hired to perform specific sex acts, and they may be required to engage in sex for extended periods of time. As a result, porn actors can often experience physical and emotional exhaustion. In addition, porn actors may be required to work long hours and odd shifts. This can make it difficult for them to maintain healthy personal and professional relationships. Furthermore, porn actors may face stigma and discrimination from the wider community. This can make it difficult for them to find work outside of the porn industry. For these reasons, porn actors are typically considered to be sex workers.
Famous Porn Actors
There are many famous porn actors in the world. Here are 10 of them:
1. Jenna Jameson is one of the most famous porn actresses of all time. She has appeared in over 150 adult films and has won numerous awards, including the AVN Award for Best New Starlet and the XRCO Award for Female Performer of the Year.
2. Traci Lords is another famous porn actress who has appeared in over 100 adult films. She also appeared in mainstream films such as Blade and Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
3. Sasha Grey is a former porn actress who has appeared in over 200 adult films. She has won various awards, including the AVN Award for Female Performer of the Year.
4. Tori Black is an American pornographic actress who has appeared in over 300 adult films. She was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2018.
5. Asa Akira is a Japanese-American pornographic actress who has appeared in over 400 adult films. She was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2015.
6. Lisa Ann is an American pornographic actress who has appeared in over 500 adult films. She was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2014.
7. Manuel Ferrara is a French pornographic actor who has appeared in over 1,000 adult films. He was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2013.
8. Peter North is a Canadian pornographic actor who has appeared in over 2,000 adult films. He was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2009.
9. Ron Jeremy is an American pornographic actor who has appeared in over 2,500 adult films. He was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2007.
10 . Bobby Slayton is an American stand-up comedian and actor who has also worked in the porn industry. He has appeared in over 50 adult films and has directed 5 movies himself.
3 | Stigma Sex Workers
Stigma is a form of social exclusion that is experienced by a certain group of people. stigma can manifest in many different ways, but it typically involves some form of prejudice or discrimination. Sex workers are often subjected to stigma due to the nature of their work. This stigma can take on various forms, from negative attitudes and prejudices to actual violence and discrimination. The stigma attached to sex work is often based on misconceptions and myths about the industry. For example, there is a common belief that all sex workers are victims of trafficking or that they are all drug addicts. These inaccurate and harmful stereotypes contribute to the stigma that surrounds the profession. As a result, sex workers often face challenges in their personal and professional lives. They may have difficulty finding housing or employment, and they may be constantly facing judgement and stigma from family, friends, and strangers. The stigma attached to sex work can have a profound impact on the lives of those who engage in it, making it difficult for them to lead happy and fulfilled lives.
4 | Sex Workers Union
You might wonder: Can sex workers unionise? Yes they can!
PROUD is the Dutch Union for Sex workers, and it is the first sex workers union in the Netherlands. PROUD was founded in 2010.
PROUD’s main goal is to improve the working conditions for sex workers, and to fight for their rights. PROUD is open to all sex workers, regardless of their gender or nationality. PROUD offers its members legal support, and provides information about their rights. PROUD also lobbies politicians and organises protests. In 2015, PROUD successfully lobbied for a change in the law that prohibited sex workers from working together in a brothel. PROUD is an important organisation that fights for the rights of sex workers, and provides them with support and information.
5 | Sex Work Term Introduction
The term sex work first appeared in print in 1978, in an article by activist Carol Leigh. Leigh used the term to refer to all forms of sexual labor, including prostitution, pornography, stripping, and phone sex. The term quickly gained popularity within the sex worker rights movement, as it helped to challenge the negative stigma surrounding sex work. Today, the term is used internationally to refer to all forms of paid sexual activity. However, it is important to note that not all sex workers identify with the term; some prefer terms such as prostitution or escort. Ultimately, the decision of what to call oneself is a personal one.
6 | Nordic model & Sex Workers
The Nordic model of sex workers, also known as the Swedish model, is a legal approach that criminalizes the purchase of sexual services while decriminalizing the sale of sexual services. This approach was first implemented in Sweden in 1999, and has since been adopted by several other Nordic countries, including Norway, Iceland, and Canada. The Nordic model is based on the belief that sex work is a form of exploitation that perpetuates gender inequality and contributes to the further marginalization of vulnerable populations. This approach has been successful in reducing street prostitution and human trafficking, while also providing support services for sex workers. While the Nordic model is not without its critics, it remains an effective way to address the harms associated with the sex trade.
7 | Dr. Kate Lister Is The Best Sex Work Historian
Kate Lister is a historian and sex worker rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is the author of the 2015 book “Whore: An Intimate History of Sex Work,” which chronicles the history of sex work from the Middle Ages to the present day.
In addition to her writing, Lister is also a vocal advocate for the decriminalization of sex work and the protection of sex workers’ rights. She has testified before parliament on these issues, and she works with various organizations to promote sex workers’ rights both in the UK and internationally. Kate Lister is a respected authority on sex work, and her work is helping to shape the future of this controversial industry.
8 | Prince Andrew & Sex Worker
In 2001, Prince Andrew was caught on camera receiving an erotic massage from a sex worker at Jeffrey Epstein’s home in New York. In the footage, the woman can be seen straddling the prince and kneading his back for several minutes. Epstein can be heard laughing in the background. The incident caused a scandal at the time, and the prince was forced to issue a public apology. In recent years, Prince Andrew has been accused of having sex with underage girls, and he has been estranged from the royal family as a result.
Are sex workers in Amsterdam safe?
According to the Prostitution Information Center (PIC) in Amsterdam, sex work is a legal profession in the Netherlands and sex workers have the same rights and protections as any other worker. The PIC also states that there are numerous organizations and individuals who work to help and support sex workers in various ways.
Historian and Dr. Kate Lister also notes that the legalization of prostitution in the Netherlands has allowed for sex workers to operate within a regulated system that prioritizes their safety and well-being. The country’s approach to sex work has been praised by many for providing sex workers with access to health services, legal protection, and social security benefits.
However, Dr. Lister also acknowledges that while the legalization of prostitution has improved the working conditions for some sex workers, it is not a perfect system and there are still many challenges that sex workers face, such as stigma and discrimination.
In conclusion, while sex work in Amsterdam is a legal profession and there are many organizations working to support sex workers, the industry is not without its challenges. Nevertheless, the legalization of prostitution has created a safer and more regulated environment for sex workers in the Netherlands.
Where do sex workers advertise?
Where do sex workers advertise? The answer to this question depends on the type of sex work being performed. For example, many websites and escort companies advertise online, while window brothels are more commonly found in certain red-light districts. In addition, sex workers may also advertise their services through word of mouth or by placing flyers in public places. Ultimately, the best way to find sex workers is to ask around or search online for reviews. By doing a bit of research, you can be sure to find the right person for the job.
Can sex workers have relationships?
There are many misconceptions about sex workers and their personal lives. Some people believe that sex workers cannot have fulfilling relationships, but this is not true. Many sex workers live together and/or are married. They have romantic lives just like anyone else. In fact, some research suggests that sex workers are more likely to have healthier relationships than the general population. This may be because they are more open about their needs and desires, and they are less likely to tolerate situations that are unhealthy or unsatisfying. Of course, every relationship is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. But the evidence suggests that, for many sex workers, meaningful relationships are indeed possible.
When are sex workers open?
There are no fixed working hours for sex workers. It differs per type of sex worker.
Window sex workers are often tied to the opening hours of the window brothels.
Escorts generally often work in the evenings or at night. As well as strippers.
Webcam sex workers can work when their clients need it. Some work during the day. Other webcam sex workers prefer to work in the evenings, so they can do other work during the day.
How OnlyFans changed sex work forever?
OnlyFans is a social media platform that has been credited with changing the landscape of sex work forever. The platform allows users to create and sell content on a monthly subscription basis, and it has become particularly popular with adult performers and content creators. OnlyFans has been praised for its ability to empower sex workers and give them a greater degree of control over their careers. It has also been criticized for its role in the exploitation of sex workers, as well as its potential to be used for non-consensual pornography. OnlyFans is a controversial but unquestionably influential platform, and its impact on the sex work industry is still unfolding. With its unique business model and strong community, OnlyFans is here to stay.
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Amsterdam Prostitution Menu: Prices & Services
Whore: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About
Amsterdam Currency: A Complete 2025 Guide
Amsterdam Currency: Navigating the City’s Financial Landscape
Navigating Amsterdam currency is key to unlocking the full potential of your visit to this enchanting city.
As the vibrant heart of the Netherlands, Amsterdam not only boasts picturesque canals and rich cultural heritage but also a dynamic financial landscape.
Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a returning admirer, understanding the nuances of Amsterdam’s currency system is crucial.
This city, famous for its historic architecture and bustling markets, requires a savvy approach to financial transactions to fully enjoy everything from a leisurely coffee in a quaint café to the excitement of shopping for unique finds.
Amsterdam’s status as a premier tourist destination makes it more important than ever to be well-informed about its currency. How you manage your finances here can greatly affect your travel experience, influencing everything from where you dine to what souvenirs you bring home.
In this blog post, we dive into the top 10 things you need to know about Amsterdam’s currency. From understanding the latest digital payment trends to mastering currency exchange, we’ve got you covered.
Picture yourself wandering through Amsterdam’s charming streets, confidently handling every financial interaction. With this guide, you’ll not only become proficient in using Euros but also adept at navigating the city’s shift towards digital payments, ensuring a smooth and memorable trip.
Continue reading to gain these essential insights. Prepare for an extraordinary journey in Amsterdam, where your knowledge of the local currency will enhance every aspect of your adventure.
10 Things You Need To Know About Amsterdam Currency
- Currency Type: Amsterdam uses the Euro (€) as its official currency.
- Banknote Denominations: Available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros.
- Coin Denominations: Includes 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros.
- Cash vs Digital: Both cash and digital payments are widely accepted.
- ATM Availability: ATMs are abundant and compatible with international cards.
- Currency Exchange: Best rates at banks and major transport hubs.
- Tipping Culture: Tipping is customary but not obligatory, usually 5-10%.
- Security Features: Euro notes have advanced anti-counterfeiting measures.
- Card Acceptance: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but have some cash.
- Cultural Transition: Switch from Dutch Guilder to Euro in 2002 marked a significant cultural shift.
Current Currency Used in Amsterdam
Amsterdam, like much of the Netherlands, primarily uses the Euro (€) as its official currency. Introduced in 2002, the Euro has since become a significant part of European trade and economics.
Nowadays, tourists and residents in Amsterdam will encounter Euro banknotes and coins in various denominations.
Banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro values, each with distinct colors and sizes for easy recognition.
The coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 Euro.
Each coin and note is uniquely designed, featuring different European architectural styles across various periods, symbolizing the unity and diversity of Europe.
Understanding the denominations and their physical characteristics can be crucial for visitors to manage their finances effectively while in Amsterdam.
Currency Exchange Tips
Navigating currency exchange in Amsterdam requires some know-how to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Numerous currency exchange offices can be found around major tourist areas and transport hubs like Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Centraal Station.
However, it’s essential to be aware of the exchange rates and commissions charged. Often, banks offer better rates compared to standalone exchange kiosks.
Another tip is to avoid exchanging money at hotels due to typically unfavorable rates. It’s also wise to compare rates online and consider exchanging a portion of your money before traveling.
Some travelers opt for pre-paid travel cards available from banks, which can offer competitive rates and reduce the need to carry large amounts of cash.
Cash vs. Digital Payments
The payment landscape in Amsterdam, reflects a blend of traditional and modern practices. While cash is still widely accepted, there is a noticeable shift towards digital payments. Contactless card payments and mobile payment apps have become increasingly prevalent in restaurants, shops, and even in markets. For travelers, it’s crucial to have a mix of payment options. While larger establishments readily accept digital payments, smaller shops or local markets might prefer cash. It’s always advisable to carry some cash for small purchases. Understanding the balance between cash and digital payments in Amsterdam can significantly enhance the convenience of transactions during your stay.
ATM and Banking Services
ATMs are widely available throughout Amsterdam, offering convenient access to cash for both locals and tourists. Most ATMs in the city support major international credit and debit cards, making withdrawals straightforward. However, it’s essential to be aware of potential fees for international transactions. These can vary depending on your bank’s policies and the ATM’s operating bank. Several international banks have branches in Amsterdam, providing full banking services to their customers. It’s advisable to inform your home bank of your travel plans to prevent any unexpected card blocks due to foreign transactions. Additionally, keeping an eye on the daily withdrawal limits and planning your banking needs accordingly can help avoid any inconveniences.
Cultural Tips Related to Money
Understanding the local money-related customs and etiquettes can enhance your experience in Amsterdam. Tipping, for instance, is customary but not mandatory in the Netherlands. In restaurants and cafes, it’s common to leave a small tip, typically around 5-10% of the bill, if the service is satisfactory. However, tipping in other services like taxis or hairdressers is less common and is usually a matter of personal choice. Bargaining is not a standard practice in Dutch stores or markets, so prices are generally considered fixed. However, at flea markets or when purchasing art or antiques, some negotiation might be acceptable. Being aware of these cultural nuances related to money can help avoid any social faux pas and ensure a smooth experience while shopping or dining in Amsterdam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the currency used in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam uses the Euro (€) as its official currency. It includes banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros, and coins in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros.
Where is the best place to exchange currency in Amsterdam?
The best places for currency exchange in Amsterdam are banks and specialized currency exchange offices in major tourist areas and transport hubs like Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Centraal Station. Banks usually offer more favorable rates compared to standalone kiosks.
Are credit cards widely accepted in Amsterdam?
Yes, credit cards are widely accepted in Amsterdam, especially in hotels, restaurants, and larger stores. However, it’s advisable to carry some cash for smaller shops and local markets.
Can I use digital payments in Amsterdam?
Digital payments, including contactless card payments and mobile payment apps, are increasingly popular in Amsterdam. They are accepted in many establishments, though cash remains a viable option for smaller transactions.
Are there any ATMs in Amsterdam where I can withdraw cash?
Amsterdam has a dense network of ATMs that support major international credit and debit cards, making it convenient to withdraw cash across the city. Be aware of potential fees for international transactions.
What are the tipping customs in Amsterdam?
Tipping in Amsterdam is customary but not mandatory. In restaurants and cafes, a tip of around 5-10% of the bill is common if the service is good. Tipping in other services like taxis is less common and is usually at the customer’s discretion.
Is the currency used in Amsterdam’s Red Light District different from the rest of the city?
No, the currency used in Amsterdam’s Red Light District is the same as the rest of the city, which is the Euro (€). Just like in other parts of Amsterdam, both cash and digital payments are accepted in the Red Light District, but it’s advisable to carry some cash as sex workers and smaller establishments might not accept cards.
In exploring the intricacies of Amsterdam’s currency, an intriguing aspect to consider is how it plays into the diverse facets of the city’s culture and economy, particularly in areas like the Red Light District. Understanding the dynamics of currency becomes even more relevant when you delve into specific sectors of Amsterdam’s vibrant urban landscape. For those interested in a deeper insight into how the Euro impacts various services and experiences, including those in the Red Light District, a comprehensive guide to the Red Light District cost offers a detailed perspective. This guide not only sheds light on the monetary aspects but also provides a broader understanding of the economic framework of one of Amsterdam’s most famous and historic areas.
Amsterdam Currency Facts
- Polymer Notes Introduction: While traditionally made from cotton paper, the Eurozone has been considering the introduction of polymer notes for future Euro banknotes. Polymer notes, already used by several countries, are more durable and resistant to wear and tear compared to paper notes.
- Smallest and Largest Denominations: The smallest denomination of the Euro currency is the 1 cent coin, while the largest is the 500 Euro banknote. However, the 500 Euro note is no longer being issued since January 27, 2019, due to concerns about its use in illicit activities, though it remains legal tender.
- Euro Symbol Origin: The Euro symbol (€) is inspired by the Greek letter epsilon (Ε), reflecting the cradle of European civilization, and the first letter of the word ‘Europe’. The two parallel lines signify the stability of the Euro.
- Exchange Rate Impact: The Euro’s value against other currencies, particularly the US Dollar, has a significant impact on Amsterdam’s tourism and trade. A stronger Euro can make Amsterdam more expensive for tourists, while a weaker Euro can boost tourism and exports.
- Legal Tender Status: Euro banknotes and coins are legal tender across the Eurozone. This means they must be accepted for most types of transactions, although there are exceptions for certain types of payments or where the exact change cannot be given.
- Cultural Impact: The adoption of the Euro in Amsterdam and other Dutch cities marked a cultural shift, moving away from the Dutch Guilder, which had been in use since the 17th century. The transition to the Euro was a significant moment, reflecting deeper European integration and cooperation.
When to Visit Amsterdam’s Red Light District: The Ultimate Guide
Best Time to Visit the Red Light District in Amsterdam
Avoid the frustration of missing the best time to visit Red Light District in Amsterdam. Whether you’re after vibrant nightlife or a quieter cultural experience, timing is everything in this iconic neighborhood.
Discover how seasons, events, and crowd patterns shape your visit, so you can plan the perfect trip and make the most of your time in Amsterdam!
Amsterdam’s Red Light District is a unique and iconic destination that offers a mix of history, culture, and nightlife.
Planning the right time to visit can make all the difference in your experience. Below, we break down the key factors to consider, from seasonal variations to insider tips, so you can get the most out of your trip.
Seasonal Variations & Weather Impact
The time of year you visit Amsterdam’s Red Light District can significantly affect your experience. Each season brings its own charm and considerations.
- Spring (March to May): Spring is one of the best times to visit Amsterdam overall.
The weather is mild, tulip season is in full bloom, and the city buzzes with energy. In the Red Light District, you’ll find a balance of lively crowds and comfortable temperatures for walking tours. - Summer (June to August): Summer attracts the largest crowds due to warm weather and peak tourism season. While the district is at its most vibrant, it can also feel overcrowded. Booking accommodations and experiences in advance is essential during this period.
- Autumn (September to November): This shoulder season offers fewer crowds and cooler weather, making it an excellent time for a relaxed visit. The cozy ambiance of the district at night contrasts beautifully with the crisp autumn air.
- Winter (December to February): The Red Light District transforms during winter. Festive lights during the holidays add a magical touch, but cold and wet weather can be a downside. However, if you prefer fewer tourists, this is the perfect time to go.
Daytime vs. Nighttime in Red Light District
The Red Light District offers two distinct experiences depending on whether you visit during the day or at night.
- Daytime: During the day, the district is quieter and more laid-back. This is the ideal time for walking tours, exploring historic landmarks like the Oude Kerk, and visiting cultural attractions such as the Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution. Families and those seeking a more educational experience might prefer this timeframe.
- Nighttime: The district comes alive at night, showcasing its famous red-lit windows and bustling nightlife. Clubs, bars, and the unique vibrancy of the area draw visitors looking for an exciting evening. However, the district can be crowded and rowdy, so it’s essential to stay mindful of your surroundings.
Choosing between day and night depends on the type of experience you’re looking for. If possible, explore both to see the district’s contrasting personalities.
Special Events & Festivals
Timing your visit with one of Amsterdam’s events or festivals can elevate your experience. The Red Light District often becomes a hotspot during these occasions.
- Amsterdam Light Festival (November to January): The district glows even more brilliantly during this festival, with art installations illuminating the canals and streets.
- King’s Day (April 27): This national holiday transforms the city into a massive street party. The Red Light District becomes especially lively, with music, dancing, and celebrations throughout the day and night.
- Pride Amsterdam (August): The district is a key location during this colorful festival, with vibrant parades and events celebrating LGBTQ+ culture.
Be aware that these events can also increase crowds, so plan accordingly if you’re visiting during these times.
Crowd Levels and Tourism Trends
Understanding the district’s crowd patterns can help you choose the best time to visit.
- Weekdays vs. Weekends: Weekends are busier, with locals and tourists filling the streets, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. If you prefer a quieter experience, visit during weekdays when the district is less crowded.
- Early Morning vs. Evening: For those who want to avoid crowds entirely, early mornings are surprisingly serene. The evenings, especially after 9 PM, are when the district is at its busiest and most vibrant.
- Public Holidays and Peak Seasons: Holidays like Easter, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve see an influx of tourists. If you’re visiting during these times, book accommodations and activities well in advance.
Planning your visit during off-peak hours or seasons can make your experience more enjoyable and less hectic.
Tips for Optimal Experiences
To make the most of your visit to the Red Light District, follow these tips:
- Respect the Local Culture: Photography of workers in the windows is strictly prohibited. Be respectful of the district’s residents and businesses.
- Visit Moulin Rouge: Experience the tantalising adult shows in Amsterdam. Book your Moulin Rouge Amsterdam in advantage and secure your seats.
- Stay Safe: The district is generally safe, but pickpockets can be an issue in crowded areas. Keep your belongings secure and avoid overly intoxicated crowds.
- Plan Ahead: Whether it’s for accommodations, tickets to museums, or dinner reservations, planning ensures a smoother experience, especially during busy times.
- Explore Beyond the Main Streets: The Red Light District has hidden gems, like quiet courtyards, unique bars, and boutique shops, waiting to be discovered.
By choosing the right time and following these tips, you can enjoy a memorable visit to one of Amsterdam’s most famous neighborhoods.
FAQs About the Best Time to Visit the Red Light District in Amsterdam
1. What is the best time to visit the Red Light District in Amsterdam?
The best time to visit is during spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November) when the weather is pleasant and the crowds are smaller. For a quieter experience, visit on weekdays or early mornings.
2. Is it better to visit the Red Light District during the day or at night?
Daytime visits are ideal for exploring history and culture, while nighttime offers a lively and vibrant atmosphere. Both times provide unique experiences, so it depends on your preference.
3. Are there any specific events or festivals in the Red Light District?
Yes, events like the Amsterdam Light Festival (November–January), King’s Day (April 27), and Pride Amsterdam (August) bring extra energy and festivities to the area.
4. Is the Red Light District crowded all year round?
Crowds vary by season and time of day. Summer and weekends are busiest, while weekdays and off-peak seasons like winter are quieter.
5. Are there safety concerns when visiting the Red Light District?
The Red Light District is generally safe, but it’s important to watch for pickpockets and stay mindful of your surroundings, especially at night.
6. Can I take photos in the Red Light District?
No, photographing the workers in the windows is strictly prohibited and considered disrespectful. Respect local rules and enjoy the experience responsibly.
Top 10 Magic Truffles FAQ in 2025
Top 10 Magic Truffles Questions & Answers
Are you considering taking Magic Truffles and do you have many unanswered questions? Or are you just curious? Very good, you have come to the right place!
We often get drug related questions, including questions about Magic Truffles. This is why we made a useful list with frequently asked questions about Magic Truffels. We went to all smart shops in Amsterdam and asked questions to the real experts. All answers can be found below!
What Are Magic Truffles?
Sclerotia, also called Magical Truffles or philosopher’s stones, are a hallucinogenic product of mother nature. Sclerotia influence your consciousness, so that you start experiencing yourself and the world around you more intensively. Many users find this experience beneficial and very valuable.
1 | Are Magic Truffles legal in the Netherlands?
Yes, Magic Truffles are legal in the Netherlands! Magic Truffles are mostly offered in so called smart shops (not in coffeeshops). Here one can be informed and advised about this drug. Employees of smart shops often give tips on where and how these truffles can be used.
The use of drugs, alcohol or medication is never without risk. It’s good to inform yourself about the effects and risks of a substance.
Magic Truffles vs Magic Magic Mushrooms
Up until 2008 magic mushrooms were also legal in the Netherlands. The risks of magic mushrooms were considered acceptable and the harm reduction approach (through information) became the main focus of the Dutch government policy. This all changed when an under aged French girl (17 year old) jumped from the NEMO Science museum back in 2008. She had taken magic mushrooms.
Drug expert August de Loor finds it difficult to say anything about the case:
“We don’t know the exact situation of this case. When someone has suicide plans, the use of stimulants is always dangerous. Is this also said if alcohol is involved?” (source)
Just about all the magic mushrooms that grew in the Netherlands were banned after that incident, but in the end the Dutch government did not ban Magic Truffles.
2 | Do Magic Truffles get you high? Does it make you hallucinate?
Yes, you can get pretty high from these Magic Truffles. This legal drug alters your perception. Colours seem more vivid. Textures and patterns can come to life. Kaleidoscopic structures can even appear before your eyes – especially in the twilight or with eyes closed. Other characteristics include floods of laughter, intense joy and satisfaction.
3 | What’s the difference between a Magic Mushroom and a Magic Truffle?
The main difference between Magic Mushrooms and Magic Truffles is that magic truffles grow below ground. This is also the main reason why the truffles are still legal in the Netherlands. You see, when the Dutch government banned Magic Mushrooms they simply forgot to put the magic truffle called the Philosopher’s Stone on the list. This truffle, not a mushroom, grows underground. You can still buy these truffles at smartshops in Amsterdam and the effects are pretty much the same.
4 | What do Magic Truffles cost in Amsterdam? Are truffles expensive?
The price for 10 grams of truffles (the maximum amount for a beginner) is between 10 to 15 Euro in Amsterdam.
5 | Can Magic Truffles get you sick?
Yes, there’s a change you get a so called “bad trip” or actually get physically sick from using truffles. The most common negative side of these truffles is having a bad trip. In the worst case scenario this involves unpleasant physical symptoms like getting chills, nausea, vomiting and even headaches.
TIP: If you think you’re having a bad trip, always try to remember that this is the result of the truffles that you’ve taken. The sensations will pass. You may have repeated ideas come to you in a continues loop, especially in the first 1,5 hour. These compulsive thought patterns can be easier to break through if you drink some fruit juice (vitamin C helps) or an energy drink, by eating something, or by taking a little walk.
Smartshop Kokopelli on the Warmoesstraat in the Red Light District.
6 | How do you eat Magic Truffles in Amsterdam?
It’s advised to only eat these types of truffles on an empty stomach. It’s not recommended to combine it with anything else. The reason for this is that these hallucinogenic drugs can be difficult to digest, so this can give an easy feeling on the stomach. This can be bothersome at the start of the trip. To reduce the chance of nausea it’s advised to chew them to small bits and on an empty stomach.
7 | What do you eat with Magic Truffles?
These hallucinogenic drugs also effect your tastebuds. To enhance your experience try these during a trip: Passion fruit, Blueberries, Ice cream, Nutella, Tofu & Sashimi.
Veronique is the business owner of this Magic Truffle Store.
8 | Can Magic Truffles go bad?
Yes, it’s a natural product so this drug can go bad. When you buy the truffles via a Dutch smart shop the truffles normally last around one month. After that the effect that produce gradually fades over time.
9 | Can you sleep on Magic Truffles?
The short answer is no. The long answer is; the psilocybine in the truffles causes an overflow of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of well-being and happiness. The increase in serotonin gives you a euphoric feeling and energy, so you probably won’t be able to sleep.
10 | How long does the Magic Truffles trip last?
It takes around 4 – 6 hours before the effects of a magic truffle trip to wear off. The trip itself comes in waves and will slowly decrease in intensity with time.
When Should You Not Take Magic Truffles?
- When you don’t want it. Never let someone else decide for you that you should use this.
- Do not combine with stimuli like alcohol, medication or other drugs that impacts your nerves-system!
- Never take part in traffic after taking Magic Truffles!
- Never use when you are depressed or have a simmering psychose!
- Do not use while being pregnant or when your breastfeeding!
- Do not use this if you’re younger than 18 years old!
- Do not use magic truffles when visiting a sex show in Amsterdam.
How to grow magic truffles?
Magic truffles, also known as psilocybin truffles, are a type of fungus that contain psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin and psilocin. Growing magic truffles requires careful attention and adherence to specific cultivation techniques. Here are the general steps to grow magic truffles:
- Obtain spores: Purchase or obtain spores of the magic truffle species you wish to grow.
- Prepare the growing medium: Magic truffles grow best in a nutrient-rich substrate that contains ingredients such as vermiculite, rice flour, and water. Sterilize the substrate before use to prevent contamination.
- Inoculate the substrate: Mix the spores with the substrate and pack it into a container. Place the container in a warm, dark place for the spores to grow into mycelium, which will eventually form the truffles.
- Monitor humidity and temperature: Magic truffles require high humidity and warm temperatures to grow. Use a humidifier and thermometer to maintain a humid and warm environment.
- Wait for the truffles to form: It can take several weeks for the mycelium to develop into truffles. When the truffles are fully formed, they will be firm to the touch and have a brownish color.
- Harvest the truffles: Use a sterilized spoon or trowel to carefully dig out the truffles from the substrate. Rinse them under cold water and store them in the refrigerator until ready to use.
How to dry magic truffles?
After harvesting magic truffles, they need to be dried properly to preserve their potency and prevent spoilage. Here are the general steps to dry magic truffles:
- Clean the truffles: Remove any dirt or debris from the truffles and rinse them under cold water.
- Pat dry: Use a clean cloth or paper towel to pat the truffles dry.
- Spread the truffles: Place the truffles in a single layer on a clean, dry surface such as a tray or baking sheet.
- Dry the truffles: Use a fan or a low-temperature dehydrator to dry the truffles. Do not use high heat or direct sunlight, as this can degrade the psychoactive compounds.
- Monitor the truffles: Check the truffles frequently and rotate them to ensure even drying. The truffles should be dry and firm to the touch, but not brittle.
- Store the truffles: Once the truffles are completely dry, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. They can be stored for several months if kept properly.
When Do Shrooms go bad?
If you’ve ever had the misfortune of eating a bad magic mushroom, you know that it can be a very unpleasant experience. Eating a bad shroom can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even hallucinations. In some cases, it can also lead to serious health problems like liver damage or neurological disorders. So how do you know if your magic mushrooms have gone bad? There are a few telltale signs. Bad shrooms will often have discolored spots or growths on them. They may also emit a foul odor. If you see any of these signs, it’s best to throw the shrooms away and find a new batch.
Magic Truffles Statistics
Did you know that an average of 3.3% of all Dutch adults ever took magic mushrooms (480,000 people) and just an average of 0.4% last year? And did you know that 2.1% of all Dutch adults took Magic Truffles ever in their life. (Source)
Magic Mushrooms Possible Solution For Depression
Researchers are on the trail of a promising and rapid treatment for severe depression. In addition to specialist therapy, the treatment consists of a special substance: psilocybin. That is the substance that makes people hallucinate when taking magic mushrooms.
The treatment has already been tested on a group of 233 patients from ten different countries, BBC News and The Guardian reported Wednesday 2 November 2022. Nearly one in three patients was no longer declared depressed within three weeks. One in five showed great improvements within 12 weeks.
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10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam According To The Pro’s
Exploring Amsterdam Zeedijk: Uncover Hidden Gems in the Heart of the City
Amsterdam Zeedijk – The Ultimate Guide
Discover the hidden gem of Amsterdam Zeedijk, a street bursting with history, culture, and culinary delights.
Often overlooked by tourists, Zeedijk offers an authentic slice of Amsterdam life, from its historic roots as a 13th-century dike to today’s vibrant melting pot of flavors and experiences.
In this ultimate guide, uncover why this Dutch street is a must-visit destination, promising an unforgettable journey through the heart of Amsterdam’s rich heritage and dynamic present.
Amsterdam Zeedijk History
Zeedijk, one of Amsterdam’s oldest streets, is steeped in history. Originating in the 13th century as a dike to protect the city from the sea, it has evolved significantly over the centuries.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Zeedijk was a prosperous street with elegant houses and a bustling port. However, by the 20th century, it became known for its nightlife and, less glamorously, as a center for crime and drugs.
Since the late 20th century, the area has undergone significant regeneration, transforming it into a vibrant and safe neighborhood. The street’s history reflects the broader societal changes in Amsterdam, making it a fascinating case study of urban evolution.
Culinary Scene
Zeedijk is a paradise for food lovers, offering a delightful array of dining options. The street is renowned for its Chinese restaurants, owing to its proximity to Amsterdam’s Chinatown. Visitors can enjoy authentic Asian cuisine, ranging from dim sum to Indonesian rijsttafel. The culinary scene is not limited to Asian flavors, however; there are also plenty of cafes and bistros serving traditional Dutch snacks, like bitterballen and stroopwafels, alongside international dishes. This melting pot of cuisines makes Zeedijk a perfect destination for foodies looking to explore a variety of tastes in one lively location.
Shopping and Local Businesses
Beyond its culinary delights, Zeedijk is also known for its eclectic mix of shops and businesses. The street is a haven for shoppers looking for unique finds, from vintage clothing and second-hand books to artisanal crafts and specialty food items.
Small, independently-owned shops give this street a charming and authentic character, distinguishing it from more commercial shopping areas in Amsterdam. Browsing these shops, visitors can find one-of-a-kind items that make perfect souvenirs or gifts, all while supporting local businesses.
Amsterdam Zeedijk Bars
Most bars on Zeedijk generally open in the late morning or early afternoon and close around 1 AM on weekdays and 3 AM on weekends, but it’s always a good idea to check the specific hours of your chosen venue in advance. The area is easily accessible by public transport: the nearest metro station is Nieuwmarkt, which is just a few minutes’ walk away, offering convenience for those exploring the city. Additionally, several tram lines, including lines 4, 14, and 24, have stops close to Zeedijk, further simplifying access to this lively street.
For visitors arriving from Amsterdam Central Station, Zeedijk is just a short walk away. Head southeast from the station, crossing the Prins Hendrikkade, and you’ll find yourself on the northern end of Zeedijk within approximately a 10-minute walk. This easy accessibility makes Zeedijk a must-visit destination for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the local culture and enjoy a night out in Amsterdam. Whether you’re in the mood for a quiet drink in a cozy setting or a night of lively conversation and meeting new people, Zeedijk’s bars have something to offer for every taste.
- Proeflokaal de Ooievaar
- In ‘t Aepjen
- Het Elfde Gebod
- Bottle & Jars
- De Roode Laars
- Casablanca
- San Fransisco
- Cafe Zilt
- Cafe ‘t Mandje
- Cafe Oost-West
- Cafe De Zeemeeuw
- Cafe De Zon
- Cafe De Kroegtijger
Cultural Attractions and Landmarks
Zeedijk is not just about food and shopping; it’s also rich in cultural heritage. The street is home to the Fo Guang Shan He Hua Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Europe, which adds a unique architectural and spiritual dimension to the area. Additionally, Zeedijk boasts well-preserved historic buildings, some of which date back to the Dutch Golden Age, offering a glimpse into the city’s past. Walking down this street in Amsterdam is like taking a step back in time, as you encounter these landmarks amidst the modern buzz of the city.
Visitor Information & Tips
For those planning to visit Zeedijk, a few tips can make the experience more enjoyable. The best time to visit is during the daytime or early evening when the street is most lively and all shops and restaurants are open. Public transport is a convenient way to reach Zeedijk, with several tram and bus stops nearby. Visitors should be aware of their surroundings, as with any busy urban area, but the neighborhood is generally safe and welcoming. To fully experience the charm of Zeedijk, take your time to explore the side streets and alleys, where many hidden gems are waiting to be discovered.
Amsterdam Zeedijk Things to do
In the heart of Amsterdam, where the vibrant Zeedijk stretches its historical and cultural roots, lies an equally intriguing aspect of the city’s diverse character – the infamous Red Light District. Our app offers an immersive Red Light District tour, seamlessly blending the historical allure of Zeedijk with the contemporary intrigue of the district. Moreover, for those interested in the allure of Amsterdam’s nightlife, we provide exclusive access to the most sought-after adult shows at Moulin Rouge.
Experience the best of both worlds, from the quaint charm of Zeedijk to the electrifying entertainment of the Red Light District and Moulin Rouge. Secure your experience with the best online tickets available on our site, and dive into an Amsterdam adventure that tantalizes all your senses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Zeedijk known for?
Zeedijk is renowned for its rich history, vibrant culinary scene, unique shopping experiences, cultural landmarks, and as a part of Amsterdam’s Chinatown. It’s a popular destination for both tourists and locals, offering a diverse array of dining options, shopping, and historical attractions.
Can you find traditional Dutch food on Zeedijk?
Yes, Zeedijk offers a variety of traditional Dutch food options. Among its international cuisine offerings, many cafes and bistros serve classic Dutch dishes and snacks, such as bitterballen, herring and stroopwafels, allowing visitors to enjoy the local flavors of the Netherlands.
Is Zeedijk safe for tourists?
Zeedijk is generally safe for tourists. It has undergone significant regeneration and is now a lively and welcoming area. However, as with any busy urban environment, visitors are advised to stay aware of their surroundings, especially at night.
Are there any cultural landmarks on Zeedijk?
Yes, Zeedijk is home to several cultural landmarks. Notable among them is the Fo Guang Shan He Hua Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. Additionally, the street is lined with historic buildings that reflect Amsterdam’s rich architectural heritage.
What is the best time to visit Zeedijk?
The best time to visit this street is during the daytime or early evening. This is when the street is most vibrant, with all shops, restaurants, and attractions open and bustling with activity.
How do you get to Zeedijk?
Zeedijk is easily accessible by public transport. It’s well-connected with several tram and bus stops nearby. Alternatively, it’s a short and pleasant walk from Amsterdam Central Station, making it convenient for visitors to reach from different parts of the city.
How old is the Zeedijk?
Zeedijk is one of Amsterdam’s oldest streets, dating back to the 13th century. Originally built as a dike to protect the city from the sea, it has played a significant role in Amsterdam’s history for over 700 years, witnessing many transformations throughout the centuries.
How long is the Zeedijk?
Zeedijk stretches approximately 1 kilometer (about 0.62 miles) in length. It runs from the Prins Hendrikkade near Amsterdam Central Station to Nieuwmarkt Square and The Waag. This relatively short distance is packed with a rich array of shops, restaurants, and cultural landmarks, making it a dense and vibrant area to explore.
Body Worlds Amsterdam: Exploring Human Anatomy & Science
Posted on: January 2, 2025
The Ultimate Guide To Body Worlds Amsterdam
In the heart of Holland’s capital, “Body Worlds Amsterdam” awaits – a captivating journey into human anatomy.
If you’ve ever marveled at the complexity of the human body, questioned the mysteries of life within, or sought to understand the beauty of our inner workings, then this ultimate guide is tailor-made for you.
Prepare to be astounded, educated, and inspired as we peel back the layers of this captivating museum, unveiling the secrets that make us who we are.
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Introduction to Body Worlds Amsterdam
Body Worlds Amsterdam is a remarkable museum that offers a unique and educational experience for visitors of all ages. This captivating exhibition is dedicated to the art and science of human anatomy, showcasing real, preserved human bodies and specimens. What sets Body Worlds apart is its innovative preservation technique known as plastination, which allows the bodies to be displayed in various poses, providing an unprecedented view of the human body’s inner workings.
The concept behind Body Worlds is to blend art and science to help the general public gain a deeper understanding of the human body’s intricacies. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the complexity of the human form, learn about various bodily systems, and appreciate the beauty and functionality of our anatomical structures. Whether you’re a student studying biology or simply curious about the human body, Body Worlds Amsterdam offers a fascinating and educational experience that is both enlightening and awe-inspiring.
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The Exhibits and Displays
Body Worlds Amsterdam boasts a diverse range of exhibits and displays that delve into different aspects of the human body. Visitors can expect to see a variety of meticulously preserved specimens, including whole bodies, individual organs, and transparent slices that reveal the innermost details of the human body. One of the most iconic exhibits is the “Dance” display, which features bodies in dynamic poses to showcase the beauty of movement and the interconnectedness of muscles and bones.
Another highlight is the “Vital” exhibition, which focuses on health and lifestyle choices, demonstrating the impact of diet, exercise, and smoking on the body. Additionally, there are sections that explore the development of the human embryo, the effects of various diseases, and the aging process. Each exhibit is thoughtfully curated to provide a comprehensive overview of human anatomy and physiology, making it a valuable resource for both educators and curious minds.
GET TICKETS NOWExploring Body Worlds Amsterdam: Insights from Our Local Guides
At Amsterdam Red Light District Tours, we believe that delving into the wonders of Body Worlds Amsterdam offers a unique and enlightening experience. To us, this attraction feels like a captivating journey through the human body, revealing the intricacies of anatomy and physiology in a thought-provoking manner.
Our Local Guides’ Observations
During our visit to Body Worlds Amsterdam, we were fascinated by the immersive exhibits and interactive displays that allowed visitors to explore the marvels of the human body up close. We found that the museum offers a perfect blend of education and entertainment, making it suitable for visitors of all ages.
The History and Mission
Founded by the pioneering anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens, Body Worlds Amsterdam has a rich history dating back to 1995 when it first opened in Japan. Dr. von Hagens developed the plastination technique, which revolutionized the preservation of biological specimens, making them odorless, durable, and lifelike. His vision was to make the intricacies of the human body accessible to the public, fostering a greater appreciation for the miracle of life and promoting health awareness.
The mission of Body Worlds Amsterdam is not only to educate but also to inspire curiosity about the human body. Through the exhibition’s striking displays and interactive elements, visitors are encouraged to ask questions, engage in discussions, and reflect on their own health and lifestyle choices. The museum’s commitment to science, art, and education has earned it a place of prominence in the world of anatomical exhibitions.
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Educational and Scientific Aspects
Body Worlds Amsterdam plays a vital role in advancing anatomical knowledge and education. The use of plastination has revolutionized the field of anatomy, allowing researchers and medical students to study real human bodies in unprecedented detail. The exhibition’s educational value extends beyond the displays, as it often hosts workshops, lectures, and events for students, educators, and medical professionals.
Visitors can gain a deeper understanding of how the human body works, learn about the importance of healthy living, and even witness the effects of various medical conditions. By presenting science in an accessible and engaging manner, Body Worlds Amsterdam serves as a bridge between the scientific community and the general public, fostering a greater appreciation for the complexity and beauty of our bodies.
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Visitor Experience and Practical Information
When planning a visit to Body Worlds Amsterdam, there are several practical considerations to keep in mind. The museum is conveniently located in the heart of Amsterdam, making it easily accessible for tourists and locals alike. Be sure to check the museum’s official website for up-to-date information on ticket prices, opening hours, and any special exhibitions or events that may be taking place during your visit.
To make the most of your experience, allocate a few hours to explore the exhibits thoroughly. Audio guides are often available to provide additional context and insights. While photography is generally allowed, be mindful of the museum’s rules and guidelines, especially when capturing images of the preserved specimens. Personal experiences and observations can vary widely, so consider sharing your own impressions and recommendations to help others make the most of their visit to Body Worlds Amsterdam.
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How long does it take to get through Body Worlds Amsterdam?
The amount of time it takes to get through Body Worlds Amsterdam can vary depending on your level of interest and engagement with the exhibits. On average, visitors typically spend about 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the museum. This allows enough time to view the various displays, read informational panels, and absorb the educational content.
However, some visitors may choose to spend more time in specific sections that particularly pique their interest, such as the “Dance” exhibit or the interactive displays. Additionally, if you participate in workshops or attend lectures or guided tours offered by the museum, your visit may extend beyond the average duration.
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Body Worlds Location
Body Worlds Amsterdam is conveniently situated at Damrak 66, making it easily accessible from various key locations in Amsterdam. Located in the heart of the city, it’s in close proximity to Amsterdam Central Station, the renowned Red Light District, and the iconic Dam Square. This prime central location means that whether you’re arriving by train, exploring the vibrant Red Light District, or visiting the historic Dam Square, Body Worlds is just a short walk away.
Additionally, for those using public transportation, the museum is easily reachable via trams and buses, thanks to its central location. This accessibility ensures that visitors can seamlessly incorporate a visit to Body Worlds into their Amsterdam itinerary, whether they’re arriving on foot or utilizing the city’s efficient public transport system.
GET TICKETS NOW20 Best Sex Toys For Men, Women & Couples in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Top 20 Sex Toys On The Market
With so many sex toys on the market, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time and money. Sex toy shopping can be a daunting task.
Not only do you have to worry about finding something that appeals to you, but you also have to make sure it’s safe and of good quality.
Madonna: “Pleasure is not a sin.”
We are here to help. We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a list of the 20 best sex toys in The Netherlands, based on safety, quality and customer satisfaction. Whether you’re looking for something for yourself or your partner, we’ve got you covered.
Sex toys have become increasingly popular in the Netherlands, offering individuals and couples new ways to enhance their sexual experiences and add excitement to their relationships.
The use of sex toys has been shown to improve sexual satisfaction and intimacy, and can even help individuals discover new sensations and preferences. There are many different types of sex toys available on the market, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most popular sex toys for straight people in the Netherlands include vibrators, dildos, penis rings, and anal toys.
Marilyn Monroe: “We are all born sexual creatures, thank God, but it’s a pity so many people despise and crush this natural gift.”
20 Best Sex Toys
Discover the most popular sex toys in 2022 below.
1 | Naughty & Nice advents calendar
The Naughty & Nice adventskalender from EasyToys is considered one of the top sex-related advent calendars on the market.
Each moveable window contains thrilling sex toys and lubricants for couples and individuals to incorporate into their sex life.
Many customers have expressed improving confidence in using sex products with this product, as it introduces them slowly and delicately over time to increase pleasure in their sex life.
With discreet shipping, high-end materials, and fun colors, this product appeals to people of all knowledge levels concerning sex toys.
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2 | Satisfyer Pro 2
The Satisfyer Pro 2 is quickly becoming one of the most popular sex toys out there.
This revolutionary product is made up of a pressure wave simulator that produces incredible air pulse waves and vibrations, stimulating various erogenous zones simultaneously.
Unlike regular vibrators, Satisfyer Pro 2 doesn’t require its users to press it against their bodies in order to achieve satisfaction. It bestows pleasure from above, stimulating the clitoris with its sucking action and light vibration combination for an experience like no other.
With waterproof components for fun in the shower or bath, and 11 different programs to choose from, it’s no wonder it’s been stealing hearts (and more!) everywhere!
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2 | EasyGlide Water Based Lubricant – 150 ml
EasyGlide Water Based Lubricant has been specifically formulated to provide a unique lube experience. This product helps ease the friction that often accompanies manual or mechanical stimulation, as well as being compatible with all types of condom materials. EasyGlide is also gentle on the skin and free from parabens, hormones and fragrances, which makes it an ideal lube for users with sensitive skin or to those looking for a high-quality lube without harsh chemicals. And because it’s water based, easy to remove, and non-greasy, you don’t have to worry about leaving behind a mess afterwards – meaning there’s no need for soap or any other additional cleaning products.
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4 | Secret Pleasure Chest – Black Fantasy
The Secret Pleasure Chest, made by EasyToys, has recently been making waves in BDSM circles. This carefully crafted high-quality BDSM kit contains all the essentials you need to explore at your own pace and diversify your BDSM play. Most notably, the chest includes such BDSM items as a feather tickler, wrist cuffs, ankle cuffs and even a flogger—all of which have adjustable straps so that they fit comfortably on most body types. What’s more, every item is carefully placed within the chest for secure storage and portability; making it easy to take with you if desired. All in all, this top-of-the-line BDSM kit has everything you need for BDSM pleasure!
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5 | Teazers Orale Masturbator
Teazers Orale Masturbator is one of the top toys for bedroom fun, and it’s no surprise that it’s earned its place as the 3rd most popular sex toy in The Netherlands. Teazers offers users a unique experience unlike any other sex toy out there. This oral masturbator mimics realistic sensations with a textured interior and superior suction capabilities. Teazers is easy to use and maintain, making it an excellent choice for adults of all experience levels. Whether you’re solo or looking for something to enjoy with a partner, Teazers provides an exciting way to spice up your bedroom play!
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6 | Teazers Pair Vibrator
Teazers Pair Vibrator is a couple vibrator designed to enhance the experience of couple activities. Teazers aims to provide an extra thrill that can bring couples closer together and help them reach their full sexual potential. With two powerful, yet whisper-quiet motors, it offers fun and stimulation with 10 speeds and 6 patterns of vibration. The app-controlled wireless range means both partners can control the device no matter where they are. With its unique design, couple-centric vibration technology, and innovative features like couple sync, Teazers enables couples to create their own unique pleasure experiences without ever leaving the house!
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7 | Lovense Lush
The Lovense Lush is a smartphone controlled sex toy created by EasyToys, made to enhance experiences between partners. This sleek, ergonomic design allows for greater freedom and exploration of sensation, thanks to its remote-controlled capabilities. For example, one partner can control the vibration intensity of the product while the other partner experiences it on their body – with the smartphone app, vibrations can be adapted even when physically apart. The Lush’ strong motor also offers a variety of wave patterns and rumbles with up to eight different speed settings; this high level of customization makes it popular among users who prefer more personalized pleasure.
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8 | Satisfyer Pro G-Spot Rabbit
EasyToys has created the Satisfyer Pro G-Spot Rabbit sex toy to be an unparalleled sex accessory. It combines the pleasure of both a classic rabbit sex toy and the innovative technology of Satisfyer’s pressure wave clitoral stimulation to produce intense pleasure and stimulation. This sex toy can be used both internally and externally, giving you more control over your pleasure preferences. With USB charging capabilities, it is incredibly high quality but also incredibly convenient. In addition, it comes with a completely waterproof design, so it can be enjoyed in the bath or shower without any worries.
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9 | Ashley Rose Mega Masturbator
Ashley Rose’s Mega Masturbator is the perfect way to spice up anyone’s bedroom routine. Ashley Rose sex toys are designed with comfort and convenience in mind, with a realistic shape and texture that offers an incredibly lifelike experience. This sex toy is versatile; it can be used for both solo sessions and as an added layer of pleasure during partner play. Additionally, its rechargeable lithium-ion battery charges quickly so you can start exploring again in no time at all! So grab your Ashley Rose Mega Masturbator today, and rediscover intimacy with unprecedented intensity!
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10 | Lily Vibrator
Lily Vibrator is a discreet yet powerful sex toy designed to provide hands-free pleasure. Its 100% waterproof and rechargeable design provides unlimited possibilities for pleasure at home or in the shower, with 6 vibration modes to explore! Lily Vibrator is sure to turn up the heat!
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11 | Satisfyer Pro 2 Next Generation
The Satisfyer Pro 2 Next Generation is the latest vibrator designed specifically for women. It’s packed with innovative technology that provides 11 pressure wave and vibrating settings that are sure to give you pleasure like no other vibrator. Its battery-powered design is travel friendly, whisper quiet, and waterproof allowing you to take your pleasure wherever you go. Plus, its ergonomic shape allows for a perfectly tailored fit designed specifically to your body; creating an even more enjoyable experience. So, if you’re looking for a vibrator with unbeatable tech and power, the Satisfyer Pro 2 Next Generation is the perfect choice!
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12 | Boners Libido Performa Erection Pills
Boners Libido Performa Erection Pills are the ideal solution for any man struggling with erection issues. Our all-natural formula is specifically designed to help restore your libido, sexual performance and erection strength, giving you the confidence and pleasure you need. Take a pill daily and see results in just days!
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13 | Lovense – Lush 3 Vibration Egg
Lovense’s Lush 3 Vibration Egg is a revolutionary new way to bring pleasure and satisfaction into the bedroom. This wearable device is designed for hands-free stimulation, providing users with powerful, rumbly vibrations no matter how they move. Lovense’s Lush 3 offers several advantages over traditional vibrators, such as long-distance control capabilities, more customizable speeds and patterns, and whisper-quiet mode. It is also equipped with Bluetooth capabilities, making it great for solo play or connecting with a partner who can take control of your pleasure. Lovense truly believes that technology should help enrich intimacy between partners — the Lovense Lush 3 Vibration Egg exists to provide an even greater opportunity for exploration and pleasure so that users can have an enjoyable experience every time.
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14 | EasyGlide Water Based Lubricant – 500 ml
Lubricant, also known as lube, is a substance that reduces friction during sex. It can be used to make sex more pleasurable, to reduce pain during sex, or to protect sensitive body parts from chafing. Lubricant is available in many different forms, including water-based, oil-based, silicone-based, and hybrid lubricants. Water-based lubricants are the most popular type of lubricant because they are safe to use with all types of sex toys and condoms. Oil-based lubricants should not be used with latex condoms because they can cause the condom to break. Silicone-based lubricants are a good choice for people who want a long-lasting lube that does not need to be reapplied frequently. Hybrid lubricants are a mix of water- and silicone-based lubes and can be used with all types of sex toys and condoms.
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15 | EasyGlide Toy Cleaner – 150 ml
It’s very important to keep your sex toys clean. That’s why this product is also listed in the 20 most popular sex toys. Cleaning your vibrators and dildos prevents bacteria, viruses or fungi from doing their job so that you can enjoy carefree under (or above) the sheets.
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17 | EasyToys Vibration Egg
EasyToys vibrating eggs are ideal for getting curious about your intimate pleasure. Easy to use and super discreet, these egg-shaped toys provide pleasurable internal or external stimulation to give you maximum satisfaction. EasyToys ForLife™ technology ensures that the vibration frequency will last as long as you want it to, so you can enjoy unlimited sensations with minimal interruption. To get started, simply insert the egg into your chosen area and push the button to control the intensity of your desired vibration level. EasyToys vibrating eggs offer a fantastic way to explore and enhance your pleasure!
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18 | Loveboxxx – Romantic Couples Box
Get yourself an erotic surprise. Discover this special product to make your sex life more exciting.
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19 | LUV EGG
The LUV EGG is a rechargeable vibrating egg, perfect for weaving your way through pleasure. This sex toy offers multiple advantages for those who enjoy self-pleasure or exploring with their partners. It can be used both internally and externally, giving you the flexibility to experience all kinds of delightful sensations. The rechargeable feature gives it long-term capability to use over and over again without needing to buy extra batteries – it’s one purchase that’ll keep on giving! And if that wasn’t enough, the LUV EGG also offers ease of control; a simple remote lets you adjust settings so you can find just the right spot for your pleasure needs!
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20 | Lovense – Lush 2 Vibration Egg
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21 | Fane Rabbit Vibrator
The Fane Rabbit Vibrator is a sex toy designed to provide unique and satisfying stimulation. With its two motors, the vibrator can simultaneously stimulate clitoral and internal sex points with adjustable vibration speeds and patterns. The powerful dual motors make it a great choice for those looking for varying levels of pleasure, allowing users to customize the experience to suit their needs. Additionally, its waterproof silicone body ensures an incredibly smooth sensation during use – making it ideal for sex in wet environments! Finally, it can be controlled from up to 30 feet away via remote control, allowing couples to explore and enjoy sex play without even being in sight of each other.
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22 | EasyGlide anal lubricant – 150 ml
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22 | Ultimate Desire – Classic Edition
The Ultimate Desire erotic card game offers an exciting approach for couples and individuals alike to explore their sexual fantasies. It encourages players to communicate openly about what recent or past erotic experiences were like, while allowing them to take ownership of their own fantasies. Players are offered a safe space to try out different erotic scenarios in a playful and non-threatening environment. In addition, the game also gives users the option of fully customizing their experience as they can choose from regular scene cards or even blank ones to further tailor their experience. The Ultimate Desire erotic card game provides the perfect opportunity for adults to explore their sexual side in creative and fun ways, all while feeling secure and respected by their partners.
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23 | Womanizer Premium
I WANT THIS >Vibrators
Vibrators are a popular choice for both solo play and couples, and can provide intense stimulation to the clitoris, G-spot, or other erogenous zones. These toys come in a range of shapes, sizes, and designs, and can be controlled manually or with a remote. Some vibrators even offer app-controlled options, allowing for long-distance play with a partner.
One disadvantage of vibrators is that they can be loud, which can be a problem for individuals who are trying to keep their playtime private. Additionally, some vibrators require batteries, which can be inconvenient and costly to replace.
Some popular brands of vibrators in the Netherlands include LELO, We-Vibe, and Womanizer. Prices for these toys can range from around 50 euros for a basic model to over 200 euros for a high-end option.
Dildos
Dildos are another popular sex toy for straight people in the Netherlands. These toys are designed to simulate the appearance and feel of a penis, and can be used for vaginal or anal penetration. Dildos come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, including silicone, glass, and metal.
One advantage of dildos is that they can be used for a wide range of sexual activities, from solo play to couples play. They can also be used with a harness for strap-on sex, allowing for added versatility.
One disadvantage of dildos is that they do not provide vibrating stimulation like some other sex toys. They also require manual use, which can be tiring for some individuals.
Some popular brands of dildos in the Netherlands include Fun Factory, LELO, and Doc Johnson. Prices for these toys can range from around 30 euros for a basic model to over 100 euros for a high-end option.
Penis Rings
Penis rings, also known as cock rings, are another popular sex toy for straight people in the Netherlands. These toys are designed to be worn around the base of the penis or the scrotum, and can help to prolong erections and enhance pleasure for both partners.
One advantage of penis rings is that they are easy to use and can provide immediate benefits during sex. They can also be worn during solo play to intensify sensations.
One disadvantage of penis rings is that they can be difficult to remove if the user becomes too aroused, which can be uncomfortable. Additionally, some individuals may be allergic to the materials used in these toys, such as latex or silicone.
Some popular brands of penis rings in the Netherlands include LELO, Rocks-Off, and Tenga. Prices for these toys can range from around 15 euros for a basic model to over 50 euros for a high-end option.
Anal Sex Toys
Anal toys are another popular choice for straight people in the Netherlands, and can provide pleasurable sensations for both men and women. These toys come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, and can be used for solo play or couples play.
One advantage of anal toys is that they can provide intense stimulation to the sensitive nerve endings in the anus, leading to powerful orgasms. They can also be used to gradually prepare the anus for anal sex.
Sex Toys On A First Date – Yes or No?
Sex toys are a great way to enhance intimacy and pleasure with your partner – but probably should not be introduced on the first date! While it can seem thrilling to explore something new and exciting, surprises like these can easily cause discomfort and awkwardness. Moreover, starting off a relationship with your partner with any type of sexual activity will probably put too much pressure on both parties — especially considering that many people can have different expectations or uncomfortable feelings when it comes to sex right at the outset. It’s best to share an intimate connection in other ways until you get to know one another better.
Erotic Massage in Holland: All You Need To Know in 2025
Erotic Massage in Holland: A Comprehensive Guide to Services, Legality, Types & Etiquette
Discover the allure of erotic massage in Holland, a gateway to unparalleled relaxation and connection. Facing stress or seeking intimacy?
This comprehensive guide unveils the best practices, legal insights, and cultural nuances. Keep reading to transform your understanding and experience.
What is an erotic massage?
An erotic massage is a specialized form of massage aimed at enhancing sexual arousal and relaxation through sensual touch and techniques.
This type of massage may involve the use of oils or lotions and includes massaging the entire body, including intimate areas, to promote a deeper emotional and physical connection.
While it shares some methods with traditional massage, the primary goal of an erotic massage is to stimulate sensuality in a safe, consensual setting.
Types of Erotic Massage
There are various forms, each offering a unique blend of sensory experiences. Tantra massage is perhaps the most spiritual, focusing on deep connections and the flow of energy between the practitioner and the recipient.
It encourages emotional release and enhances physical pleasure through slow, deliberate strokes and rhythmic breathing. Nuru massage, originating from Japan but now popular in Holland, uses a special gel made from seaweed and is known for its intense physical contact, as the masseuse uses their entire body to massage the client. Another popular choice is the Swedish-influenced sensual massage, which combines traditional Swedish techniques with sensuous, caressing movements that are not typically part of therapeutic massage.
Legal Framework
Understanding the legalities of erotic massage in Holland is crucial for both providers and clients. The Dutch government permits the provision of such services under strict regulations to ensure safety, professionalism, and ethical practice. All erotic massage establishments must hold a valid license, which is only granted after thorough inspections regarding health, safety, and adherence to anti-human trafficking laws. These regulations are designed to protect all parties involved, ensuring that the services are provided in a professional and ethical manner.
Clients seeking these kind of services should verify that the provider is licensed. This not only complies with Dutch law but also guarantees a standard of quality and safety. Furthermore, licensed establishments are more likely to uphold high standards of hygiene and professionalism, offering clients peace of mind and enhancing the overall experience.
Choosing a Provider
Selecting the right provider is key to a positive erotic massage experience. In Holland, where such services are both popular and regulated, clients can look for several indicators of a reputable provider.
First, check whether the establishment has a transparent and positive presence online with reviews and ratings on trusted platforms.
Authentic, positive feedback is a good indicator of quality and reliability. Additionally, professional establishments will openly provide details about their licenses and the qualifications of their masseuses.
When contacting a potential massage provider, professionalism in communication is a must. Reputable providers will be clear about their services, costs, and what clients can expect during their session.
They will also prioritize discretion and respect for client privacy, which is paramount in this industry. These factors, combined with a respectful and client-centered approach, mark a provider as trustworthy and professional in the field of erotic massage.
Where can I book an erotic massage in the Netherlands?
Organizations that offer erotic massages are, for example, Amsterdam Finest or Desire-Escorts. Both companies are licensed to provide erotic services for a fee.
During our visit to the websites of these companies, we liked that an online chat function was offered. This puts you in direct contact with an employee who can book a lady who can give an erotic massage. We liked this personal service. For us, it shortened the online search.
Etiquette and Expectations
Proper etiquette is essential in the erotic massage industry in Holland. Both clients and providers are expected to maintain a high level of respect and professionalism.
Clients should be punctual, clean, and express their needs and boundaries clearly. Consent is paramount in these interactions, and all activities should be agreed upon by both parties beforehand.
Furthermore, it is important for clients to respect the boundaries set by the masseuse, including any rules regarding touching and communication.
Providers, on the other hand, are expected to respect the privacy and boundaries of the client, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism throughout the session.
Hygiene and safety practices should be rigorously followed to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for both parties. By adhering to these etiquette standards, both clients and providers can ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience.
Cultural Context
Erotic massage in Holland is part of a broader acceptance of professional adult services within the country. The Dutch approach to sexuality is one of openness and regulation, which reflects in the widespread availability and regulation of services like erotic massage. This cultural acceptance allows individuals to explore such services within a safe and regulated framework, contributing to Holland’s reputation for sexual openness and liberalism.
Historically, the Dutch have been pioneers in recognizing and organizing sex work and other adult services as legitimate and necessary components of a healthy society. This progressive stance has helped shape the regulations and general attitudes toward erotic massage, making it a respected profession within the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of erotic massage are available in Holland?
In Holland, you can find various types of erotic massages including Tantra, which focuses on spiritual connections; Nuru, known for its intensive body-to-body contact using a special seaweed-based gel; and sensual Swedish massages, which combine traditional techniques with sensual touches.
Is erotic massage legal in Holland?
Yes, erotic massage is legal in Holland. Providers must comply with strict regulations, including licensing and adherence to health and safety standards to operate legally.
How do I choose a reputable erotic massage provider in Holland?
Choose reputable providers by checking their licensing, reading online reviews, and verifying their professional presence. A trustworthy provider will clearly communicate services, respect privacy, and uphold high standards of hygiene.
What should I expect during an erotic massage session?
Expect a respectful and professional experience. Clear communication about consent and boundaries is essential, and hygiene practices should be rigorously followed. Providers typically set clear guidelines on what is and isn’t permissible during a session.
What is the proper etiquette when receiving an erotic massage?
Proper etiquette includes being punctual, clean, and respectful of the masseuse’s boundaries. It’s important to communicate clearly about your expectations and comfort levels and to respect the rules of the establishment.
Professional organizations also display their license number on their website. Only with such a license can they legally offer paid erotic services in the Netherlands. So pay attention to this.
What is the difference between an erotic massage and sex massage?
The terms “erotic massage” and “sex massage” often lead to confusion, as they both involve elements of sexual stimulation, but they differ significantly in intent and practice.
Erotic Massage
An erotic massage focuses on enhancing sexual arousal through sensual touch and techniques. It typically involves massaging various parts of the body using strokes that can be relaxing or stimulating. The primary aim is to provide relaxation and promote a sense of pleasure and connection between the participants without necessarily leading to sexual intercourse. Erotic massages might include touching erogenous zones but the act remains primarily massage-based and can be part of sexual foreplay or a standalone sensual experience.
Sex Massage
A sex massage, on the other hand, explicitly aims towards sexual activity and gratification, often culminating in sexual acts or orgasm. The massage may start similarly to an erotic massage but is more direct in its approach to sexual stimulation and typically involves explicit sexual services, which may be illegal in many jurisdictions depending on local laws.
Amsterdam Oudezijds Achterburgwal: All You Need To Know in 2025
Ultimate Oudezijds Achterburgwal Guide
Planning a visit to Amsterdam and craving a taste of its vibrant history, unique culture, and thrilling nightlife? Look no further than Oudezijds Achterburgwal, the captivating canal that embodies the essence of Amsterdam itself. As one of the city’s oldest and most fascinating waterways, Oudezijds Achterburgwal stands out amidst the renowned canals of Amsterdam. Its historical significance, bustling Red Light District, vibrant nightlife, rich artistic scene, and hidden local gems make it an absolute must-visit for travelers seeking an authentic and unforgettable Amsterdam experience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you on a journey through Oudezijds Achterburgwal, unveiling its hidden treasures and immersing you in the pulsating heart of the city. From history enthusiasts to culture lovers, night owls to intrepid explorers, Oudezijds Achterburgwal has something to offer everyone. Get ready to dive into the wonders that await along the enchanting banks of this iconic canal, as we uncover the secrets of Amsterdam’s past and present.
What Does Oudezijds Achterburgwal Means?
Oudezijds Achterburgwal is a Dutch name that can be broken down into three parts:
- “Oudezijds”: In Dutch, “oude” means “old” and “zijds” means “side.” Therefore, “Oudezijds” translates to “Old Side” or “Old Part.”
- “Achter”: “Achter” means “behind” or “back” in Dutch.
- “Burgwal”: “Burgwal” refers to a fortified wall or rampart that once surrounded the city.
Combining these elements, “Oudezijds Achterburgwal” can be translated as “The Old Side Behind the Rampart” or “The Old Part Behind the Wall.” It reflects the historical context of the canal, situated on the old side of Amsterdam and positioned behind the former city fortifications.
Historical Significance
Oudezijds Achterburgwal in Amsterdam holds a deep historical significance, making it a must-visit location for history enthusiasts. Dating back to the 14th century, this canal is one of the oldest in the city, serving as a witness to Amsterdam’s growth and development over the centuries. As visitors stroll along the canal’s picturesque banks, they can admire the architectural marvels that line its shores. One prominent landmark is the Oude Kerk, also known as the Old Church, which dates back to the 13th century. This impressive Gothic structure is not only the oldest surviving building in Amsterdam but also stands as a symbol of the city’s heritage.
In addition to the Oude Kerk, Oudezijds Achterburgwal is adorned with a collection of historic canal houses that showcase the architectural styles of different eras. These houses, with their distinctive gabled facades and ornate details, provide a glimpse into the city’s past and the grandeur of its Golden Age. Exploring these canal houses and their interiors offers a unique perspective on Amsterdam’s history, as many of them have been converted into museums, art galleries, or boutique hotels.
Red Light District
A significant portion of Oudezijds Achterburgwal is synonymous with Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District. It is essential to approach this topic with an open and objective mindset, understanding the cultural and social dynamics at play. The Red Light District is known for its legalized sex work, which is a unique aspect of Amsterdam’s society. The area is regulated and monitored to ensure the safety and well-being of the sex workers, while also providing a controlled environment for visitors.
Beyond its reputation, the Red Light District offers a complex tapestry of experiences. Amidst the neon-lit windows, visitors can find a variety of establishments, from traditional Dutch bars called “brown cafes” to quirky shops and even museums dedicated to the topic. It is essential to respect the privacy and dignity of the workers and approach the area with cultural sensitivity. Exploring the Red Light District allows visitors to engage with the distinct character of Amsterdam and witness how the city manages and balances diverse aspects of its culture and tourism.
Vibrant Nightlife
Oudezijds Achterburgwal truly comes alive after dark, as it boasts a vibrant and energetic nightlife scene. From trendy clubs, tantalising sex shows to cozy pubs, there is something for every taste. The canal is lined with a plethora of bars and clubs, each with its unique atmosphere and musical offerings. Whether you’re into electronic dance music, live jazz, or alternative rock, you’ll find a venue that suits your preferences.
Cultural and Artistic Scene
Oudezijds Achterburgwal is not just a canal filled with historical landmarks and bustling nightlife—it is also a hub for cultural and artistic expression. The area attracts a vibrant artistic community and offers a variety of galleries, studios, and exhibitions. Art enthusiasts will find plenty to explore, with numerous art galleries showcasing works from both established and emerging artists. These galleries often host rotating exhibitions, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums.
The artistic spirit of Oudezijds Achterburgwal is not confined togallery spaces alone. The streets themselves serve as a canvas for street artists, with colorful and thought-provoking murals adorning building facades and alleyways. Take a leisurely stroll along the canal, and you’ll discover hidden pockets of creativity at every turn.
The area also embraces its cultural heritage through various events and festivals. Keep an eye out for cultural celebrations and exhibitions that take place throughout the year. From local art festivals to performances celebrating Amsterdam’s diverse cultural fabric, there is always something happening along Oudezijds Achterburgwal that caters to art lovers and culture enthusiasts alike.
Top 10 Places on Oudezijds Achterburgwal
Here are 10 venues located on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal in Amsterdam, including reasons to visit and one reason to avoid each:
- Moulin Rouge – An iconic adult entertainment venue in Amsterdam’s nightlife scene.
- Visit for: Unique adult entertainment, Historic atmosphere.
- Avoid if: You’re not comfortable with adult-oriented performances.
- Cafe Remember – Ideal for meeting other travelers right in the heart of the Red Light District.
- Visit for: Social atmosphere, Proximity to nightlife.
- Avoid if: You prefer a quiet, more relaxed environment.
- Mata Hari – Offers restaurant food at pub prices in a living-room setting.
- Visit for: Affordable dining, Cozy atmosphere.
- Avoid if: You’re looking for high-end dining options.
- Excalibur Café – Known for heavy metal and hard rock in the Red Light District.
- Visit for: Unique music theme, Lively atmosphere.
- Avoid if: You’re not a fan of heavy metal or loud music.
- Bananenbar – A surprising bar in erotic Amsterdam.
- Visit for: Unique bar experience, Central location.
- Avoid if: Erotic themes are not your interest.
- Red Light Bar – Offers a rotation of DJs, pool tables, and sports streaming.
- Visit for: Vibrant nightlife, Sports events.
- Avoid if: You prefer a more traditional or quiet bar environment.
- Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum – A tribute to cannabis in a historic setting.
- Visit for: Educational content, Unique museum experience.
- Avoid if: You’re not interested in cannabis culture.
- Hotel Torenzicht – Offers an authentic Amsterdam experience in the Red Light District.
- Visit for: Proximity to nightlife and attractions, Authentic local experience.
- Avoid if: You prefer a more secluded or upscale accommodation.
- Blauw aan de Wal – A hidden gem offering fine dining in an alley close to the Red Light District.
- Visit for: Exquisite dining experience, Secluded location.
- Avoid if: You have difficulty finding locations or prefer more casual dining.
- Hotel 83 – A comfortable and affordable hotel in the heart of Amsterdam.
- Visit for: Affordable accommodation, Central location.
- Avoid if: You’re looking for luxury or a quiet neighborhood.
Tour
Immerse yourself in the captivating allure of Amsterdam’s Red Light District with our exceptional audio tour! Delve into the rich history and vibrant culture of this iconic neighborhood as you stroll through its enchanting alleys. Embark on a journey that unveils the district’s fascinating secrets, from its origins to its modern-day significance. As you follow the carefully curated audio guide, you’ll experience the district’s unique blend of old-world charm and contemporary energy. And don’t miss the chance to explore the renowned Oudezijds Achterburgwal, a highlight of the tour that showcases the district’s captivating ambiance. The audio tour offers a perfect balance of informative commentary and personal stories, all at your own pace. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a curious traveler, or simply seeking an unforgettable adventure, our Red Light District tour promises an engaging and enlightening experience. Get it today!
Moulin Rouge on Oudezijds Achterburgwal
- Location: Moulin Rouge is located on Oudezijds Achterburgwal, a historic canal in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The exact address is Oudezijds Achterburgwal 5-7, 1012 DA in Amsterdam.
- History: Moulin Rouge is an iconic adult entertainment venue that has been a part of the Amsterdam nightlife scene for many years. It offers a unique experience in the heart of the city.
- Shows and Performances: It offers a variety of exciting shows and performances. Expect adult-themed entertainment. The shows feature talented performers and captivating music, creating an immersive and memorable experience for visitors.
- Admission and Reservations: To attend a show at Moulin Rouge, it is recommended to make reservations in advance. Get the best Moulin Rouge tickets on our website. We are the only official online ticket supplier. Please note that Moulin Rouge has age restrictions and entry policies that visitors should be aware of before making a reservation.
- Cultural Sensitivity: The Red Light District, where Moulin Rouge is located, is a unique area with its own cultural and social dynamics. It is important to approach the district with an open and respectful mindset, recognizing the legal framework and regulations surrounding the adult entertainment industry. It’s crucial to respect the performers, staff, and local customs while visiting Moulin Rouge or any other establishment in the area.
- Nearby Attractions: Moulin Rouge is situated in a vibrant part of Amsterdam with various attractions nearby. Visitors can explore the historic streets, canal views, and iconic landmarks in the Red Light District. Additionally, there are numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants in the vicinity where you can enjoy a meal or a drink.
- Safety and Security: Like any busy area, it’s important to be mindful of personal belongings and take general safety precautions while exploring the Red Light District. It is recommended to stay in well-lit areas, follow any guidance from local authorities, and be aware of your surroundings.
Local Experiences & Hidden Gems
While Oudezijds Achterburgwal is known for its historical landmarks and bustling nightlife, it also offers a treasure trove of hidden gems and local experiences for visitors to uncover. Beyond the well-known attractions, there are charming cafes tucked away in quiet corners, serving up delicious pastries and a cozy atmosphere perfect for people-watching.
For those seeking a unique shopping experience, explore the independent boutiques and specialty stores that line the canal. From vintage clothing shops to quirky souvenir stores, there is a myriad of options to satisfy even the most discerning shopper. Engaging with local shop owners and artisans provides an opportunity to connect with the community and gain insights into the neighborhood’s character.
To truly immerse yourself in the local lifestyle, consider joining a guided walking tour led by knowledgeable locals. These tours often unveil lesser-known stories and anecdotes about the area, shedding light on its hidden history and cultural nuances. Exploring the lesser-explored corners of Oudezijds Achterburgwal is where you’ll find the authentic essence of the neighborhood, away from the tourist crowds.
Remember to take the time to wander the narrow streets and picturesque bridges, allowing yourself to get lost in the charm of the canal and its surroundings. Whether it’s stumbling upon a cozy neighborhood pub or discovering a quiet courtyard tucked away from the main thoroughfare, these unexpected encounters will create lasting memories of your time in Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
How long is the Oudezijds Achterburgwal?
Oudezijds Achterburgwal is approximately 560 meters (1,840 feet) long.
How old is the Oudezijds Achterburgwal?
The Complete Warmoesstraat Guide for an Unforgettable Experience!
The Ultimate Warmoesstraat Guide
Looking for an unforgettable Amsterdam experience? Look no further than Warmoesstraat. As one of the oldest streets in Amsterdam, located in the Red Light District which is locally known as De Wallen.
This historic destination offers visitors an abundance of shopping, dining, nightlife, and attractions.
In this ultimate Warmoesstraat guide, we’ll help you navigate the street’s rich history and highlight some of the best places to visit.
After exploring the historical landmarks and soaking in the eclectic atmosphere, you might want to discover some indoor things to do in Amsterdam Red Light District.
From intriguing museums to cozy cafés and live music venues, this notorious neighborhood provides a diverse range of indoor activities that promise to enrich your Amsterdam adventure, regardless of the weather.
Location
The Warmoesstraat is 550 meters long and runs parallel to the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal – where sex shows like the Moulin Rouge can be found, among other things. The street starts at the height of the Prins Hendrikkade & Zeedijk and ends at the Dam.
You will not find any red light windows on this street. You will find many bars, smart shops, fast food restaurants, hotels, lunch rooms and other shops here.
What does Warmoesstraat mean?
Warmoesstraat is a street name in Amsterdam that dates back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from “warmoes,” an old Dutch word that refers to a type of chard that used to be sold in the street’s vegetable markets. Chard is a vegetable with large leaves and a crisp stem. Chard leaves are similar to spinach, and the stems are similar to celery. Chard is available in various colors, including green, red, yellow, and white. It is a nutritious vegetable that is rich in vitamins and minerals, and can be prepared in different ways, such as steamed, boiled, or baked. Warmoesstraat is known for its rich history and is now a vibrant neighborhood with many shops, restaurants, and nightlife venues.
The History of Warmoesstraat
Warmoesstraat’s name originates from the vegetable markets that once occupied the street, where “warmoes,” a type of chard, was sold. Today, the street is renowned for its diverse range of shops, restaurants, and bars. Visitors can still catch glimpses of Warmoesstraat’s history in the many medieval buildings that line the street, such as the Oude Kerk.
Oldest House in Amsterdam
The oldest house at Warmoesstraat 90 in Amsterdam dates from 1485, making it 527 years old.The oldest house in Amsterdam has a fascinating history that has been recently uncovered. According to an article by AT5, the house is located on the middle of the Warmoesstraat and was built in the early 15th century. It was originally a Gothic-style stone house and was later converted into a merchant’s house. The house has undergone numerous renovations and changes over the years, but its original structure and character have been preserved. In the past, the house has been transformed into a gay cinema and has since become a cultural landmark for the LGBTQ+ community in Amsterdam, as reported by Dutch newspaper AD. Nowadays it’s a gay dance club – owned by Eagle Amsterdam, located at Warmoesstraat 90. The venue is known for its lively atmosphere and is exclusively for men. Amsterdam Despite its current use, the historical significance of the house has not been forgotten, and it continues to be recognized as one of the most important architectural treasures in Amsterdam, as noted in an article by Amsterdamse Binnenstad.
Shopping on Warmoesstraat
Warmoesstraat is not the best shopping street in Amsterdam. However it offers candy stores, cheese chops, vintage stores, trendy boutiques, sex shops, and alternative shops. From vintage clothing to alternative music, the street has it all. Popular stores include Jemi Bloemsierkunst, Henri Willig Cheese Shop, Jamin, Star Souvenirs, Kokopelli, and the famous Condomerie, where you’ll find everything related to condoms.
Nightlife on Warmoesstraat
Warmoesstraat is also renowned for its vibrant nightlife scene, with something for everyone. It’s mostly filled with cozy bars and cafes lik Hot or Not, but it also has clubs like Eagle Amsterdam and La Vie en Proost. Popular spots include gay bars to like Dirty Dicks.
Restaurants and Cafes on Warmoesstraat
In addition to shopping and nightlife, Warmoesstraat also offers a wide range of dining options, from cozy cafes to trendy restaurants and traditional eateries. Popular places to eat include New Season Chinese Restaurant, Aneka Rasa, Het Karbeel, Burgerfabriek, all known for their delicious dishes.
This street offers a great variety of venues with fast food. So when you’re looking for pizzas or the best burger in Amsterdam then you’ve come to the right place.
Parking
Parking on Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam is strictly prohibited for cars and other vehicles. This is due to the narrow and bustling nature of the street, which makes it difficult for cars to maneuver and park. Even cyclists are not allowed to park their bikes on the sidewalks of Warmoesstraat. Therefore, car-owners who are looking for a place to park can use Q-park at De Beijenkorf, which is centrally located and easily accessible. It should be noted that the garage can be quite busy, especially during peak hours, so it’s advisable to plan ahead and arrive early to secure a spot.
Q-Park Parking prices
✦ Regular rate Per 29 minutes = € 2,-
✦ Maximum daily rate: € 30,-
Park & Ride
Park and Ride (P+R) in Amsterdam is a parking and travel service that helps visitors easily reach the city center. Situated around Amsterdam’s edges, these P+R sites offer low-cost parking and reduced fares for public transport. This service is perfect for people who prefer not to deal with city center parking’s difficulties and costs. P+R Amsterdam is convenient whether you arrive by car or from the airport, providing a smooth journey into the city’s core.
Attractions near Warmoesstraat
In addition to the many shops, restaurants, and bars on Warmoesstraat, the street is also surrounded by plenty of attractions and activities. Just a short walk away, you can explore the Nieuwmarkt, and Dam Square, where you can enjoy historical sights, bars, restaurants, and other popular attractions – like Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
The back of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange is also located on this street. However the frontside is more impressive. This is where you can see the bull statue. It’s also possible to get a tour inside this stock exchange.
Hotels on Warmoesstraat
Hotel CC
Located at Warmoesstraat 42, Hotel CC is a modern boutique hotel situated in a historic building. It’s just a 5-minute walk from Dam Square, and it’s close to many bars, restaurants, and shops.
Our review
In our opinion, Hotel CC in Amsterdam is a fine place to stay for anyone looking for an affordable, quality accommodation. Located in Warmoesstraat, the hotel has easy access to some of the city’s most popular attractions. We believe that it offers something special to its guests – no matter if you are visiting Amsterdam alone or with friends. We think you will be pleasantly surprised by great room view and all the amenities that make your stay perfect, especially if you’re travelling with a group of friends. It’s also conveniently located near some great restaurants – like Restaurant de Waag – and stores so shopping will be really easy. Book your stay at Hotel CC today!
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Hotel Luxer
Located at Warmoesstraat 11, Hotel Luxer is a contemporary hotel that’s just a 10-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station. It features a fitness center, a bar, and a terrace, and it’s close to many popular tourist attractions.
Our review
Hotel Luxer in Amsterdam is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a pleasant stay in the Warmoesstraat area. In our opinion, it offers a great combination of cleanliness and friendly service at an affordable price. We find that the rooms are well maintained and comfortable to sleep in; their staff are warm and helpful; and they offer plenty of amenities, such as free WiFi and laundry services. We believe that Hotel Luxer provides an ideal combination of amenities, comfort, and value for money – making it one of the best hotel options in Amsterdam Red Light District.
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Hotel 55
Located at Warmoesstraat 55, Hotel 55 is a trendy boutique hotel that’s just a few steps away from the Red Light District. It features stylish rooms, a bar, and a restaurant, and it’s close to many nightlife spots.
Our review
Hotel CC in Amsterdam is an average hotel situated on Warmoesstraat. In our opinion, it’s a cheap and affordable option for travellers looking for a simple place to stay. Unfortunately, we find that the rooms are often unclean and noisy since it is not well insulated against sound. In the hotel bar downstairs you can also hear music from the rooms at night. However, it’s by far one of the cheaper options in the Red Light District so we do understand its appeal.
DISCOVER NOW >Hotel Internationaal
A small and friendly hotel located in the oldest street of Amsterdam, with a lively bar, at Warmoesstraat 1-3
How to get to Warmoesstraat from Amsterdam Central Station?
Walking is the easiest way to get to Warmoesstraat from Central Station – simply head out of the station by Damrak, then after 350 meters turn left by Oude Brugsteeg. This will lead you along an alley until eventually taking you to the entrance of Warmoesstraat – which is less than a 7 minutes walk away from the train station. To make sure you don’t get lost, be sure to use your phone’s maps app or carry a printed map with you. Happy navigating!
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Best Asian Restaurants In Amsterdam Red Light District in 2025
Top 5 Asian Restaurants in Amsterdam
Are you a foodie visiting Amsterdam’s Red Light District and looking for the best Asian restaurants in the Amsterdam? You’re in luck!
The Amsterdam Red Light District has a great variety of Asian restaurants, each with its own unique character and culinary specialties.
From Japanese ramen to Vietnamese pho, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll explore the top Asian restaurants in Amsterdam Red Light District and highlight some must-try dishes from each one.
So let’s dive in and discover the best Asian cuisine the Red Light District has to offer!
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Amsterdam’s Chinatown is located on Zeedijk Street – one of the oldest streets in the city, which is also a main street of the Red Light District. It is filled with restaurants from Thailand, China, Malaysia, Japan, you name it.
Below is the guide to the best Asian restaurants in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, according to local food critics and reviews of global travellers. We are always being asked about and looking for great Asian restaurants in Amsterdam.
Whether you’re looking for spiciness, distinct flavours or authenticity with an offbeat Amsterdam flair, just pick any Asian restaurants on this list.
Best Asian Restaurants in Amsterdam
1 | A-Fusion
This fantastic Asian restaurant can be found at the end of the Zeedijk street. Here you can eat Japanese, Chinese and Thai food. Both the quality of the food and the service of the staff are very good. Moreover, the interior is very beautiful and quite luxurious.
“Sushi was more than amazing! Cant wait to go again! One of the best sushi shops in Amsterdam ?”
Stefan | 5 out of 5 stars.
A-fusion is perfect for couples who want a romantic evening, but also ideal for business outings or a dinner with friends. This Asian restaurant is also very active on Instagram where it shares beautiful photos of their specialties.
Reviews
✦ Google: 471 reviews – 4,4 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 343 reviews – 4 out 5 stars.
✦ Yelp: 29 reviews – 4 out 5 stars.
2 | Bird Thais Restaurant
Okay this isn’t the best Thai restaurant in Amsterdam, but it’s definitely a great choice! Although the service here is somewhat mediocre, the food here is quite tasteful. It has a simplistic Thai decor which isn’t romantic perse but you get the feeling of being in Thailand for a moment. Especially in high season it can be quite busy here due to its popularity, so you have to wait in line at the entrance.
“They have an amazing price quality menu if you go before 4. Good food in general. Sometimes when its full waiters can be slightly rude.”
Julio Lopez | 4 out of 5 stars.
This Asian restaurant has two levels and 110 seats divided over 3 separate areas. Bird restaurant was founded in 1998 and partly due to its long existence it has thousands of positive reviews.
Reviews
✦ Google: 2.581 reviews – 4,3 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 2,116 reviews – 4 out 5 stars.
✦ Yelp: 231 reviews – 4 out 5 stars.
3 | Wau Restaurant
The food here is just wow! Wanna try something different than Chinese, Japanese or Thai? Then go eat at this Malaysian restaurant. Despite the fact that the food here is very good, we think there is room for improvement. We find the seats quite uncomfortable here.
Reviews
“I’ve been coming here a few years now, and all times food has been very good as well as service. They also cater to food allergies/intolerances.”
Amanda B. | 5 out of 5 stars.
✦ Google: 465 reviews – 4,3 out 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 380 reviews – 4 out 5 stars.
✦ Yelp: 37 reviews – 4 out 5 stars.
✦ Facebook: 188 reviews – 4,6 out 5 stars.
4 | Vatten Ramen
Vatten Ramen is a Japanese restaurant on the Zeedijk street in Amsterdam Red Light District. The restaurant is known for its delicious ramen dishes and its friendly staff. The restaurant has a wide variety of Japanese dishes, and the staff is always willing to help customers choose the perfect dish for their taste. The restaurant also offers a wide range of Japanese beers, and the staff is always happy to help customers find the perfect beer for their meal. Vatten Ramen is the perfect place for anyone who wants to enjoy a delicious Japanese meal in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
What is Japanese food?
Japanese cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of dishes, ranging from simple rice and miso soup to more elaborate meals featuring seafood, vegetables, and meats. ramen is one of the most popular Japanese dishes, consisting of wheat noodles in a broth typically made with pork, chicken, or beef. ramen can be topped with a variety of ingredients, such as eggs, fish cake, seaweed, bamboo shoots, and green onions. Other popular Japanese dishes include sushi, sashimi, tempura, and yakitori. Japanese cuisine often makes use of fresh ingredients and relies on minimal cooking in order to preserve the natural flavors of the food. As a result, Japanese food is both healthy and delicious.
Reviews
Google: 860 reviews – 4,5 out of 5 stars.
5 | Hot & Hot Hotpot
HOT&HOT Hot Pot is a Chinese restaurant located on the Zeedijk street in Amsterdam. The restaurant specializes in Chinese hot pot, a culinary tradition that dates back centuries. HOT&HOT Hot Pot offers a unique dining experience that allows guests to customize their own hot pot according to their preferences. Guests can choose from a variety of meats, vegetables, and noodles to create their perfect hot pot. In addition, the restaurant offers a wide selection of dipping sauces and spices to further enhance the flavor of the dish. The friendly and knowledgeable staff at HOT&HOT Hot Pot are always available to help guests choose the perfect ingredients for their hot pot. Whether you’re a Chinese food aficionado or a hot pot novice, HOT&HOT Hot Pot is the perfect place to enjoy this delicious and healthy dish.
Reviews
Google: 131 reviews – 4,4 out of 5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of cuisine can I expect at A-fusion?
A-fusion serves a unique blend of Asian cuisine, focusing on Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian dishes. Their menu features a variety of sushi, dim sum, and fusion dishes that combine flavors and cooking techniques from across Asia. It’s a great spot for those looking to experience a broad spectrum of Asian culinary traditions under one roof.
Is Bird Thai Restaurant authentic Thai cuisine?
Yes, Bird Thai Restaurant is renowned for its authentic Thai cuisine. Offering a wide range of traditional Thai dishes, from Pad Thai to Tom Yum Soup, Bird Thai uses fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods to ensure an authentic taste and experience. It’s a favorite among locals and tourists seeking the true flavors of Thailand.
What makes Wau Restaurant stand out among Asian restaurants in Amsterdam?
Wau Restaurant specializes in Malaysian cuisine, offering a unique dining experience that’s not commonly found in Amsterdam. Their menu includes traditional Malaysian dishes, such as Laksa, Nasi Lemak, and Satay, all prepared with authentic ingredients and cooking techniques. The warm and inviting atmosphere, combined with delicious, flavorful dishes, makes Wau Restaurant a standout choice for those exploring Asian cuisine.
Can I find vegetarian options at Vatten Ramen?
Yes, Vatten Ramen offers vegetarian options, catering to those who prefer plant-based meals. Their menu includes vegetarian ramen options that are both flavorful and satisfying, using fresh vegetables and rich, vegetarian broth bases. Vatten Ramen ensures that vegetarians can enjoy the comforting warmth of ramen without compromising on taste or quality.
What is special about Hot & Hot Hotpot?
Hot & Hot Hotpot specializes in Chinese hotpot, offering a communal dining experience that’s both fun and interactive. Diners can choose from a variety of broth bases, meats, seafood, vegetables, and noodles to cook in their hotpot, allowing for a customizable meal that caters to individual tastes. The focus on fresh ingredients and the social aspect of hotpot dining makes Hot & Hot a special and memorable place to eat.
Are these restaurants suitable for groups and special occasions?
Yes, all these restaurants are suitable for groups and special occasions. A-fusion, Bird Thai Restaurant, Wau Restaurant, Vatten Ramen, and Hot & Hot Hotpot offer spacious dining areas and menu options that cater to groups. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, hosting a business dinner, or simply enjoying a meal out with friends, these restaurants provide the perfect setting for a memorable group dining experience. It’s recommended to make reservations in advance for larger parties to ensure the best possible experience.
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10 Tips For Using Drugs in Amsterdam
Drugs in Amsterdam
Best Tips For Using Drugs in Amsterdam
Are you going to visit Amsterdam and are you planning to use drugs? Then this article with 10 tips for using drugs in Amsterdam is a good read for you!
This piece contains useful tips for those who would like to experience soft or hard drugs in Amsterdam. The Dutch Opium Act makes a distinction between hard drugs and soft drugs by means of two lists. The sale of soft drugs in coffeeshops (cannabis stores) is tolerated in the Netherlands under strict conditions.
Hard Drugs Definition
Hard drugs are on List I of the Dutch Opium Act. These are more harmful to health than soft drugs. Examples are heroin, cocaine/ coke, speed/ amphetamine, XTC and GHB.
Soft Drugs Definition
Soft drugs are on List II of the Dutch Opium Act. The risks of these drugs are less than with the hard drugs on List I. Examples are cannabis products (hash and weed) and sleeping aids. Sedatives such as Valium and Seresta are also on this list.
Views On Drugs in the Netherlands
There are a lot misunderstandings when it comes to drugs in the Netherlands. Before we get into that, we’d like to tell you how the Dutch think about soft drugs in general.
Most Dutch do not consider cannabis dangerous. And big majority of the Dutch do not have a problem with the coffeeshops or people who occasionally use soft drugs (weed or hash). Although it must be said that the use of alcohol is way more accepted in the Netherlands than cannabis.
Magic Truffles stored in a fridge of a smart shop.
Drugs In Netherlands Statistics
Did you know that only 7% of the Dutch population uses cannabis?
Cannabis use in the Netherlands
| Usage by Dutch population | 7,0% |
| Usage by Dutch youth | 7,8% |
| Number of hospitalisations per year | 98 (main diagnosis) |
| Number of selling points | 673 |
Alcohol use in the Netherlands
| Usage by Dutch population | 78% |
| Usage by Dutch youth | 43% |
| Number of hospitalisations per year | 6.473 (main diagnosis) |
| Number of selling points | 70.000 |
Source: National Drug Monitor
The Bulldog is one of the first cannabis stores (aka coffeeshops) in the world.
The Netherlands has a reputation for being a country that likes to do business and for having a liberal society. These are just two reasons why we allow cannabis in our country. Tolerating soft drugs doesn’t mean that everyone uses it. In fact, most citizens of the Netherlands don’t even use cannabis.
During our tours in the Red Light District our local guides will tell you much more about drugs in the Netherlands. We’ll share all the things you didn’t know about this cannabis, ‘coffeeshops, legal magic truffels, smartshops and the Dutch drug laws.
For example: Did you know that producing cannabis for commercial purposes in the Netherlands is totally illegal? Here, there is a so called “gedoogbeleid”. Here more about this during our walking tours in Amsterdam Red Light District.
BOOK A TOUR >
Drugs & Sex Trade In The Netherlands
Did you know that the revenue of the illegal and legal drug industry in the Netherlands is included into the Dutch Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? Since 25 June 2014, the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics includes the trade of illegal activities in the Dutch GDP.
A few examples of these illegale activities: XTC, cocaine, heroin, speed, smuggling, etc. The trade in these illegal activities are estimated by the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics and based on police sources.
The graph below shows the trade in legal and illegal activities. According to the Bureau of Statistics the trade in cannabis is 1.04 billion euro.
Source: NRC Q – based on numbers of the Dutch Bureau of Statistics (CBS)
The GDP of the Netherlands in 2010 was 586.7 billion euros, but after including the trade of these substances the Dutch GDP increases with 44.7 billion euros. So the Netherlands has become 7.5 % ‘richer’.
Drug Tips
A “cafe” means “pub” throughout the Netherlands. A “coffeeshop” is where one buys cannabis. While marijuana is not technically legal in the Netherlands, the possession and purchase of small amounts (<5 gram) of “soft drugs”(ie marijuana, hashish, space cakes and mushroom-based truffles) is allowed/tolerated and users won’t be prosecuted for smoking or carrying this amount. This means that coffeeshops are actually conducting an illegal business – but this is tolerated to a certain extent.
The Dutch government has let individual municipalities decide for themselves whether to enforce the national weed pass. Therefor there are almost no municipalities which have implemented this pass, only a few near the border at Germany and Belgium.
10 Tips For Using Soft Drugs In Amsterdam:
- Take it easy.
- Only use drugs when you want to. Do not let anyone else decide this for you.
- Don’t do drugs on an empty stomach.
- Make sure you have something sugary around. Like Coca-Cola. Take that when you feel dizzy.
- Ask how much THC it contains, when you’re purchasing cannabis. The Dutch cannabis has an average THC-level of 14.6%.
- Tell the staff at the coffeeshop how experienced you are with cannabis. They are there to help you.
- Use it at a place where you feel comfortable.
- Start off with a small drag and wait 10/15 minutes. Take your time, there is no rush.
- Relax! Don’t worry about a thing,.. cause every little thing, gonna be all right.
- Fresh air is your friend.
Magic Truffles on sale in what they call a “smart shop” in the Red Light District.
Where Does Amsterdam Cannabis Come From?
Even though Amsterdam might be the global center for hash and weed usage, inside the city borders hardly any large plantations have been busted. So where does the hash and weed sold in Amsterdam come from?
For hash, the separated resin of a cannabis plant, the sources are evident. Large shipments often in the 1000’s of kilo’s come predominately from Morocco. Hash is also produced in Afghanistan and Lebanon.
There are also many idealists who grow because of their conviction or love of the product, preferably biological and without insecticides. Yet these idealists on their own produce far too little to satisfy Amsterdam’s huge weed demand.
Dutch Weed Suppliers
To supply all those weed smoking people in Amsterdam and the legions of tourists, coffeeshops have to rely on a wide network of suppliers. The police of Amsterdam clear away roughly one ‘wiethok’ (small indoor plantation) a day containing between 150 and 700 cannabis plants. Amsterdam is too densely populated to start up a large indoor plantation without being noticed.
Cannabis Production Netherlands
It’s almost impossible to make a general fact-based statement about weed production in the Netherlands. Estimates range between 29 and 130 tons of weed production per year. Every year around 5000 to 6000 illegal weed plantations are busted by the Dutch police.
1 billion kilowatt-hour of energy gets stolen every year in the Netherlands, almost exclusively for illegal weed plantations. On this supply if energy supply a total of 30.000 plantations can operate 24/7. This is about same amount of energy that is needed for the whole city of The Hague. An average Dutch household uses approximately 3.000 kilowatt-hour of energy.
Where Does Cannabis in Amsterdam Coffeeshops Come From?
Coffeeshop Grey Area is known as one of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam.
According to experts, Amsterdam coffeeshop owners are not eager to buy from sellers that come out of the south of Holland (Brabant, Limburg). They don’t trust the growers and dealers from the south. The weed has often been of dubious quality. There’s hardly any weed traffic between the southern provinces and the coffeeshops in Amsterdam. The owners of the coffeeshops usually don’t want anything to do with the (often violent) weed crime scene from the south. The market over there is divided between motorcycle gangs, Moroccan, Dutch and Turkish criminal organisations.
Dutch source: https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/waar-komt-alle-wiet-in-amsterdamse-coffeeshops-vandaan~a4510148/
10 Tips On How To Use Hard Drugs In Amsterdam:
So, what about hard drugs? Drugs like XTC, cocaine, MDMA, speed and LSD – which are all illegal in the Netherlands. We assume that those who’d like to use hard drugs in Amsterdam, have already experienced some drugs before. Most of the drug incidents in Amsterdam happen to those who know too little about using drugs and often it’s the hard drugs that causes damage to those people. Information is king.
An anti-street dealer campaign in Amsterdam during Amsterdam Dance Event.
Ignore Street Dealers in Amsterdam
Ignore street dealers in Amsterdam. They sell fake drugs!
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- Only use drugs when you want to. Don’t let anyone else decide this for you.
- Never buy drugs in Amsterdam from drug dealers on the streets in the Red Light District. Usually it’s fake and when it’s not fake it’s mostly very bad quality that can easily end up in the hospital or worse!
- Get your drugs tested! Did you know you could get your drugs tested legally in Amsterdam? There are a few companies, located 15 minutes away from the Red Light District, called Jellinek & GGD, where you can get your drugs tested by experts. Cost = 2 or 3 Euros per test.
- Don’t combine magic truffles (“magic mushrooms”) with alcohol or cannabis. And let the staff of a smart shop inform you on how to use this drug.
- Make sure you have some water around. Stay hydrated!
- Don’t do drugs or alcohol on empty stomach. Avoid fat, go for carbohydrates.
- Stick to one drug.
- Start of with a small doses.
- Take something sugary if you feel dizzy and get yourself some fresh air.
- Enjoy the ride!
Magic Truffles & Smart Shops
Smart shops – which offer organic uppers and natural hallucinogens – have long been known for selling magic mushrooms. But in the year 2000, the Dutch government banned them. Nearly 200 varieties of fungus then went on the forbidden substances list – though conspicuously missing was the magic truffle.
A smart shop is a place where you can purchase magic mushrooms (a.k.a. “magic truffles”). Staff will advise you on the nuances of dosages and possible effects. Listen to them – their advice will help you with a good and safe trip.
Magic truffles are legal in Amsterdam and in the rest of Holland. In smart shops they are named “magic truffles”. Scientifically speaking truffles are not mushrooms and therefor they do not fall within the reach of the Opium Act. Magic truffles are allowed to be produced, purchased, sold and consumed in the Netherlands. In most English speaking countries magic truffles are called magic mushrooms.
Although magic truffels are legal, they are definitely not popular among the Dutch. The magic truffels are mostly being sold to tourists. Don’t forget to check out this more in-depth magic truffles FAQ article for more tips for using drugs in Amsterdam.
Dutch XTC Facts & Tips From Jellinek (Dutch Drugs Information Centre)
- 80.000 people with Dutch origin have recently used XTC in the Netherlands.
- XTC is hardly addictive. In 2014 only 105 people in the Netherlands sought out help.
- XTC causes your braincells to release adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. Adrenaline and dopamine give you energy and serotonin makes you feel good and relaxed.
- The recreational dose for MDMA, the active substance in XTC, is 1 to 1,5 mg per kilo of bodyweight.
- Every time blood passes trough the liver XTC gets partly broken down until the XTC is completely gone from your bloodstream.
- After 2 or 3 days XTC isn’t detectable in your urine anymore.
- After swallowing an XTC pill it takes between 20 to 60 minutes before you start noticing its effects.
- After 5 to 6 hours the effects of XTC have worn off.
- To prevent overheating you should take a break from dancing once in a while and find a quiet spot to cool down a bit.
- To prevent water poisoning limit your water intake to 1 glass an hour.
- When you drink too much water your body will get a shortage in salt. This can lead to dangerously high pressure on your brains and lungs. It can lead to death.
- The risk is very low that you build op XTC dependance.
- Test your XTC before using it. This is advised because the strength and contents of XTC pills keep changing. In 2009 XTC pills contained on average 80 mg of MDMA. In 2015 this increased to 138 mg per XTC pill. Check www.drugs-test.nl to find a place to get your pills tested.
- Dutch drugs laws categorise XTC as a hard drug. Ownership, production and trade are all punishable offences. If you get caught you’ll have to hand over your pill. The production is illegal and for this reason there is no quality control.
- If you have any questions about drugs whilst your in the Netherlands you can contact Jellinek via their advice telephone number:+31205901515 from Monday till Friday between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
Information is key!
Drugs are not bad per se, you just gotta be informed on how to take them. The staff in (cannabis) coffeeshops and smart shops are more than willing to inform you (on how to use drugs in Amsterdam).
Join our informative Amsterdam Drugs Tour to learn more about legal and illegal drugs in the Netherlands. This tour is loaded up with tips for using drugs in Amsterdam and gives you an informative perspective on Amsterdam and drug use.
Amphetamines Facts & Tips From Jellinek (Dutch Drugs Information Centre)
- There are different types of amphetamines. The natural form is ephedrine which can be found in the Ephedra plant. Compounds with the same effects also exist in the Khat plant. Two lab-produced compounds are amphetamine and methamphetamine. methamphetamine is 1,5 to 2 times more powerful than amphetamine.
- Amphetamine was used in the past for treating Asthma and for losing weight.
- Today, amphetamines or comparable compounds are prescribed as ADHD medication.
- Around 1 in 20 people in the Netherlands between the ages of 15 and 65 have used Speed (amphetamines) at least once in their lives.
- Speed can still be found in urine for two to three days after use. It can still be found in the hair one half year after use.
- When swallowing speed it takes between 20 and 60 minutes before the amphetamines to start to work.
- By sniffing speed you’ll notice the effects within 3 to 10 minutes.
- With both methods the effects will last between 2 to 6 hours.
- After usage you’ll feel good and become cheerful. You’ll feel self-confident, thinking will appear to go faster and you’ll talk more easily. You’ll become active and energetic. Your tiredness disappears and your endurance will increase.
- Two glasses of water per hour is enough to replenish your fluids. More drinks can lead to water poisoning.
- In 2014 96% of the presented Speed samples contained Speed. On average the samples contained 49% amphetamines. The rest was made up out of dilution compounds. 39% of the powder samples also contained caffeine.
- Dutch drugs laws categorise Speed as a hard drug. Ownership, production and trade are all punishable offences. Ownership for personal use normally isn’t prosecuted.
This is a smart shop in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. It sells magic mushrooms/truffles.
Fake Drugs In Amsterdam
There are (fake) street dealers in Amsterdam’s city centre. Street dealers can be find on Leidse Square, Rembrandt Square, Waterloo Square and in the Red Light District. If they see that you’re not interested in drugs, they’ll ignore you.
In the Red Light District, street dealers can sometimes be found on the Warmoesstraat, Stoofsteeg, Lange Niezel & Oudezijds Achterburgwal in Amsterdam.
These street dealers sell fake stuff most of the time and can get aggressive. Do not buy from street dealers. They rip tourists off.
In a period of 15 months a total of 1208 street dealers were arrested for the selling of fake drugs in Amsterdam. All together they were responsible for 4857 incidents, 3051 of which were related to the sale of fake drugs. That’s 62%.
Most of the victims are men between the age of 20 and 40 from Germany and Great Britain. These tourists come to Amsterdam for the weekend and a pill or snort are part of the Amsterdam experience for them. But all too often they don’t get what they bargained for. The XTC pill turns out to be an aspirin or a contraceptive pill, the gram of cocaine: baking powder. Source: Jellinek
The municipality of Amsterdam, police and public prosecutor want to put a stop to the nuisance of fake drug dealers but that may be hard to do. Stronger punishments raise legal objections.
Current Dutch drug laws do not apply to the sale of fake drugs and the public prosecutor believes that a separate law to fight fake drugs isn’t feasible. Fake drug dealers can only be punished with fines totalling a couple 100 euros. The worst cases can get a maximum sentence of 6 weeks.
Most tourists who have used drugs in Amsterdam knew in advance what they wanted to get:
| Knew in advance that they were going to use softdrugs, like cannabis. | 54% |
| Knew in advance that they were going to use just harddrugs. | 1% |
| Knew in advance that they were going to use soft- and harddrugs. | 15% |
| Decided in Amsterdam that they were going to use drugs. | 30% |
Source: Jellinek
One of the tips for using drugs in Amsterdam written on the streets.
TIP: DO NOT buy drugs on the streets from dealers. They sell rubbish and can get very aggressive!
So Where Should I Buy Hard Drugs In Amsterdam?
If you’re really keen on buying XTC, cocaine, MDMA or any other illegal drug, we’d advice you to buy it in a club from someone who’s really having a blast. Usually it’s not that difficult to spot someone who has a bit more fun and energy than the rest of the crowd. Ask that person what he’s or she’s having and if there is anything for sale.
Do not buy drugs from street dealers! Especially not on Leidse Square, the Red Light District, Museum Square or around Rembrandt Square – in other words: the areas with the most tourists.
These street dealers sell fake stuff or even worse: White heroin as cocaine. This happened in the end of 2014; a few tourists bought fake cocaine from a street dealer and passed away because it was actually white heroine.
A drug-warning from the City of Amsterdam in November 2014.
It would be great for people to have the opportunity to get their drugs tested in every bar, club or festival. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in Amsterdam yet. Hopefully the Dutch government will allow this in the near future. As we all know, drugs are being used in pretty much every club in the world. Lot of locals are using the services of that drug test lab. Or they go online to search for a drug report.
Drug Testing in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, there are several places where you actually can get your hard drugs tested legally. Although XTC, MDMA, cocaine are illegal in the Netherlands, they are all still very popular here. There are many ways to get it tested in a way that is totally legal in the Netherlands. This is what most locals do before using it.
- You can get your drugs tested at an official and legal test center called Jellinek located on the Keizersgracht 572 and Jacob Obrechtstraat 92.
- Another place that tests XTC, cocaine, MDMA, etc. in Amsterdam is the GGD which is the Public Health Service of Amsterdam. The GGD is located on Valckenierstraat 4.
- Most smart shops (those shops that offer magic mushrooms) in Amsterdam have test kits which can be bought for a couple of euros. Test your drugs yourself by following the instructions, or let the staff help you out. The employees will not report you if you’ve bought some cocaine or some pills. They are more than willing to inform you on the quality.
Interview With Founder Of Drug Test Lab In Amsterdam
We interviewed August de Loor who was the founder of Amsterdam’s Drug Consultancy Bureau. We wanted to know more about those legal drug tests in Amsterdam because it’s a good way to reduce risks among drug users.
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Amsterdam Coffeeshops Laws
The Netherlands distinguishes hard drugs and soft drugs. This is done in the Dutch Opium Act. The sale of soft drugs in Amsterdam coffeeshops is tolerated in the Netherlands under strict conditions.
Amsterdam Coffeeshops & Soft Drugs Policy
Because soft drugs (cannabis and magic truffles) are less harmful to health than hard drugs (XTC, cocaine, etc), different rules apply in the Netherlands. Amsterdam coffeeshops can sell cannabis – weed and hash – under strict conditions to locals and tourists. Coffeeshops are businesses where weed and hashish may be offered for sale. They will not prosecuted for this. This is the essence of the Dutch tolerance policy (Dutch: gedogen beleid).
The Greenhouse coffeeshop in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service also does not prosecute persons if they possess small amounts of soft drugs. It is about this:
- maximum 5 grams of cannabis (weed, hash);
- up to 5 cannabis plants.
9 Rules For Coffeeshops in the Netherlands
The Bulldog is one of the first cannabis shops in the Netherlands.
For the sale of weed and hash, Amsterdam coffeeshops must adhere to rules and laws (the tolerance criteria). A coffeeshop must follow these 9 cannabis laws:
- No more than 5 grams of soft drugs per person may be sold per day.
- Hard drugs may not be sold.
- No soft drugs may be sold to minors.
- Minors may not be allowed into a coffeeshop.
- No alcohol should be served.
- Drugs and the coffeeshop should not be advertised.
- No nuisance may be caused to the environment.
- Trade stock may not exceed 500 grams.
- No tobacco may be used inside.
Selling Soft Drugs Remains A Criminal Offence
Coffeeshop Rusland is Amsterdam’s second oldest cannabis store.
The sale of soft drugs remains a criminal offence in the Netherlands. Do Amsterdam coffeeshop owners not adhere to the conditions? Then they can be prosecuted and the mayor can (temporarily) close the coffeeshop. Municipalities can impose additional requirements on a coffeeshop to prevent inconvenience. For example, adjusted opening hours or a greater distance from schools.
Tackle Illegal Cannabis Cultivation In Holland
Coffeeshop Smokey on Rembrandt Square.
The cultivation of cannabis plants is prohibited in the Netherlands. With a maximum of 5 plants for personal use, the Dutch police will only confiscate the plants. The police can prosecute the grower if there are more than 5 plants.
Consequences of Illegal Cannabis Cultivation
Coffeeshop Grey Area is known as one of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam.
Is the police prosecuting the grower? Then the police will prepare an official report for the criminal prosecution by the Public Prosecution Service.
Hemp growers can lose their rented house. Did they illegally tap electricity? Then an additional assessment follows from an energy company. In tackling cannabis cultivation, the Dutch police works together with housing cooperatives, the tax authorities and energy companies, among others.
Source: Government of the Netherlands
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Top 10 Sex Shops In Amsterdam
Sex is a natural part of life, but it can be difficult to find the right sex shop in a new city. If you’re looking for the best sex shops in Amsterdam and Holland, you’re in luck. This list will help you find the right store for your needs.
We’ve compiled a list of the six best sex shops in Amsterdam and Holland based on customer satisfaction and reviews. Whether you’re looking for lingerie, adult toys, or something more kinky, we have you covered.
Photo taken by: Lust Gasm
What is a sex shop?
A sex shop is a retailer that specializes in the sale of sex-related products, including sex toys, vibrators, lubricants, and lingerie.
Sex shops are usually distinguished from adult movie theaters or adult bookstores by their display of sex-related products in an open format, such as on shelves or in glass cases.
In addition to physical stores, sex shops may also sell their products through online retailers. Some sex shops may also offer peep shows, sex shows, or other forms of live entertainment.
Sex shops typically cater to a male clientele; however, there are some sex shops that focus on providing products and services for female customers.
Sex shops vary in size and location; some are located in seedy neighborhoods while others are situated in more upmarket areas.
10 Best Sex Shops
1 | Sex Shop The Bronx
Rating: 4,2 out of 5 stars.
The Sex Shop The Bronx in Amsterdam is one of the most popular sex shops in the city. The shop is known for its wide assortiment of products, including toys, games, DVDs, and more. The shop also has a wide range of products for both gay and straight customers.
The shop is located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Red Light District, and is open 24 hours a day. The shop is also popular with tourists, who often visit the shop to purchase souvenirs or gifts for friends back home.
During our visit to The Sex Shop The Bronx in Amsterdam, we found that the shop maintains a high standard of cleanliness, is easy to access from various parts of the city, and employs professional staff who are knowledgeable about their extensive variety of products. In our opinion, these factors contribute significantly to the shop’s popularity among both locals and tourists alike.
What Others Say About Sex Shop The Bronx
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gerry Hymes: This place is amazing. I’ve been visiting Amsterdam for 20 years and walked by this a hundred times. Now that I live here, I’m not shy and love to check out these places. This has been here since the early 1970s. Huge inventory of clothing, protection and plenty of toys and other items related to the theme of the store. They give you a discrete bag to carry your product home. I talked to the clerk for 20 minutes. Fun and easy going. No stress and very huge space. No worries about distancing in here. One of the biggest shops I’ve seen in Amsterdam. Source: Google Review.
2 | Sex Shop Mail & Female
Rating: 4,1 out of 5 stars.
If you’re looking for a good sex shop in Amsterdam, Mail & Female is a great option. The store has good reviews on Google, and it’s located close to the Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and they have a good selection of sex toys and other products. The prices are also very reasonable. Mail & Female is a good option for anyone who wants to buy sex toys in Amsterdam. The store is located on the Nieuwe Vijzelstraat, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. They have a good selection of sex toys and other products, and the prices are very reasonable. If you’re looking for a good sex shop in Amsterdam, Mail & Female is definitely worth checking out.
During our visit to Mail & Female in Amsterdam, we found that the store’s red floor was a bit overwhelming at first glance, yet this did not detract from the impressive variety of products available. All sex toys are displayed at eye level along the walls, which we found to be particularly convenient for browsing. In our opinion, these aspects, combined with the knowledgeable staff and reasonable prices, make Mail & Female a standout option for anyone looking to purchase sex toys in the city.
What Others Say About Sex Shop Mail & Female
GET DIRECTIONS >⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Honestrox: Honestly, this is the best sexshop in Amsterdam. I frequented a few downtown and in the red light district which gave me icky feelings so I went looking for a classier and more welcoming one. Bonus points for all the educated women working here that answered all my questions and made me feel comfortable! It’s clean, has all latest products, cute assortment, and unique brand offers. Definitely recommend it. Source: Google Review.
3 | Sex Shop Hot Stuff
Rating: 3,9 out of 5 stars.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District is world-famous for its many sex shops. One of the most popular is Hot Stuff, which bills itself as the most female-friendly sex shop in the city. The shop stocks a wide range of products, from lingerie and sex toys to lingerie and adult games. Prices are very reasonable, and the staff are always on hand to offer advice and assistance. In addition, Hot Stuff regularly hosts events such as workshops and parties. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned veteran of Amsterdam’s Red Light District, Hot Stuff is definitely worth a visit.
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4 | B1 Sex Shop & Porn
Rating: 3,7 out 5 stars.
B1 Sex Shop & Porn in Amsterdam is the go-to sex shop for anyone looking for a good time. The store offers a wide range of sex toys, viagra, and sex cinema. The staff is knowledgeable and always willing to help customers find the perfect product for their needs. The store also offers a loyalty program, which gives customers discounts on future purchases. Whether you’re looking for a new sex toy or just want to browse the selection, B1 Sex Shop & Porn is the place to go.
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5 | Sex Shop Caligula
Rating: 3,8 out of 5 stars.
Sex shop Caligula is one of the most popular sex shops in the Amsterdam Red Light District. It is best known for its wide range of sex toys and other adult products. The shop is also famous for its friendly and helpful staff, who are always happy to answer any questions you may have. sex shop Caligula is open seven days a week and offers a wide range of payment options, making it easy to get your hands on the products you need. Whether you’re looking for a new vibrator or just some lube, sex shop Caligula is definitely worth a visit.
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6 | Sex Shop Happy
Rating: 3,6 out of 5 stars.
Sex Shop Happy in Amsterdam Red Light District is an average sex shop. It is nothing special, but it does the job. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the prices are average. The store is clean and well-organized, and the products are of good quality. There is a wide selection of items to choose from, including lingerie, adult toys, and whatnot. The store also offers a variety of services, such as personal shopping and home delivery. Overall, Sex Shop Happy is a good choice for those looking for an average sex shop in the Amsterdam Red Light District.
GET DIRECTIONS >7 | Red Rose Star Shop
The Red Rose Star Shop is one of three Red Rose erotic sex shops, and is located in the Red Light District of Amsterdam on the corner of the Oudezijds Achterburgwal and the Oudekennissteeg.
The sex shop offers anything from sex toys such as vibrators, dildo’s and butt plugs to lingerie, sexy shoes, costumes, porno movies on DVD and other things.
GET DIRECTIONS >8 | Pure Lust
One the other corner of the Stoofsteeg and the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, this sex shop has two entrances on both sides. With it’s window advertisement one of the more interesting looking sex shops, they offer lingerie, sex toys, DVD’s, sexy costumes and shoes and fetish wear.
9 | Love Boutique
The Love Boutique is located on the main canal of the Red Light District in Amsterdam and is specialised in fetish, BDSM and latex. This sex shop offers everything for a sexy outfit, from party wear to fetish clothes and shoes, lingerie, but also bdsm items and sex toys. You can even design your own custom fetish outfit in every desired color and size!
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10 | RL1012
Located in Amsterdam’s Stoofsteeg, surrounded by window brothels this typical sex shops offers anything from sex toys to DVD’s. lingerie, sexy costumes and shoes and fetish wear.
FAQs
How old do you have to be to go into a sex shop in Holland?
In Holland, the age of 18 is considered to be the age of majority. This means that 18 is the minimum age for many things, including going into a sex shop. Sex shops in Holland are regulated by the government, and they are required to follow strict guidelines. This includes ensuring that all customers are over the age of 18. As a result, anyone who is under 18 will not be able to enter a sex shop in Holland. There are some exceptions to this rule, but they are rare. For example, if a person is accompanied by a parent or guardian, they may be able to enter the shop. However, this is not always the case, so it is best to err on the side of caution and wait until you are 18 before trying to enter a sex shop in Holland.
What are the advantages of an offline sex shop compared to an online sex shop?
While there are many advantages to shopping for sex toys online, there are also some advantages to shopping at an offline sex shop. One advantage of an offline sex shop is that you can see the products in person before you buy them. This can be especially helpful if you are unsure about a product and want to make sure it is the right size, shape, or color for you. Another advantage of an offline sex shop is that you can ask the staff members any questions you have about the products. This can be helpful if you are new to using sex toys and want to make sure you are using them safely and effectively. Finally, an offline sex shop can provide a more relaxing and comfortable environment than shopping online. This can be especially beneficial if you are feeling shy or embarrassed about purchasing sex toys.
What to buy at sex shop?
When it comes to shopping for sex toys, the most important thing is to find something that makes you feel comfortable and turns you on. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing a sex toy, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find something that works for you. If you’re not sure where to start, there are a few classic types of sex toys that are always popular: vibrators, dildos, and anal beads. Vibrators come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find one that fits your body and your preferences. Dildos provide a more traditional type of stimulation, while anal beads can be a fun way to experiment with new sensations. No matter what you choose, make sure to buy from a reputable source and Always read the instructions before use!
How to shop for sex toys on Amazon?
Sex toys are not something that you can just buy without doing any research. You need to know what you want and what is available. The best place to start your research on Amazon. There are many different sex toys available on Amazon, and you can find reviews for most of them. Once you have an idea of what you want, you can narrow down your search by price, brand, or material. When you have found a few sex toys that meet your criteria, it is time to read the reviews. Pay attention to both positive and negative reviews, as they can give you a good idea of the quality of the product. Once you have found a sex toy that you think is right for you, make sure to read the description carefully before making your purchase. This will ensure that you are getting what you expect. sex toys can be a great addition to any sex life, but it is important to do your research before purchasing one. By following these simple tips, you can be sure to find the perfect sex toy for you on Amazon.
ALSO DISCOVER:
Top 9 Sex Date Sites in Holland
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Nemo Science Museum: Embark on a Phenomenal Science Adventure
Nemo Science Museum in Amsterdam: All You Need To Know
Discover a world where science comes alive at Nemo Science Museum. Prepare to be captivated by interactive exhibits, mind-blowing experiments, and awe-inspiring discoveries.
https://www.tiqets.com/en/nemo-science-museum-tickets-l126545/?partner=arldtWhether you’re a science enthusiast, a curious mind, or a family seeking educational adventures, Nemo Science Museum offers an unforgettable experience that will ignite your passion for exploration.
Embark on a journey through the wonders of science as we delve into the museum’s remarkable exhibits, innovative architecture, and immersive visitor experience.
Get ready to unlock the mysteries of the universe and embrace the joy of learning in this ultimate guide to Nemo Science Museum.
1 | Introduction to Nemo Science Museum
Nemo Science Museum is a renowned science center located in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and serves as an exciting destination for science enthusiasts of all ages.
Since its establishment, the museum has been dedicated to making science accessible and engaging through interactive exhibits and educational activities.
The museum’s mission is to inspire visitors to explore the world of science, technology, and engineering in a fun and hands-on way.
2 | Interactive Exhibits and Hands-on Activities
One of the highlights of Nemo Science Museum is its extensive collection of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. From the moment you step inside, you’ll be immersed in a world of scientific exploration.
The museum offers a wide range of exhibits that cover various scientific disciplines, including biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
Visitors can experiment with light and sound, delve into the wonders of human anatomy, discover the principles of electricity, and even explore the mysteries of outer space.
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The hands-on activities at Nemo Science Museum provide visitors with an opportunity to engage directly with scientific concepts and principles.
Whether it’s conducting experiments, building structures, or solving puzzles, these activities encourage active learning and foster a sense of curiosity.
Children and adults alike can participate in workshops and demonstrations led by knowledgeable staff members, who are always ready to answer questions and offer guidance.
The interactive nature of the exhibits and activities ensures that visitors have a memorable and enriching experience.
3 | Special Exhibitions and Events
In addition to its permanent exhibits, Nemo Science Museum hosts a variety of special exhibitions and events throughout the year.
These temporary installations offer unique and in-depth explorations of specific scientific topics or themes. From exhibitions on biodiversity and climate change to showcases of groundbreaking technologies, there is always something new and exciting to discover at the museum.
Visitors planning a trip to Nemo Science Museum can look forward to a lineup of captivating exhibitions and events. Whether it’s a collaboration with a renowned scientific institution, a multimedia installation exploring the future of robotics, or a series of lectures by prominent scientists, these special offerings provide a fresh perspective on the world of science and keep the museum experience dynamic and ever-evolving.
4 | Architecture and Design
Nemo Science Museum is not only a hub of scientific exploration but also a remarkable architectural masterpiece. The museum is housed in a distinctive green copper building that resembles the shape of a ship, which is fitting considering Amsterdam’s historical ties to maritime exploration. The architectural design, created by Renzo Piano, showcases a harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetics.
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Inside the museum, visitors will find a thoughtful layout that optimizes the flow of exhibits and enhances the overall visitor experience. The spaces are filled with natural light, thanks to the extensive use of glass panels that offer panoramic views of the surrounding cityscape. The museum’s commitment to sustainability is evident through various eco-friendly features, such as solar panels and energy-efficient systems, making it a model for sustainable architecture.
5 | Visitor Experience and Practical Information
Planning a visit to Nemo Science Museum is a seamless process, thanks to the visitor-friendly amenities and practical information provided. The museum is easily accessible via public transportation, with several tram and bus lines stopping nearby. Additionally, there are ample parking facilities for those traveling by car.
Upon arrival, visitors can obtain tickets at the entrance or conveniently purchase them online in advance. The museum offers different ticket options, including discounts for children, students, and families. It is advisable to check the museum’s website for up-to-date information on admission fees and opening hours, as they may vary throughout the year.
To enhance the visitor experience, Nemo Science Museum features various amenities on-site. From cafes and restaurants offering refreshments to gift shops where visitors can purchase science-themed souvenirs and educational toys, there are plenty of opportunities to relax, refuel, and take home a piece of the museum experience. The museum also prioritizes accessibility, with facilities and services catering to visitors with special needs.
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For those looking to make the most of their visit, it’s worth considering the nearby attractions and activities in the surrounding area. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, Nemo Science Museum is situated within walking distance of other notable landmarks, such as the National Maritime Museum and the Artis Royal Zoo. Visitors can easily combine their trip to the museum with a visit to these nearby attractions, creating a comprehensive and fulfilling exploration of Amsterdam’s cultural and scientific offerings.
Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a family looking for an educational adventure, or simply curious about the wonders of the world, Nemo Science Museum provides a definitive and immersive experience. By exploring the interactive exhibits, participating in hands-on activities, and delving into special exhibitions, visitors are sure to leave with a newfound appreciation for the marvels of science and a thirst for knowledge that extends beyond the museum’s walls.
6 | Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you spend at NEMO Science Museum?
What age is the NEMO museum for?
Is Nemo Science museum for adults?
Is NEMO rooftop free?
What time can you visit NEMO Science Museum?
What’s the address of NEMO?
The address of Nemo Science Museum is:
Nemo Science Museum Oosterdok 2 1011 VX Amsterdam The Netherlands
Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the museum is situated near the Oosterdokseiland neighborhood, overlooking the Oosterdok waterfront. It’s a prominent and easily accessible location, making it convenient for visitors to reach the museum via various modes of transportation.
How to get to NEMO Science Museum from the Red Light District?
To get from the Red Light District to Nemo Science Museum, you can follow these directions using Google Maps:
- Start by walking southeast on Oudezijds Voorburgwal toward Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
- Continue straight onto Sint Olofspoort.
- Turn right onto Sint Olofspoortsteeg and continue straight.
- Turn left onto Prins Hendrikkade.
- Continue walking straight on Prins Hendrikkade until you reach the pedestrian tunnel.
- Enter the pedestrian tunnel and continue walking straight.
- Exit the tunnel and turn right onto Oosterdokskade.
- Follow Oosterdokskade until you reach Nemo Science Museum on your left.
Discover the Magic of Madame Tussauds Amsterdam: A Guide for Visitors
Posted on: October 1, 2024
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam: The Ultimate Guide
History of Madame Tussauds and its arrival in Amsterdam
Madame Tussauds is a popular wax museum founded by Marie Tussaud in the late 18th century. Since then, it has become one of the most famous and recognizable attractions in the world. The Amsterdam branch of Madame Tussauds was opened in 1971 and has since become one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The museum features an impressive collection of over 200 lifelike wax figures of historical and contemporary celebrities, including musicians, actors, athletes, politicians, and even royalty.
Must-see attractions and exhibits at Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
Visitors to Madame Tussauds Amsterdam can expect to see a range of exciting exhibits and attractions. The museum’s main attraction is its collection of lifelike wax figures, including celebrities such as Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Brad Pitt, and Barack Obama, to name just a few. Other popular exhibits include the 4D cinema experience, where visitors can watch a short film featuring Marvel superheroes, and the Amsterdam room, where visitors can take photos of themselves in front of iconic Amsterdam landmarks.
Statues
Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam has a vast collection of wax figures that include famous celebrities, politicians, historical figures, and sports stars. Some of the most popular figures include Anne Frank, Barack Obama, Johnny Depp, David Beckham, Lady Gaga, and the Dutch Royal Family. The museum regularly updates its collection with new additions, so visitors can expect to see a mix of old favorites and new faces. Additionally, it has interactive exhibits that allow visitors to experience virtual reality, take photos with their favorite figures, and participate in other engaging activities.
Tips for visiting Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
Visiting Madame Tussauds Amsterdam can be an enjoyable experience, but it’s important to plan ahead to avoid the crowds. Visitors should consider purchasing tickets in advance to avoid the long queues, especially during peak season. Additionally, it’s a good idea to visit the museum early in the day or late in the evening to avoid the crowds. Visitors should also be aware that photography is not allowed in some parts of the museum, and they should be respectful of other visitors while taking photos.
Special events and promotions at Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
Throughout the year, it hosts a range of special events and promotions. These may include temporary exhibits featuring new wax figures, special discounts on tickets, or themed events to coincide with holidays or major sporting events. Visitors should check the museum’s website or social media pages to stay up-to-date with the latest events and promotions.
Other nearby attractions in Amsterdam
While visitors are likely to spend several hours exploring the museum, there are also many other nearby attractions that are worth a visit. These include the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijksmuseum, which are all within easy walking distance of the museum. Visitors can also take a stroll along the picturesque canals of Amsterdam or explore the city’s many cafes and restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, and what can I expect to see there?
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is a wax museum that features lifelike wax figures of celebrities, politicians, and other famous figures. Visitors can expect to see a wide range of figures, from movie stars to historical figures, and can take part in interactive experiences like photo opportunities and virtual reality adventures.
How do I buy tickets for Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, and what is the price?
Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Prices vary depending on the time of day and day of the week, but start at around €20 for adults and €16 for children.
Is it necessary to buy tickets in advance, or can I buy them at the door?
It is not necessary to buy tickets in advance, but it is recommended during peak tourist season and weekends to avoid long queues.
How do I get to Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, and what are my transportation options?
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is located in the heart of the city and is easily accessible by public transportation, including trams and buses. The nearest metro station is Rokin.
What are the opening hours of Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, and when is the best time to visit?
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is open every day of the year, with varying hours depending on the season. Generally, it is open from 10am to 7pm on weekdays and from 9:30am to 8pm on weekends.
Are there any special events or promotions happening at Madame Tussauds Amsterdam?
Check the website for information on any special events or promotions happening during your visit, including seasonal exhibits and holiday-themed experiences.
Can I take photos with the wax figures, and are there any restrictions on photography?
Yes, visitors are encouraged to take photos with the wax figures, but flash photography is not allowed in certain areas. It is recommended to use a smartphone or camera without flash.
How long should I plan to spend at Madame Tussauds Amsterdam?
It is recommended to plan for at least 1-2 hours to fully experience Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, but visitors can take as long as they want to explore the exhibits and interactive experiences.
Is there a coat check or storage area for my bags and belongings?
There is a cloakroom available, where visitors can store their coats and bags for a small fee.
Are there any restaurants or cafes at Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, or nearby?
There are several restaurants and cafes in the area surrounding Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, including popular chains like Starbucks and McDonald’s. Majestic on Dam Square is also a popular restaurant & bar. The museum also has a gift shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs and snacks.
Madame Tussauds Review
In our opinion, Madame Tussauds Amsterdam is a unique and entertaining attraction that offers visitors a chance to interact with lifelike wax figures of famous personalities from all over the world. The attention to detail and quality of the wax figures is impressive, and we find that visitors of all ages can enjoy taking photos and selfies with their favorite celebrities. The interactive exhibits, such as the Marvel superheroes experience, the Amsterdam dungeon and virtual reality experiences, add an extra layer of excitement to the visit. Additionally, the location of the museum in the heart of the Dutch capital makes it easily accessible and a great addition to any Amsterdam itinerary.
However, we believe that the admission prices are a bit steep, especially during peak tourist season. The lines to enter the museum can also be quite long, even with pre-purchased tickets, so we recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds. Overall, we find Madame Tussauds Amsterdam to be a fun and entertaining attraction that is worth a visit for anyone interested in pop culture and celebrity figures.
Is Breeze Social Worth Trying In 2025? A Full Review Of The Dutch Dating App
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Ultimate Breeze Social Review
Breeze is revolutionizing the modern dating scene with an innovative approach focused on taking things offline. With technology developed by a team of experienced Delft students, Breeze encourages users to prioritize dates over swipes; offering four profiles in an evening and instantly suggesting local spots for face-to-face meetups if there’s a match! Dating has never been this human or easy – all you need now is courage.
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Breeze Social is a dating app that was created with the idea of bringing people together through shared interests and experiences. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices, and can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Breeze Social is designed to be an enjoyable and engaging platform that helps users find meaningful connections with others.
Advantages of Breeze Social
- Interest-based Matchmaking: Breeze Social matches users based on shared interests, allowing for more meaningful connections and conversations.
- Events and Group Activities: The app allows users to join and create events and group activities, allowing for a fun and interactive experience.
- Quality Users: Breeze Social verifies users’ identities, ensuring that they are real people who are genuinely looking for connections.
Features of Breeze Social
- Profile Customization: Users can create a unique profile by adding photos and information about their interests and hobbies.
- Matching System: The app uses a sophisticated matching system that takes into account users’ interests, preferences, and activity on the app.
- Chat: Breeze Social provides a secure and private chat function for users to communicate with each other.
- Events: Users can join or create events, allowing for a fun and interactive experience.
- Group Activities: The app allows users to join or create group activities, which are a great way to meet new people and have fun.
How It Works?
Looking for a date made easier? Breeze is the answer! Simply receive profiles every day that fit your preferences, choose to meet them in real life if you like what you see and quickly arrange dates with no awkward chat involved – breeze organizes all the details so just show up at the designated time. Get ready for an effortless dating experience!
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Availability
This dating app is mainly used in the Netherlands since Breeze Social was launched there in 2019, which is also evident from Ahrefs data. You can easily find a date, especially in the larger cities. Breeze Social is available worldwide and can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. The app is available in several languages, including Dutch, English, Spanish, French, and German.
What Does Breeze Cost?
Prices: Take your social life to new heights with Breeze! Discover a unique and exciting way of connecting with others safely – all at no cost. Up the ante by going on one of their walking dates for just 5 euros per person, or if you choose to meet up in an affiliated café when they reopen, receive the first welcome drink free alongside 7.50 euro entry fee each.
Breeze Social empowers singles to meet offline and find love. We take a small margin on date organization, making our goal the same as yours: true connections in real life!
Requirements
The Breeze Social platform is dedicated to providing singles with a safe, secure and engaging environment. To ensure only the best quality profiles exist on our site, stringent requirements are in place – no photos featuring sunglasses or without shirts allowed; group shots cannot be used either. Those who show interest three times but don’t follow up have their access removed from the network. Moreover, people can create an even more specific search for potential matches through labeling themselves as ‘plant lovers’ or enjoying both gaming and men – “gaymers”.
- Apple: To experience all of the features, iOS 12.1 or above is required to maximize your enjoyment.
- Android: For the best experience, we recommend Android users to utilize a device with an operating system of 7.0 or higher.
Who are the founders of Breeze?
Joris van Doorninck and Marsha Goei are the dynamic duo that founded Breeze Social. Joris and Marsha originally hail from The Netherlands and have been inseparable since their days at Delft University of Technology. With Joris’ tech savvy and Marsha’s business acumen, they were able to combine forces and create a successful startup. Together Joris and Marsha continue to work on building a better future for social media marketing with Breeze Social as their passion project. The company currently has 15 employees.
Which dating app is right for me?
Breeze Social is the ideal online dating app for those seeking to find their perfect match and more. Breeze Social distinguishes itself from other dating apps with its datepicker feature, allowing users to plan a date without having to chat first. Breeze Social is easy to use and provides members with multiple options for finding someone that fits their preferences and desires, allowing them to make meaningful connections on their own terms. There has never been a better time or place for singles to find someone that is the right fit for them, making Breeze Social the perfect choice in online dating apps.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Breeze Social is a dating app that is designed to bring people together through shared interests and experiences. The app offers a unique and engaging platform that allows users to find meaningful connections with others. With its sophisticated matching system, secure chat function, and fun events and group activities, this is a great option for anyone looking to find love, make new friends, or just have fun.
Do you prefer an exciting and unforgettable date without any obligations? Then discover the 9 best sex dating sites in the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Implements Strict Weed Ban: €100 Fine for Smoking in Red Light District
Posted on: May 25, 2023
Breaking: New Amsterdam Law Targets Weed Smoking in Red Light District
From today you can get a fine of 100 euros for smoking weed in the Red Light District.
As of today, weed is no longer allowed on the street in the city center of Amsterdam. The rule is intended to reduce nuisance caused by drug use in public spaces, especially by tourists.
The ban applies to the Red Light District, Dam Square, Damrak and Nieuwmarkt. Anyone who lights a joint there and ignores a first warning can be fined 100 euros. The same applies to residents. Terraces of coffee shops are excluded.
Large signs were put up in the city center this week to point out the ban and the fine to people. The municipality previously warned that if the nuisance caused by a smoking ban does not decrease enough, “we will also look into the possibilities of banning smoking on terraces at coffee shops in the area”.
At the end of last year, the municipality presented the measures to reduce the nuisance caused by tourists in the Red Light District. Other measures mentioned earlier are tightening the alcohol sales ban and closing catering and red light windows earlier.
Forecast Number of Tourists
The Amsterdam city council determined that additional measures must be taken if the expected number of overnight stays in Amsterdam exceeds 18 million in 2023. That number may be reached this year and from 2024 more than 20 million visitors are expected in Amsterdam every year.
Other measures Amsterdam Red Light District
To tackle the nuisance in the Red Light District, the city council wants to tighten the closing times on weekend nights. This is done at the request of the residents.
Catering establishments must then close at 2 am, with no new visitors being admitted from 1 am. Window prostitution should close at 3am. According to alderman Mbarki, residents get rest earlier on weekends.
Alcohol has been banned in the Red Light District for years. Recently, the restrictions on alcohol sales by shops, cafeterias and liquor stores in the Red Light District have also been tightened and the closing times for the catering industry and prostitution have been brought forward. The so-called ‘Stay Away’ campaign was also started to keep nuisance tourists away.
Park & Ride Amsterdam Decoded: Effortless Parking & Transport in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Unlocking the Secrets of P+R Amsterdam: A Comprehensive Guide for Visitors
Are you planning a visit to Amsterdam and concerned about parking and transportation? Look no further! Welcome to the ultimate P+R Amsterdam guide, where we unravel the secret to stress-free exploration in the city.
Parking and traffic congestion can be a nightmare, but with P+R Amsterdam, you can save on parking fees, enjoy discounted public transport, and effortlessly navigate the city’s bustling center.
Get ready to uncover the ultimate solution that will make your Amsterdam experience smooth, cost-effective, and truly memorable.
Introduction to P+R Amsterdam
P+R Amsterdam, also known as Park & Ride Amsterdam, is a highly convenient parking and transportation solution designed to facilitate easy access to the vibrant city for visitors.
Located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, P+R facilities provide affordable parking options combined with discounted public transportation fares, making it an ideal choice for those who want to avoid the hassle and expense of parking in the city center.
Whether you’re traveling by car or arriving at the airport, P+R Amsterdam offers a seamless transition into the heart of Amsterdam.
Locations and Facilities
P+R Amsterdam boasts multiple strategically located facilities that cater to visitors’ needs.
Each P+R location is carefully situated near major public transportation hubs, allowing travelers to seamlessly switch from their private vehicles to efficient modes of public transport.
Some notable P+R locations include P+R ArenA, P+R Sloterdijk, and P+R Zeeburg. These facilities offer ample parking capacity, including both covered and open-air parking spaces, ensuring a safe and secure environment for vehicles.
Moreover, P+R Amsterdam facilities are equipped with essential amenities to enhance visitors’ experience. Many sites offer 24-hour access, providing flexibility for those arriving or departing at any time.
Furthermore, some locations feature electric vehicle charging stations, promoting sustainable transportation options. Additionally, P+R facilities are well-maintained and monitored to ensure a comfortable and reliable parking experience for all users.
Cost & Eligibility
Understanding the cost structure and eligibility criteria of P+R Amsterdam is crucial for maximizing its benefits. When using P+R Amsterdam, parking rates are significantly lower compared to inner-city parking fees. Moreover, visitors who utilize the P+R facilities are eligible for discounted public transportation fares when traveling to and from the city center. This provides an economical and efficient way to explore Amsterdam’s many attractions without worrying about parking costs or traffic congestion.
To avail of the discounted public transportation fares, visitors must meet certain eligibility requirements. Typically, this includes parking for a minimum duration at the P+R facility and using an OV-chipkaart, a rechargeable smart card used for public transportation in the Netherlands. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the specific terms and conditions of each P+R location, as eligibility criteria may vary slightly.
Benefits and Tips
Opting for P+R Amsterdam offers several benefits to visitors. One of the key advantages is the significant cost savings compared to parking in the city center. By utilizing the discounted public transportation fares, visitors can explore Amsterdam without the worry of high parking fees. P+R Amsterdam also contributes to reducing traffic congestion in the city center, as visitors are encouraged to park their vehicles on the outskirts and utilize public transportation for their onward journey.
To make the most of your P+R Amsterdam experience, it is advisable to arrive early, especially during peak tourist seasons, to secure a parking spot. Popular P+R locations tend to fill up quickly, and availability can be limited. Furthermore, it’s important to understand the validation process for obtaining discounted public transportation tickets, as this may vary depending on the P+R location. Familiarize yourself with the specific instructions provided at the facility, ensuring a smooth transition from parking to public transportation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Park & Ride system in Amsterdam work?
The Park & Ride system in Amsterdam allows visitors to park their cars at designated P+R locations on the outskirts of the city and then continue their journey into the city center using public transportation. It encourages the use of affordable and convenient public transport options, such as trams, buses, and metro, by offering discounted fares to P+R users.
How to pay at P & R in Amsterdam?
Paying at P+R in Amsterdam is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Park your vehicle: Find an available parking spot at the designated P+R facility in Amsterdam.
- Take a parking ticket: Before leaving your vehicle, take a parking ticket from the entry ticket machine at the facility’s entrance. Keep this ticket safe as you’ll need it for payment later.
- Use public transportation: Once parked, you can proceed to use public transportation, such as trams, buses, or metro, to travel to your desired destinations in the city center.
- Return to the P+R facility: When you’re ready to leave, head back to the P+R facility where you parked your vehicle.
- Pay for parking: Locate the payment machines within the P+R facility. Insert your parking ticket into the machine and follow the instructions displayed on the screen.
- Receive the discounted rate: After payment, the machine will calculate the discounted parking fee based on your usage of public transportation. Pay the amount shown on the screen using cash or card.
- Exit the parking facility: Once the payment is completed, the machine will return your parking ticket. Keep this ticket with you and use it to exit the P+R facility.
It’s important to note that payment methods and machines may vary slightly between different P+R locations. Therefore, always refer to the specific instructions provided at the facility or consult the signage for accurate guidance on payment procedures.
What are the different P+R locations available in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has several P+R locations strategically located around the city. Some popular P+R facilities include P+R ArenA, P+R Sloterdijk, and P+R Zeeburg. Each location provides parking spaces and easy access to public transportation.
Can I use Park & Ride facilities if I’m arriving at Amsterdam Airport?
Yes, you can use P+R facilities if you’re arriving at Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol). The P+R facilities at Schiphol offer parking spaces specifically for long-term parking. From there, you can take public transportation, such as trains or buses, to reach the city center.
What are the parking rates at P+R Amsterdam and how do they compare to inner-city parking?
The parking rates at P+R Amsterdam are significantly lower compared to inner-city parking fees. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the daily parking rate at P+R facilities was €1 or €8 per 24 hours (including public transportation for up to five people). However, please note that parking rates may change over time. It’s advisable to check the official website of P+R Amsterdam or consult updated sources for the most accurate and current information.
How can I validate my discounted public transportation ticket when using P+R Amsterdam?
To validate your discounted public transportation ticket, you need to follow the instructions provided at the specific P+R facility. Generally, you should park your vehicle, take a public transportation ticket from the machine at the P+R facility, and keep it safe. When you return to the facility, insert the parking ticket and public transportation ticket into the payment machine to receive the discounted rate.
Are there any tips or recommendations for maximizing the benefits of using Park & Ride in Amsterdam?
To make the most of your Park & Ride experience in Amsterdam, consider the following tips:
- Arrive early: P+R facilities can fill up quickly, especially during peak tourist seasons. Arriving early increases your chances of finding an available parking spot.
- Check eligibility requirements: Familiarize yourself with the specific eligibility criteria, such as the minimum duration of parking and the use of an OV-chipkaart, to ensure you qualify for discounted public transportation fares.
- Plan your route: Use public transportation maps and schedules to plan your journey from the P+R facility to your desired destinations in Amsterdam.
- Keep track of opening hours: Be mindful of the opening hours of the P+R facility to ensure you can access your vehicle upon return.
- Consider alternatives: Depending on your specific needs, exploring other transportation options, such as biking or walking, may be a viable alternative to get around Amsterdam efficiently.
Top 10 Erotic Massage in Amsterdam & Holland in 2025
Top 10 Sex Massage in Amsterdam
BOOK SEX MASSAGE NOW >A sex massage or erotic massage in Amsterdam can be an exciting and liberating experience. Especially when you’re stressed. But choosing the right one can be a daunting task.
If you’re in the Dutch capital and looking for an unforgettable sensual experience, you might be wondering where to start. The good news is, we’ve done the research for you!
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best sex massages in Amsterdam to help you find the perfect place for your erotic adventure.
So, forget the stress and uncertainty, and let’s dive into the top options for a truly pleasurable experience.
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A tense body and stress in the body causes pain and fatigue. This can really ruin your day. To get rid of this, it is important to relax properly.
A good massage can solve this! This list contains 10 companies that offer a sex massage in Amsterdam for ultimate relaxation and a rested body.
Definition Erotic Massage
According to Wikipedia, an erotic massage is a massage technique with the aim of arousing or enhancing sexual feelings. Erotic massages are mainly aimed at the erogenous zones of the body to stimulate sexual desire.
It can be used by couples as foreplay or as part of their sexual lovemaking game.
But erotic massages can also be given by professionals who have learned for this and have gained a lot of experience in practice.
Top 10 Sex Massage in Amsterdam
All kinds of sex massage in Amsterdam are possible for you to enjoy. Here are some options:
1 | Desire Escorts
Desire Escorts offers more than 40 professional female masseuses who offer sex massages. After the massage you can top off the experience with some extraordinary sex with one of these handsome women.
Desire Escorts offers this option to its clients. If you don’t like oils all over your body, this is a very good massage option for you.
We recommend using their service about two hours. This way you can take your time and enjoy your company in peace. Click on the link below to see all the women, possibilities, prizes and reservations.
BOOK SEX MASSAGE >
2 | Erotic Massage Amsterdam
If you’re looking for an erotic Asian massage then we would recommend this Thai Massage Amsterdam.
For those who are unfamiliar with an erotic Thai Massage; during a session the masseuse uses gentle pressure and stretching techniques so that your whole body gets relaxed.
The Thai massage technique is originally actually from India.
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3 | Escorts In Rotterdam
If you’re staying in Holland’s second biggest city Rotterdam, the women at Escorts In Rotterdam are probably your best option. This company offers erotic massages with an added option for a happy ending.
During an erotic massage the masseuse focuses on your erogenous zones with the sole purpose of relaxing and arousing you. If you’d like they also offer a happy end to relieve all that built op pressure.
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4 | Massage Near Amsterdam Airport
Looking for some sensual relaxation and release between flights near Amsterdam Airport? Escorts In Schiphol has great massage services!
Enjoy an horny sex massage from an experienced and gorgeous escort. This professional escort company offers more than just the basics.
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5 | Sex Massage in Amsterdam At Escort Angels
Contact Escort Angels for a high quality Nuru massage. Nuru is an erotic massage technique originally from Japan. Translated Nuru means slippery/ smooth.
You might have an idea where this is going. During a Nuru massage one or more masseuse rub their body against yours. This happens after you and the masseuse are both covered with and odourless and tasteless massage oil.
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6 | Escort Amsterdam
At Escort Amsterdam they offer full Body 2 Body massages. Your entire body is massaged, with time the masseuse will just move a little bit further until her entire body rubs against yours.
If you ask nicely you might even get that special happy treatment with her hands.
BOOK HORNY MASSAGE >
7 | Amsterdam Finest
The female masseuses at Amsterdam Finest offer you the best sensual and tantra massages (loving touch with full attention and presence). You can give them a call at any time, night or day. This company is known for the gorgeous women that they employ. Don’t miss out!
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8 | Double Sex Massage in Amsterdam at Passion Escort
If you find it hard to pick just one masseuse and prefer two, Passion Escorts offers you the 4 hands option. Experience two different massage techniques simultaneously.
One woman will massage away all the tension from your muscles whilst the other takes special care of the more intimate parts of your body. Guaranteed relaxation!
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9 | Massage In Rotterdam Netherlands
Another great service for those staying in or close to Rotterdam. This business offers sex massages in the Netherlands like: body 2 body, tantric, Thai, Nuru, you name it!
Contact them easily and discreetly via the chat option on their website. Experience a relaxing massage that is tailored to your personal needs and desires.
DISCOVER ALL MASSAGES >
10 | Erotic Massage Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Last but not least this company offers sex massages near Amsterdam Airport. It knows how to provide every erotic massage option that you can imagine. They offer their services 24/7.
Prices start at 150,- per hour. Discover their website for further details.
BOOK AIRPORT MASSAGE >Body 2 body massage
A body 2 body massage is a type of massage that involves the body of the masseuse being in direct contact with the body of the client. The masseuse will typically use her hands, body, and/or feet to massage the client, often using long, smooth strokes. The purpose of a body 2 body massage is to promote relaxation and physical intimacy between two people. It can also be used as a form of foreplay or as a way to increase sexual arousal. Body 2 body massages are typically done without clothing, although some people may prefer to keep their underwear on. If you’re interested in trying a body 2 body massage, be sure to find a masseuse who is experienced in this type of massage and who you feel comfortable being naked with.
BOOK SEX MASSAGE NOW >Thai massage
Thai massage is an ancient healing art that has its origins in India. It is often referred to as “yoga for lazy people” because it is a passive form of yoga, meaning that the therapist does all the work and the client simply relaxes and enjoys the benefits. Thai massage is based on the principle of sen, or energy lines, which are said to run through the body. Thai massage uses a variety of pressure points and stretching movements to stimulate these energy lines and promote healing. It is said to be beneficial for a number of health conditions, including muscle pain, headaches, and stress. Thai massage is usually done on a mat on the floor, with the client wearing loose-fitting clothing. It is best to avoid eating before a Thai massage, as the therapist may use pressure points on the stomach. Thai massage typically lasts for 60-90 minutes.
Sensual massage
A sensual massage is a type of massage that focuses on providing pleasure and arousal for its recipient. Unlike traditional massages, sensual massages are not intended to relieve pain or tension but rather to promote relaxation and sexual arousal. To this end, sensual massages often incorporate elements of erotic play, such as sensual touching, kissing, and body-to-body contact. While sensual massages can be enjoyed by people of all genders and orientations, they are often seen as particularly pleasurable for people who identify as women. If you’re interested in exploring the world of sensual massage, there are numerous resources available to help you get started.
4 hands massage
A 4 hands massage is a type of massage where two masseuses work on the same client at the same time. The two masseuses will usually coordinate their movements in order to provide a more fluid and relaxing experience. There are a number of benefits to receiving a 4 hands massage, including increased relaxation and improved blood circulation. In addition, the extra set of hands can help to target specific areas of tension, resulting in a more effective massage. If you’re looking for a truly unique and relaxing experience, a 4 hands massage is well worth considering.
BOOK SEX MASSAGE NOW >
Nuru massage
Nuru is a Japanese massage technique in which practitioners use their bodies to massage clients. Nuru gel, made from seaweed, is applied to the client’s body before the massage begins. The therapist then uses their body to slide over the client’s, providing a deep and stimulating massage. Nuru massages are said to be highly effective in relieving stress and tension. They are also believed to boost circulation and promote relaxation. Nuru massages are typically performed nude, as this allows for maximum skin contact. However, some therapists may choose to wear a bathing suit or other clothing if the client is uncomfortable with nudity.
Oil massage
An oil massage is a massage where hot or cold oil is used. The type of oil used can vary depending on the person’s preference and what is being treated. Some common oils used include olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and almonds oil. A hot oil massage is often used to relieve pain and tension. The heat helps to increase circulation and relax the muscles. A cold oil massage can be used to reduce inflammation and swelling. It is also often used to reduce muscle spasms. Oil massages are beneficial for the skin as they help to lock in moisture and improve skin elasticity.
Tantra massage
Tantra massage is a type of massage that uses tantric principles to achieve a mystical experience. The purpose of Tantra massage is to activate the Kundalini energy, which is said to be located at the base of the spine. By stimulating this energy, it is believed that one can achieve a higher state of consciousness. Tantra massage often includes elements of yoga and meditation, as well as gentle touch and pressure. It is said to be beneficial for both the mind and body, and can be used to help heal past traumas. Tantra massage is typically performed by a trained practitioner in a safe and sacred space. If you are interested in exploring this type of massage, it is important to find a qualified practitioner who can provide you with the guidance and support you need.
Sex massage with happy ending
A happy ending massage is a type of massage that is typically used to help clients relax and relieve stress. The massage usually includes long, flowing strokes, but may also incorporate other techniques such as kneading or rubbing. The happy ending refers to the fact that the massage often culminates in a sexual release for the client. While happy endings are not strictly illegal, they are often seen as controversial due to their sexual nature. As a result, happy ending massages are typically only offered by certain types of massage businesses. If you are interested in receiving a happy ending massage, it is important to do your research and choose a reputable provider.
All the best sex massage in Amsterdam services in this list work with escorts. If you want to know more about this, read these free & useful tips on how to use the services of escorts in Amsterdam.
Below we give you 10 options for sex massages in Amsterdam including great tips for the best experience.
Massage Tips For Clients
There are a few general tips that can help you get the most out of your erotic massage experience. First and foremost, try to relax and let go of any nervousness or anxiety you may be feeling. Remember, your provider is a professional and is there to help you feel good.
You may also want to focus on enhancing pleasure during the massage by taking deep breaths, focusing on the sensations in your body, and communicating with your provider about what feels good. Try to maintain a positive and respectful attitude throughout the experience. By treating your provider with kindness and respect, you can help to ensure a safe and enjoyable massage experience for everyone involved.
Another good and simple massage tip is to take a shower in advance. Do this in your hotel, accommodation or at home. A shower beforehand will make you feel fresh and clean, but more importantly: it ensures that no “filth” is massaged into your skin.
In addition, make sure there’s a freshly made bed and fresh towels. With these tips in mind the massage will be most pleasant for you and the masseuse.
Understanding the Legal Landscape
The Netherlands is known for its relatively liberal views on sex work, but there are still laws and regulations that apply to erotic massage providers. For example, the age of consent in the Netherlands is 16, meaning that it is illegal to engage in sexual activities with anyone under that age. Additionally, massage parlors and independent masseuses must be licensed in order to operate legally.
As a customer, it’s important to be aware of these legal considerations and to ensure that you are only seeking services from licensed and reputable providers. This can help to ensure your safety and reduce the risk of any legal issues arising from your massage experience.
Communicating Your Needs
Effective communication is key to ensuring that you have a positive and satisfying erotic massage experience. Before your massage, it’s important to communicate your needs and desires with your provider so that they can tailor the massage to your preferences. This might include discussing the type of massage you want, any particular areas of the body you want to focus on, and any specific techniques or styles you prefer.
During the massage, it’s also important to communicate with your provider if anything feels uncomfortable or if you want them to adjust their technique in any way. Remember, your provider wants you to have a good experience and will likely be happy to adjust the massage to better meet your needs.
Understanding Boundaries
While an erotic massage can be an incredibly intimate and pleasurable experience, it’s important to remember that boundaries are still important. Your provider is a professional offering a service, and it’s important to treat them with respect and kindness throughout the massage.
It’s also important to respect your provider’s boundaries and to avoid any behavior that could be seen as disrespectful or inappropriate. This might include asking for sexual favors or touching your provider without their consent.
At the same time, it’s important to set and communicate your own boundaries during the massage. If there are certain areas of your body that you don’t want your provider to touch, for example, it’s important to communicate this clearly before the massage begins.
Conclusion
There are at least 10 companies that offer sex massages in Amsterdam. It’s relatively easy to get this sorted out. It is best to book these services online with the above professional companies.
Do you not like the above organizations? Then you can of course always visit De Wallen. Some sex workers also offer sex massages. It is best to ask the ladies behind the red-lit windows if they want to give you this kind of massage.
ALSO READ:
Amsterdam Red Light District Prices
Best Moments To Have Amazing Sex
Top 6 Moments To Have Sex
Sex is an important part of life, but it can be difficult to make time for it or to know when you should have it. When are the best times to have sex with your lover or sex date?
We collected data from various studies on the best times of day to have sex and put it all in one place so that you can improve your sex life, whether you’re single or in a relationship.
As far as we’re concerned, it’s always a good time for sex. Well. Almost always then. Fortunately, there is the science to give that last push. Various studies have been done at which times of the day you should have sex best and why.
1 | Before An Important Presentation
Do you have an exciting presentation ahead of you? Then, according to scientists, it may not be unwise to have sex. For example, sex not only lowers blood pressure, but a study (published in Biological Psychology) also showed that people who had sex before a major achievement were less stressed and therefore performed better.
Having a healthy sex life has been linked to less stress overall. While many view sex as primarily a physical, intimate act, research suggests that it has psychological benefits too. For example, increased oxytocin and endorphins are released when having sex, which can boost mood and reduce cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for activating our “fight-or-flight” responses in the presence of stress. Clearly, regular sex is beneficial in lessening the impact of stress on our bodies and minds. Moreover, there is evidence that it may even increase relationship satisfaction among couples due to its potential for creating emotional intimacy. In this way, engaging with your partner in healthy sexual activity can be seen as an effective tool for relieving or preventing stress.
2 | In the early morning
Since the testosterone level in men has reached its peak in the morning, according to various studies it would be better to have sex in the morning. This is because testosterone plays a crucial role in male physiology; it helps to regulate hormone balance and metabolic processes, enabling muscle growth and boosts libido. The higher testosterone levels can help men cope better with stress during intense activities like physical exercise or work pressure. Additionally, the surge of testosterone can increase energy and alertness, allowing for better productivity or heightened focus during this period of enhanced testosterone production.
However, this women works just a little differently…
3 | When you feel sick
Do you feel a flu coming on? Then it’s time to crawl into bed… With your (bed) partner or sex date. According to science, sex gives a huge boost to your immune system.
Though it may sound like an old wives’ tale, a recent study suggests that having frequent sex could cure the flu. The study, conducted by researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, examined the sexual habits of student volunteers and compared them to those who tested positive for the flu. It was discovered that those students who had sex twice or three times a week were significantly less likely to have contracted the virus compared to those who did not engage in regular sexual activity. Though this study has yet to be independently corroborated, it strongly suggests that having regular sex may be able to cure the flu.
By the way, it doesn’t matter who you have sex with. Whether this is your partner, an acquaintance, date or even sex worker. Sex cures flu. This is evident from the above study.
4 | On the 14th day…
No, we’re not quoting a Christmas carol here: we’re talking about the 14th day of a her menstrual cycle. According to Women’s Health, by the 14th day of your cycle, your clitoris is 20% larger and swells sooner. In other words: there is no greater chance of having a (great) orgasm.
How to calculate your cycle?
Calculating your cycle and ovulation can be an important step in understanding what your body needs. Knowing the length of your cycle will help you figure out when you are likely to be most fertile, which is important for anyone who is trying to conceive or wants to avoid getting pregnant. A cycle typically lasts around 28 days, though it can range from 24-35 days in different people and may vary from month to month. To calculate cycle and ovulation, track the first day of bleeding during each cycle, count the number of days until the next period begins, and note any changes in cycle length. In addition to tracking cycle length, you can also track readiness for ovulation by noting signs like changes in cervical mucus and a rise in body temperature. Taking these steps can help ensure that you are able to accurately time activities such as intercourse in order to increase the chances of conception or avoidance thereof.
5 | After a workout
Our advice: keep some energy left after exercise! If you have worked up a sweat in the gym, it is also advisable to work up a sweat between the sheets. For example, the blood flow to your vagina is said to be as much as 169% higher after exercise. One hundred and sixty-nine percent. OMG!
6 | When you’re scared
If you have watched a scary movie with your sweetheart, we strongly recommend ending the evening and to have sex. Why? When you’re scared, your blood flows faster through your body, which makes you more excited (thank you, adrenaline). And honestly: it’s also just very nice to lie in his arms after such a scary movie.
Why do men fall asleep after sex?
After sex, many men succumb to tiredness and experience an especially heavy sleep cycle. This is believed to be the result of a number of physiological reactions related to post-coital relaxation, most notably the release of hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin is thought to play a part in satiating sexual desire and helping men reach a calm state – both mentally and physically – while oxytocin far surpasses its role in the reproductive system and aids in feelings of contentment and relaxation. This feeling of intense calm has been linked with increased likelihood for sleep, thus reinforcing why men tend to slip asleep after intimacy with their partners.
Conclusion
It’s healthy to have sex and now you know the best times to have sex. By following these tips, you can lower your blood pressure, avoid stress and colds and live a healthier life. And for more interesting articles like this one, be sure to check out the links below.
10 Things You Need To Know About High Class Escorts in 2025
Posted on: March 1, 2025
Ultimate High Class Escort Guide
Definition
A high class escort is a professional companion who provides a variety of social and personal services to clients in exchange for financial compensation.
These services may include companionship, conversation, intimacy, and other activities that may be agreed upon between the escort and the client.
High class escorts are typically well-educated, well-spoken, and well-groomed, and may be sought after by clients who are looking for a sophisticated and luxurious experience.
It is important to note that escort services are not the same as prostitution, and the law treats them differently in many places. Engaging in any illegal activity, including prostitution, is not condoned or encouraged.
What does a high class escort cost?
When it comes to the cost of hiring a high class escort, prices vary depending on the type of services and time requested.
High class escorts can typically range anywhere from 200-500 euros an hour, but 2 hours are often offered for 700 euros.
The cost of a high class escort reflects their prestige in the industry, as such companions possess a unique combination of physical beauty and attitude that is invaluable.
Order High Class Escort
How to book a lady of paid love? Well, finding high class escorting services in Amsterdam is easy.
Thanks to highclassescortsamsterdam.com, you can book high quality sex service online with beautiful and charming models that can accompany you in hotel, dinner or party.
This escort agency offer a variety of services and you can even look up to their website to find the best escort that suits your needs.
All their escorts are high class and they come with years of experience in providing customers with high quality company during dinners, parties and other special events. Whether it’s a romantic setting or business purpose, highclassescortsamsterdam.com has the finest escorts that will make sure your time spent together is as pleasurable as possible.
What does an escort earn?
Their work is challenging and pays well. A high class escort earns at least 100 euros net per hour, but usually much more.” This is evident from a Dutch interview with the owner of a high class escort company in The Netherlands.
This is what the life of a high class escort looks like?
Being a high-class escort is far from what one might commonly envision. It’s not just men taking advantage of a quick sexual encounter with a privileged woman. In reality, it involves wealthy men seeking companionship, paying for the luxury of having considerate and interesting company while traveling to exotic destinations. An escort will accompany men on trips as well as dinners at expensive restaurants in hotels and private locations. Not only do these escorts provide physical pleasure, but they are also paid by men to talk about anything of interest, to discuss and share ideas, or simply be a part of special events. Being an escort provides an opportunity to experience life in the lap of luxury; however, it is also a job that should not be taken lightly since sex and expensive entertainment often come with it.
What’s the difference between a high class escort and a normal escort?
High class escorts are typically those who embody quality, luxury, and sophistication. They offer escort services to wealthy and affluent individuals in high-end settings involving glamorous activities such as attending galas or accompanying someone on a business trip. The cost of these escort services also tends to be higher due to the personalized attention and discreet conversations they provide. By contrast, a normal escort provides escort services of a more general nature in standard settings like a bar or club at an affordable price. It is important to note that both types of escort provide their clients with companionship, but with very different experiences.
What do high class escorts want to be called?
A high class escort is an accepted name in the sex industry. It is also fine and proper to use a sex worker. Another common term is ‘lady’. For example, employees of escort agencies sometimes ask customers: What kind of lady are you looking for?
Never call a high class escort a whore or hooker. That is not appreciated because it is disrespectful and unkind.
What kind of women are high class escorts?
The ‘high class escort industry’ is not always what it seems, is what Van der Velden wants to say. For example, ladies who are attracted to prostitution is not one type of woman. ,,It can be both hockey girls and glamor girls, even from the television world. However, all ladies can separate sex from love, very important in this profession.
What do women like so much about this escort work?
The Cosmopolitan also spoke to a high class escort in The Netherlands and asked this sex worker the same question, to which she replied:
Excitement, adventure and eroticism. No booking is the same. You experience incredibly special things, meet different people from different cultures who sometimes also have quite exciting erotic preferences. That makes it very nice for me to be a high class escort.
Another well-known Dutch media company also spoke to a high class escort, who said this:
“I’ve always been very curious about sexuality. It’s great to be able to experiment in this way. Moreover, I find it very exciting to have a kind of secret double identity. During the day I am an ambitious medical student, at night I visit dressed up in the fanciest hotels on my stilettos. The tension that comes with such a blind date over and over again is addictive.”
Benefits
Being a high class escort has its numerous advantages.
- Having freedom and independence
- The ability to make money and receive tips while travelling
- Going to dinner
- Meeting interesting people makes it an enjoyable job with amazing people and fun experiences.
- Free accommodation, meals, shopping money and sometimes even flights as part of your job
- Exciting work
Disadvantages
Being a high class escort has a number of potential downsides. Most notably, there is stigma associated with the profession, leaving those in it at risk of societal judgement, making their double life something people aren’t necessarily comfortable to talk about. This secret lifestyle can also cause emotional harm as keeping that big of a secret from loved ones can weigh heavily on one’s mind and soul. Additionally, being an escort can be just as addictive as any other work, drawing people towards the money, power and excitement sex work brings. Furthermore, there are risks of STD’s or worse when engaging in such encounters; even with precautionary measures it is impossible to completely rule out any danger. Being an escort is often a lonely job too – whether single or married, they are almost always alone during working hours while their family and friends go about their normal lives back home. To conclude, while world-class escorts receive plenty of luxury perks, they also have to face these six to nine disadvantages listed above.
De Wallen
Exploring the world of high-class escort services in Amsterdam opens up a conversation about the broader and more renowned aspect of the city’s nightlife, the Red Light District. This area’s rich history, cultural significance, and unique offerings provide a context within which the luxury escort scene operates. For a deeper understanding of this iconic area, delve into our exploration of the Red Light District’s history and current dynamics, offering insights into its global fame and local impact.
ALSO DISCOVER:
Top 9 Websites To Get Sex Dates in Holland
A Smoker’s Guide To Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2023
The Ultimate Smokers Friendly Guide
Amsterdam is a city known for its liberal attitudes and relaxed atmosphere, and this extends to its smoking policies. Whether you’re a smoker looking to enjoy a cigarette or a cigar, or a tourist looking to try some of the famous Dutch “coffee shops,” there are plenty of options available in Amsterdam. In this article, we will list 10 smokers-friendly places in Amsterdam that you can visit.
Top 10 Smokers Friendly Places
1 | Coffeeshop Rusland
Coffee Shop Rusland in Amsterdam is a cozy, smokers-friendly establishment that is popular with weed smokers from all over the world. Located near the famous Red Light District, it provides an inviting atmosphere for those looking to relax and enjoy a joint without facing judgment or stigma. Its reputation for excellent weed has made it a must-visit destination for visitors who are specifically looking for an authentic coffee shop experience. With comfortable seating and friendly staff, Rusland is the perfect spot to unwind after exploring the stunning city of Amsterdam.
2 | Grey Area
Known for its high-quality cannabis and wide selection of strains, Grey Area is a popular spot for smokers looking to try something new.
3 | Vondelpark
This large park is a popular spot for smokers looking to enjoy a cigarette, cigar or joint while taking in the sights and sounds of the city. Vondelpark is known for its beautiful landscapes and scenic views. There are several ponds, bridges, and paths that run through the park, and it’s dotted with trees, flowers, and other vegetation. It’s a popular place to go for a walk, jog, or picnic, and it’s also a great place to relax and unwind.
How to get to red light district from Vondelpark?
- Bicycle: Vondelpark is a popular starting point for cyclists, and you can easily ride a bicycle to the Red Light District. The journey should take around 15-20 minutes.
- Walk: If you prefer to walk, it will take you around 45 minutes to an hour to get to the Red Light District from Vondelpark. This is a nice option if you’re interested in seeing some of the other sights in Amsterdam along the way.
- Tram: You can also take a tram from Vondelpark to the Red Light District. The easiest option is to take tram line 1, 2 or 5 from the Vondelpark stop to the Dam Square stop, which is located in the heart of the Red Light District. The journey should take around 15-20 minutes.
Tip: Discover the 10 best Amsterdam apps to simplify your holiday in the Netherlands. There are some great, free public transport apps you should definitely have on your phone.
4 | The Bulldog
This is one of Amsterdam’s oldest coffee shops and is known for its relaxed atmosphere and wide selection of cannabis strains. Coffeeshop The Bulldog also has a bar and a souvenir shop.
5 | The Waterhole
This bar and live music venue is a popular spot for smokers, with an outdoor seating area where smoking is permitted.
6 | Club Chasse
This upscale cigar lounge is located in a historic building and offers a wide selection of cigars, as well as a bar and a lounge area.
7 | The Grand Cigar Lounge
Located in a luxurious hotel, this lounge offers a relaxing atmosphere and a wide selection of cigars and spirits.
8 | Hostel Flying Pig Downtown
This hostel is a popular spot for smokers, with designated smoking areas and a relaxed atmosphere.
9 | Hotel Casa Amsterdam
This hotel has designated smoking rooms and an outdoor smoking area. It also has a bar and a lounge area.
10 | Hotel The Manor Amsterdam
This hotel has designated smoking rooms and an outdoor smoking area. It also has a restaurant and a bar.
In summary, Amsterdam is a smoker-friendly city with plenty of options for smokers and tourists looking to enjoy a cigarette or a cigar. The city’s coffee shops, bars, cigar lounges, and hostels are popular spots, as well as the parks and gardens. Whether you’re looking for a casual or upscale smoking experience, Amsterdam has something to offer. Please keep in mind that smoking laws might have changed since my knowledge cut-off and it’s important to check the current regulations before smoking in public places.
Do you know other great smokers friendly places others should know about? Share it with the world by leaving a comment below.
11 First Date Tips For When You're Going Out With Someone In Amsterdam
Posted on: January 14, 2025
Preparing For A First Date: 11x Amsterdam Date Tips
You’ve met someone nice via a dating site. You have been exchanging messages and now it is time for the next step: a first date. How exciting! But of course you don’t want to show that you’re insecure.
If you don’t want to appear too nervous, it’s smart to prepare properly for your first date. You don’t want things to get awkward during the date, do you? You just need some good date tips. Discover below!
GET EXCITING DATE NOW! >
This article offers the solution! 10 super useful date tips which you can use in Amsterdam or anywhere else in the world. Discover it all below!
Fun to do during a date in Amsterdam: Search for a nice romantic spot, bring some drinks and have a talk.
11 First Date Tips For Men And Women
1 | Be prepared
One of the best date tips is to be well prepared. You have already taken the first good step by reading this article.
Make sure you are well rested on day of your first date. You don’t want to take the stress of work or travel with you during the date. You have to stay focused, so rest well.
Also, make sure you pay extra attention to your appearance: take a bath, take a long shower, shave, trim your nails and use some care products like day cream. If you look good you will feel better too. You radiate that and yes, your date will see that too!
2 | Wear nice clothes
Think carefully about which clothes you want to wear. Don’t wear old clothes, choose new, attractive clothes. In addition, it is very important that you wear clothes that you feel comfortable in. Don’t buy clothes for your date, buy clothes that you like.
Clothing tells a lot about your identity, and your date will remember that. If you’re not going to buy new clothes, at least make sure it’s washed and ironed.
3 | Choose a good location
Date tips: Canal cruise in Amsterdam Red Light District.
Do you want to prepare well for a first date? Then choose a nice location in Amsterdam! A good date location is not the same for everyone. A nice café or restaurant is always good but it’s not a super original idea. It can be noisy and challenging if the talking does not go smoothly. In that case you can also do something together. How about taking a canal cruise? Or you could visit a cinema (if you are a bit shy or nervous), but you can also do something.
Do you like photography? Then you could try the Eye Museum in Amsterdam! Are you a sporty person? Then you could rent some bikes and explore the city, or take a salsa lesson.
Also fun to do during a first date: Take an Amsterdam tour. It’s an original, educational & healthy activity. An additional advantage is that afterwards you have enough to talk about.
4 | Do not exaggerate
Going for a drink at a sunny terrace is always a safe choose. Make sure to check the weather forecast though.
Since you’re dating a stranger it might be a good idea to not overdo it. We don’t want to be too negative, but your first date doesn’t have to take the whole day or the whole evening – what if there isn’t a match?
I WANT A SEX DATE! >
Make your first date nice and short, and agree on this in advance. If it is great fun, you can always decide at that time to spend more time together. By determining the duration in advance, you also control the expectations.
“Good dating advice is not just about tricks or smooth phrases, but about the underlying principles that make you a more attractive person.“
5 | Make clear agreements
To-do-tip: Visit Pathe Tuchinski in Amsterdam. A beautiful, historical cinema.
Make clear agreements about the location and time in advance. You don’t want to keep waiting at the wrong restaurant, cinema, museum or park.
Also do not make vage appointments like “around 2 pm” or “4-ish”. That might cause discomfort and irritation, so make sure it is crystal clear where and when your date starts.
6 | Do some research
You don’t want to come across as a stalker, but doing a little research is never wrong. Immerse yourself in the interests and work of your date. This way you know what you can talk about during the date. It also saves discomfort if he or she starts talking about a job or a hobby that you have really never heard of.
One of the better date tips during a first date: Don’t overdo it and bring things smoothly during the date. For example: “On one of your social media pictures, I saw that you were playing tennis. Is this something you often do?” Do not say: “I know you like tennis.” That just sounds creepy!
In terms of research. Think upfront if you need a hotel in Amsterdam. If so, how much are you willing to spend on an accommodation. Don’t want to spend more than 100 euro per night? Then check out the 10 best cheap hotels in Amsterdam.
7 | Think about the way of greeting
Pre-corona it was normal for men and women in the Netherlands to greet each other with three kisses. That’s quite different as other countries.
Today it is normal to just wave or do an elbow greeting. Greeting someone can be awkward due to miscommunication. So think about the way you are going to greet your date.
Our date tip: announce your choice. Say for example: “Nice to meet you, I’m just going wave because that’s safest!” This will avoid that awkward moment when you may both make different greeting choices.
8 | Prepare questions
This is definitely one of the best date tips out there. You’ve already talked to each other via a chat but in real life it may be more difficult to keep a conversation going. Therefore, prepare some questions in advance. Questions about hobbies, travelling, the weather or sports are always good.
Do not about politics on a first date. That is not romantic at all.
Dating tip: Try to ask as many open questions as possible and add your opinion on those answers.
9 | Go to the bathroom beforehand
This might sounds weird but make sure you do “number two” at home. This will decrease the chance that this will happen unexpectedly during your date. You would rather avoid such an inconvenience, right?
10 | Remember his/her name
Dating tip: Repeat his / her name to make it easier to remember.
One of the most important date tips to remember. It probably won’t be a successful date if you forget the name of your date. It’s important to remember! You don’t want look like a dumb-ass, right?
Date Tip: when greeting each other, repeat that persons name and ask where the name comes from. Or just repeat the name and say you like it. By doing so you give a compliment and you remember the name better.
11 | Flirt during the date
Remember, you’re on a date – not a job interview. Relax! You are here together to explore each other. If you like the other person, show it by flirting: Listen carefully, smile, give compliments and look each other into the eyes.
I WANT A SEX DATE! >
Do you have any other good date tips? Please share them in the comment section below.
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5 Fun Things To Do In Amsterdam
15x Amsterdam Quiz Facts 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Amsterdam Quiz Facts
How much do you know about Amsterdam? Are you a true connoisseur or do you think you could come across as an Amsterdam expert by just guessing the right answers?
Put your knowledge to the test by answering these 15 Amsterdam quiz facts. Whether it is about the coffeeshops in Amsterdam, its history, legal sex work in Holland or other unique Dutch facts, we reckon you might learn some things about Holland’s capital you had no idea about before.
Let’s get down to it, answer these Amsterdam quiz facts and see if you’re an Amsterdam-expert.
Tip: Play these Amsterdam Quiz Facts with friends, your partner or colleagues. It’s more fun with others!
Amsterdam Quiz Facts Instructions
Grab a pen and a piece of paper, or write your answers in a note-taking app on your phone.
The answers can be found the bottom of this page. Don’t peak, play honest and check these after answering the quiz questions yourself.
1 | Which one is true?
A. Amsterdam has 164 coffeeshops.
B. The Red Light District has no inhabitants.
C. Rembrandt van Rijn got married in the Rijksmuseum.
D. Dutch people pay bicycle tax.
2 | Which one is true?
A. Holland is the smallest country in the world.
B. The minimum age to use cannabis in Holland is 16.
C. A cycling license in mandatory in Amsterdam.
D. Amsterdam’s oldest canal is in the Red Light District.
3 | Which one is true?
A. The Royal Palace is Amsterdam’s oldest building.
B. In 2019, 11% of all jobs were in tourism.
C. Amsterdam has 2 windmills.
D. Vincent Van Gogh designed Amsterdam’s Central Station.
4 | Which street is not in Amsterdam Red Light District?
A. Warmoesstraat.
B. Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
C. Zeedijk.
D. Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.
5 | Which one of these is not a Dutch beer brand?
A. Grolsch.
B. Skuumkoppe.
C. Hertog Jan.
D. Leffe.
6 | Which one is true?
A. Amsterdam’s oldest house is a gay club.
B. The Dutch use more cannabis than alcohol.
C. The Red Light District is closed on Sunday’s.
D. Amsterdam has 120 window brothels.
7 | Which one is not true?
A. In Amsterdam, it’s not allowed to hold your phone while cycling.
B. The mayor of Amsterdam is a woman.
C. Smoking tobacco in cannabis shops is not allowed.
D. The richest Dutch person is a man.
8 | Which one is true?
A. Amsterdam’s oldest non-religious building is The Waag.
B. World’s first gay marriage took place in Rotterdam.
C. In the Netherlands, maternity care is not provided at home.
D. Blue tulips can only be grown in the Netherlands.
9 | Which one is true?
A. Sex work is a tax-free profession in the Netherlands.
B. Amsterdam used to have a legal cocaine factory.
C. 69% of the Dutch smoke cannabis monthly.
D. Feyenoord is Amsterdam’s football club.
10 | Which one is true?
A. The Netherlands has 10 provinces.
B. The Seine is a river in Amsterdam.
C. STD-testing in the Netherlands is free for homosexuals and sex workers.
D. Amsterdam’s smallest park is in the Red Light District.
11 | Which one is not true?
A. The Dutch prime-minister is a woman.
B. Albert Cuyp is a market in Amsterdam.
C. The Red Light District is also known as De Wallen.
D. The wife of Rembrandt van Rijn was buried in De Oude Kerk.
12 | For which club did Johan Cruijf play his last match in 1984?
A. Washington Diplomats.
B. FC Barcelona.
C. Ajax.
D. Feyenoord.
13 | What is the most popular fruit among the Dutch?
A. Banana.
B. Kiwi.
C. Strawberries.
D. Apple.
14 | What is Ons Lieve Heer op Solder?
A. Something that Dutch people say when they are scared.
B. A statue in the Vondelpark.
C. A hidden church in the Red Light District.
D. The Dutch national anthem.
15 | Which one is true?
A. In the Netherlands you can have a maximum of 7 cannabis plants per household.
B. The Vecht is one of the three rivers in Amsterdam.
C. Mellow Yellow was Amsterdam’s first coffeeshop.
D. Amsterdam has 1.7 million inhabitants.
That was the last one of these Amsterdam quiz facts. Do you think you did well? How many questions do you think you answered correctly? 8 out of 15? 10 out of 15?
Amsterdam Quiz Facts Answers
Here are the right quiz answers!
1 = A
The exact number of coffeeshops in Amsterdam is currently 164. There used to be way more. In the 1990’s there were more than 400 coffeeshops in Amsterdam. (source)
2 = D
Amsterdam’s oldest canal is the Oudezijds Voorburgwal. It’s from 1385. (source)
3 = B
In 2019, pre-corona, 11% of all jobs in Amsterdam were in the tourism sector. (source)
4 = D
The Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal is located in the city centre, but not in the Red Light District. (source)
5 = D
Leffe is not a Dutch beer. (source)
6 = A
Believe it or not but Amsterdam’s oldest house is nowadays a gay club. It’s located in the Red Light District and dates back to 1485. (source)
7 = D
The richest Dutch person is a woman. It’s the daughter of Freddy Heineken and business-owner of world’s second largest beer-brewer. (source)
8 = A
Amsterdam’s second oldest building is The Waag which stands on the Nieuwmarkt. (source)
9 = B
From 1900 to the early 1960’s there used to be a real cocaine factory in Amsterdam, intended for medical use. (source)
10 = C
Sex workers and homosexuals can be tested for free on STD’s in the Netherlands.
11 = A
The prime-minister of the Netherlands is Mark Rutte. (source)
12 = D
Feyenoord was the last football club were Johan Cruijff played. He decided to play for Feyenoord because its revival Ajax did not offer him a contract. (source)
13 = D
Apples are the most eaten fruits among the Dutch. It’s healthy, tasty and easy to take with you. (source)
14 = C
Ons Lieve Heer op Solder is indeed a hidden Catholic church in the Red Light District. (source)
15 = C
In 1972 Amsterdam’s first coffeeshop was founded: Mellow Yellow (source)
Amsterdam Quiz Facts Score
Add up all your correct answers of this quiz to see how many questions you answered correctly. And? What’s your score of this quiz?
Please share the Amsterdam Quiz Facts with your friends and find who knows more about Amsterdam. Hit the sharing buttons below!
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Amsterdam Coffee Shop Ban For Tourists Proposed By Mayor Halsema
Posted on: April 11, 2022
Amsterdam Mayor Proposes Coffee Shop Ban For Tourists
Many of the major problems in Amsterdam are fed by the cannabis market, according to the municipality of Holland’s capital. From nuisance caused by drug tourism to serious crime and violence.
The Mayor, Police Chief and Public Prosecution Service propose to introduce the so-called resident criterion. With this proposal, foreign tourists would no longer have access to coffee shops due to a coffee shop ban. The Amsterdam mayor – Femke Halsema – is sticking to a coffee shop ban for tourists, despite the major impact on coffee shop entrepreneurs (and staff) and the risk of street crime.
Two tourists
In the proposal, the coffee shops themselves are allowed to carry a higher trading stock and more lenient action will be taken against violations.
Coffee shops will be imposed additional rules. This includes aspects such as transparency, operational management and information. The mayor of Amsterdam also proposes additional measures to combat street trade in the city center.
Mayor Halsema wants to quickly discuss the proposal with the new Amsterdam council.
Consequences Coffee Shop Ban
Researchers from the company Bureau Breuer & Intraval warn that the economic consequences for Amsterdam coffee shops, especially in the city center, will be significant. The coffee shops sellers now profit from the millions of tourists, create many jobs and pay high rents.
“Not all coffee shops will be able to compensate for this by continuing in a leaner form and targeting local users,” the researchers said. “For some coffee shops, the operating costs, especially the rent, will be too high to be profitable.”
Grey Area is one of Amsterdam’s most popular cannabis shops.
In addition to bankruptcies of some coffee shops, the researchers also warn that many coffee shops will continue to sell soft drugs to tourists, in order to survive.
Extra Measures Against Street Dealers
Police arrest two men in Amsterdam.
The street trade in fake and real drugs causes a lot of crime and nuisance in the city center and Amsterdam Red Light District in particular. Street dealers hang out on the street, harass Amsterdam visitors and often behave aggressively.
The police regularly take action against street dealers during so-called sweeping actions.
In a letter to the council, the mayor, chief public prosecutor and police chief propose the following after discussions with residents and entrepreneurs:
In consultation with some residents and entrepreneurs of the Red Light District, ‘blind spots’ in camera surveillance are being improved. Entrepreneurs exclude street dealers from the catering industry and set up their own porter network for this purpose. These entrepreneurs have to finance this themselves.
There will be a warning campaign against street dealers on social media, in hotels and in public spaces.
An anti street dealer campaign in 2014.
The Municipality, Public Prosecution Service and the police are taking a more active policy against street dealers by taking the ‘daily proceeds’ of arrested dealers, bringing cases to court more quickly and initiating lengthy administrative and criminal area bans.
Amsterdam Drugs Policy
The production and trade in soft drugs (= cannabis) is intertwined with that of hard drugs and the accompanying violence, threats and so-called rip deals.
This is partly due to the fact that it is currently illegal to produce cannabis commercially. It is also illegal in the Netherlands for coffee shops to buy cannabis.
Coffee shop owners need to buy their cannabis illegally before they can sell it legally. The stock in cannabis coffee shops is tolerated. Sales, on the other hand, is allowed. In the Netherlands, this is also known as the ‘gedogenbeleid’.
Smoking a joint at a coffeeshop in Amsterdam.
New rules are necessary to prevent mixing with the hard drug trade and serious and organized crime. The extra measures against street trade must prevent a shift to the street and counteract acute nuisance in the city center.
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Interview With Holland's Most Successful Cannabis Entrepreneur Ben Dronkers
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Ben Dronkers About Cannabis, Weed & Hash
Ben Dronkers has for decades been one of the most prominent cannabis activists and successful cannabis entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. He not only founded the Amsterdam Hash Museum. He also became incredibly successful with Sensi Seeds. So when we got the chance to interview him we were very excited! Discover more about Ben Dronkers life below.
DISCOVER HASH MUSEUM NOW >
Full Interview: Weed Entrepreneur Ben Dronkers
1 | When did you first come into contact with cannabis?
Ben Dronkers: I was just 17 and I discovered it like most people; through some friends. The first joint that I smoked was in Rotterdam under a bridge and like many people I didn’t feel much of it. Nevertheless, I tried it again and then I felt the good vibes of it.
Ben Dronkers inside his museum in Spain. (Instagram)
2 | How was the Dutch cannabis culture back then?
There wasn’t a real big cannabis culture back in 1966. It started a bit in Amsterdam with a few clubs. The Paradiso for example and later on at the Bulldog, Cosmos and just a few other places. The first coffeeshop was founded some years later.
In Rotterdam there were no coffeeshops in that time. Those were mainly in Amsterdam. So me and my friend would often go to Amsterdam to buy a piece of hash or weed and then we shared it when we came back to Rotterdam.
Ben Dronkers with Sensi Seeds products. (Source)
We mostly bought hash back then because it was much better than the weed. Weed mainly came from Africa, Indonesia and Thailand. The hash came from Lebanon, Morocco, Afghanistan and other places. It was much better. In those days hash was more important than weed.
3 | Fast forward to 1985. What drove you to start Sensi Seeds?
Ben Dronkers: That story actually started earlier because I started to travel the world a bit like hippies do and I discovered hash around the world. And because I was interested I also visited the cannabis growers. When I saw the farmers grow their hash I also became interested in growing it myself.
Ben Dronkers (3rd of the left) in a cannabis field. (Instagram)
‘…it felt amazing that we could just put some seeds in the ground, water it and grow your own weed.’
With a friend of mine in Rotterdam we started with just a few seeds to see what would happen. We had one cannabis plant under a heater and it worked! The quality wasn’t that good but it worked. For us it was a revelation. A wonder!
In America you already had homegrown, but not in Europe. Not many people grew their own plants. For us it felt amazing that we could just put some seeds in the ground, water it and grow your own weed.
That made me travel the world more and I visited places like Lebanon and Morocco and later on I went many times to Pakistan and Afghanistan. From there I brought different varieties with me that I found along the way. I brought them back to Holland and together with a friend I started to grow cannabis in a greenhouse. The police arrested me quite a few times, also just for having some hash on me.
‘then I realised that there was a loophole in the Dutch drug laws: It was legal to just grow seeds.’
Ben Dronkers: But then I realised that there was a loophole in the Dutch drug laws: It was legal to just grow seeds. I went to an expensive lawyer to ask if my thoughts were correct and he confirmed it to me. So then I started growing my own seeds and I started my own seed company: Sensi Seeds. Around the same time I also started the Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum together with Ed Rosenthal.
We were the first legal seed bank/ seed shop in the world and got customers from all over the world. Nobody had done it before and people started to write about it, including the American magazine High Times that brought me in connection to many people, people and knowledge.
All the specialists from all over the world, writers and researchers, came over because our seed collection was a very special one. The first weed that we grew in the Netherlands I tried to sell in Amsterdam but nobody wanted it because it was too green. People called it spinach. But in fact it was so good that in a couple of years everybody was fond of it. Because the seeds were legal I kept growing for the seeds, not weed.
Some of the items on display in the Hash Marihuana & Hemp museum in Amsterdam.
4 | You mentioned that you started the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in 1985. Did you already have such a large collection of personal items at that time?
‘…we wanted to share information about weed and hash to tourists.’
Ben Dronkers: We started with the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum a bit later than Sensi Seeds but around the same period. We did it because – like you guys – we wanted to share information about weed and hash to tourists who came to Amsterdam for the coffeeshops.
I had been collecting for quite some time by then, together with friends, but at first we also called it the Cannabis Info Museum back then. It was more about spreading information than having items on display.
Amsterdam, 1996. The original Cannabis Info Museum.
Whilst the museum was there, me and my friends kept on collecting items. Collecting is quite addictive if you like your collection. When you now see our collection in Amsterdam and the collection in our museum in Barcelona, it is amazing! I cannot believe it myself sometimes when I see it.
Where did I get all that stuff? So in the beginning a lot of items were also from friends but by time I bought the items from them or gave it back.
5 | You travelled the world for your cannabis seed collection. Can you share the most extraordinary cannabis related story that you experienced?
Ben Dronkers: One of the most exiting moments for me was when I was in Afghanistan and it was still being occupied by the Soviet Union. We went into the mountains to find wild marihuana as I already had gotten the seeds from the farmers. I was interested in getting wild strains.
On old photo of Ben Dronkers abroad.
So we went into the mountains and we came over hilltop and then there was big Russian platoon right in front of us. And that was quite scary, as I had to dress like an Afghan because I couldn’t walk around looking like a tourist. It was a forbidden area for foreigners or strangers. That was really scary because they started shooting at each other.
But Afghanistan itself was also extraordinary with such a beautiful culture and great people. It was amazing to see people walk around there with big bales made up out of super quality hash.
And they were really friendly so they shared everything with you like the food, the house and of course the hash. It was, especially the people, very nice. I went there quite a few times and it was always nice.
‘An Afghan farmer gets around 200 to 300 euros per kilo whilst in a coffeeshop in Amsterdam a kilo sells for around 16.000 euro per kilo.’
The Afghan people deserve so much better than the way they have it now. They have this beautiful hash if they could only export it on a fair trade deal. An Afghan farmer gets around 200 to 300 euros per kilo whilst in a coffeeshop in Amsterdam a kilo sells for around 16.000 euro per kilo (18k in US dollars or 14k in pound sterlings).
The Afghan people should have the right to export that beautiful product that they have. The money could be used for good schools and good agricultural practices. It could help with the development of their country.
Ben Dronkers (in white) in Afghanistan. Picture source: cnnbs.nl
But at this time the drug prohibition appears to be coming to and end so I hope to see the day that it’s completely legalised and all these poor countries can have some financial benefit from it.
‘…there is no quality control.’
But for us it’s the same thing. A lot of people smoke terrible stuff and there is no quality control. And it should be there like with any product that you buy in a grocery store.
Normally weed and hash are actually quite safe but since the prohibition was implemented people started using insecticides and other bad production methods. Consumers should be protected and the products should have regular prices.
What you see in Colorado – where it is legalised – the state government makes millions of dollars in tax revenue. That’s a good thing; it should be out of prohibition and legal.
Ben Dronkers in a greenhouse filled with hemp. Picture source: weedworldmagazine.org
6 | What’s your estimation on the probability of full legalisation of cannabis in the Netherlands?
Ben Dronkers: The thing is that the Netherlands is like an ostrich that puts its head in the sand. We had a big advantage in the Netherlands because it was semi-legal with the coffeeshops and the technological innovations for growing cannabis were quite high here.
But the government changed the law and made it more difficult to grow. More and more the organised crime took over production. And then the guys with “the green fingers” – the hippies who grew a couple of kilo’s in their attic – they all quit because they were too scared. The police also targeted them all the time instead of organised crime because that was a lot easier of course.
‘…when America completely legalises cannabis – the rest of the world will follow.’
I think in a few years – when America completely legalises cannabis – the rest of the world will follow. I’m living in Malaysia right now and you can see medical marihuana in Thailand, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia getting legalised. It all starts with that.
Because all the lies throughout the years that marihuana is a bad thing are being refuted by the medicinal properties that it has like in a product such as CBD oil. They can’t stop it anymore. The cat is out of the bag, as they say.
Picture source: jackermag.com.
7 | If it does become fully legalised in the Netherlands, do you believe that the Dutch government should safeguard the quality of cannabis through regulation?
Ben Dronkers: You can say the Dutch government but when you drink a beer or wine they are also regulated. If you buy some food there are also food regulations. Should it get legalised like other products that are legal then there should be no restrictions.
Marihuana is pure most of the time. It’s a herb, it’s a plant. It’s the same with your vegetables; there shouldn’t be heavy insecticides on it. But that is also the beauty of this plant is that you don’t need that to grow it.
While tobacco and alcohol give a lot of societal damage marihuana does not which is now extensively proven. In the Netherlands they even came up with a report that it isn’t bad and then the government falsified the report to keep it illegal. Nobody got punished for that. But if you sell a few grams of marihuana on the streets you go to jail.
Ben Dronkers together with Richard Branson at the opening of the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Barcelona.
It’s really stupid that it’s legally accepted that people can drink themselves to death with alcohol whilst marihuana is illegal and nobody has died from it. It’s prejudiced and discriminatory against a plant.
‘I believe all drugs should be legalised and then the world will change.’
If a religion tells you what you should eat or drink that’s your religion. But if a government tells you what you can and cannot eat and drink then you still have the self-determination of your own body, it should be up to you.
I believe all drugs should be legalised and then the world will change. Because now, when you say heroin should be legalised people get really upset, but would you like to buy some heroin? You don’t! But it’s the peer pressure and black markets that make new junkies.
Some of the items in the Hash Marihuana & Hemp museum in Amsterdam.
8 | Could you tell more about your company HempFlax?
Ben Dronkers: That is one of the companies that I started after Sensi Seeds and the museum. We grow a lot of hemp with that company in the Netherlands and Romania. And with that hemp we make CBD oil, fibers and wool.
Fun fact: It’s a common misconception that hemp and marijuana are two different species of plant. They’re not distinct species at all. They’re just two different names for cannabis, a type of flowering plant in the Cannabaceae family. (Source)
This plant is very diverse in its use cases. They say that there are 20 to 50.000 different products you can make from hemp. You can buy the CBD oil from Sensi Seeds but you can also find the seed oil, hemp seeds and protein. It’s one of the plants that contains omega 3 and 6.
On the other hand we can see that the textile industry is entering the market, albeit slowly. They currently use a lot of cotton and that crop needs the most insecticides of all the plants in the world and requires a lot of water too. Hemp is the exact opposite, an amazing product.
‘At HempFlax we make car products for the automotive industry. BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar even the Bugatti Veyron.’
At HempFlax we make car products for the automotive industry. BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar even the Bugatti Veyron all have our hemp fibers inside the dashboard and door panels. That saves a lot of plastic; soon you’ll find plastic bags on the market that will be totally degradable instead of the plastics that we use now. That’s amazing!
And those are some of the things that hemp can do. People should inform themselves if they are interested in this subject. We also have a small shop in the Red Light District between the two museum buildings called the Hempstory. There we sell a lot of products that you can eat or wear or use for makeup.
Industrial hemp production. Picture source: dvhn.nl
9 | We found quotes of you saying that ‘hemp will save the world’ and the arguments you just made substantiate that point.
Ben Dronkers: It’s very simple actually; in the last couple of hundred years, in between 400 or 500, we cut 80% percent of the forests in the world. We’ve used up all that wood, but hemp can do the same as a forest but what takes a forest 12 years hemp can do in 1 year. It can produce fibers and it can produce wood.
‘In 1941, Henry Ford made a car completely of hemp…’
You can even produce ethanol from hemp, so you can drive cars on it. In our Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum you can already see a scooter completely made from hemp.
In 1941, Henry Ford made a car completely of hemp and you can find this information in the museum. And that is the fun of the museum because people simply don’t know much about this plant. They always think it’s a terrible thing but it’s a friend of humankind.
Can hemp safe the planet? Well if the CO2 output is important then you can see that, what you learn is school, plants take in the CO2 from the air and store it and then when you burn it is released again. We use millions of years old oil and coal and only burn it releasing the CO2 into the air.
Hemp would take it in and release it again. But if you store the hemp like in the car industry, in wood or hempcrete (concrete made from hemp), a very interesting development at the moment, they are actually building houses from this.
Hempcrete replacing concrete. Source: isohemp.com
Then you store the CO2 for many years. It’s a wonder plant, it’s amazing what this plant can do. It comes close to the tree of life as I always say. And people don’t believe it, they don’t know about it. When they come to the museum they’re flabbergasted by all the possibilities that this plant has!
“Colombus could not have found America and Europe would not had any colonies if it wasn’t for Hemp.”
When you look back at history, Colombus couldn’t have found America and Europe wouldn’t had any colonies if it wasn’t for hemp. Wood and hemp made all those ships possible. The sails were hemp, the clothes were hemp, the food was hemp, the lights were powered by hemp oil.
Back in the day, we had around 3000 windmills in the Netherlands and most of them were used for hemp and hemp oil. These are some of the reasons for why we started with HempFlax even though we lost money with it for 24 years.
2 replicas of 3 ships that Columbus used to sail to America. Picture source: oswegocountytoday.com
But now it’s there and we have a factory in Romania and you’re now talking about 3000 hectares of hemp so it’s a real industrial company. It came from nothing because after WWI the cotton, plastic and alcohol industry took it all over. And look what we got with all the plastic in the oceans.
Can it save the world? It can help a lot. That quote was actually originally a phrase from Jack Herer, a good friend of mine who passed away. He wrote a very important book: The Emperor Wears No Clothes. He used to say hemp could save the world and then I would always say; come on, that is a bit too much Jack. But I really believe it now because as soon as the oceans have no more fish where do we get the proteins? The omega 3’s and omega 6? It’s in the hemp oil or seeds.
So what could we use to power our cars? We could use ethanol from hemp. Building construction, aluminium, cement and all that stuff are real big pollutants.
In the Netherlands there is a huge program for housing durability and they make insulation for the homes from glass fibre or rock fibre and they even use PUR-foam, and it’s so toxic. I say, and I really believe it, that this glass fibre isolation is the new asbestos.
But HempFlax produces good quality isolation made from hemp. We sell it and our sales are getting better. It’s more expensive of course and the industries that are involved and the government don’t like it so they keep it down. That is really happening.
And if people think that it’s a conspiracy theory, trust me, I’ve been working with hemp for 27 years and it was never easy. It’s still not easy!
The Dutch parliament building. Picture source
10 | What has held back full legalisation in the Netherlands all this time?
Ben Dronkers: Lies and deceptions, with the story that the United Nations wouldn’t allow it. That’s what we heard for the last 20 years.
At one time we had 27 persons in Dutch parliament who smoked weed and they wanted to legalise it with D66 (Dutch social liberal party). But then they said we can’t do that because of international treaties.
But that is not true because in the meantime Colorado does it, Uruguay does it, Portugal does it, so many countries are doing it now. It was bullshit then and it’s bullshit now.
And now in the Netherlands they want to try what they call “the weed experiment” and it’s bullshit again. It’s unbelievable what they make up; they will again start to say that it’s bad and that you will get sick. No, cannabis, marihuana and CBD oil cure people. It’s a medicine.
You go to a doctor in the Netherlands and that doctor can prescribe it legally. You can get it at the pharmacy and you can travel the world with it legally. The treaty of medicine is signed so it’s officially a medicine.
They are liars, because when you ask how about alcohol and tobacco? They say “oh no, no we won’t talk about it now”. So it’s hypocritical, lies and deceit.
Historical advertisement in the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum.
11 | What would you consider to be the ideal cannabis situation for the Netherlands?
Ben Dronkers: Well I don’t think just for the Netherlands but cannabis should be totally legal in the whole world. You should be free to grow it in your own garden, to grow your own medicine and you use it. And a lot of people do this now in the Netherlands. You’ve got 1000’nds of people who grown their own weed when you look at a website like Mediwiet.
I don’t know how many people are medical users but you have this stuff and it’s expensive but when you buy some seeds and grow your own it’s bloody cheap, a very cheap medicine!
What you also see in Colorado for example, and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out, is that alcohol consumption is going down. So the alcohol industry doesn’t like that, that they are really losing money.
And with the pharmaceutical industry a lot of people use 7, 8, 10, 20 different kinds of tablets from the pharmacy, bloody expensive! It’s a milk-machine!
“…alcohol consumption is going down. So the alcohol industry doesn’t like that, that they are really losing money.”
Ben Dronkers in the high grass. Picture source: cnnbs.nl
And now people are using cannabis or CBD-oil or THC-cannabis as a medicine. They don’t need all this pharmaceutical stuff anymore and that is why those industries are the big funders of the anti-propaganda. They probably bribe the politicians to keep it illegal.
In America alone it is estimated that it will cost them 15 billion in sales per year. I’m not sure if that is for Colorado alone or all the states. But if a company loses that kind of money they don’t like it so they better pay a couple millions here and there to keep it illegal.
Ben Dronkers in 1973. (Source)
But like I said; the cat is out of the big, they can’t keep it illegal anymore. In the last 45 years that I’ve been fighting against prohibition I met high standard people like Harvard University professor Lester Grinspoon (June 24, 1928 – June 25, 2020). He wrote back in 1972 that it is a medicine and not harmful.
Dr. Grinspoon: ‘Marijuana is one of the least toxic substances in the whole pharmacopoeia’
The real researchers and the government knew about it, nevertheless they kept it forbidden. But what I see now is that they cannot hide it anymore and that the prohibition is coming to an end.
As I say sometimes, as a politician you have to be both very stupid and totally uniformed, or corrupt.
Ben together with Ed in a greenhouse filled with cannabis.
12 | Where do you see the global cannabis industry in 10 years time?
Ben Dronkers: It’s like you state it. It will be an industry. It already is.
In Canada one of the biggest companies is Canopy and they work together with Corona beer. Corona invested nearly 4 billion dollars into it. Coca-Cola was even interested into cannabis drinks. You see it in the stock market. In Canada and the United States you can buy stocks now that are totally cannabis related, for consumption and medical purposes.
In Switzerland you can already buy cannabis cigarettes in the super markets and at gas stations. They are low in THC, only 1 percent and a bit high in CBD. But it’s there, in the supermarkets. Even in bags of just weed, in some countries they sell it like tea, but you can still smoke it. But in Switzerland it’s just weed.
So it’s already happening but it will take time, everything takes time. However, Hemp is even more important to me than cannabis because I think it can save the world, at a minimum it can save a lot.
The sooner we can change from a plastic and oil industry to a sustainable industry the better. And that with only one plant that doesn’t need insecticides or pesticides for industrial farming. There aren’t many plants that don’t need that.
The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Barcelona. Picture source: everipedia.org
13 | Some people say there’s a weed stock mania going on at the moment. What’s you opinion on that?
Ben Dronkers: Oh yes, there are also crooks in it of course. Some of them collected a lot of money but they don’t know what to do with it. Those people are more financial experts than agricultural experts or growing experts.
Ben Dronkers in front of his Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum.
But there are of course also plenty of good ones. I don’t know how many there are at this time, I hear a lot. But I don’t know. A lot of them will die and go away but some others will grow very fast.
Figure it out yourself; if you want to buy some stocks you might want to buy some HempFlax stocks or Sensi Seeds. You never know the future of course but those two companies are both doing well and have a history of quality. And quality conquers all!
At this time HempFlax is the largest CBD oil producer in Europe. And on the other hand. If you look at our museums, the Hash Marihuana & Hemp museum in Barcelona is a masterpiece!
With everything in this business you have to wait and see how politicians and the pharmaceutical industry try to stop it. Don’t be surprised. I think they can’t stop anymore. And they should not, because the cannabis plant and medicine should be available for everybody!
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10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam Rated By Pro’s
6 Best Strains of Weed in Amsterdam
Posted on: July 5, 2023
All Weed Strains in Amsterdam
In the winding streets and along the bustling canals of Amsterdam’s Red Light District, between the dazzling architecture and vibrant culture, an irresistible scent lurks. The smell of freedom, of relaxation, of – yes, you guessed it – Amsterdam weed. This city has a reputation that precedes it when it comes to green delights. Today we take you on a leisurely tour of the most famous coffeeshops and some of the best strains Amsterdam has to offer.
White Widow
One of the first stops on this fragrant route is of course the world famous Coffeeshop Bulldog. Established in 1975 in a former police station, Bulldog was the first coffee shop in Amsterdam and has been a monument to the liberal Dutch attitude towards weed ever since. Here you can enjoy ‘White Widow’, a type of weed known for its strong, pleasant effect and its distinctive resinous, sweet taste.
Super Silver Haze
Steps away from the Bulldog is the equally iconic Greenhouse. Loved by locals and international celebrities alike, this coffee shop offers a wide range of cannabis seeds under its namesake brand, as well as the classic ‘Super Silver Haze’, a three-time winner of the High Times Cup. This Sativa-dominant strain has a pleasant citrus flavor and offers an uplifting and energetic feeling.
Northern Lights
For those who prefer something more relaxing, ‘Northern Lights’ is one of the most popular Indica strains. This cannabis strain, with an irresistibly sweet and spicy taste, is offered by Barney’s Coffeeshop, another must-visit destination in the capital. A place where you can enjoy your ‘Northern Lights’ while relaxing in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Also use the Futurola joint roller while you’re there. With this handy roller you will have a joint to be proud of in no time. Even if you don’t have any experience rolling joints.
AK-47
Another world famous coffee shop that deserves a mention is Dampkring. Known from the movie ‘Ocean’s Twelve’, Dampkring offers ‘AK-47’, a complex strain with a sweet, floral flavor and a long-lasting cerebral high. A real taste of Amsterdam!
Chocolope
The route continues towards the ‘Grey Area’, a small but popular establishment loved by locals and visitors alike. Their ‘Gelato’ is a must-try, with flavors reminiscent of sweet Italian ice cream and tropical fruits. A wonderful choice for a sunny afternoon on the canals.
Amnesia Haze
While White Widow is undoubtedly the most smoked weed in Amsterdam and perhaps the whole world, we should also mention the number two. That’s why we close with ‘Amnesia Haze’, available at Coffeeshop Amnesia. Awarded with numerous awards, this strain offers a complex palette of flavors, from lemon to musk, and is known for its strong, euphoric effect.
Exploring Amsterdam’s Red Light District through the lens of its weed and coffee shops reveals a vibrant, diverse and unique culture. Weed is not just a product here, but a connecting factor, a way to bring people together and build bridges between different cultures. So, whether you’re a seasoned smoker or just curious about the world of Amsterdam weed, the city welcomes you with open arms and a burning joint. What are you waiting for? It’s time to see Amsterdam in a whole new light!
Boost Your Libido: Cordyceps in Amsterdam Red Light District
Posted on: July 6, 2023
The Ultimate Guide To Explore Amsterdam’s Red Light District With Cordyceps
Are you ready for a journey full of fun and passion? Combine the power of cordyceps with the vibrant energy of the famous Amsterdam Red Light District. Prepare to indulge your senses, fuel your libido and create memories to last a lifetime.
Known for its historical and cultural significance, the Red Light District of Amsterdam is a melting pot of sensuality and excitement. From the seductive glow of red lights illuminating the streets to the seductive figures in the shop windows, the atmosphere is charged with an unmistakable allure. And now, with cordyceps by your side, you can make the most of this unforgettable experience.
Boost your libido with cordyceps mushrooms
The Cordyceps mushroom – known scientifically as Cordyceps sinensis – has long been prized for its potential to enhance sexual vitality and desire. It affects your libido through its remarkable ability to improve blood circulation and oxygen utilization in the body*. This means that as you stroll through the vibrant streets of the Red Light District, the fascinating energy of the environment is amplified by the increased flow of oxygen to your erogenous zones. Prepare for an intense wave of desire and passion as you explore the delights ahead.
In addition, cordyceps supports the hormone balance*, so that your body is ready for sensual encounters. By regulating hormone levels*, this incredible mushroom ensures that your libido is in perfect harmony, ready to respond to the seductive allure of the bustling Amsterdam scene. Say goodbye to inhibitions and hello to an unquenchable thirst for pleasure.
How do you use Cordyceps?
To fully utilize the power of cordyceps in the Red Light District, we recommend incorporating this incredible medicinal mushroom into your daily routine before your visit. By preparing your body in advance, you will be ready to fully immerse yourself in the delights Amsterdam has to offer. Cordyceps can be found in capsules, making it easy to integrate into your lifestyle.
As with any natural supplement, it’s important to talk to your doctor before incorporating cordyceps into your routine, especially if you have an underlying health condition or are taking medication. Your safety and well-being are paramount so that you can enjoy every moment of your unforgettable adventure.
Conclusion
In short, combine the aphrodisiac properties of cordyceps with the captivating energy of Amsterdam’s Red Light District and prepare for an experience that will stimulate your senses and unleash your deepest desires. Let it be your trusted ally as you surrender to the pleasure that awaits, ensuring that every encounter is filled with passion and intensity. Get ready to take your libido to new heights and create memories that will leave you wanting more. Embark on this extraordinary journey and enjoy the ecstasy that only cordyceps and the Amsterdam Red Light District can offer!
10 Penis Facts You Did Not Know About in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
10 Penis Facts Men & Women Should Know About
Two-thirds of all men think their penis is too small, while 85% of women rate the penis length as fine. Women find other qualities more important. The penis size is one of the less important factors for women. What matters most is how you use it!
Penis Definition
The human penis (Latin phallus) is the male sex organ that is used for urination and copulation.
In humans, it is located at the base of the urinary bladder, below the pelvic diaphragm.
1 | Average Penis Size is 13,1 Centimeter
Worldwide the average length of an erect penis is 13.1 centimeters.
✦ Men in Congo have the largest with an average of 18 centimeters.
✦ In Asia they have the smallest, 10 centimeters.
✦ In Europe, Icelandic men are number 1, with approximately 15 centimeters.
✦ The Dutch have to be satisfied with the global average of 13,1 centimeters.
Men are sometimes obsessive about the size of their penis. While many women find qualities such as humor, friendliness, intelligence and physique more important than the size of a penis. All studies show that. There is only one remedy: reassure them, tell men the size is okay.
2 | A Penis Rarely Breaks, Even Though ‘penile breakage’ Exists
A penis has no bone, so in the literal sense of the word it cannot break.
Penile fractures already exist: this happens when a phallus receives a hard blow or push, causing the firm connective tissue around the erectile tissues in the penis to burst.
Such a snap can be heard ‘as if a branch or root is breaking’. The most common cause is when the penis slips out of the sheath or anus and misses the opening with great force when it wants to go back in. It’s rare and if it does happen? Get dressed and take your partner to a doctor urgently.
3 | Men Get Sleepy From Orgasm
Many men fall asleep immediately after sex. Why not enjoy some time together? There is a natural explanation for this. When you have an orgasm, a blissful mixture of hormones and chemicals is released that acts on the brain. That mixture contains, among other things, prolactin, a hormone that stimulates the brain to sleep. This prolactin level also rises in women after sex, but to a much lesser extent.
4 | Anxiety Keeps The Penis From Getting Stiff
‘Lack of strength’, that is the translation of the Latin impotencia. The causes have been debated for centuries. Nowadays there are roughly two causes: organic and psychogenic (caused by the mind). If it’s not diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s best for women to start the conversation.
Perhaps there is fear. It may sound crazy, but the reassurance that there is no serious cause is often enough to get him up.
5 | A Curved Penis Has Nothing To Do With Masturbation
Barring exceptions, there’s no such thing as dead straight penissen. It is sometimes said that a genital area points to the side of the hand used in masturbation: to the left for left-handers, to the right for right-handers. Incorrect! The curvature has a genetic cause.
6 | Penis Enlargements Do Not Work
Research shows that many pills and ointments contain dangerous substances such as lead, insecticides and poo. A vacuum pump can help with impotence, but it won’t lengthen your penis. Stretching exercises to increase height (jelqing) are harmless, but evidence that it works is lacking.
A penis puller makes the penis longer, but also thinner. “A vacuum pump is also used for this purpose, but no good studies have been conducted.” Surgery has limited success and produces an increase of up to one to two centimeters. “Cosmetic doctors place fatty tissue, from the man himself, under the penis skin to get more volume. That can cause serious problems, such as serious infections
Surgery is an option, albeit risky. Ligamentolysis occurs most often, with the result that the penis hangs 1 to 3 centimeters more. It doesn’t get bigger with an erection. Don’t take any risks. If your penis works, leave it alone.
7 | A Man Gets An Average Of 11 Erections A Day
Men get 11 erections a day in average, usually without sexual stimulation, and sometimes at times when it’s inconvenient.
It has to do with your hormone balance. An erection is induced by the autonomic nervous system. The urologist advises to leave that pole in your pants for what it is.
Or think of something asexual: food you don’t like or cleaning your bathroom. Babies also get erections. Don’t worry: they help to keep the blood circulation going and are good for the development of the penis.
8 | A Penis Does Not Need Soap
You don’t need scented soap for a clean penis. It is even not recommended: soap dries out the skin and removes protective substances.
Only water is sufficient, with or without a neutral soap. A wash every other day is sufficient. And check your balls once a month. Do this preferably in the shower: the warm water relaxes the scrotum. Check for swelling, hardness or soreness.
9 | Women Do Not Like Dick Pics
Images of a phallus are of all times and always a symbol of power. Photos that men send of their genitals, dick pics, are going around on Snapchat and the dating app Tinder. Most women find them downright offensive, based on Norwegian research. It makes them feel uncomfortable and no woman gets turned on by it.
10 | Ginseng Has Positive Effect On An Erection
Ginseng has been shown to have some effect on the erection of men with erectile dysfunction. However, that does not mean that a penis at rest will become larger or that the erection length increases.
What are the good and bad facts about penis pills?
Penis pills are a popular way to try to enlarge the penis, but do they work? Here are some penis pill facts to help you make an informed decision.
Some penis pills contain herbs that have been traditionally used to treat sexual dysfunction and increase libido. These herbs include ginseng, maca, and cordyceps. Others contain ingredients that claim to increase blood flow to the penis, such as L-arginine. Some penis pills also contain substances that reportedly boost testosterone levels, such as tribulus terrestris.
Scientific evidence to support the claims made about these ingredients is limited. There is some evidence that certain herbs, such as ginseng, may have a positive effect on sexual function. However, more research is needed to confirm these effects. There is also no evidence that penis pills can permanently enlarge the penis. In fact, some of the ingredients in penis pills can actually cause side effects like headaches, dizziness, and gastrointestinal problems. So before you take any penis pills, be sure to do your research and consult with a healthcare professional to see if they’re right for you.
How to use Viagra for best results?
Top 5 Animal Penis Facts
1. The animal with the longest penis is the blue whale. The average blue whale penis is around 8 feet long, but some specimens have been recorded at up to 16 feet in length.
2. Not all animal penises are straight. The Tasmanian devil, for example, has a spiral-shaped penis that is thought to help remove competitor’s sperm from a female’s reproductive tract.
3. Some animal penises are detachable. male ring-tailed lemurs have barbed penises that they use to scrape off any rival sperm before ejaculating themselves. After mating, the lemur will eat his own detachable penis to regain lost nutrients.
4. Several animal species are capable of erecting their penises on command. These include the walrus, hyena, and echidna.
5. Animal penises come in a variety of colors, including black, green, blue, and purple. The color is thought to be dictated by blood flow and pigment cells in the skin.
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Amsterdam Escorts: Uncensored Sex Guide You Must Know Today
Posted on: September 1, 2024
The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to Escorts: From Myths to Mastery
Many people are curious about the world of escorts but lack the necessary knowledge to understand and navigate this intriguing industry.
This lack of information often leads to misconceptions, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities for those seeking companionship or unique experiences. Without proper guidance, individuals may find themselves hesitant or unsure about engaging with escorts, unable to make informed decisions.
That’s where this ultimate guide comes in. We are here to provide you with the comprehensive knowledge, insights, and guidance you need to explore the world of escorts confidently. By addressing common concerns, debunking myths, and sharing valuable tips, we aim to empower you with the information necessary to make informed choices and embark on unforgettable encounters.
In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the various aspects of the escort industry, including the services provided, ethical considerations, finding the right companion, and more. Our goal is to equip you with the tools and understanding to navigate this realm with confidence, ensuring that your experiences are safe, satisfying, and fulfilling.
Get ready to embark on a journey of discovery, as we uncover the secrets, shed light on misconceptions, and help you unlock the potential for extraordinary connections and memorable moments in the world of escorts.
It is not smart to just call the first escort agency you see online. Impulsive actions lead to undesirable outcomes. This overview also offers accurate and up to date information about escorts in the Netherlands. Definitions, laws, rules, do’s and don’ts, advantages, disadvantages, prices and much more. Learn everything about Amsterdam escorts, prostitution and escorts who work in other Dutch cities.
Definition Escort
An escort service is the provision of company by a sex worker with, if desired, sexual acts with the customer. An escort can be of any gender and can be of any sexual orientation.
Escort is a relatively expensive form of prostitution that offers the client more privacy and discretion. The meeting takes place, for example, at the customer’s home, in the hotel where the customer is staying, in a hotel proposed by the escort (hotel prostitution), in a restaurant, etc. The meeting place can take place almost anywhere.
ESCORT AMSTERDAM >
Escorts don’t just provide sexual services. Sometimes they go to restaurants or on a business trip for a fee to pretend to be a partner of the customer to third parties. This is especially important in cultures where there is a certain social stigma on loneliness. It is also possible that the customer only needs company and not so much sex. Sometimes customers just want to cuddle and talk.
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Prostitution Legislation in the Netherlands
A window brothel.
Prostitution is legal as long as it involves voluntary adult sex. In the Netherlands, someone is an adult from the age of 18.
A sex offense that concerns prostitution, however, is Article 248b Criminal Code, which provides:
A person who commits fornication with someone who makes himself available to perform sexual acts with a third party by payment and who has not reached the age of eighteen, is punished with imprisonment not exceeding four years or fine of the fourth category.
Every municipality in the Netherlands has a different policy regarding the regulations for self-employed sex workers. In Amsterdam, for example, one needs a permit when acquiring customers online as an independent sex worker. A number of Dutch municipalities do not require permits for sex workers, such as in Zoetermeer.
Street prostitution is illegal in the Netherlands.
Escort Synonyms
Other terms for escorts are:
✦ Call girl
✦ Sex worker
✦ Gigolo
✦ Prostitute
✦ Geisha
✦ Lady of pleasure
✦ Escort boy
Usage
There are both female and male escorts. Female escorts are mainly booked by heterosexual male clients. And male escorts are mainly booked by gay men.
In the Netherlands, there are very few straight male escorts, as straight women generally don’t pay for sex. And those who do, would like an escort who can fulfil specific erotic fantasies.
Mode of Operation
In the Netherlands, one can work in the prostitution sector as follows:
✦ Employed as an employee by an operator/ employer who pays wages.
✦ Working as an independent entrepreneur. The escort works for him or herself and there is no third party who has authority over the escort’s activities.
✦ Working in a notional employment relationship for a client (operator) whereby the conditions package is met. This is an intermediate form of self-employment and salaried employment. The conditions package lays down the rights and obligations of the proprietor and the prostitute while the latter is not employed. (Dutch source)
Workplaces
Escorts do not work in window brothels like in the Red Light District of Amsterdam (also known as De Wallen). The windows are used by window prostitutes who are not escort. Meaning, window prostitutes advertise by standing in a window brothel. They do not advertise online, like Amsterdam escorts.
The Oudekennissteeg in the Red light District.
Escorts offers their services online (via apps, websites or social media). Eventually they meet at a preferred location. This can be at the escort’s home, in a restaurant, in a club, in a hotel, at the client’s home, or anywhere else.
Statistics
In the Netherlands, there are no hard figures on the number of sex workers who work from home, but internet sites do provide an indication. Every day 150 sex advertisements appear on various sites throughout the Netherlands for sex work at home or as an escort.
Dutch scientist and sex work expert Sietse Altink claimed that Amsterdam has about 500 sex workers. (source)
She published on her website:
‘Applied to prostitution research, we might conclude that large numbers are more an expression of a discomfort and moral anxiety on the part of the authors than a faithful representation of the empirical reality. (source)
… In addition, there are practical obstacles that prevent an accurate count of the number of sex workers. Some sectors (escort) are more difficult to count than others (windows prostitution). The biggest obstacle, however, is the mobility among sex workers. Both our interviews and our observations show that sex workers change workplace, city or even country very frequently. Mobility is not only geographic, however, but also concerns the prostitution sector and working hours. As a result, it is extremely difficult to determine how many sex workers are working at any given location at any one time.’ (source)
Difference Escorts & Window Prostitutes
The main street in the Red Light District.
There are quite a few differences between escorts and window prostitutes. Escorts are active almost everywhere in the world. Window prostitutes only in countries where prostitution is legal. In the Netherlands, window prostitution may only take place in window brothels that have a permit for this. All differences are described below:
| Escorts must be at least 18 years old. | Window prostitutes must be >21 years old. |
| Escorts advertise online. | Window prostitutes advertise in windows. |
| Escorts can also be employed. | Window prostitutes work independently. |
| Escorts do not necessarily have to rent a work space. | Window prostitutes rent a window brothel. |
| Escorts usually don’t have security with them. | Window prostitutes get security. |
| Escorts charge higher rates | Window prostitutes charge lower rates |
| Escorts can be of any gender. | Window prostitutes are never heterosexual men. |
| Escorts can work anywhere in the Netherlands. | Window prostitutes are only allowed to work in cities with window prostitution. |
Escort Advantages & Disadvantages
As with everything there are pros and cons. Below are mentioned the advantages and disadvantages of booking an escort.
| PROS | CONS |
| It can be done discreetly. | It’s more expensive (than window prostitution). |
| Ideal for special fantasies. | Generally no refunds for dissatisfaction. |
| Romantic, passionate company. | It may take a while for him / her to arrive. |
| Possibility to meet anywhere. | |
| Wide choice of escorts. | |
| Clarity and more controle. | |
| Easy to book via apps or websites. |
11 Golden Rules For Escort Clients
✦ Make good and clear agreements in advance.
✦ Respect the boundaries of the escort.
✦ Be clear about your wishes.
✦ Use a condom.
✦ Pay what has been agreed on. Do not try to negotiate a discount afterwards.
✦ Make sure you are fresh and clean. Take a shower if necessary.
✦ Be relaxed.
✦ Don’t drink too much alcohol.
✦ Do not cause any nuisance to the environment
✦ Don’t pay too much attention to the time, but enjoy the moment.
✦ Always ask permission from the escort if you want to take photos.
Good to know: Most escorts lead a double life and (because of the stigma) do not tell people about their profession as a sex worker. Mainly because of this, escorts usually do not want to be photographed.
Prostitute STD’s
In the Netherlands it is not mandatory for sex workers to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s/ STI’s).
Everyone in the Netherlands can decide for himself whether to get tested for STIs or not. That is a fundamental right and which also applies to prostitutes and their clients.
That does not mean that sex workers do not often get tested. On the contrary, sex workers are regularly tested. In the Netherlands it is free for all sex workers to be tested for STDs. They do not have to pay for this.
Sex workers are of course aware of the occupational risks, are always cautious and prefer safe sex. Getting an STD is not only physically unpleasant, for sex workers it can also be a danger to their future income.
With a condom you protect yourself against HIV and the chance of other STIs is considerably smaller. Completely 100% safe sex is not possible; not with a sex worker and not with your private contacts.
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Blowjobs
Also use a condom for blowjobs. The function of a condom is to prevent risks. If you are wearing a condom, you do not run the risk of getting STDs when you get a blow job. Without a condom you can contract herpes, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
STD Test Locations
In the Netherlands, people can get themselves tested for STDs at a general practitioner (GP), the GGD, or with a home test.
An STD test is done by examining blood, urine or mucous membrane. You can get tested for most STIs from three weeks after infection. An HIV test is only possible after three months. Get yourself tested before you have physical complaints.
STD Statistics Netherlands
Every year in the Netherlands STI’s are found at more than 100,000 people (source). The Netherlands has more than 17.4 million inhabitants.
How To Hire An Escort in Amsterdam?
Booking Amsterdam escorts can be done through a brokerage company/ escort agency, directly with an escort or in a sex club. An escort can be booked through apps, companies, websites or through a direct phone number.
Escorts can be booked anywhere in the Netherlands. This is also because this country is relatively small, which makes travel distances short. Most escorts in the Netherlands are active in the larger cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague.
10x AMSTERDAM ESCORT AGENCIES >
Straight Escorts
In the Netherlands there are many websites where female, heterosexual escorts can be hired. Hit the button below for an overview of the best websites to book an escort.
10 ESCORT WEBSITES
Gay Escorts
Paid sex is relatively common in the LGBT community. Generally speaking, gay escorts mainly recruit their clients through dating apps or through escort websites.
Gay Escort Sites
✦ Boys4u.nl
✦ Bullchat.nl
✦ Kinky.nl
✦ Hunqz.com
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Dating apps
In addition, there are also the dating apps. Sometimes escorts are also active there.
GayParship
gayParship is an online dating platform that focuses on singles and is one of the largest and most frequently used online dating sites in Europe.
Grindr
Grindr has been specially developed for gays. It works slightly differently than others apps. You don’t have to swipe. You can send each other a message immediately. The app is based on how far apart you are today. Once you have created an account, you will receive multiple messages from other users within five minutes.
You don’t have to do anything yourself. Yet it is not that user-friendly when you first use it. It really takes a while to find out how it works. In the meantime, you keep getting messages that distract you. There are no in-depth conversations, but usually you’ll immediately be asked what you are looking for and whether you want to meet. It is true that you get by far the most requests on Grindr.
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Gay Sex Club
In the Netherlands there is only a few sex clubs for gay men only. One of them is BoysClub21 in Amsterdam. Another one is Dirty Dick’s on the Warmoesstraat in the Red Light District.
Review
Lyle Muns – a Dutch gay escort stated in Amsterdam Audio Tours app:
‘…Personally, I’m an Amsterdam escort. So I go to my clients, rather than working in a brothel or behind a window. I do so because it gives me a lot of liberty… I don’t need to rent a room and work the whole day. I can just go to a client for an hour, come back home, and do my other stuff.
… And whether you’re standing behind a window, or work as an escort; being a sex worker in Amsterdam is particularly enjoyable because there is a lot of support from the government. They offer health services that are freely available, such as STD-checks. There are social services that help you out when you’re having emotional issues. And, most importantly: it is legal! You won’t find any police harassment like sex workers experience in other countries. And I am really grateful for that.’
Escort Prices
Frequently asked questions about Amsterdam escorts are:
✦ How much for escorts in Amsterdam?
✦ How much are Amsterdam escorts?
The prices of escorts depend on the location and the method of booking. If Amsterdam escorts have to travel to The Hague, she / he will include the travel costs in the total price. The requested service also determines the price. But usually escorts in the Netherlands cost between 100 and 180 euros per hour.
In general, the prices of escort agencies are higher than the prices of independent escorts. However, some advantages of such an escort agency are that there is customer service available, it is more professional and the customer gets a better guarantee.
✦ Minimum price: 100 euro per hour ($ 120)
✦ Average price: 150 euro per hour ($ 180)
Report Crime or Abuse
Do you want to report forced prostitution, human trafficking, a minor sex worker or anything alike? In the Netherlands this can be done in various ways.
✦ Via the police, which has a vice department too. The phone number is 112.
✦ It is also possible to report crime anonymously via the phone number 0800-7000. Or via www.meldmisdaadanoniem.nl/english (translated: report crime anonymously).
TIP: Do you have doubts about the age of the escort? Then suggest that she / he shows proof of identity. If desired, the escort’s real name can be shielded with a finger or hand.
Prostitution Policy: 12 Rules For Good Sex Work Legislation
Posted on: November 1, 2024
12 Rules For A Good Prostitution Policy
1 | Distinguish sex work from human trafficking and keep it that way!
Sex work = work. Human trafficking = violence.
2 | Treat sex workers as adult citizens and see them as partners in the fight against human trafficking and other abuses.
3 | Combating violence and improving rights are two goals. That has always been the core of the Dutch prostitution policy against sexual violence. This also applies here.
4 | Check that every policy and measure does not have undesirable negative effects on the safety, health and autonomy of sex workers. Do that together with sex workers.
5 | Break the maximum policy and the barriers between the different forms of sex work. Stimulate and facilitate the personal activity of sex workers, new initiatives and new organisational forms.
6 | Treat self-employed sex workers the same as self-employed persons in other employment sectors.
7 | Use permits for what they are intended for: companies, not for self-employed people.
8 | Make sure that sex workers can choose whether they want to work at / for a company, or as an independent freelancer, whether or not in collaboration with other freelancers.
9 | Restore sex workers’ trust in the government and the police.
10 | Provide accessible and independent conflict resolution and legal assistance in industrial disputes. Without a labor dispute leading to the loss of workplaces or permits.
11 | Make sure that (brothel) operators and sex workers can report human trafficking and exploitation without fear of negative repercussions. Require operators to do what in their power to prevent human trafficking, but do not penalize them if it does occur.
12 | Make sure that sex workers can always and everywhere safely go to the police if they are confronted with violence or exploitation, either by themselves or by fellow sex workers. Without fear of losing their workplace, home or income, or of being forced out.
These 12 rules for a good, working prostitution policy have been developed / supported by the following organisations:
✦ PROUD – Dutch Union For Sex Workers
✦ SOAIDS Nederland
✦ Aidsfonds
✦ Pitch
This overview has been translated from its original source with 12 rules for a good prostitution policy in Dutch.
20 BOOKS ON PROSTITUTION >
20x The History Of Prostitution Book
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Top 20 Books On The History Of Prostitution
Prostitution is known as one of the oldest professions in the world. There’s much to learn about this fasinating occupation which has always been around and which will never disappear. This article contains 20 books on the history of prostitution. This selection is wide ranging and should have something of interest to anyone who’s interested in prostitution and sexuality throughout the ages.
20 Best Prostitution Books You Should Read
Get educated about prostitution by reading these books below.
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Old Church Square.
History of Prostitution In the World
1 | A Curious History of Sex
The best book on the history of prostitution is written by a well-known person within the sex work industry. Dr. Kate Lister – university lecturer, researcher on history of sex work and owner of the well known Whores Or Yore Twitter account – provides the reader with a thoroughly entertaining and well-referenced historical tour of 2500 years of sexual practices, body parts and sex in general. A witty and well written book! Recommended for anyone interested in the subject of sex.
Dr. Kate Lister in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Kate Lister also shares her knowledge on sex work during our Amsterdam Audio Tours. This app contains interesting stories from 22 experts, photos, GPS and a virtual guide. This audio tour can also be listened from home as an audiobook.
Subjects: Prostitution, history, drugs, Dutch culture, Amsterdam, De Wallen, sexuality, etc. It offers almost 2 hours of audio and cost just a few euros.
I WANT THAT APP! >
Buy Dr. Lister’s book – A Curious History of Sex – here below:
2 | Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work
The title has it: Playing the whore is an expression used to indicate that sex workers play a certain role. They need to be some kind of actors/ actresses. This used to be a frequently said Dutch saying: ‘de hoer spelen’. Translated: Playing the whore.
This is a book on how policies that are being advocated by police and many anti-prostitution feminists have the opposite of their intended effects. For those who are well read on this subject the book doesn’t offer much new information. It does however function as a great concise summary. It has a lot of good references for further reading.
3 | Thriving in Sex Work: Heartfelt Advice for Staying Sane in the Sex Industry
A book for those who think prostitution is easy money, and those who actually do the work and are looking for advice. This self-help book for sex workers and erotic entertainers was written by Lola Davina, a former stripper, escort and porn actress. She provides the reader with solid advice on how to deal with the unique emotional toll that comes with sex work. One of those books on the history of prostitution that is timeless.
4 | Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships
Number four in this list of books on the history of prostitution is this entertaining and provocative read. It offers a very concise and interesting perspective on gender roles and sexuality from the distant past right up until the modern age. Conventional wisdoms are challenged and the standard theories adhered to by most experts are shown to have serious flaws.
5 | The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AIDS
Writer Elizabeth Pisani, an epidemiologist, has been investigating and involved in the fight against AIDS for 14 years. This is one of those books on the history of prostitution where the writer lays out how rotten the state of the current research field is and how reluctant the government is to grant funds for vital HIV prevention to those who are in need of it most: prostitutes, junkies and gay men. The is a no holds barred read and will make you rethink all that you know on the subject of the AIDS-virus.
6 | Erotic Exchanges: The World of Elite Prostitution in Eighteenth-Century Paris
In this book Nina Kushner presents a perplexing look into elite prostitution in Paris in the 18th century. The book is based on a wealth of documentation as the Parisian police in those days surveilled many of the prostitutes and their clientele. This is beautifully written and highly readable scholarly work. One of the better books on the history of prostitution.
History of Prostitution in the Netherlands
And now some great books on the history of prostitution in the Netherlands and Amsterdam which got city rights in the year 1275. In this harbour-city, prostitution has always been around. Illegal & hidden. And, legal & out in the open.
7 | When Sex Becomes Work: Everything that everyone should know about sex work
Written by Mariska Majoor, ex-prostitute, founder of the Prostitution Information Center and Amsterdam’s most famous sex worker activist. This woman was even knighted by the royal Dutch family. Mariska is without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable prostitution experts in the country. She has been active in this industry for more than 30 years.
Mariska Majoor in front of the Prostitution Information Center that she founded.
This book is not just a handbook for sex workers. It also provides great insights for those who want to educate themselves on one of the oldest professions in the world and it explains more about Amsterdam Red Light District.
Mariska Majoor is one of the 22 experts in the Amsterdam Audio Tour app. In it, she explains more about sex work in Amsterdam.
Quote Mariska Majoor
I WANT THAT APP! >‘After I stopped working as a sex worker myself I experienced how hard it is to answer the question ‘what did you do before’. It is not easy being open about your life as a sex worker when you now people have a negative view on that subject. I wanted to try and change that view to make it easier for sex workers to be accepted by society. That’s why I started the Prostitution Information Center in 1994.‘
8 | The Amsterdam Diaries: Kiss and tell tales from the Red Light District
This unique book by Marcus Segretto originally started off as a blog detailing his adventures on Amsterdam’s Red Light District, from a customer perspective. He wanted to provide an alternative view to the prevailing attitudes against prostitution. His blog about his visits to the sex workers in Amsterdam was a big hit with more than a million unique visitors. Fans of the blog encouraged him to publish his blog in book form, which he did. Many books have been written about prostitution, but very few that describe the experiences and thoughts of the clients. Therefor this one is one of the must have books on the history of prostitution.
9 | Legalizing Prostitution: From Illicit Vice to Lawful Business
Prostitution has never been a socially accepted profession but the past decade world’s oldest profession has been under renewed attacks from both Christian and Feminist interest groups. Legalising Prostitution offers a great overview of the current field.
The author, Weitzer, writes from an American perspective and uses findings from European countries like the Netherlands and Germany to provide the reader with alternatives to current American practises when it comes to prostitution. What results in the in end is a handy overview of “best practices”.
History of Prostitution in America
The United States has a long history with (illegal) sex work, which is why this list also contains five top books on the history of prostitution in America.
10 | Upstairs Girls: Prostitution in the American West
Prostitution is probably the most interesting aspect of the American west story. This book will give you a perspective on those women for hire during the American west days. Besides learning about why these woman turned to prostitution you’ll also learn about the business side of their work including competition, location and marketing.
11 | Love for Sale: Courting, Treating, and Prostitution in New York City, 1900-1945
Writer Elizabeth Alice Clement presents a detailed and fascinating examination on both sexual and moral shifts that happened in New York in the first 50 years of the 20th century. An entertaining and enlightening read despite it being an academic book.
12 | Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women
This book by Alexa Albert provides a great independent study of the sex work industry in Nevada, United States. Based on a lengthy six year study this books on the history of prostitution gives an honest look beyond the fantasy that the sex industry project outwardly. It presents the human reality behind that veil.
13 | Madam: Inside a Nevada Brothel
Lora Shaner takes you on a deep dive into to life inside a Nevada brothel. It’s a great study on all the characters of those working in, and visiting the brothel. Recommended for anybody who want to get an impression of daily life inside a legal Nevada brothel. For less than 5 dollars this is one of the cheapest books on the history of prostitution.
14 | The Murder of Helen Jewett
The murder of a youthful prostitute in New York, 1836 set off a shockwave throughout the nation. The story would be recorded in history as the first case of journalistic death and sex sensationalism. A practice that we’re all too familiar with today. Besides being an investigative piece this books on the history of prostitution also delves into that specific era and the rapidly changing culture of the period. For a super exciting, non-fiction book this is a real page-turner.
History of Prostitution in Ancient Greece
Long before America was discovered, prostitution took place in Ancient Greece. That is why there is 1 book that should not be missing in this list.
15 | Prostitutes and Courtesans in the Ancient World
This is one of those books on the history of prostitution that offers a look at sex work from ancient Mesopotamia to the period of early Christianity. In those days, like to today, prostiutes were socially marginal. But they connected with a lot of aspect of daily life.
Some led a life of luxury with famous poets and politicians. Others did not. A must read books on the history of prostitution, specifically for those interested in the history of women and classical antiquity.
History of Prostitution in England
16 | The London Underworld in the Victorian Period: Authentic First-Person Accounts by Beggars, Thieves and Prostitutes
This work by Henry Mayhew was the first 19th-century London sociological study and the first piece of oral history. For this work Mayhew traversed 100’s of miles of 1840-1850 London streets collecting statements from the city’s poor and forgotten. The stories that they told showed a part of London that was almost unheard to the higher classes. This book is an extract of the original work and is centred around crime; vagrants, prostitutes, pickpockets and rag pickers.
History of Sex
In addition, three fantastic books that explain the history of sex. They are not necessarily books on the history of prostitution, but since prostitution is inextricably linked to sex, these three top items contribute to get a better understanding of sex work.
17 | Sex and Punishment: Four Thousand Years of Judging Desire
Writer Eric Berkowitz presents a 4000 year historical look at how principally western society has been attempting to curb sexuality by law.
This is one of those books on the history of prostitution that perfectly illustrates that every age has well-intentioned policy makers who have warped ideas about what types of sexual behaviours should be punished. With more than 94 ratings it gets 4 out of 5 stars and is therefor recommended to read.
18 | The Story of Sex: A Graphic History Through the Ages
The only graphic book (comic book) in this top 20 books on the history of prostitution. The comics are really amusing, making this book a great option for those who are a little more visually oriented. In this book sexologist Phillip Brenot gives an exhoustive commentary on sex using history, sociology, anthropology and psychology.
19 | The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1: An Introduction Reissue Edition
In this work world renowned intellectual Michel Foucault (1926 – 1984) explores why we constantly talk about and analyse sex. Furthermore it presents the history of sexuality and lays down arguments against the theories of sexual repression.
20 | The History of Sexuality: Vol. 2: The Use of Pleasure
In this 304 follow up work to The History of Sexuality, Volume I: An Introduction, Foucault analyses the ancient Greeks and how they perceived sexuality. A quote from this book: ‘In Athens, certain laws protected free children from adults who at least for a time did not have the right to go into schools; from slaves, who incurred the death penalty if they tried corrupting them; and from their father or tutors who were punished if they prostituted them…
Bonus | The History of Sexuality: Vol. 3: The Care of the Self
Bonus material in this top 20 books on the history of prostitution is this one. In this third and final book on The History of Sexuality, Foucault looks into the period of the Golden Age in Rome.
In it he shows a subtle yet conclusive breach from the Classical Greek interpretation of sexual pleasure. He presents how distrust of pleasure and anxieties on sexuality appeared and the ramification of this cultural change. This in entire collection of books on the history of prostitution by Foucault should be owned by anyone interested in the subject of sexuality.
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History Amsterdam Red Light District
Fun Things To Do In Amsterdam in May
Posted on: February 28, 2024
40 Fun Things To Do in Amsterdam
Wanna do something fun and learn more about Dutch culture, Amsterdam’s history, legal prostitution & legal drugs? Check out this useful list with 40 fun things to do in Amsterdam.
1 | Amsterdam Red Light District Tour
A few of the 288 window brothels in ‘De Wallen‘.
For those who want to learn about legal sex work in the famous ‘Wallen’ area this tour is a must-do! Amsterdam Red Light District represents the liberal and open-minded Dutch culture.
In this neighbourhood residents live just next to red light windows and cannabis stores. Only here one can see a church that is surrounded by window prostitutes. And there is even a daycare literally next to window brothels.
Learn how the legal sex trade works in Holland, where the sex workers come from, hear about the safety measures, what they earn and how they are fighting the Municipal government to keep their working places.
Highlights during this Amsterdam Red Light District tour include; world’s first condom shop, Chinatown, the Old Church, Nieuwmarkt, window brothels, Buddhistic Temple, coffeeshops and much more!
These Amsterdam Red Light District Tours are hosted by tour guides who have an official permit of the Municipality of Amsterdam. They are all locals and know the Red Light District as their backyard. We even have a tour guide who’s married to a window prostitute!
Also read: Amsterdam Red Light District tour ban still allows tours.
Chinatown in the Red Light District.
Duration: 1,5 hours
Burn: 419 calories
10 Fun Things To Do In Amsterdam Red Light District
After the tour there are many other fun activities in the Red Light District:
✦ Visit Europe’s first gay friendly cafe ‘t Mandje.
✦ Eat some typical Dutch snacks at the FEBO snackbar.
✦ Stand in the window yourself at the Museum of Prostitution.
✦ Play some video- or board games at the Ton Ton Club.
✦ Enjoy a cocktail, wine or beer at Mata Hari.
✦ Experience an exciting show at Casa Rosso.
✦ See a 3D-film of the Red Light District in the 5D Porn Cinema.
✦ Check out the last peep show in Amsterdam.
✦ Take a spicy bite at an Asian-restaurant on the Zeedijk in China Town.
✦ Try a Dutch ‘jenever’ in one of the oldest bars in town.
2 | Sing Karaoke
Visit one of the best karaoke bars in Amsterdam and sing your favorite songs. This is always a fun activity. Even if you can’t sing very well. Have a drink, show some guts and grab that mic. A visit to a karaoke bar is fun with colleagues, friends and even with a date.
3 | Visit a Sex Show
Visiting a sex show in Amsterdam is definitely one of the things to do if you’re looking for a fun night out. Whether you are an adventurous couple or simply solo and curious about what goes on behind those closed red curtains, it’s an experience that will surprise you in many ways. You’ll witness amazing performances by talented artists and above all things, come away from with an open mind to appreciate the diversity of life.
We believe Moulin Rouge offers the best sex show in Amsterdam. It’s located on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal in the heart of the Red Light District. Shows last 60 minutes and include four different acts. Get the best Moulin Rouge tickets online today.
4 | Amsterdam Brothel Tour
At the strip-pole during the Amsterdam Brothel Tour.
Get a peak behind the curtains with this Amsterdam Brothel Tour. If you’ve always wanted to visit a brothel and learn more about sex work, this is the experience for you. A sex worker guide will show you around Amsterdam’s newest and most exclusive brothel. During the tour you get to ask her any question you might be interested; what are the working hours? How much do they earn? What is their most bizarre experience? You name it. It’s located almost next to the Heineken experience so you could easily combine a visit to both.
The stripclub area of this brothel in Amsterdam.
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: 20 euro per person
Burn: 118 calories
Fun Activities After The Brothel Tour
✦ Visit the Heineken Experience – Amsterdam’s famous beer brewery.
✦ Have lunch in ‘De Pijp‘ area.
✦ Take a picture at the Wake Me Up When I’m Famous bench.
✦ Go to Museum Square and visit the Van Gogh Museum.
✦ Take a canal cruise in Amsterdam in front of the Heineken brewery.
5 | Amsterdam Audio Tour
Explore the Red Light District with 22 experts in your pocket.
With the Amsterdam Audio Tour app you can discover the Red Light District on your schedule, at your pass. Navigate the so called ‘Wallen’ area with the help of GPS, virtual tour guide Sophie and 22 experts that you’ll ‘meet’ along the way.
One of the main benefits of this app is that you can now get a guided tour whenever you want, with whoever you want. Walk alongside the best narrators and hear all the interesting stories that are part of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Had enough? Just press pause and pick up after having a rest in one the many great cafes in the area.
The experts in Amsterdam Audio Tour: local police officers, a Romanian prostitute, historians, entrepreneurs, residents, drug consultants, sociologists, sex-historians, a male sex worker, the Fokkens twins, the Salvation Army, a smart shop owner and many others.
The CEO of FEBO Amsterdam is one of the 22 experts.
Duration: 110 minutes
Price: 5,- per person
Burn: 431 calories
Fun Activities After The Audio Tour
✦ Try some ‘bitterballen’ at Cafe de Schreierstoren.
✦ Visit Amsterdam’s last hidden church with discount from the audio tour.
✦ Buy a souvenir at world’s first condom shop.
✦ See where Rembrandt got married during a visit to ‘De Oude Kerk‘.
✦ Try a local brewed beer at Brewery de Prael.
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Interactive Red Light District Map
Amsterdam Audio Tours: Explore Red Light District With 22 Experts
Amsterdam Mayor Will Work In Window Brothel
Posted on: April 1, 2021
Amsterdam Mayor To Increase Knowledge About Prostitution
The Amsterdam mayor will work in a window brothel for one night to learn more about sex work. Many sex workers believe that the current mayor knows too little about sex work and therefore makes serious mistakes that have a negative impact on sex workers in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam’s Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
To learn more about sex work, the mayor of the Dutch capital promised to work in a window brothel for one night. She will do an internship with a sex worker who has 15 years of experience in Amsterdam Red Light District.
‘Hopefully this sex worker can inform me about prostitution so that I can make better decisions. I want to learn everything!’, states the Amsterdam mayor.
Window brothels in the Red Light District.
The Amsterdam mayor has the idea of developing an erotic center outside the Dutch capital. Her idea originated pre-corona. She thinks that prostitutes are responsible for the hustle and bustle in the city center. Sex workers do not want a relocation of the Red Light District nor an erotic center elsewhere. They’re satisfied with their own current workplace in the Amsterdam Red Light District. They actually benefit from many visitors and indicate that prostitution has always taken place in this neighbourhood.
Trompettersteeg. Amsterdam’s most narrow alley.
A common complaint is that decisions are made about sex workers without their involvement. Sex workers also believe that politicians have too little understanding of sex work.
Project One-Night Stand
To learn more about one of world’s oldest professions, the Amsterdam mayor will work in a window brothel for one night.
She hopes this will give her a better insight into the life of an Amsterdam window prostitute. The mayor will do a one-night internship and is supervised by April F. – a sex worker who does not want her full name to be published. April F. is also against the idea of creating an erotic center elsewhere.
The project is called a one-night stand and everybody is welcome participate. The more respondents there will be, the more reliable the result. The Amsterdam mayor will be working in a window brothel on the Amsterdam Red Light District famous street in September, 2021.
Leather Outfit, Sex Toys & A Whip
April F. will buy her necessary items like a leather outfit, new sex toys and a whip. During her nocturnal internship, the mayor will be taught everything about prostitution in Amsterdam. Including how she can best seduce men.
‘I am going to show the Amsterdam mayor that possible nuisance is not caused by sex workers. If the local government want less crowds in this area in the future, the visitors should be spread out by opening more window brothels in the city centre. Preferably in entertainment areas such as the Red Light District, like Rembrandt Square and Leidse Square.’
Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
How To Become A Sex Worker
Sex worker April F. indicates that she did not receive any help at all from the government during her time in the business. She has gained all her knowledge and experience herself, in practice.
The Amsterdam sex worker explains:
‘It is strange that there is an exit program for prostitutes in the Netherlands but not a “how-to-become-a-sex-worker program”. There are plenty of people who want to practice this profession out of free will, but they do not receive any help from the government. Only when they want to step out of business. And that while we’re also registered entrepreneurs who pay tax. Politicians should engage more with sex workers!’
Old Church Square and the Oudezijds Voorburgwal.
Amsterdam Mayor Loses Popularity
Many Amsterdammers think it is a bad idea to open an erotic center outside the city. It would be an unnecessary, unsafe and expensive idea according to most. The idea of the Amsterdam mayor arose because some (new) residents of the Red Light District complained about the number of visitors, pre-corona.
‘If you don’t like busyness, you should not be living in the most visited part of the Netherlands. There are plenty of quiet villages in our country!’, said a local resident.
The Amsterdam mayor hopes to gain popularity and trust through this internship with a sex worker. This makes her the first mayor in the world to do a practical internship in a brothel. In her latest statement, the Amsterdam mayor indicates that she is looking forward to Project One-Night Stand:
‘I’m delighted that April F. wants to educate me. She said that I can cum anytime I want.’
This piece was published on 1 April 2021. It’s an April Fools joke.
AMSTERDAM PROSTITUTION MENU >ALSO READ:
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10x Amsterdam Snow Pictures
Posted on: February 8, 2021
Does It Snow In Amsterdam?
Is something that people often ask. It sure does! These 10 Amsterdam snow pictures show what the Dutch capital looks like when fully snowed. The snow photos below were shot in February 2021 around the Red Light District.
It does not snow every winter in the Netherlands. And when it snows, it is often short-lived. This year it’s different. There is a lot of snow in Amsterdam, it is freezing and people enjoy the winter fun.
10x Amsterdam Snow Pictures
Nieuwmarkt
This Amsterdam snow photo shows the Nieuwmarkt and the Waag – the oldest non-religious building in the capital. In summer you can enjoy the sun from the terraces. But now, in winter-time, snowmen are built and snow fights are held here.
Snow is rare in the Netherlands and when it snows a lot, people enjoy it to the fullest. Snow brings people together.
Red Light District
The window brothels are closed due to the current corona measures. This is what the windows look like when the curtains are closed and when there is snow in front of the doors.
It is not only the window brothels that are temporarily closed due to the corona measures. Restaurants, hotels, shops, museums and sex shows are also closed. The tourists are not to be found here. Economically, these are tough times for this neighborhood, where people normally earn money from tourists.
Now, only locals who enjoy the snow and the special situation in the Red Light District.
It is strange, but also beautiful to see the most visited place in the Netherlands like this.
The alley below is one of the most visited alleys in Amsterdam. It has dozens of window brothels where prostitutes normally work in the red-lit windows. This alley offers a passage from the Oude Kerk to the famous street in the Red Light District; the Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
The coffeeshops are also heavily affected by the corona measures. Coffeeshops, like The Bulldog, mainly serve tourists – who have barely been around since the corona outbreak.
Known to some; the narrowest alley in Amsterdam. The Trompettersteeg has got new graffiti.
Another narrow alley and more closed windows.
TIP: Check out the Dutch weather forecast website: Buienrader. It’s the most used weather forecast site in the Netherlands and it perfectly shows a radar with upcoming rain, snow or clouds.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more great pictures of Amsterdam.
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15x Must See in Amsterdam Red Light District
67 Things You Didn’t Know About The Netherlands in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
67 Things You Didn’t Know About The Netherlands
The Netherlands is a beautiful country that is known for its windmills, tulip fields, red light district, amazing architecture, cannabis, coffeeshops and whatnot.
But there are many things about the Netherlands that you probably didn’t know about. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about the Netherlands that may have some scratching their heads.
1 | The VOC
The Dutch East India Company – also known as “VOC” – was the richest company in the entire history of mankind. At its peak, the VOC was worth 78 million guilders (Holland’s former currency). That is 7.4 trillion euros today, adjusted for inflation. Today’s global corporations aren’t even close. Alphabet, the parent company of Google is now worth about 1.25 trillion US dollars and Apple too is also around 1.25 trillion US dollars. The VOC was also the first company in the world that traded shares.
2 | Dutch families adopt WW2 graves
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Margraten_Netherlands_American_Cemetery_and_Memorial.jpg
Since 1945, more than 8,000 Dutch families have adopted a grave of fallen American WW2 soldiers who were buried in Limburg, a province in the south of The Netherlands. The Dutch families maintain the graves and lay flowers regularly. The graves remain within families, transferring from generation to generation. There are so many applications that there is a waiting list to adopt a grave.
3 | Amsterdam’s oldest store
Source: Google Maps
The oldest store in Amsterdam is a pharmacy located in the Red Light District. It has existed since 1696. This pharmacy on the left is the oldest store of Holland’s capital. It’s located on the Geldersekade – one of Amsterdam’s oldest canals – which was constructed in 1425. The Geldersekade has always been a lively part of town, as befits a port neighborhood like the Red Light District.
Its location on the open IJ river made Amsterdam a perfect water city. Almost all of the transportation of goods was shipped via the water of the canals, along which warehouses and merchants’ houses alternated. Fishermen, sail makers, sailors, ship owners, ship carpenters, wine merchants, brewers, glass merchants, shopkeepers, hawkers and prostitutes defined the character of this old town for centuries.
4 | France and The Netherlands share a border
Not in Europe but on the island of St. Maarten.
Saint Martin is an island in Caribbean, roughly 300 km (190 mi) east of Puerto Rico.
5 | The Dutch flag has a meaning
Red stands for the people, white stands for the church and blue for the nobility. Although the three colours do not seem original, it is actually the oldest tricolour in the world. All other tricoloured flags are copies.
6 | The first time a naked woman appeared on Dutch TV was on October 9, 1967
Source: GeheugenvanNederland.nl
It was the 21-year-old Phil Bloom. She appeared completely naked in the VPRO program “Hoepla” as a protest against the dullness. Her appearance caused great commotion and even led to parliamentary questions. Earlier that year, Phil Bloom also posed naked in front of a statue in Amsterdam and published the picture as a postcard. Do you know when this 10 things you didn’t know about the Netherlands story took place in your own country?
7 | If someone in Amsterdam dies without family, friends or acquaintances a poet will write a poem for this person and read it at the funeral
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
This is based on the idea that every human being is worth thinking about and deserves to be buried with specially chosen words. The initiative has been adopted by several cities at home and abroad. Here is the site of Eenzame Uitvaart (Foundation Lonely Funeral).
8 | South Africa has many verbatim copies of Dutch cities: Utrecht, Amsterdam, Haarlem, The Hague, Gouda, etc.
Map of South Africa with the red dot pointing to Amsterdam. Source: Google Maps
Amsterdam is a small sheep holders village with 850 inhabitants, in Mpumalanga, South Africa. In addition to large sheep farms there are large plantations of eucalyptus, pine and wattle trees in the area.
9 | The great-great-grandfather of the 8th US president, Martin van Buren, lived in village Buurmalsen in the Netherlands
Martin van Buren, 8th US President had Dutch roots and was the only president who learned English as a 2nd language.
The great-grandfather of Martin Van Buren, Cornelis Maessen, arrived in 1631 from the Dutch city Buurmalsen with a ship called “De Eenheid” (translated: “The Unit”) in America. He did not have a penny in his pocket and wanted to try his luck in America. As a memento of the village where he came from he changed his name into Van Buren.
At the inauguration speech, Martin van Buren said: “Unlike all who have preceded me, the Revolution that gave us existence as one people was achieved at the time of my birth”. the 8th US President was also known as The Flying Dutchman. An extra 10 things you didn’t know about the Netherlands fact: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was also of Dutch heritage.
10 | The first ever goal against the Dutch national football team was actually an own goal
It was during the match against Belgium which was played in the 1905. Ironically, it was made by someone named Ben Stom, which literally translates into “Am Stupid”. Eventually, the Dutch won the game with 4-1.
11 | The Netherlands and Holland are not synonymous
Holland refers only to two provinces (North and South Holland) in the west of the country, which were the most economically powerful in the Dutch Golden Age.
12 | A third of the Netherlands is below sea level
Land reclamation and protection against the sea are vital, with extensive systems of dikes and pumps keeping the water at bay.
13 | The Dutch are the tallest people in the world
On average, Dutch men and women are taller than their global counterparts, a phenomenon often attributed to genetics and a rich diet.
14 | Amsterdam has more bridges than Venice
With over 1,500 bridges, Amsterdam surpasses Venice in terms of bridged waterways, making it a unique city to explore by boat.
15 | The Netherlands is a global leader in water management
Dutch expertise in hydraulic engineering is sought after worldwide, helping other countries design and implement flood protection systems.
16 | Tulips aren’t originally from the Netherlands:
Though synonymous with the country today, tulips were imported from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century and became an object of speculation in the 17th century.
17 | The Dutch invented the stock market
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, established in 1602 by the Dutch East India Company, is considered the world’s oldest.
18 | Cycling is a way of life
There are more bicycles than residents in the Netherlands, and the country boasts an extensive network of cycling paths.
19 | The Dutch monarchy is popular and ceremonial
King Willem-Alexander and his family play a significant role in national unity and represent the country in diplomatic matters.
20 | Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is below sea level
Positioned at -3 meters, it’s one of the world’s busiest international airports.
20 | Dutch cuisine is simple but hearty
Dishes like stamppot (mashed potatoes with vegetables) and herring are staples of the Dutch diet.
21 | The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage
This landmark legislation was passed in 2001.
22 | Dutch is spoken in several countries
Beyond the Netherlands, Dutch is an official language in Belgium, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten.
23 | The Dutch are pioneers in renewable energy:
Windmills, old and new, symbolize the country’s long-standing relationship with wind power.
24 | The Netherlands has a museum dedicated to microbes:
Micropia, in Amsterdam, is the world’s first museum focused on microscopic life.
25 | It has a village without roads:
Giethoorn, known as the “Venice of the North,” is a peaceful village where canals replace roads.
26 | Dutch law requires buildings to be bat-friendly:
New buildings must include features to support local bat populations.
27 | The Dutch are avid coffee drinkers
Ranking among the top in the world for coffee consumption per capita.
28 | Rotterdam is home to Europe’s largest port
The Port of Rotterdam is a critical hub for international cargo transport.
29 | The Netherlands has one of the world’s oldest national anthems
The “Wilhelmus” dates back to the 16th century.
30 | Amsterdam has hundreds of canals
The city’s canal ring area is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
31 | Orange is the color of the Dutch royal family:
The House of Orange-Nassau leads the monarchy, hence the national color.
31 | The Dutch are world leaders in flower exports
Particularly of tulips and other bulbs.
32 | Liberal policies on drugs and prostitution
The Netherlands is known for its pragmatic approach to soft drugs and the legalization of prostitution.
33 | The country hosts one of the world’s largest flower gardens
Keukenhof is visited by millions to see the vibrant display of tulips each spring.
34 | Vincent van Gogh was Dutch
One of the most famous and influential figures in Western art.
35 | The Netherlands has a significant number of world heritage sites
Including the Rietveld Schröder House and the Wadden Sea.
36 | Waterpoort in Sneek is a famous water gate
Reflecting the country’s relationship with water in architecture.
37 | The Dutch celebrate King’s Day with nationwide festivities
On April 27th, marking the king’s birthday with orange attire and street markets.
38 | The International Court of Justice is in The Hague
Emphasizing the Netherlands’ role in international law and diplomacy.
39 | Dutch trains are powered by wind energy
Highlighting the country’s commitment to sustainability.
40 | Elfstedentocht is a famous ice skating tour
Covering 11 Frisian cities, it can only take place in severe winters when the ice is thick enough.
41 | The Netherlands is a founding member of the EU, NATO, and WTO
Playing a key role in international cooperation and economic policy.
42 | Delftware is the iconic blue and white pottery
Originating from the city of Delft in the 17th century.
43 | The concept of the “polder model” in Dutch politics
Refers to consensus-based decision-making, a practice stemming from the management of land reclaimed from the sea.
44 | The Netherlands has a high density of museums
Offering rich cultural experiences, from the Van Gogh Museum to the Anne Frank House.
45 | Dutch kids are among the happiest in the world
According to various international studies.
46 | The country is a pioneer in LGBTQ+ rights
Hosting one of the world’s first gay pride parades.
47 | Maastricht Treaty was signed in the Netherlands
Leading to the creation of the European Union and the euro.
48 | The Dutch invented orange carrots
In the 17th century, as a tribute to William of Orange.
49 | Amsterdam houses the only floating flower market in the world
The Bloemenmarkt.
50 | The Netherlands has an annual cheese market tradition
Dating back to the medieval times in cities like Alkmaar.
51 | ‘Going Dutch’ is a common practice
Reflecting the value placed on equality and individual responsibility.
51 | Euthanasia was legalized in 2002
The Netherlands was the first country to do so.
53 | Dutch universities are among the world’s best
Attracting a large number of international students.
54| The country is leading in sustainable agriculture
Innovating in ways to produce more with less water and pesticides.
55 | Bike theft is a common issue
Despite being a cycling paradise, bike security is a significant concern.
56 | The Netherlands has one of the lowest rates of car ownership in Europe
Thanks to its excellent public transport and cycling infrastructure.
57 | Sinterklaas is a Dutch holiday
That inspired the American version of Santa Claus.
58 | The country is a major exporter of beer
Dutch brands like Heineken are known worldwide.
59 | De Wallen in Amsterdam is one of the oldest and most famous red-light districts
Known for its liberal policies.
60 | The Dutch Royal Family has a tradition of abdications:
Allowing a smooth transition of monarchy to the next generation.
61 | Windmills are iconic Dutch symbols
Originally used for milling grain and managing water levels.
62 | The Netherlands has a significant expat population
Attracted by its high quality of life and international business environment.
63 | The country was a major naval power in the 17th century
Known as the Dutch Golden Age of exploration and trade.
64 | Gouda cheese originates from the Netherlands
Named after the city of Gouda, it’s one of the world’s most popular cheeses.
65 | Dutch law permits the sale of cannabis in coffee shops
Under controlled conditions, distinguishing its drug policy from many other countries.
66 | The Netherlands hosts the largest bicycle parking garage in the world
In Utrecht, accommodating over 12,500 bikes.
67 | Dutch people are known for their directness
Communication is straightforward, reflecting values of honesty and efficiency.
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25 Facts About Amsterdam Red Light District
Whore: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About in 2025
Posted on: January 4, 2024
Whore Wiki: The Definitive Guide
There is no one answer to the question of what a whore is, as the term can mean different things to different people. Generally speaking, a whore is someone who offers their body or sexual services for money.
Definition Hooker
This can include prostitutes, escorts, strippers, and other sex workers. However, the term can also be used more broadly to refer to anyone who is considered to be sexually promiscuous or easy to sleep with.
In some cases it may be used as an insult, while in others it may simply be a descriptive term. Ultimately, the definition of a whore depends on the person using the term.
In the progressive and fascinating country of the Netherlands, seeking the services of a prostitute is not just legal, but it has also embraced modern technology to make the process more efficient and discreet.
If you’re looking to order a whore online, various platforms have emerged that cater specifically to this demand. Begin by browsing through our website and online forums that feature sex workers, ensuring they are verified and reputable.
Once you find a suitable match, you can directly contact the service provider through messaging or email services, discussing specific requirements, potential arrangements, and negotiating a fair price.
Always practice safe and respectful conduct while engaging in the exchange, as the Netherlands prioritizes the protection and wellbeing of both parties involved.
Whore Synonyms
1. prostitute: a woman who engages in sexual activity for money
2. sex worker: a person who sells sexual services, such as prostitution, pornography, or erotic dancing
3. hooker: a prostitute who solicits customers on the street or in other public places
4. escort: a person who provides companionship or sexual services for money
5. call girl: a prostitute who can be contacted by telephone
6. woman of the street: a prostitute who works in public places
7. tart: a woman who dresses provocatively or engages in sexual activity for money
8. strumpet: a prostitute or promiscuous woman
9. hussy: a prostitute or promiscuous woman
10. jade: a prostitute or promiscuous woman
Famous Whores
Mata Hari was a famous Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of spying for Germany during World War I and executed by firing squad.
Xaviera Hollander is a retired call girl, madam, and author best known for her 1971 memoir, The Happy Hooker: My Own Story.
Martine and Louise Fokkens are identical twin sisters who worked as prostitutes in Amsterdam for over 50 years.
Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, who infamously seduced Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.
Lyle Muns is male escort and Green Left politician.
Mariska Majoor is a retired Dutch sex worker and author. She is the founder of the Prostitution Information Center in Amsterdam, and has been a vocal advocate for the decriminalization of prostitution.
Majoor began working in the sex industry at the age of 18, and quickly became one of Amsterdam’s most famous prostitutes. She became known for her openness about her work, and her willingness to speak out about the realities of the sex industry.
In 2003, she published a book about her experiences entitled Selling Sex: A Look Inside the Dutch Prostitution Industry. Majoor has been credited with helping to change public perceptions of prostitution, and she continues to be an outspoken advocate for the rights of sex workers.
These are just some of the most famous whores in history.
What do you call an expensive whore?
In its most simplest form, a whore is a woman who has sex with men for money. But there are actually different types of whores, each with their own price point and services offered.
For example, you have streetwalkers who are typically the lowest priced option and can be found loitering on street corners or in seedy neighborhoods. Then you have escorts who are slightly higher priced and can be found advertising their services online or in magazines.
And finally, you have courtesans or call-girls who are the most expensive option and often provide a more luxurious experience. Courtesans in particular are known for their beauty, intelligence, and sophistication, making them a popular choice among affluent men. So the next time someone asks you what an expensive whore is called, you can confidently reply with “courtesan” or “call-girl.”
What do you call a whore’s boss?
In the world of prostitution, the madame or pimp is the one in charge. They usually own the brothel or escort service and are responsible for managing the business and recruiting new prostitutes.
The madame or pimp also sets the prices for services and takes a cut of the profits. They may also provide protection for their employees and living quarters for those who work for them.
While madames and pimps have different roles, they both control and profit from the sexual exploitation of others. As such, they are often viewed as villains in popular culture. However, some madames and pimps claim to provide a necessary service, one that offers safety and stability for their workers. Regardless of their motives, madames and pimps are ultimately complicit in the exploitation of women and girls.
What’s a whore house?
A brothel, also known as a whorehouse or bordello, is a place where people can go to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes. Prostitutes are typically women who sell their sexual services in exchange for money.
Brothels are often segregated by gender, with men and women working in separate areas. Some brothels may also offer other services, such as massages or dancing. In some countries, brothels are legal and regulated, while in others they are not. Brothels vary widely in terms of size, facilities, and the type of clientele they cater to.
Which country has the cheapest prostitution?
Philippines is a country located in Southeast Asia with a population of over 100 million people. It is an archipelago consisting of more than 7,000 islands. The Philippines has a tropical climate and is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and rainforests. The Philippines is also known for its cheap prostitution. Prostitution is legal in the Philippines, and the country has a high demand for prostitutes. As a result, there are many brothels and massage parlors that offer sexual services for low prices. In addition, street prostitution is common in the Philippines, and many women sell sex for as little as $1 US dollar. Consequently, the Philippines is considered to be one of the cheapest countries for prostitution.
Is whore a swear word?
Yes, “whore” is considered a swear word. It is highly offensive and is used to insult and belittle women. The word is derived from the Old English word hōre, which originally meant “adulteress” or “prostitute.” Over time, the meaning of the word has become more negative, and it is now considered one of the most offensive terms that can be used against a woman. If you are ever unsure whether a particular word is considered a swear word, it is always best to err on the side of caution and avoid using it.
What is a better alternative for whore?
Sex worker is the right and most appropriate term.
What does attention whore mean?
An attention whore is someone who excessively draws attention to themselves, often for the purpose of validation or approval. This attention-seeking behavior can take many forms, such as attention-seeking dress, attention-seeking behavior, or attention-seeking social media posts. In some cases, attention whores may be seeking genuine attention and affection. However, in other cases, they may be motivated by a need for validation or a desire to boost their own ego. Whatever the reason, attention whoring is generally considered to be an undesirable trait.
What’s the Madonna whore complex?
The Madonna-whore complex is a psychological term that refers to the dichotomy between an individual’s perception of women as either Madonna-like saints or whore-like temptation. This split, which is typically found in men, can lead to feelings of sexual frustration and anxiety. Madonna-whore complex often results in men viewing sex as dirty or sinful, and this can in turn lead to sexual dysfunction. While the Madonna-whore complex is most commonly found in men, it can also affect women’s sexual lives. Women with Madonna-whore complex often view themselves as either virgins or sluts, leading to feelings of shame and anxiety around their own sexuality. If you think you may be suffering from Madonna-whore complex, it is important to speak with a mental health professional who can help you address these issues.
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The Ultimate Guide To Order A Whore In Holland in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
How To Order A Whore In The Netherlands?
You’re in The Netherlands and you want to order a whore, but you don’t know where to start. It can be tough finding the right website to order a whore from, especially if you’re new to the country.
There are so many options, and it’s hard to know which one is right for you.
ORDER NOW >We are here to help. We’ve compiled a list of the best websites to order a whore from in The Netherlands, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best possible service.
How to order a whore online?
There are a few things to keep in mind when ordering an escort online.
✦ First, escort services are legal in The Netherlands. Be sure to check the local laws before ordering an escort.
✦ Second, escort services typically require payment up front, so be prepared to pay for the service before it is rendered.
✦ Third, when choosing an escort service, be sure to read reviews and compare pricing. This will help you avoid scams and choose a reputable service.
✦ Finally, when meeting with an escort, be sure to respect her boundaries and avoid any illegal activities. By following these simple guidelines, you can order an escort online without any problem.
What is an escort service agency exactly?
Escort service agencies are businesses that provide escorts for clients, usually for sexual services.
The agency typically arranges a meeting between one of its escorts and the client at the customer’s house or hotel room (outcall), or at the escort’s residence (incall).
Some agencies also provide escorts for longer durations, who may stay with the client or travel along on a holiday or business trip.
While the escort agency is paid a fee for this booking and dispatch service, the customer must negotiate any additional fees or arrangements directly with the escort for any other services that are not provided by the agency involved, such as providing sexual services (regardless of the legality of these services).
Top Sites To Order A Whore
1 | Desire Escorts
Desire Escort is the best certified escort agency in the Netherlands. Order a whore online via their chat service or directly per telephone. This organisation offers dozens of sex workers. The whores here prefer to be called ladies. Which can be ordered in all major cities in the Netherlands.
ORDER ESCORT NOW >“I had the pleasure of ordering a sex worker from Desire Escort in Amsterdam and it was a very good experience. The escort’s professionalism matched her pleasant personality as she arrived at my location on time. We talked for a few minutes and soon got comfortable in bed, where we shared some nice moments and created an unforgettable connection. All in all, it was an enjoyable experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an erotic sex appointment in Amsterdam.”
Patrick1981
2 | EscortAmsterdam.com
Fucking a whore can also be done easily and reliably through this company. It mainly focuses on men who want to order a hooker in the Amsterdam region. Also at EscortAmsterdam.com it concerns only female whores for male customers.
ORDER ESCORT NOW >“After traveling to Amsterdam for a business trip, I decided to take advantage of EscortAmsterdam.com and hire a companion for the evening. After a few friendly chat messages, I made arrangements with one particular sex worker who seemed eager and accommodating. We met at my hotel, went out for drinks and had an unforgettable party in my suite before taking it back to the bed for some real frolics! The booking was respectful in all senses, with both parties following explored boundaries throughout the evening. We even ended up in a fun threesome with another local that we invited over! All in all, it’s definitely worth using the services of EscortAmsterdam.com to have your personal experience of Amsterdam enhanced by the presence of a friendly sex worker.”
Paul Roberts
3 | High Class Escorts
Looking for a whore with class? Perhaps it would be good to call it something else first, so that it sounds more stylish. A high class escort is the right term.
That is exactly what this Dutch company with an official license delivers. The women here are elegant, educated and interested in generous men.
ORDER ESCORT NOW >
4 | Passion Escorts
Order horny whores here. The passion these ladies take to bed is not normal. This adult company is a good choice if you just want to have quick sex with a whore, without much fuss.
ORDER ESCORT NOW >
5 | Escorts Schiphol
Want to have sex at or close to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and do you want sex quickly? Then order a hooker through this licensed company. Choose your favorite lady via the website and order her by phone or via the handy chat function. The desired sex worker will meet with you in record time to meet your needs.
ORDER ESCORT NOW >
Sex Date
Have you decided after reading this article that you want sex, but not with a whore?
Then maybe sex dating is something for you. Discover the best sex date sites in the Netherlands and arrange a sex appointment in your area easily and quickly.
On these websites, men and women are only looking for sex. So no hassle with complicated relationships or long dates. Just easy to meet someone who is in the mood for sex.
We listed the top sex dating sites in Holland, rated them and added reviews from others. See if it’s for you today.
What is a whore?
A whore is a sex worker who provides sexual services in exchange for payment. Whores can be found in a variety of settings, including brothels, escort agencies, and street corners.
They may also work independently, advertising their services online or in print media.
While the term “whore” is often used to describe sex workers in a negative way, many whores view their work as a legitimate job and take pride in their abilities to pleasure their clients.
In recent years, the sex industry has become increasingly normalized, and attitudes towards whores have become more positive. Today, there is a growing movement of sex workers who are fighting for their rights and working to destigmatize their profession.
How much is a whore?
How much is a whore? This is a question with no easy answer, as there are many factors that can affect the price.
Generally speaking, whores can charge anywhere between 50 and 250 euro. However, the exact amount will often depend on the specific services offered, as well as the experience and reputation of the prostitute in question.
In some cases, prices may also be negotiable. Ultimately, the best way to determine how much a whore will cost is to ask around and get quotes from different prostitutes.
With a little research, you should be able to find a whore that charges a fair price for her services.
Order Whore in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam it is of course possible to order a hooker. Here is the most choice because it is the capital and most in demand for hookers.
You can order a hooker in Amsterdam in different ways:
- Escort Agency
- Directly with an escort via an advertisement
- Sex club
The most popular way to order a hooker in the Netherlands is through a reliable and licensed escort company. This offers guarantees and prevents hassle.
Order Whore In Rotterdam
If you’re looking to order a whore in Rotterdam, Desire Escorts is the agency for you.
We are a professional and discreet escort agency that can provide you with the perfect companion for any occasion.
Whether you’re looking for a sex date for a night out on the town or someone to keep you company during a business trip, they have the perfect escort for you.
All of their escorts are professional and experienced, and they know how to make sure you have a good time.
So if you’re looking for some fun and excitement in Rotterdam, Desire Escorts is the agency for you.
What do you call a male whore?
The best and most friendly name for a male whore is a sex worker.
A straight male whore is typically referred to as a gigolo. A gigolo is a man who engaged in sexual activity with women in exchange for money. The term can also be applied to a man who provides companionship or other services in exchange for payment. Gigolos are usually hired by wealthy women who are looking for companionship or sexual satisfaction. While the term gigolo often has negative connotations, some men view it as a way to make a living while providing companionship or sexual pleasure to women.
A name for a male who’s attracted by men is gay escort.
How to say whore in French?
Putain is the most commonly used word for “whore” in French. It can be used as a noun or an insult, and it has a wide range of meanings, from “prostitute” to ” selfish person.” Putain is also one of the most versatile words in the French language, as it can be used as an interjection, adjective, or verb. Putain can be used in a variety of contexts, but it is generally considered to be a vulgar word and should be used with caution. When used in its most negative sense, putain can be translated as “bitch” or ” slut.” In its positive sense, putain can simply mean ” woman.” Putain is a powerful word that should be used sparingly and with care.
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10 Amsterdam Red Light District Images
Posted on: April 22, 2020
Most Popular Amsterdam Red Light District Images On Instagram
(Last updated: 26 November 2020)
From red-lit window brothels to iconic Dutch canals, every day we post great Amsterdam Red Light District images on our Instagram-account. We dived into its insights and analysed which images got most likes in 2020. Here are the best 10 photos that you have to see because they can be inspirational for your next trip to Amsterdam.
1 | Old Church Square Amsterdam
With more than 510 likes this is the absolute number in the top 10 Amsterdam Red Light District images. This shows the Old Church Square, Amsterdam’s oldest building, window brothels and a crooked lamppost. This is the middle of the Red Light District and also the oldest part of town.
2 | Coffeeshop The Bulldog First
This is perhaps the most famous cannabis shop in the world. Maybe because it’s one of the oldest. The Bulldog has nine businesses in Amsterdam but this was the very first one.
3 | Coffeeshop The Jolly Joker
Number three in the list of top 10 Amsterdam Red Light District Images is this one. In this picture we explained a part of Holland’s drug law. Do you want to learn more about drugs? Join the Amsterdam Drugs Tour with a licensed tour guide and get an answer on all your drug related questions.
4 | Coffeeshop The Bulldog 90 Amsterdam
Did you know that the owner of The Bulldog was born and raised in the Red Light District? He came from a poor family and grew up in an area with prostitutes and pimps. When he was young, the leader of Amsterdam’s Salvation Army guided him and put him on the right path. Thanks to her, he has now become such a successful businessman. An entrepreneur and self-made man who is now in the Dutch Fortune 500 at number 254.
5 | Amsterdam Red Light District Famous Street
This is also one of the most popular Amsterdam Red Light District images. Most likely because it shows the Oudezijds Achterburgwal – the famous street – with a news update on the corona-crisis in Amsterdam.
6 | Casa Rosso Amsterdam
This erotic theatre has been around for more than 50 years. Also this company had to close its doors due to the safety measures for the corona-virus. Luckily Casa Rosso Amsterdam will re-open in the future. Did you know we also offer online tickets for this sex show? Buy tickets on our website and get to see real erotic performances. They even show a couple having sex on stage!
7 | Main Street in Amsterdam Red Light District
8 | Amsterdam in Corona Crisis
9 | Oudezijds Achterburgwal & Korte Niezel
10 | Red Light District Windows
The window brothels in Amsterdam have been closed since half March 2020. They will stay closed August 31, 2020. The next day they may be opened again. Sex workers had a really hard time and they hope that people will visit Amsterdam again soon.
IMAGES ON INSTAGRAM >
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The 5 Best Electric Weed Grinders To Buy In 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Top 5 Electric Weed Grinder
Say goodbye to manual labor and hello to convenience with the best electric weed grinders. Grinding your weed has never been easier, faster, or more efficient than with these five top-rated electric grinders.
SHOW BEST GRINDER >
In this blog post, we’ll review each grinder and highlight their unique features, so you can make an informed decision before making a purchase. Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or a beginner, these electric weed grinders are sure to become your new favorite accessory.
We made the top 5 electric weed grinder on the market right now. It has a powerful motor that can quickly and easily grind up your bud, and it comes with several different grinding blades so that you can get the perfect consistency every time.
What Is A Weed Grinder?
A grinder (English for grinder) is a device with which coarse or usually too wet pieces of cannabis buds can be ground into crumbs that can be used in joints. Grinders come in different shapes. Small and simple plastic made grinders. And large with three or four ‘filters’ for obtaining marijuana. A grinder is also called “Crusher”, Cruncher or ‘herb grinder’
1 | Cool Night Herb Grinder
- ONE-BUTTON OPERATION – The COOL KNIGHT Electric Weed Grinder is easy to use! Just a gentle press of the button and the grinder will start grinding.
- SAFETY DESIGN – The lid is used as a switch, so there’s no need for dirty hands. Just a gentle press, and the grinder will start grinding.
- SHEERNESS – The COOL KNIGHT Electric Weed Grinder is made with high quality materials that give it a sheen finish.
- EASY TO CLEAN – The grinder is easy to clean, just rinse with water and let it air dry. No more messes!
- VALUE FOR MONEY – Get the best value
I love this grinder. I bought it as a Christmas present for my husband and he was immediately impressed after the first use.
It was a bit bigger than what I thought and what it looked like in the pictures. It is very easy to use and the consistency, of what ever it is that you are grinding, depends on how long you gold it down. A few taps breaks it up and the longer you hold it down will grind it up finely. Definitely worth the buy.
2 | Wakit Electric Weed Grinder
The Wakit Electric Weed Grinder is a device available on Amazon for grinding cannabis. It has an electric motor that can grind the herb quickly and efficiently, reducing the amount of manual effort needed. The device also has a unique ball and chain mechanism that helps to create a fine, consistent grind. Some advantages of the Wakit Electric Weed Grinder include speed, convenience, and consistency of the grind.
WAIT NO MORE – Weed grinder with a powerful drone motor that shreds your weed in seconds.
Key benefits/features:
- SAVES TIME – Our electric grinder is the fastest way to grind up your cannabis. No more wasting time and money on manual grinders!
- HIGH QUALITY – The best weed grinder on the market, made of durable materials, and will last you for years.
- EASY PREP TIME – Simply load your cannabis into our electric grinder and press the button! You’ll be enjoying fresh ground herbs in no time at all.
- SIMPLE TO USE – We’ve designed our electric herb grinder to be as easy to use as possible, so you can enjoy.
Gifted this to my husband for Christmas. He’s a wëëd smOker, and at first glance he had his doubts. Turns out, it’s the best dang grinder we’ve ever seen lol. Doesn’t gunk up. Grinds to any consistency perfectly. Just a quick zip zap and you’re done, easy and fun to use.
3 | Tectonic9
The Tectonic9 Herb Grinder is a top-rated automatic electric grinder available on Amazon. Made from durable aluminum alloy, this grinder is capable of grinding up to 2.5 inches of herbs with ease. Its electric motor and intuitive dispensing mechanism make it a convenient and efficient tool for grinding cannabis. The Tectonic9 Herb Grinder is highly rated for its consistency of grind, speed, and ease of use.
Currently, it’s priced at $59.99 and the third best weed grinder available online.
4 | Cool Knight Electric Weed Grinder
5 | Wakit Electric Herb Grinder
If you’re a weed fanatic, the Wakit electric herb grinder is the perfect tool for you. This electric weed grinder grinds your cannabis rapidly and consistently, letting you get to smoking in no time. Its unique design allows for a more uniform grind and operates without making too much noise. An advantage of this electric weed grinder is that it features an automated, battery powered procedure so you don’t have to manually rotate and twist the lid just to obtain a great grind. It’s also portable enough so you can bring it with you on your next adventure! You can purchase the Wakit electric herb grinder from Amazon easily at an amazing value, making it an excellent choice for all weed lovers out there!
Why Use A Weed Grinder?
Grinders are used to prevent the weed from being compressed during hand crumbling, or simply because the weed is hanging too tightly together, which could be because the weed is too fresh and still moist. The harder hash varieties, such as Maroc or Zero, can also be ground with a grinder.
How To Use A Weed Grinder?
A weed grinder is a tool that can be used to grind up weeds. There are many different types of weed grinders on the market, but they all operate in basically the same way. To use a weed grinder, simply place the weed in the grinder and twist the top until the weed is ground up. Some grinders have multiple chambers that can be used to store different types of weed. Others have built-in storage containers that can be used to store the ground-up weed. Weed grinders are a great way to make sure that your weed is evenly ground and ready to use. They also make it easier to transport weed from one place to another. When using a weed grinder, be sure to follow all safety instructions that come with the product.
How To Grind Weed Without A Grinder?
Any pot smoker has been in the predicament of not having a grinder on hand. Maybe you’re at a friend’s house and they don’t have one, or you misplaced yours. Whatever the case, there are a few ways you can grind your weed without a grinder. One way is to use a pair of scissors. Cut the weed into small pieces, being careful not to cut yourself in the process. Another option is to use a coffee bean grinder. This will grind your weed into a fine powder that can be rolled into a joint or used in a bowl. If you don’t have either of these items on hand, you can always use your fingers. Break the weed up into small pieces with your hands until it’s the consistency you want. While this method isn’t as effective as using a grinder, it will get the job done in a pinch.
Where To Buy A Weed Grinder?
Amazon is a great place to buy a weed grinder. They have a wide selection of brands and prices to choose from. You can also read customer reviews to help you make a decision. Another benefit of shopping on Amazon is that you can often find discounts and free shipping offers. Amazon also has a money-back guarantee, so you can return the grinder if you’re not satisfied. Walmart is another option for buying a weed grinder. They also have a wide selection of grinders, and you can usually find good deals on Walmart’s website. However, one downside of shopping at Walmart is that they don’t offer Amazon’s money-back guarantee. So, if you’re not happy with your purchase, you may not be able to return it. Overall, Amazon is the best place to buy a weed grinder because of their selection, customer reviews, and money-back guarantee.
How To Clean A Weed Grinder?
✦ Turn on the kettle.
✦ Disassemble the weed grinder completely and put all parts in a heat resistant container.
✦ When the water is boiled, let it cool for a while. Boiling water can damage plastic material.
✦ Pour the hot water into the pan with parts and add (cleaning) vinegar.
✦ Let your grinder soak for about 15 minutes. Shake the pan frequently and again to loosen the dirt.
✦ Remove the weed grinder parts and scrub the last bits of filth off with a pipe cleaner or an old toothbrush.
✦ Ready!
How Much Is A Weed Grinder?
Prices for weed grinders typically range between $23 and $65, depending on the quality and features. Some higher-end models include extra chambers for sifting kief or storing pre-ground cannabis, while others come with built-in storage containers or compartments for storing tools and other accessories. Ultimately, the best weed grinder is the one that meets your specific needs and budget.
Why does sex feel so good on weed?
When it comes to sex, there are a lot of things that can make the experience more enjoyable. For some people, it may be the feeling of intimacy and connection with their partner. For others, it may be the physical sensations or the release of tension and stress. But for those who have sex while under the influence of weed, there may be another factor at play: the psychoactive effects of THC. THC is known to increase sense of touch and can also lead to enhanced pleasure and satisfaction during sex. In addition, THC can help to ease anxiety and increase relaxation, both of which can make sex more enjoyable. So if you’re looking to add a little something extra to your sex life, you might want to consider using weed. Just be sure to use it responsibly and in moderation!
Conclusion
Don’t feel like putting in force while grinding? Then the electric weed grinder is something for you. Put the weed in the electric weed grinder, press a button and the cannabis is ready for your joint. Rather lazy than tired? This is your gadget!
An electric weed grinder is also very useful for people who have rheumatism and consume cannabis for medicinal reasons, but are not able to grind the weed themselves due to stiff fingers or swollen hands.
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10 Odd Museums in Amsterdam
10 Best Unusual Museums In Amsterdam
Are you looking for unforgettable and fun things do in Amsterdam? Do not wander around the city aimlessly. That is a waste of your precious time! Discover these 10 unusual museums in Amsterdam and experience something unique!
Did you know that Amsterdam was ranked as the most cultural city of the world in 2017? The creators of the ranking (The World’s Most Cultural cities) used TripAdvisor to determine the number of theaters, museums, art galleries, concert halls and Michelin restaurants. They did this for the thirty cities worldwide that received the most international visitors who also stayed in the city. For these cities, the list looked at the number of inhabitants in relation to the number of cultural attractions in the city.
These 10 unusual museums in Amsterdam probably helped with that high ranking!
1 | Kattenkabinet
In 1990, cat lover Bob Meijer set up the Kattenkabinet, in honor of his deceased red male cat named J.P. Morgan. In the museum you can admire all kinds of paintings, sculptures and drawings with a cat theme. Presented are works by, among others, Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec.
The museum is located in a beautiful old canal house from 1667, making a visit to this peculiar museum an interesting experience even for people who do not like cats.
Prices
| Adults | € 7,- per person |
| Students & Pupils | € 4,- per person |
| Children | Free |
Opening hours
✦ Monday through Friday: from 10:00 am till 5:00 pm.
✦ Saturday through Sunday: from 12:00 noon till 5:00 pm.
2 | Torture Museum Amsterdam
Number two of our unusual museums in Amsterdam list is the Torture Museum Amsterdam, and it is not suitable for the weak. This intriguing museum gives you a realistic look at a dark past, where gruesome torture techniques and public executions were everyday occurrences. More than 40 different torture instruments and methods from different parts of Europe are presented in the Torture Museum.
Prices
| Adults | € 7,50 per person |
| Children up to the age of 12 | € 4,- per person |
Opening Hours
✦ From 10:00 am till 11:00 pm.
3 | Amsterdam Pipe Museum
In this cozy museum you can view peace pipes, clay pipes and historical price lists. As a visitor you get a personal tour of the hundreds of pipes and all related smoky objects. The tour guide tells all stories behind the objects, which makes it very interesting.
Prices
| Adults | € 10,- per person |
| Children aged 6 – 18 | € 5,- per person |
| Children aged 5 or younger | Free |
Opening Hours
✦ Monday through Saturday: from 12:00 noon till 6:00 pm.
4 | Museum Vrolik
How do we look on the inside? How are our organs and body parts built up and where is everything exactly? Where do the muscles and blood vessels run in your forearm? In Vrolik Museum you’ll find a collection where the normal and abnormal development of the human body play a central role. It was amassed in the late 18th century, the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th century.
Prices
| Adults | € 7,50 per person |
| Children up to the age of 12 | € 3,50 per person |
Opening Hours
✦ Monday through Friday: from 10:00 am till 5:00 pm.
5 | Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum
Are you interested in cannabis? Then this is something you should experience!
The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam is the world’s oldest and most important museum that is solely dedicated to Cannabis Sativa L, also known as hemp or marijuana.
This museum fulfills an important informative function. It has a unique collection that covers all aspects of cannabis. It functions as an educational center and facilitates scientific research and fulfils an important informative function.
The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum was founded by Ben Dronkers – one of Holland’s most important cannabis pioneers. He is also the CEO of Sensi Seeds.
Prices
| All ages | € 8,50 per person |
Opening Hours
✦ From 10:00 am till 10:00 pm.
BUY TICKETS NOW >
6 | House Boat Museum
In 1997 the House Boat Museum was opened. The owner got the idea for the museum because of the many questions he got about living in a house boat. Now visitors can see and experience what it is like to live on a houseboat in Amsterdam. The unique location at the Prinsengracht, on the edge of the famous Jordaan, provides a magnificent backdrop for the historic museum ship.
Prices
| Adults | € 4,50 per person |
| Children aged 5 – 15 | € 3,50 per person |
Opening Hours
Opening hours can be found on the website of the HouseBoatMuseum.
7 | Museum Of Bags And Purses
Number 7 on our unusual museums in Amsterdam list is the largest museum for bags and purses in the world. With more than 4,000 bags, the museum shows the history of the bag and purse in the west. From the Middle Ages to the present. The oldest bag is a goatskin leather bag from the sixteenth century. The collection hosts the weirdest and craziest types of bags including iconic ones from Margaret Thatcher’s and Madonna.
Prices
| Adults | € 12,50 per person |
| Students | € 9,50 per person |
| Pupils aged 13 – 18 | € 7,50 per person |
| Children aged 7 – 12 | € 3,50 per person |
Opening Hours
✦ From 10:00 am till 5:00 pm.
8 | Our Lord In The Attic
Tucked away in the heart of Amsterdam Red Light District lies a small uniquely preserved wonder: the Our Lord in the Attic Museum. Walk through the narrow corridors of this seventeenth-century canal house. Climb the wooden stairs and discover living rooms, kitchens and bedsteads all furnished in the style of the Dutch Golden Age. This all leads up to the attic of the museum where you’ll find an entire hidden church.
This museum is also a part of Amsterdam Audio Tours.
Prices
| Adults | € 11,- per person |
| Children aged 5 – 17 | € 5,50 per person |
| Children aged 4 or younger | Free |
Opening Hours
✦ Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am till 6:00 pm
✦ Sunday from 1:00 pm till 6:00 pm.
9 | Museum Tot Zover / Funeral Museum
Us humans cherish life, but we need death to give it all meaning. Dutch society is constantly changing and this affects the forms of funeral services, funeral rituals and the way we Dutchies mourn. Tot Zover delves into how the Dutch deal with death in four different themes: rituals, the body, Mourning and remembrance, and reflection on mortality.
Museum Tot Zover gives an overview of the traditions and customs in the field of dying, burial and grief processing in the Netherlands. There are, for example, objects relating to the funeral industry, such as the uniform of an undertaker’s man and an atomizer, which was used to dispel unpleasant odors in death rooms. Attention is also given to modern funeral rituals, for example in other cultures.
Prices
| Adults | € 7,- per person |
| Pupils aged 13 – 18 | € 5,- per person |
| Children aged 12 or younger | Free |
10 | Electric Ladyland Museum
The last one on our unusual museums in Amsterdam list is a museum named after one of Jimi Hendrix’s best records, and that can only mean one thing: psychedelic art. Electric Ladyland is an ode to fluorescent art, which can sometimes have hallucinatory (side) effects. In this museum you are not merely an observer, you take part in a world full of weird shapes and colors. Ideal for anyone who does not like the passive view of art and prefers to be a part of the adventure.
Prices
| Aged 12 and older | € 5,- per person |
| Children | Free |
Opening Hours
Open: Wednesday through Saturday from 2:00 am till 6:00 pm.
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How To Book A Gay Escort in Amsterdam in 2025?
Posted on: March 1, 2025
The Ultimate Gay Escort Guide
Definition Gay Escort
A gay escort is a professional service provider who offers companionship and other services to gay and bisexual men.
Gay escorts are typically older and masculine-presenting men who provide their services for an hourly rate or flat fee.
Services offered by gay escorts can vary, but may include things like providing companionship, offering sexual services, or acting as a tour guide or date for events.
Gay escorts typically advertise their services online on platforms like RentMen or Male escorts.
In some cases, gay escorts may also work with an agency that connects them with clients. Gay escorts most of the time prefer to use condoms during sexual encounters, so it is important to be aware of the risks involved before booking an appointment.
How to hire a gay male escort in Amsterdam?
If you’re looking for a gay male escort in Amsterdam, there are a few options available to you. The most straightforward way to find an escort is to contact an escort agency or via Kinky.nl.
Discover the profiles of available escorts and make a booking directly with the agency. Alternatively, you can also find escorts advertising their services online or in the classifieds section of local newspapers.
When making a booking, be sure to agree on a price in advance and get all the details confirmed in writing to avoid any misunderstandings later on.
With a little bit of planning, you can easily hire a gay male escort in Amsterdam and enjoy all that the city has to offer.
Price Gay Escort
The cost of a gay escort can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the escort’s location, appearance, and services offered.
In general, however, gay escorts charge from 100 euro per hour. This rate may be higher or lower depending on the specific circumstances.
For example, an escort who is based in a major city is likely to charge more than one who is based in a smaller town.
Similarly, an escort who offers a range of services, such as massage and companionship, is likely to charge more than one who offers only sex.
Ultimately, the cost of a gay escort depends on the individual escort and what his clients are willing to pay.
How to become a gay escort?
If you are considering becoming a gay escort, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First and foremost, it is important to be aware of the legalities surrounding sex work in your region.
Once you have ensured that you will be operating within the law, you need to decide whether you would like to work via an escort agency or if you would prefer to be self-employed.
If you choose to go the agency route, they will handle all of the advertising and booking for you.
However, if you opt to be self-employed, you will need to take care of all of this yourself.
In either case, it is important to make sure that you are professional and discreet at all times. By following these tips, you can help ensure a successful career as a gay escort.
How to become successful in gay escort?
The first step to becoming a successful gay escort is to satisfy your clients. This means providing them with the services they want and making sure they are happy with the results.
Paying attention to their needs and desires and doing your best to meet them. In addition, you should always be punctual, polite, and discreet.
Another important part of being a successful gay escort is advertising your services effectively.
This means creating a profile on an online escort directory that includes all of your pertinent information, such as your physical stats, rates, and contact info. It’s also important to charge fair prices for your sex services; too high and you’ll scare away potential clients, too low and you’ll devalue your own time and effort. By following these tips, you can become a successful gay escort in no time!
What is PrEP?
PrEP is short for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It refers to the use of antiretroviral drugs to prevent the spread of HIV. PrEP is taken as a pill, and it is 97% effective at preventing HIV transmission.
It is important to note that PrEP does not protect against other STDs, so it is still necessary to use condoms when engaging in sexual activity.
PrEP is typically used by people who are at high risk for HIV infection, such as men who have sex with men or people who inject drugs. However, anyone can take PrEP if they feel like they are at risk for HIV infection. PrEP must be taken consistently in order to be effective, and it requires regular testing and doctor visits. Please speak with your health care provider if you think PrEP might be right for you. Together, you can make a plan that works best for your needs and lifestyle.
Do male gay escorts take PrEP?
Yes, many male gay escorts do take PrEP. There is an increasing trend among gay men to take PrEP in order to prevent HIV. This is because it is seen as a more effective means of preventing HIV than using condoms alone.
Gay men who take PrEP are less likely to contract HIV than those who don’t use any form of prevention.
Escorts who take PrEP are also more likely to be hired by clients who prefer their partners to be on PrEP. This is because it provides peace of mind for the client that they will not contract HIV from the escort.
Gay Escorts Netherlands
Are there only gay escorts in Amsterdam? No! Gay escorts are active throughout the Netherlands. Mainly in the larger cities, such as Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Groningen, etc.
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Rembrandtplein: Entertainment Area For Gay & Straight
Top 10 Amsterdam Red Light District Jokes
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Amsterdam Red Light District Jokes That Are Easy To Remember
In this top 10 we present you the most funny Amsterdam Red Light District jokes we ever laid our eyes on. Ten hilarious jokes who anyone can remember. Great to tell in a bar, on a birthday party or while traveling. For when you need a fast funny joke, here are 10 great jokes to get anyone giggling.
1 | An old man in Amsterdam Red Light District
Let’s start off with the first Amsterdam Red Light District joke.
An old man is walking in Amsterdam’s Red Light District and passes a prostitute standing at her door.
– She says to him: “Hey Grandpa, why don’t we give it a try?”
* He says: “No thank you. That is no longer possible for me.”
It was a slow night, so the prostitute says:
– “Oh, come on, what have we got to lose; let’s give it a go.”
So, they both go inside the window brothel and he acts like the young man he once used to be.
– “Oh my goodness,” says the prostitute breathlessly afterward, “I thought you said sex was no longer possible for you…”
* The old man says: “Oh, my body is still highly capable; it’s the paying that is no longer possible.”
2 | Prostitutes In Airplane
Two prostitutes are sitting in an airplane. Because it is quite a long journey, one prostitutes asks the other after a while:
– Say, don’t you want to sit at the window?
The other prostitute looks surprised and answers:
* No thanks, I’m on vacation now!
3 | Window Brothel
This is one of our favourite Amsterdam Red Light District jokes!
A man wanders around in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. He sees a beautiful prostitute, so he walks towards the window brothel and asks:
* ‘How much does it cost?’
The sex worker answers:
– ‘That’s 50 euros’
To which the man answers:
* ‘That’s cheap for double glazing!!’
4 | Japanese And Sex Worker
A Japanese goes to a prostitute. He tells her that he cums 30 times, but after every time he cums, he has to take a breath outside. The prostitute thinks it’s fine, because she has earned poorly lately. So they start having sex, and the Japanese comes, and as agreed, he goes outside, and a moment later the Japanese comes back. This happened 30 times, but after the 30th time, the Japanese is not coming back! So the prostitutes runs outside and asks a woman who is just passing by:
– “Have you seen a Japanese run away here?”
* The woman says: “No, but I just saw a bus of Japanese driving away!”
5 | Women With Children
Three women are talking about their children. The first woman says: I am so proud of my son, he is a surgeon, has a nice house and he has a white Bentley in front of his door. The second woman says: my son is a lawyer, lives in a villa and there is a red Ferrari at the door. The third woman says: I am also proud of my daughter, she is a prostitute, sometimes there is a white Bentley and sometimes a red Ferrari in front of her door!
6 | Truck Driver
A teacher asks in class who of the children’s parents earn a lot of money. Peter says: “My mother is a prostitute, she earns a lot of money.” Anne: “My father is a policeman, he also earns a lot.” Steven is rather embarrassed and the teacher asks: “And Steven, does your father earn a lot?” He replies: “My father is a truck driver. If there were no prostitutes and police officers, he would also earn a lot of money…”
7 | Prostitute Meets Old Man
An old man goes back to a prostitute in the Red Light District after 2 years. “Is it still 50 euros?” He asks the girl. “Yes, she says. Take off your clothes, I’ll be right there.”
After 5 minutes, she comes back and sees the old man standing naked in the room as he throws his clothes out the window. “What are you doing?” She asks. On which he replies: “By the time I’m done, my clothes are out of fashion …”
8 | A Stupid Man
A stupid man visits a prostitute in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. She says: “that is 52.50 euro”. To which the stupid man responds: “That’s strange, how do you get such an amount?” The prostitute says: “With me, you also get a drink, so that’s 2.50 Euro extra on the normal price of 50 euro.” The stupid man: “Ah, then it’s fine”.
“But I have to tell you one thing,” says the prostitute. “I don’t have a clitoris.” “Oh, that’s okay,” says the stupid man. “A coke is just fine.”
9 | Nuns in Amsterdam
Two nuns are walking in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, one says to the other:
“What would these prostitutes earn?”
“No idea,” the other nun says.
“You know what, let’s ask.”
So those two nuns walk to a window brothel and ask a prostitute:
“Hi madam, can we ask you something?”
“Of course,” says the prostitute, “just ask.”
“Well, what price do you charge for a blowjob?”
“That’s 50 euro”, says the prostitute.
“WHAT!” say the nuns, “That much?! Then the priest can fuck off with his two bars of chocolate!”
10 | Amsterdam Red Light District Jokes
Wesley arrives an half hour late at school half. When the teacher asks where Wesley is coming from, he says:
– “From the prostitutes in the Red Light District.”
The teacher gets angry and tells Wesley to go to the principal. Wesley tells the director why he was sent out. The director has heard enough and sends Wesley home, and the principal calls Wesley’s mother.
When Wesley arrives home he gets a for his head and his mother tells him to go to his room. Wesley walks up the stairs in tears. At the top of the stairs he shouts to his mother:
– “Next time dad can go get his jacket himself.”
Which of these funny jokes did you like most? And, do you know another funny joke about Amsterdam or the Red Light District? Share them in the comment section below!
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How To Find Amsterdam Prostitutes in 2025?
Best Ways To Find Prostitutes In Amsterdam
You’re in Amsterdam for a weekend and you want to have some fun. You don’t know where to find prostitutes, and you don’t want to get scammed.
BOOK ESCORTIt can be tough finding prostitutes in a new city, especially if you don’t know the area well. And if you do get scammed, it can ruin your whole trip.
Don’t worry! Find the safest way to find prostitutes in this article.
Here’s the solution. Our comprehensive guidebook shows you where to find prostitutes in Amsterdam, how to stay safe, and how to have a good time in Holland.
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Prostitution is legal and regulated in Amsterdam and the rest of the country, which means that individuals are able to legally sell sexual services and purchase them as well.
However, it is important to note that while the sale of sexual services is legal, the purchase of sexual services is not. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that while prostitution may be legal, it is still a controversial and sensitive topic, and it is important to approach it with respect and caution.
Amsterdam Red Light District
One of the most well-known places to find prostitution in Amsterdam is in the Red Light District. This area, located in the heart of Amsterdam, is home to a large number of brothels, sex clubs, and window brothels, where sex workers solicit customers.
The window Brothels in the Red Light District are the most iconic and visible aspect of Amsterdam’s sex industry. They are the small, red-lit rooms, typically behind large red light windows, where sex workers stand or sit, waiting for customers to make a selection. These window brothels are found in several streets and alleys, such as the famous Oudezijds Achterburgwal, Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the area around the Oude Kerk.
Ruysdaelskade
Another area where you can find window brothels is Ruysdaelskade, located in the south of Amsterdam, close to the Rijksmuseum & Albert Cuyp Market. This area has less windows, is more visited by locals and is a bit quieter than the Red Light District.
Singel & Spuistraat
Singel/Spuistraat is another area where you can find window brothels. This area is located in the center of Amsterdam, but it’s not as well-known as the Red Light District. It’s a bit more discreet and there are less tourists in this area.
Escorts
Another way to find prostitution in Amsterdam is through these Amsterdam escorts sites, which are also legal in the city. These businesses advertise the services of sex workers and can provide information about rates and availability. Escort companies are located throughout the city, and they can be found online or in the phone book. Many of them have websites where they showcase the girls they have available, their pictures, services, and prices. They can also be contacted via phone or email.
When looking for an escort company, it’s important to keep in mind that not all of them are equal. Some are more professional than others, and some may be more expensive. It’s important to do your research and check reviews before choosing a company. Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that the prices for an escort can vary depending on the services offered.
Are you looking for an exciting sexual experience but would you rather not be seen with a sex worker? Then we think booking an escort is a better option.
Transgender Prostitutes
Would you rather know how to find transgender or male prostitutes in Amsterdam? Perhaps the Blue Light District is a good choice for you. Here you will find transgender sex workers who usually still have their male genitals. Read more about it in this extensive article about the Blue Light District in Amsterdam.
Rules & Regulations
It’s also important to note that while prostitution is legal in Amsterdam, it’s still regulated, and there are rules and regulations that must be followed. For example, sex workers must be over the age of 18 and must register with the city government. Additionally, sex workers must undergo regular health checkups and use contraception.
It’s also important to remember that sex workers are people, and should be treated with respect and dignity. They are not objects, and it is not acceptable to harass or exploit them in any way.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Amsterdam is a city where prostitution is legal and regulated. We believe that the Red Light District is the best area to find prostitutes. But Ruysdaelskade and Singel/Spuistraat also have window brothels and sex workers too. Additionally, there are also legal companies where one can book Amsterdam escorts. It is important to approach the topic of prostitution with respect and caution, and to adhere to the rules and regulations in place and to treat sex workers with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Amsterdam Red Light District Update
Posted on: June 16, 2020
Amsterdam Red Light District Update
Latest Amsterdam Red Light District update: From 1 July 2020, sex workers will be allowed to work in the Netherlands again. That was announced by the Prime Minister Rutte on 23 June 2020. That means that all sex shows in Amsterdam, all window brothels, strip clubs, private houses and all other erotically related companies can open again.
This Amsterdam Red Light District update shows the current situation in the most famous area of the Netherlands. Normally 3.1 million people visit the Red Light District every year (source). The Red Light District relies on tourism, from Dutch and foreign people. The tourism sector in Amsterdam offers 69.424 jobs (source) and its good for the national economy. Normally, 1 out 9 jobs in Amsterdam are in tourism. Amsterdam has about 18 million visitors per year who they spent 6.3 billion euros, creating about 2.7 billion euros in added value. (Dutch resource)
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 2 June 2020. A few tourists enter the city.
But since the corona crisis – mid-March 2020 – it has been pretty quiet in Amsterdam. Also in the Red Light District. It’s very special to see! After all, it hardly happens that the heart of Amsterdam isn’t so lively. Many companies performed maintenance during the corona crisis. Café and restaurant owners have had their business repainted so that it looks brand-new when tourists return.
Amsterdam, 29 april 2020. Maintenance at Cafe The Old Sailor.
What Is Open In Amsterdam?
Cafes, Restaurants, Hotels, Bars & Museums Are Open
Since June 1, cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and museums in the Netherlands are open again. Many entrepreneurs couldn’t wait to restart their business. They’re very happy that they are allowed to do business again. There are already some people sitting on the terraces, some restaurants have visitors and Amsterdam is slowly becoming more lively again. But there are also many empty companies and entrepreneurs who look around and wonder if they see tourists.
Amsterdam, Warmoesstraat. Two employees get ready for business.
Currently, all restaurants, bars and cafes in the Netherlands may not have more than 30 people inside. Including staff. Restaurants often also require reservations and the staff should ask their guests specific questions. They are asked whether they are healthy and whether they come from 1 household. These measures makes it difficult for some entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.
Coffeeshops Are Open
Amsterdam’s Red Light District, 8 June 2020. Coffeeshop The Bulldog is emptier than usual.
Coffeeshops in Amsterdam were open most of the time during the corona crisis. Mainly only for take-away, but nowadays customers can also sit inside and outside on the terraces.
Tours Are Available
Amsterdam Red Light District, 12 June 2020. We hosted a tour again!
Guided tours in Amsterdam and Red Light District tours are allowed and can be booked again. In Amsterdam’s city centre guided tours can not have more than 15 persons (excluding guide) in a tour. Across the country and therefore also during the tours, it is recommended to keep 1.5 meters apart. People may decide themselves to wear a face mask. This is not mandatory though. Face masks are currently only mandatory in public transport.
Markets Are Open
The street markets in Amsterdam are also open. Including the Albert Cuyp market, the flower market and the market on the Nieuwmarkt.
Churches Are Open
Amsterdam, Oudekerksplein, 2 June 2020. Two tourists in love in front of the church.
The Oude Kerk Amsterdam (Old Church) in the middle of the Red Light District is also open again.
People Miss The Vibrancy
The people in Amsterdam’s Red Light District want the visitors to return so that they can earn some money again. And, of course, they also miss the vibrancy! They miss the “gezelligheid“. It can be noted that people hope that the situation will improve quickly and that measures can be reduced. The working people in Amsterdam’s Red Light District no longer want support from the government, but simply want to earn money. They want the visitors to come back.
What Isn’t Open in Amsterdam Yet?
Sex Companies Are Closed
All sex related companies in the Netherlands have to stay closed until 1 September 2020. That includes sex shows, (window) brothels, escort companies, private houses, lap dance bars, etcetera. Amsterdam’s Red Light District has 288 windows, dozens of sex shows (like Casa Rosso, 5D Porn Cinema, Peep Show, Moulin Rouge, etc) that are all closed at the moment.
Window Brothels Are Closed
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 12 June 2020. Closed window brothels.
Sex workers in the Netherlands feel very disadvantaged. They may only start working again from 1 September 2020. The Dutch government foresees major risks in these sex-related professions, which is why it has been decided that sex workers may not work yet. The sex workers disagree with this decision and believe that they can work safely. They think it is unfair that other contact professions (such as hairdressers and masseurs) are allowed to work, but they are not. They also indicate that they are used to dealing with risks and that they always take measures to deal with this.
Sex worker campaign: Working at home? I can not work anywhere. Sex workers have the right on equal treatment and support during the crisis! Stop the stigma.
25% of all sex workers in Amsterdam worked illegally during the corona-crisis. Others switch their way of working and started working through internet – via webcam sex for example. A campaign has been launched in Amsterdam Red Light District, in which sex workers are asking for the same rights as others and to be allowed to start earlier than 1 September 2020.
Dutch Sport Clubs Are Closed
Furthermore, all sports clubs in the Netherlands may open again on July 1, 2020.
Visitors in Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Nieuwmarkt. When the sun is out, terraces are filled.
The number of visitors in Amsterdam strongly depends on the day. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are generally the quietest, with Wednesday always being the quietest day of the week. And Thursday through Sunday is a bit busier, with Saturdays and Sundays being the busiest days of the week. Many Dutch tourists visit the capital during the weekends. Last weekend it was also a bit busier in Amsterdam. Many locals and German tourists enjoyed the beautiful weather.
More pictures:
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Restaurant In de Waag Amsterdam Launches 'Bike through' For Takeaway
Posted on: May 3, 2020
Amsterdam Economy Coronavirus
Before the corona-crisis, 11% of all jobs in Amsterdam were in tourism and catering. That’s 1 out 9 people.
35.458 people worked in the catering-industry. 12.108 people worked in hostel/hotels. 9.802 people worked in culture and recreation. 4.758 people worked in travel organisations and agency’s. (source: Data Amsterdam )
Normally, Amsterdam attracts 18 million visitors per year of which 3.1 million people visit the Red Light District area. They spend an average of 242 euros. This provides Amsterdam 6.3 million euros. Tourism accounted for about 4.5 % of the Amsterdam economy. (source)
Restaurant In De Waag Amsterdam On Nieuwmarkt
Restaurant In de Waag Amsterdam is a catering company located in the second oldest building in the city, on the New Market Square (Nieuwmarkt) – next to the Red Light District and just few minutes away from Central Station. It’s the building where Rembrandt made his famous painting the Anatomic Lesson and even before that, it was used as a city gate.
Normally restaurant in de Waag Amsterdam receives many locals and tourists who enjoy a drink, a ‘bitterbal‘ or dinner. Inside or outside on the sunny terrace. But also this company is hit hard by the corona crisis. The Dutch have to stay indoors as much as possible and tourists now stay away. Dutch entrepreneurs are struggling and do everything they can to avoid bankruptcy.
Restaurant In De Waag Amsterdam Launches Smart Solution In Corona Crisis
For six weeks now, restaurants in Amsterdam have been closed due to the corona crisis, and quite a few have switched to a take-away concept. Restaurant In de Waag on the Nieuwmarkt goes one step further and invented something creative: people can cycle through our restaurant to pick up their meal.
‘It is the old city gate of Amsterdam. People used to go here in the city in this way. So we go back to our roots and try to make it fun in this way, ‘explains Priscilla Den Ouden – managing director of restaurant in De Waag Amsterdam.
A bicycle path has been created on the floor of the restaurant, which customers can use to cycle through the restaurant. A pedestrian crossing has even been constructed so that staff of the restaurant can cross safely. In the Waag, the staff is ready with the order, so that it can be taken immediately.
The entrepreneur of the restaurant still has many questions: There is government support, but is it enough? Are we going to get through that period? What will happen next if the guests are allowed to eat inside again? Will tourists come again?
With the Bike Through, the Priscilla Den Ouden hopes for some extra turnover. ‘You want to show your passion as an entrepreneur, you want to show that you are there. That we will not be forgotten. ” (source)
De Waag and Nieuwmarkt are two highlights during our Red Light District tours.
Also read: Amsterdam In Corona Crisis and Empty Amsterdam & Closed Windows Brothels.
Will Amsterdam Window Brothels Open Again In The Future?
Posted on: May 1, 2020
Empty Amsterdam & Closed Window Brothels
After years of profitable tourism, Amsterdam’s Red Light District and its window brothels are now deserted. Is the silence a foreshadowing of an uncertain future for this centuries old vibrant area? Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf asked Cor van Dijk, the chairman of the entrepreneurs who are represented in the business association Burgwallen and also Managing Director of the Otten Group, that, among other things, runs the sex theatre Casa Rosso in Amsterdam.
Cor van Dijk – chairman of Amsterdam’s Red Light District business association.
Amsterdam Depends On Tourism
11% of all jobs in Amsterdam were in the tourism and catering-industry, before the corona-crisis. That is 1 out 9 people. Almost 70.000 jobs.
In recent years there have been some complaints in Amsterdam about the crowds of tourists, especially in the Red Light District, that is now different. Many Amsterdam residents who depend on tourism hope for a quick return of visitors, says van Dijk. Since January 1 2020, he represents, in addition to the entrepreneurs who are located on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, the entrepreneurs located on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudekerksplein.
How are things now in the empty Red Light District of Amsterdam?
Cor van Dijk: It really is a ghost town. I speak with window brothel operators. They are anxiously waiting for things to be allowed open again.
The Old Church in the middle of the Red Light District.
Amsterdam’s city centre is hit extra hard because tourists and visitors are no longer there. Locals are hardly ever found there anyway.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District is an entertainment area where people also live. We find this very important for the neighborhood. We did not see the local residents before, but now we do speak to them. 90% of the residents in the Red Light District live here to their great satisfaction and never complain.
How will the Red Light District blossom again?
I’m afraid that a vaccine will not be available soon. But hopefully there will soon be a means by which people who become infected will not all end up in the intensive care anymore. When that happens, I think much of the fear will go away. We’re all huddled up together at the moment. I think that if people are allowed to travel and fly again, life will get going again here. But it won’t immediately be full, I suspect.
Lively times in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Are entrepreneurs already under water?
Yes, window brothel operators in particular! They are about to go bankrupt. These are the large window brothel operators with dozens of windows. They do not receive government support. It depends on how long it’s going to take, otherwise it will be really bleak here. The moment the window brothel industry disappears; you pull out the heart from Amsterdam’s Red Light District area. Maybe even from the city itself.
You have to wonder if the other functions around here still have a right to exist. Think of the theaters, restaurants, sex shops, you name it. Many tour guides and tour companies in Amsterdam are also seriously affected. There are also entrepreneurs who do have some “fat on their bones”, but they won’t last for years. If I look at our own company, the Otten Group, the reserves will run out in a few months.
An empty main street of the Red Light District.
What else do you hear?
I hear from entrepreneurs that (approximately 25% of all) Amsterdam sex workers now work from home. The demand for paid sex might have remained unchanged, but of course the supply is no longer there. I think that an alternative is now being sought.
1.5 meters distance inside window brothels, is that possible? Sex workers with facemasks seem rather clumsy to me, in this “contact profession”. Some people also claim that it could take a long time before the municipality of Amsterdam and Dutch government consider it responsible to allow paid sex again.
The sex work industry is not my industry, but I would find it strange if sex workers are treated differently than other contact professions, such as the masseurs. In any case, this crisis should not be used as an improper means of achieving long held city planning desires. In retrospect, the criticism on project 1012 was that criminal law was used to get city planning matters done. It would be inappropriate if that happens again.
Amsterdam’s most narrow alley.
The vacancies that would arise in Amsterdam Red Light District area in the future as a result of bankruptcies can be used by the municipality to “redesign” the area, right?
I don’t know if that’s the idea of the City of Amsterdam. Earlier there was talk about an alternative sex location outside this neighborhood (the so-called sex hotel), but that was mainly intended for the currently unlicensed industry. The second thing investigated was the costs that would arise if the window brothels were dropped. They are huge. I don’t think Mayor Halsema wants to get rid of the window brothels either. When I showed the mayor around Amsterdam’s Red Light District, just after she took office, she indicated that she thinks the prostitution industry with the window brothels serve a very important function. I don’t think she’ll use this crisis to clean things up.
The “Latin-American” corner.
What should happen next in Amsterdam when the economy restarts?
I think you should try to make things as easy as possible for small businesses. Any rules that stand in the way of that should be relaxed. Especially for the period that people need to survive. I am thinking, for example, of the terrace policy. Maybe you should increase the opening of other stores. It is difficult to explain to guests that the shops in the Red Light District are closed at 10:00 pm, while they can still buy things 200 meters away at Amsterdam’s Central Station.
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
How will things go at the Casa Rosso Erotic Theatre?
This week we measured how many customers we can have in the new ‘1.5 meter society’. We came to 47 people. When they’re couples, they can sit next to each other, we came to a maximum of 58 visitors in the theatre hall. Normally it can accommodate 184 people. We always had a continuous show, but we have to change that. Then, for example, you would have a show every hour, you have to make arrangements about when people can go to the toilet. We probably can’t serve drinks either. I don’t know if that is financially attractive. Perhaps the cost is greater than the income. That is also what I hear from the hospitality industry: for about seventy percent of the hospitality industry, the “1.5 meter society” isn’t profitable. Also not for window brothels.
Support Casa Rosso Amsterdam by pre-ordering tickets below:
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Also Amsterdam’s Casa Rosso Theatre is closed during the corona-crisis.
When do you expect the first stream of visitors?
I’m betting on June 2020. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I think I should stay positive. It may first only be Dutch and European tourists. I think the tourists from other parts of the world will wait a while. We already spotted the first German tourists last weekend. They came here to take pictures.
Are you not afraid of the end of Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
I think this neighbourhood will always keep its appeal, as long as those functions remain: sex workers who will hopefully be able to get back to work in the window brothels and things around them. Then I think the old glory will return again. The Red Light District in Amsterdam is on many people’s wish-list to visit.
A normal night in the Red Light District.
And that without mass tourism and its accompanying problems?
It was often only about the inappropriate behaviour that people were annoyed with: groups of drunk people who did not know how to behave. The moment that you start to enforce this properly, I think that this nuisance will also be limited. We can all come up with new rules, but every rule that we come up with and that is then not enforced confirms the prejudice about Amsterdam – also in the future – that everything is possible and allowed.
Amsterdam Facts:
- Amsterdam has normally 18 million visitors per year.
- The Red Light District attracts usually 3.1 million visitors per year. 17% of all visitors. (source)
- 11% of all jobs in Amsterdam are in tourism and catering. That’s 69.424 jobs. 1 out of 9 people. (source)
- Tourism provides Amsterdam with over 2.7 billion euros in prosperity. (source)
- All 18 million visitors spend an average of 242 euros in Amsterdam. (source)
- This provides Amsterdam with approximately 6.3 billion euros. (source)
- Tourism accounts for about 4.5% of the Amsterdam economy.
ALSO READ:
Amsterdam Prostitutes Work At Home In Corona Crisis
Posted on: April 15, 2020
Concerns About Prostitutes Who Work From Home
Prostitutes working from home is a concern for the municipality of Amsterdam now that erotic venues are closed due to the coronavirus. Mayor Halsema is investigating whether erotic sites can be blocked.
No Support From Dutch Government
50-year-old Marloes has been a prostitute for 25 years in various venues in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. She is not registered at the Chamber of Commerce as a freelancer and cannot claim special assistance from the Dutch government. “I fall outside any scheme,” says Marloes (her working name). “But I also have my fixed costs. Money is written from my account every month, for example for my car, which I pay monthly. I have children who have to eat and send money to my family abroad.”
Amsterdam’s most narrow alley with nine window brothels.
An Income Decrease For Prostitutes
Her income has drastically decreased since all erotic venues in the Netherlands had to be closed. She estimates she earns about 25% of her normal income and now has to invite customers to her home. Her children, who are already studying, know what work she has.
She doesn’t advertise, she says. “I have a regular customer base. Those customers approach me. The need for prostitutes is greater than the fear. That’s what you’re human for. Of course, she’s also afraid of contracting the coronavirus, she says. “I first let my customers take a shower at my home. Then it is clean on the outside. I make sure there is no saliva contact: no kissing and always safe.
A lot of customers are also afraid themselves.”
Window brothels in De Wallen.
Dutch Customers of Prostitutes Are Slowly Returning
She currently has about eight customers a week. A number of appointments are also in her agenda for next week. “In the beginning, when the coronavirus had just arrived, it was a lot quieter. When Prime Minister Rutte had been on television, I only had one customer. People were very shocked.”
Others prostitutes also work from home now, she says. “I know more prostitutes who work from home or rent a place somewhere or work as an escort and also go to customers myself.” She doesn’t see that as dangerous. “My limits and requirements, like showering are made clear from the start. I make it a fun game: I do not stand aside, it’s showering together. You try to make it fun. At home it’s already straightforward.”
Prostitutes Need Money For Their Families
Amsterdam has approximately 4,000 to 7,000 prostitutes. “The largest group is at home. It is estimated that about 25% is working from home,”says Heleen Driessen, confidential counsellor for Prostitution and Health Center P&G292.
“The sex workers still need money. For rent or for their family. A Bulgarian prostitute recently said: “I just have to send money to my family, because they really have nothing.” She now works from home.
The Oudezijds Voorburgwal in the Red Light District.
Amsterdam Mayor Tries To Block Sex Advertisement Websites
Mayor Femke Halsema announced in a committee of the city council on Thursday that she is investigating whether erotic sites can be blocked, due to the risk of infection for prostitutes. Sites like Kinky, SexJobs and Planet Romeo are still online with their ads. Halsema tempered expectations; such a blockage would not be simple.
Concerned About Safety Of Prostitutes
The inside of a window brothel from MyRedLight.
Male escort Lyle Muns (26) of MyRedLight does not work himself, but he does see a group of prostitutes that continues to work.
“They are prostitutes who are not registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and are undocumented. These are people who are in financial distress if they do not work, because they cannot claim the special assistance.”
Lyle Muns is concerned about the risks.
“If they continue to work, there is a risk of infection. In addition, prostitutes who normally work in clubs or behind the windows are used to safety. The brothel operator is nearby and comes immediately when the panic button in the room is pressed. That safety disappears.” But it is also a question of supply and demand. Lyle Muns: “It works both ways. There are also customers who want to meet. ”
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New Hotel Mai Amsterdam In Chinatown
Posted on: January 2, 2024
4-Star Boutique Hotel Mai Amsterdam in City Centre
Hotel Mai is a great hotel in the Red Light District. The Hotel is located in the heart of the action, and it is within walking distance of all the major attractions. The Hotel has a great reputation, and it is known for its clean rooms and friendly staff. The Hotel also offer a variety of amenities, including a fitness center, a business center, and a restaurant. The Hotel is a great value for the price, and it is a great place to stay in Amsterdam.
After fourteen years of discussion with critics, judges, banks and the municipality, the new Asian theme hotel MAI Amsterdam on Geldersekade has finally opened its doors. A new hotel on one of the oldest streets in Amsterdam.
BOOK HERE >
Founder Arjen Van den Hof on Amsterdam’s newest hotel addition: ‘The story of the building and the neighborhood play an important role in my interest in a possible new project. In this project, the rich (cultural) history and development of Chinatown in Amsterdam’s Red Light District turned out to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration. From the beginning I was flooded with ideas. With Hotel Mai Amsterdam I would like to create a place where travellers and locals come together and enjoy design, art and hospitality – a place to Meet Asia In Amsterdam.’
The Long Journey Of Hotel MAI Amsterdam
The 81-room hotel MAI Amsterdam has been open since Chinese New Year – 25 January, 2020 – fourteen years after the first plans. Long years, with a crisis, banks that first became enthusiastic and then reluctant and – when there was money again – contractors who were too busy.
And there was the objection, as with other recent new Hotels in Amsterdam, among others: more crowds, nuisance, mess. “On the last day that an objection could be lodged, someone still objected to Hotel Mai Amsterdam,” owner Kin-Ping Dun says in the lobby. The individual properties have long been in his family, which also owns the Asian Shop Dun Yong.
“The warehouse contained items for the Asian Shop and our wholesaler, as well as all kinds of art objects that my parents had collected. In the other part, we created a Chinese shopping center at the end of 2001. But that never delivered that what we had hoped for.”
Amsterdam Red Light District Hotel
When the Chinese wholesaler moved to Sloterdijk, a future as a hotel was the most obvious one. According to Kin-Ping, there were hardly any alternatives. “The layout of the buildings did not comply with the building rules for permanent residence. Then you would have had to demolish almost everything and build new structures, right in the middle of the Red Light District. When the government was still a strong advocate of new hotels, the municipality, district, Stadsherstel and NV Zeedijk all strongly agreed.
This was not the case for everyone in De Wallen, which is why it’s an objection. The resistance to Hotel Mai Amsterdam did not seem defensible to the family. Since the designs date from 2006, they never fell under the hotel stop that the city council later announced in its attempts to curb the tourist crowds. The judge ruled otherwise. “We had a permit for 83 rooms, but there was a typo in a hotel list of the municipality; there were 63 rooms. The court found that so important that they immediately destroyed the entire project. We had nothing left at all.”
Hotel Mai Amsterdam Financial strains
“It hurt because the building had been empty for so long. What we earned at the Asian Shop disappeared into this project. It couldn’t have lasted much longer. We are not a project developer who has all kinds of funds to deal with that.” He understands the concerns.
“We’ve been a part of this neighbourhood for so long that I really see what the objections are. We promised not to sell the hotel anytime soon and knew very early on that we would partner with Vondel Hotels for the operation. We went to their Hotel De Hallen with a bus full of local residents, to show what kind of hotel group that is. That did help. But you don’t convince people who don’t want to believe it.”
In the end they had to take it up to the Board of State level to dismantle the consequences of the typing error. The family made more promises, laid down in the permits. The hotel has a separate restaurant, MAI Kitchen, with its own entrance on the Zeedijk. That entrance is not for Hotel Mai Amsterdam guests.
“That was the agreement with Stadsherstel; no trunks on the Zeedijk. ” Another deal concerns the Elleboogsteeg between Zeedijk and Geldersekade, which separates the hotel buildings. This alley was closed for years, now it opens again. “That is a wish of the city district; not our idea. We would have preferred to have made it part of the hotel, covered. But that went too far for the district. Understandable, because it is public space.
Family Art For A Personal Touch
That meant that we had to go over it with a glass passage, which was quite difficult. ”Kin-Ping is satisfied with the final result. “It has not become a hotel with red lanterns. It is a look that I do not know, but that feels very good. Arjen van den Hof, had a lot of contact with my parents. Much of the art that now stands here comes from our store. I see some images still exactly in place in the racks, under fluorescent light.”
Parking At Hotel Mai
Parking is available in front of Hotel Mai. There are dozens of parking spaces on the side of the road, on the canal. If you prefer not to park on the public road, go here:
Oosterdok
The Oosterdok parking garage is the great place to park your car in Amsterdam. It is cheap and easily accessible, with a variety of payment options available. There are also electric car charging stations available. The Oosterdok parking garage is centrally located, making it easy to get to your destination. And, if you need to park overnight, there is 24-hour security so you can rest assured your vehicle will be safe. So, whether you’re visiting Amsterdam for business or pleasure, be sure to park your car at the Oosterdok parking garage. You won’t be disappointed!
Hotel Mai Amsterdam Booking
Click on button below for more pictures, details and reservations.
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10x Red Light District Hotels Amsterdam
Empty Amsterdam During Corona Lockdown 2021
Posted on: January 18, 2021
Desolate Amsterdam: Video Of A Ghost Metropolis
The video at the bottom of this article shows the current situation in Amsterdam. The Dutch capital is in lockdown due to the ongoing corona crisis.
Deserted Red Light District
This also means that almost everything in the Red Light District is closed. Normally, this is one of the most visited area in the Netherlands with 3.1 million visitors per year. But now, in the beginning of 2021 during the corona lockdown, it’s deserted. Red light windows, cafes, hotels, restaurants, shops, churches, museums, sex shows and other venues are all temporarily closed.
Magnet fishing in an empty Red Light District. Catch of the day: an ashtray and a dildo.
The video at the bottom of this piece was shot in January 2021 in the center of Amsterdam; the middle of the Red Light District. The video starts on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal – the famous canal in the Red Light District. Immediately it is visible how few people are out on the street. There are also no prostitutes in the windows, as they are currently not allowed to work by the Dutch government.
Emptiness in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
At 1:01, the video below, continues via Oudekennissteeg to the Oude Kerk and Oudezijds Voorburgwal. There are no tourists to be seen here either. Some companies in Amsterdam are still open. Just for takeaway though. For example FEBO – the largest snack bar in the Netherlands. And coffee bars hope to sell something to the locals.
Chinatown in Amsterdam – located on the Zeedijk – also has a hard time with the tourists staying away. The restaurants may only offer their products via take-out.
Cannabis Shops
Amsterdam’s coffeeshops only open for takeaway.
The coffeeshops in Amsterdam are also not allowed to receive customers inside. Customers can only quickly buy cannabis via takeaway. It’s not permitted for clients to sit inside. Unlike restaurants, Dutch coffeeshops customers cannot order cannabis online because this has never been legal in the Netherlands.
Amsterdam has currently 164 coffeeshops from which 14 coffeeshops are located in the Red Light District. These, and other coffeeshops in the center, are having a hard time now that tourists are not visiting Amsterdam.
Sex Workers
At 5:14, in the video below, you can see closed window brothels which are normally used by transgender and female sex workers. But with the current measures of the corona lockdown that is not allowed. It is likely that some window prostitutes will offer their services online, illegally.
Closed Sex Establishments
The heart of Amsterdam is empty.
In the video below it can also be seen that all sex shows in Amsterdam are currently closed. Erotic establishments like Casa Rosso, The Hospital Bar, Moulin Rouge, The Banana Bar and La Vie en Proost are all temporarily closed.
Empty Amsterdam Due To Corona
Amsterdam’s oldest canal with a handful of people outside.
Empty streets and empty alleys in Amsterdam. And that while Amsterdam normally receives more than 18 million tourists a year, of which 3.1 million tourists visit the Red Light District. Pre-corona, in 2019, 1 in 9 jobs in Amsterdam were in tourism. (source 1) + (source 2)
The video below ends by showing the Warmoesstraat – a main street in the Red Light District – and Dam Square. Normally these are busy places, but during the current corona lockdown now only an empty Amsterdam can be seen.
Amsterdam In Lockdown Video
Follow the latest news and measures regarding corona on the website of the Dutch government: https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19
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Sex Worker Expert Shares Truth About Prostitution
Posted on: March 20, 2020
An Interview With Sex Worker Activist Mariska Majoor
One of Holland’s most known sex worker expert – Mariska Majoor – shares her secrets and expertise about one of the oldest professions in the world during this exclusive interview. We frequently speak to experts in order to provide the best information, on our website and during our Red Light District tours.
Mariska has been a sex worker herself. She has not been an escort but a window prostitute a sex worker in brothel or a so called ‘privehuis’ in Dutch.
She founded the Prostitution Information Center, was the initiator and chairman of the Dutch union for sex workers and she even received a royal honour for her decades of commitment to sex workers and the Red Light District.
So Mariska, you started working as a sex worker when you were 16 years old…
Mariska: Long, long time ago.
The Red Light District of Amsterdam.
Nowadays the minimum age to become a sex worker is 21 here in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. What do you think of this?
I do think 16 is too young. I agree with people who always told me that. I see two sides of it. People say that you’re an adult when you turn 18. From then on you can drink alcohol in the Netherlands or buy cannabis. A lot is allowed from that age, but you may not offer sexual services.
I was always against raising the minimum age to 21 because of all that. But nowadays I think it’s better. when you are 21 years old, you are more confident and more capable of making decisions. Especially about complicated stuff like sex work. But working at a younger age should never be criminalised. That’s asking for trouble.
Prostitution Pros vs Cons
You were a sex worker for 4 years. Could you explain the positive sides of being a sex worker? What did you like so much about the job?
Statue for sex workers in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
It’s not really about positive or negative. I mean it’s a job, sex work is work. We all have to work to make a living, create an income. Not everybody is always happy with the work that they do. I wasn’t a sex worker because I enjoyed it a lot, I was a sex worker because it came on my path. I didn’t really care and was okay with being a sex worker. But the most important reason why I did it was because I needed money, just like anyone else.
I think it’s not fair, the discussion about sex work is not an easy one. It’s not fair to talk about sex work as a positive thing or a negative thing. I think it’s time that people start looking at it as work. it is a way to have an income. It has positive and negative sides just like anything else in life.
For some people sex work is great. I mean if you enjoy sex as a game where you don’t mind doing it with different people. If that’s your hobby, then it’s definitely a great way to make a living! But I think that for most sex workers it is just a way of making money.
You know many sex workers personally and also met many abroad. What do you think they like most about the job?
The most important thing is money. That goes for everybody. But besides money, it’s absolutely freedom. The freedom to make your own choices.
Playing with people in a sexual way and sexuality in general. Those are the things that make the job more interesting. That makes life interesting. But those are not on the top of the list.
Is it also like being strong, feeling powerful?
You feel powerful but that is not because of the work that you do. Let me give you an example. For my most recent book-project called “united under a red umbrella“, I visited some countries with my daughter where people are poor. My daughter and I created this book together and we met a lot of sex workers.
Mariska and her daughter Robin.
Some of them did not make a concise choice to do this. It came on their path just like it came on mine many years ago. A lot of sex workers do not have the most easy circumstances. But the fact that they are able to make some money and to feed their children – and in many cases also the rest of their family – that is making them powerful.
So I’ve met a lot of people who felt more powerful since they started working as a sex worker. But I find it difficult to say that sex work makes you feel powerful because that is just too easy.
A sex workers campaign in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
So you think that many sex workers do this job because they can change their future and have a better life?
It depends on the country. In The Netherlands the circumstances are different as in Nigeria, India or the Dominican Republic. The countries that we visited for our book. I mean in the Dominican Republic we spoke to transgender sex workers who were kicked out of school at a very young age. They were kicked out of their homes at a very young age. All because they are transgender and thus not accepted in society. Sex work was the only option available to them. So their main problem is being a transgender and not being accepted because of that. They started to work as sex workers with the sole purpose of creating an income. Is it their first choice? No. They’d rather do something else, sex work is a way to survive.
But at the same time some of them started a sex workers organisation, helping each-other and talking to politicians about their situation. So there is absolutely an empowerment aspect to sex work. But I find it hard to explain, I hope you know what I mean. You know in the Netherlands our circumstances are so different. The Netherlands is not a poor country, so the stories of the sex workers here in Amsterdam’s Red Light District are different. We have less issues with corrupt police officers than abroad.
Sex work is legal in the Netherlands, society is a bit different. The Dutch are more tolerant about complicated issues such as sexuality and prostitution. So here it’s easier to stand up for yourself. We also have issues with stigma about sex work. But in the Netherlands people don’t throw stones at you or throw you in jail, when you’re a sex worker. They don’t kick you out as easily as they do in other countries.
You also think that this is why foreign women come here for sex work because the situation is better here? So they can create a better future for themselves?
Most foreign sex workers in Amsterdam’s Red Light District specifically come from Eastern European countries, Africa and Latin America. But sex workers from Africa or Latin America cannot come to the Netherlands as easily as before. But yes, they come here to make a better future for themselves and sometimes for the rest of the family too. And you cannot blame them. I would do the same thing. Legally or illegal, we all want a better future for ourselves and for our children. If you can’t find that in your own country you try to find it in another country.
Prostitution Information Center Amsterdam
In 1994 you founded the Prostitution Information Center (PIC). Did you also have many foreign women coming to your place with questions on how to become a sex worker? Is that correct and if so how did you help them?
In 1994 when I opened PIC, there was juste one other organisation for sex workers. Especially in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, PIC was the first and still the only place that everyone can visit and ask questions about sex work. So it was quite a special place then. I still think it’s still a special place today but especially in the 1990’s it was unique. Also for sex workers themselves and those who wanted to start working or quit working.
Or customers, tourists and people who wanted to start a brothel. It was before the internet. if someone wants to become a sex worker nowadays, he or she can just search on Google. One can find information on how to organise things, where to find a brothel or how to rent a room for example. It’s quite easy to find information about that. But in the beginning of the 1990’s it wasn’t that easy, so I had a lot of new sex workers that came to PIC for information.
Sex Worker Education and Advocacy
You also gave courses to help potential sex workers. What were the things that you told them and which you considered important?
You must understand that I was quite young when I started PIC. I was like 23, was a smart-ass and I was doing crazy stuff. Putting male sex workers behind the windows and all that. Stuff that I enjoyed. Doing at least 1 or 2 big projects a year and made a party out of that. Like a school for sex workers was one of those crazy ideas. Not crazy in a sense that you shouldn’t take it seriously. But I thought it was great to start with history lessons or to learn how to put on a condom with your mouth. We organised role playing with a fake customer who’s one of my friends. He was a pantomime actor that played a drunk or aggressive customer and then we’d all practise on how to deal with guys like that. It was a lot of fun, really a lot of fun. But at the same time I took it very seriously because when you start to do something like sex work you have to realise a couple of things in order to not get in trouble with your own sexuality. With different things in your life like family, friends and relationships because those are the things that make the work complicated.
The Old Church Square in Amsterdam.
Sex work itself is about sex, that’s easy. We all know how to do that. What makes it difficult is how do you talk about this with your parents or what do you tell your children? Do you keep it a secret or not? First of all you have to make that choice and then you have to live with that choice. I mean at the moment that you decide that you keep it a secret you live a double life.
Living a double life isn’t easy. Those are things I still think people have to realise when they make a decision to do this profession. Some people can make that choice but there are also many people who don’t have that choice. In many countries they don’t have the option to make a conscious choice. When it’s a matter of life and death you cannot dwell on making conscious choices. You just have to make money.
How old were you when you told your parents that you were a sex worker?
Before I came to the Red Light District in Amsterdam I worked in a private sex house. And before that I worked in a strip club in Amsterdam. I was 15 back then. In that period of my life I was often stoned or drunk, or both (laughs). In those circumstances you do crazy things. At the moment that I decided to work in a strip club, I called my parents to very happily say that I finally found a job which was the most stupid thing to do.
Amsterdam, Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
I come from a very catholic family, so my parents did not appreciate it that I was working in the sex industry. They don’t see it as a common job. It was a foolish move of me. My parents were not happy with that at all. It was a big thing in the family. I did it anyway and broke off contact with them.
Later I started to do real sex work. My parents told me years later that in the time that I worked in the private sex house, there were rumours in the family, that I was working in a private house but my parents didn’t believe it. They found out later.
I was sick one day around a year after I had started doing sex work from using too much drugs. I used speed at the time. I called my parents if I could please come home for a while because I was very ill and needed rest. I had bronchitis. In the time that I was recovering at my parents house, the owner of the brothel called my parents if I was feeling better. He called a couple of times. One day, my mother one day asked about why that guy is always calling.
I was so fed up with lying all the time that I just told her. My mother was very upset and I had to leave the house. She kept it a secret from my father for a while because she was afraid that he would completely lose his mind. She was right.
This is the problem for most sex workers. Being afraid of what the family might think of you.
Mariska Majoor.
But they found out very early, around the age of 17?
Yes, and after that I told them that I would stop and never do it again. Then I moved to Amsterdam. I started working in the Red Light District and after that in a private sex house again. My parents found out about that years later when I started the Prostitution Information Center. That was actually the time that I became more open about it, but that was easy.
But why didn’t you tell it right away? What was the reason not to tell them about it again?
Because they were very upset. We human beings don’t want to upset our parents too much. There was also a time when I tried to improve the relation with my parents again. It was bad for a couple of years. I thought that it was easier to deal with my parents keeping sex work as a secret from them than the confrontation and the fight, the worries from them about this. You know I spoke to so many people about this; sex workers or people that want to start working as a sex worker that had to deal with this. Do you tell your parents or your other relatives and friends about this or not? And sometimes I think it’s easier to be open about things instead of living with this huge secret. And other times it’s better to keep it a secret when you deal with people that can simply not accept this and cannot deal with this. You know, people that are very religious or very scared of this type of work. There are people who will never understand. In those cases it’s better to keep it a secret, and to keep the contact good between you and your parents or whoever they are. Better than making them worried, feeling sad or frustrated or whatever.
So you were raised as a catholic?
My parents tried (laughs).
Do you think that your religious upbringing influenced you in making you decide to become a sex worker?
No, I was always curious. Curious and a bit of a bad girl when I was younger.
A rebel?
Yeah that’s a nice word! But also a thinker… I was raised in a small Dutch town and I found that quite boring so I kind of escaped from that. I think.
So you were looking for excitement and then you moved to Amsterdam?
First to Hilversum, because that was also quite exciting in the 80’s. Big drugs scene, coffeeshops. That’s why I skipped a lot of school. I was 12 when I started smoking joints, so it started a bit with that. The boys were more interesting than school. Sex was interesting for me as-well so I started experimenting a bit with that. And you meet people in a certain scene. You know you feel attracted to certain people and certain places where you go out as a teenager. And then things come on your path. That’s the same with everybody. The things that come on your path attract you or they don’t. All the excitement that came on my path I took it with both hands.
Did you finish high school?
No, I only did 1,5 years high school and then I dropped out and never went back.
Do you regret that?
Yes and no. I always felt a bit underdeveloped but at the same time I’m streetwise. I know a lot of people that are very highly educated but they haven’t done half of what I did or what I still do. Of course miss things, absolutely.
Right now I’m very interested in writing. I did write a couple of books but those weren’t big works of literature. I like writing, but what I miss (because of my short time at school) is word knowledge. That’s the reason why I sometimes say to myself: “You stupid fool! That is your lack of education.” But besides that, I do think schooling is important, I’m a mother and my daughter had to finish school. I always give myself as an example and bagged her to finish high school at a bit higher level than myself.
Did your daughter finish school? She’s now how old?
Yes, she did! She’s 22 now.
And is she studying now?
She did a year and a half on the photo academy and at the moment she’s working in the hospitality industry at a grand cafe. And she’s like her mother she wants to start her own business. And I’m very supportive in that, I think she’s the type for it!
How did sex work change since you first got involved with it?
As I mentioned before. Sex work is sex work, it never changes. A blowjob is still a blow job! (laughs). I mean what you do in a room, the actual work. The way you deal with a client, all that is still the same. What has changed is all those things around it. Policies have changed and the way things look have changed a bit. In the time that I worked here in the windows there was still carpet on the wall and it was still dark and old with cockroaches.
Outside the brothel?
Yes, and nowadays the walls inside the brothel windows are covered in tiles, no carpet anymore, because it has to be hygienic, easy to clean. Policy wise a lot of things have changed.
Do you think it has become saver?
Not necessarily, we always had an interesting system here in the Netherlands. We had the so called policy of tolerance. I think sex work in The Netherlands was unsafe before they started that. But this policy of tolerance was something that almost grew naturally in say the last 50 years. Even before that for centuries Amsterdam had brothels and also in other big cities of the Netherlands. Sex work is only unsafe when its happening in the streets, in dark alleys or parts of the woods. Or parts of the city where there is nobody to watch you which is the case in many countries. In the last year that we did this book project I’ve been to places in Rumania, Hungary and France. Really dangerous places where you have to stand in the dark or you have to step into the car with a guy and you don’t know where he’s taking you. That’s dangerous. In The Netherlands this is not really the case. In the time that I worked we had officially illegal but tolerated brothels. Those places were pretty safe. The police was always around in the Red Light District and responding to the alarmbuttons that we already had at that time. We had our boyfriends, pimps, brothel owners or girls next door that would help out as well. It’s still the same these days but now it’s formally legal. In practice it is not all that different.
Amsterdam Red Light District Rules
And in the time that you worked here in the windows, was it also mandatory for sex workers to register at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce?
Nooo way! It was a lot easier in my time to work, you didn’t even have to show your passport. With the more responsible ones yes, but not all establishments. I wasn’t 18 when I started to work. In the time that I started to work here in the Red Light District I had vice police coming to my door once and I gave the name of one of my friends who wasn’t working on that day, and she had just turned 18, and the police told me to bring my passport next time. I of course said yes and that I would do that. But I never saw them again.
You just said that you started working in a strip club when you were 15. I guess the minimum age wasn’t 15 right?
No way, I wasn’t allowed to work there.
What was the minimum age back then?
It was 18. But that strip club was a bad place. In the back it was possible to have sex for money which ‘officially’ wasn’t allowed. And I left the place at the moment that the owner told me I was capable of doing that as well. That it was time for me to start doing that too. And then I ran away screaming; “I will never do that!” (laughs) but a couple of months later I started doing it. For a good reason! I needed money to buy a dog! (laughs.)
You bought a dog?
Yes, with the money I earned from two customers. A German shepherd, big love of my life.
You said you didn’t like sex work that much, but did you also have nice customers?
Oh absolutely! Like I mentioned before I was always interested in sex. Sex for me it was a nice game to play. It was not necessarily a thing that I only wanted to do with people who I’d have a relationship with or was in love with. And that’s what I always try to explain to people.
You can do sex work if you can separate sex and love from each other. I don’t say that all people should deal with sexuality this way, it’s your own choice. But if you can make this separation being a sex worker isn’t that a difficult thing to do and it can also be pleasant of course. But if it’s your work you cannot be too critical with who you let in as a customer. You have to create an income so you also work with people you don’t necessarily feel something for or you feel an attraction towards.
Of course you can make choices in this. If somebody is too aggressive for example, I don’t like aggression. I don’t like the macho type you know, the pumped up big guys so I would refuse a guy like that. I had no problem with working with older men, I was very young, but having customers of 60, 70 even 80, no problem. But it had nothing to do with my own pleasure. Just business. And sometimes you had somebody that you did feel attracted to or that was just a nice guy, that’s possible too. But for me one of the great things about that work, and especially the way I did it in the windows, that I prefer over working in clubs and private houses, is that you were completely independent. And it’s so easy to make choices you know, to refuse a guy or to set your own prices and to make your own business decisions. What you do with a customer and what you don’t do with someone, which is a lot harder to do in the clubs.
Window Brothels Amsterdam
And did you enjoy the flirting in the windows?
That’s a great thing, one of the greatest things of being a window worker. The whole flirting game is fantastic. It’s still nice to do, but I don’t feel as confident anymore about my body and myself as when I was younger. But if I’d still have this fantastic body I think I would still stand in the window for fun. I did workshops for a couple of years on window prostitution and that was one of the greatest things for me to do. People had no idea, they walk around in the district and see the girls in the windows and they think o my god they are standing there for the whole world to look at, but that’s the fun! People have to understand that that’s the fun.
So one of the positive things about being a window sex worker is the flirting, the game, the excitement?
Yeah, as long as this is something that you choose to do, of course. I don’t want to burn my hands on percentages, I leave that stuff up to other people, that’s not my thing anymore. But I know for sure, I can guarantee, that most of the people that work in the windows in the Red Light District choose this profession themselves. It can sometimes be a very boring job but overall standing in the window is fun. It’s about flirting. You know when you stand there you have such a good look on the street and you can easily see already from a distance who’s a potential customer and who’s only walking around and only having a look. So you focus on the people who you think might be a customer. That’s the one you focus on, the rest disappear. And then playing the game with that person is half of the job. You make them come to the window, you negotiate at the door about the prices, times and things that he wants to do. That’s also fun.
Prostitution and Sex Trafficking
There are many people that can’t believe that the women standing in windows are standing there on their own free will. What do you think of that?
That’s a very tiring and frustrating thing. People are very judgemental. They create an opinion usually based on two thing: what they hear the most in the media for example, and how they personally feel about the subject. Prostitution is about sex and sex is a complicated topic for people, still. We don’t live in the Middle Ages anymore but people still find it hard to believe that you can have sex for fun and sex for money. People cannot see themselves doing this so they project that onto others. It makes me very angry. I can get very pissed off when I see people doing that: project their own ideas and opinions on people around them. Even worse is when they don’t believe the actual people that they speak about. So when I say I work as a sex worker and I enjoy it they don’t believe it because they can’t see themselves doing it. I always find that difficult to deal with.
At the same time I understand where it’s coming from. Human trafficking, forced labour, all that is an issue in the whole world. But the mistake that people make is that they focus a lot on prostitution in this whilst human trafficking and forced labour are happening in many sectors of the economy. But when it’s about sex it’s worse for people somehow. I think that’s not fair and people analyse this the wrong way. They exaggerate a lot too. They also use it a lot as an excuse to simply discourage sex work in general. Worldwide there’s a huge lobby against prostitution that is coming from religious people and feminists who are against sex work. They join hands these days, they’ve found each-other in this battle against prostitution. Using human trafficking as an excuse whilst they both have different reasons to fight prostitution. Christian morals and feminist ideas, they both see sex work as a morally wrong thing that should not exist. I don’t like the way they fight against it. I think it’s very unfair, they refuse to listen to sex workers. They refuse to use the words sex work. They think sex can never be work and that they should fight against it and totally ignore the voice of sex workers worldwide on this, they only want to speak about human trafficking because that’s how they view sex work.
To be able to understand where I’m coming from, where my activism is coming from, you have to start separating human trafficking from sex work. They are not the same but two completely different subjects.
Amsterdam Red Light District Area
Some people find the Red Light District outdated and feel that it no longer belongs to this time. What do you think of this position?
I think there’s only one group who can decide that and that is the sex industry itself. If it’s really true that the age of window prostitution is over, it’s up to the window sex workers to decide that. If they no longer want to stand in a window they will leave. They’ll stop renting the windows and then we could say that. But this isn’t really the case at the moment. There are still a lot of people interested in window prostitution. Because it’s a legal profession in the Netherlands they deserve the right to work in a window brothel. It’s a legal way of making a living.
The fact that you see a lot of empty window brothels during the daytime is used in this discussion, but that’s not really fair because what’s been happening in Amsterdam’s Red Light District in the last couple of years is that window sex work is being discouraged, and because of tourism. Tourists are making photographs of the sex workers and the Project 1012 gentrification project for the area, those scared away a lot of the sex workers. There are a few things happening at the moment.
I believe that we do not have empty window brothels during the day because of less interest in prostitution.
Window Prostitution
Some people find window prostitution disrespectful. What do you think of that?
A mistake! Window prostitution is not disrespectful but the way that people act towards window prostitutes is sometimes disrespectful. Again, in the whole discussion about the future of window prostitution in the Red Light District I think people approach it from the wrong perspective. They speak about closing down the windows to protect the women because visitors aren’t always respectful towards them. Then I think, hello guys! This is a strange approach. If you think that you have to protect sex workers from people that are disrespectful then don’t take away their work places and educate people that work around the Red Light District.
I hate it too, when I see people having a big mouth towards the sex workers in the windows or people taking pictures without asking the sex workers. But then someone should talk to those people instead of telling the sex workers to leave because people are being disrespectful towards them. That’s stupid!
Amsterdam Mayor Red Light District
Have you heard of the four scenarios that the mayor of Amsterdam created? One of them is to close the curtains of window brothels and make the sex workers work behind the curtains so that the people on the streets don’t see them anymore. I find this scenario quite strange.
The mayor wants to do something good for sex workers. The mayor wants people to have more respect for the sex workers. She proposed a scenario that sex workers won’t be longer visible from the streets. I am against the closure of windows, but I appreciate that the mayor pays attention to the human rights of sex workers.
I think it’s more important to inform visitors of Amsterdam’s Red Light District how to behave towards sex workers in the windows.
Amsterdam Red Light District Tours
Nowadays it’s mandatory for tour guides to inform their guests that it’s not allowed to take pictures of sex workers. Do you think that tour guides should be around in the Red Light District to inform tourists?
I think that tour guides have a very important role to play in educating the visitors of Amsterdam’s Red Light District! People who join Red Light District tours have no idea or completely wrong ideas about sex work. But after doing a Red Light District tour with a good guide someones opinion can really be changed. This has benefits for sex workers because they get more respect in the end. That’s why I always gave tours myself and I think the same reason applies to all tour guides. They really have an important role to play.
Tourists should be told not to film or photograph the sex workers. One must behave. Don’t stare. Be respectful to the sex workers. Don’t look at them like a monkey in the zoo. That is not the way to do it.
I think it would be good idea to experiment a little bit more in the Red Light District. Sex workers need choices on where and how to work. Some don’t care, even with being photographed. But most do care.
Nordic Model For Prostitution
In certain countries like Sweden it’s legal to be a sex worker but illegal to visit a sex worker. What do you think of the Nordic model approach to prostitution?
Mariska: A big mistake. A very big mistake! I’ve seen in countries like France what that is doing, the harm that it’s doing to sex workers. It’s such a stupid idea and proof for me that the people who come up with these ideas are not interested in sex workers safety or rights. Governments and countries that are in favour of the Swedish/Nordic model simply do this to discourage prostitution with the hope of banning it completely from their countries. They say that they’re doing it for the sex workers but I don’t believe that at all. It’s very clear what this law is actually doing to sex workers. It’s forcing them to work in very dangerous circumstances. It discourages sex work in a way but in practice sex workers continue with their job legally. It will only make them more protective of their customers so more willing to work in circumstances that protect their customers. Those places are often the streets, the woods, illegal brothels or home based prostitution. Where there is no control or help if anything goes wrong. What I also see happening is that the good customer, the well paying customer gets afraid to visit a sex worker. You lose the good guys as customers. The people that don’t care will continue to go and those are usually the customers that are higher risk, and have less money.
Decriminalization Prostitution
Would you like to see sex work being decriminalised all over the world?
Decriminalising sex work is number one! I also want sex work to be more seen as a normal job by society in general. In the Netherlands for instance I think a lot people do not realise how -not- tolerant they are. Perhaps more tolerant than in other countries, but what’s interesting in the Netherlands is that people are tolerant towards prostitution as long it’s not to close to them.
We noticed that with this campaign that we did with posters stating “Sex work = work.” A lot of people said; “Oh yes, it’s work it is what some people choose, that is fine by me.” But if you ask them: imagine that your own daughter, cousin or mother chooses becomes a sex worker, then people suddenly get scared.
So from a distance it’s fine. Just the same with Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Dutch people come to get entertained in the area but in their own hometown if someone wants to open a brothel next door, then people say ‘no way’!
Sex workers campaigning in Amsterdam.
Sex Education in Schools
Do you think that sex work should be discussed at schools (in the Netherlands)?
This topic should definitely be discussed in high school. You don’t have to start early. I don’t like groups of young school children in the ages of 9, 10 and 11 walking around the Red Light District area.
But in high school you can absolutely explain sex work. And one can explain it in combination with other things, like sexuality or poverty for instance.
What are you doing nowadays?
Mariska: I launched my own website: MyAmsterdamStories.com which is like hobby and a learning process. I like writing but I’m not good, but want to be good! So for me it’s like practising. So I write short stories about Amsterdam. About Tamara, a window prostitute in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, which is based on my own experiences. I write a little bit about the Red Light District but also about the woods. Every weekend I’m at the Veluwe in the Dutch woods.
I write a little bit about things that I see in the Netherlands. The birds, the trees, being homeless in Amsterdam, etc. I was homeless myself for a short while when I was younger, so I feel attracted to that part of life as well. So I visit homeless organisations to speak to people for inspiration and I want to write little pieces about that subject.
For next year, I plan the write a book about being homeless in Amsterdam. Writing is a hobby, I would really love for people to follow me on Instagram and MyAmsterdamStories.com. Please read my short stories and let me know what you think. I would like develop as a writer.
Amsterdam Cookies
Mariska’s cookies.
I also have another website where I offer real Amsterdam cookies. Artisan freshly baked butter cookies with lemon zest and vanilla for an affordable price. And, the logo of Amsterdam is part of the cookie too. A part of the profit even goes to the homeless in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Red Light District Book
Mariska’s daughter at the printing house.
In addition, I also made a Dutch book about the Amsterdam Red Light District, which will be released on May 6, 2020. It is called ‘De Wallen, toekomst van ons verleden’. Translated: The Red Light District, future of our part.
Amsterdam Audio Walking Tour
Mariska Majoor is one of the 22 experts who are part of our app Amsterdam Audio Tours. It offers very interesting stories of the Red Light District which you can listen to in the area, or from home as a podcast. In this app, police officers, prostitutes, historians, sexologists, local entrepreneurs, drug consultants, residents, sociologists share their expertise.
GET THE APP >
Others who read this also read Amsterdam Red Light District Wiki and 10 Sex Shows in Amsterdam
Amsterdam In Corona Crisis
Posted on: March 17, 2020
Quiet Amsterdam in Corona Cris: Empty Streets & Closed Venues
The normally lively streets of Amsterdam are deserted due to the measures against the corona virus. We experienced this during a bicycle tour at 11 am through Amsterdam. These three videos is what Amsterdam in corona crisis looks like.
The video above was recorded on March 17, 2020. It shows New Market Square (Nieuwmarkt), China Town and Zeedijk street and several streets within the Red Light District area. This is what the city centre of Amsterdam in corona crisis looks like. Numerous events have been postponed and bars, restaurants, daycare & schools are closed until April 6, 2020. Also all erotic venues (like Casa Rosso, 5D Porn Cinema & Club Bon Ton) and window brothels are closed too. Most sex workers are afraid to work during the corona crisis.
Survey: I Think I’ll Visit Amsterdam Within 6 months
On March 26, 2020, Amsterdam Red Light District Tours published the following statement: I think I’ll visit Amsterdam within 6 months. In other words: I’ think I’ll visit Amsterdam before September 2020. This poll reached as many as 8,416 people and a total of 956 people voted. The response rate was therefore 11.35%. 58% of the respondents were positive and answered yes on the statement I think I’ll visit Amsterdam with 6 months.
Dutch Prime Minister Rutte Speech
Prime Minister Rutte on 16 March 2020 during his national speech. (ANP)
Everyone with minor health problems is strongly advised to stay at home. Dutch Prime Minister Rutte repeated it again on Tuesday evening in his speech: ‘these are unprecedented measures for the Netherlands in peace time. Prime Minister Rutte is no longer afraid to say that citizens should “follow” the directions “to avoid groups, bars, restaurants, etc.” “For the sake of people who are more vulnerable.”
Yet the prime minister also marked the limits of the policy he wants to pursue. He absolutely does not want a total lockdown of the Netherlands, such as Spain does. “Such a rigorous approach may seem attractive at first sight, but experts point out that it certainly wouldn’t be a matter of days or weeks.” In fact, that could take “longer” than “one year”.
Closing the country could cause greater damage to the Netherlands. Without mentioning that, he appeals to the economic and socially disruptive consequences that would occur. “The Netherlands is an open country and as long as there is no vaccine, the coronavirus will continue to spread through the world like a wave and not skip our country.” (source)
The residents of Amsterdam take Rutte’s advice to heart, as witnessed by the two videos this article. It shows Amsterdam in corona crisis. Far fewer people on the streets. Some describe it as ‘dead’ or ‘extremely quiet’.
Dutch Cannabis Shops Only Open For Take-Away
Cannabis shop The Bulldog blocked entrance and only sells via take-away.
Last Sunday all coffee shops in the Netherlands were also told to close their doors within hours. This then lead to masses of people who quickly visited the coffee shops (Dutch term for cannabis stores) to stock themselves. Once the coffee shops closed, many illegal street dealers took over the drug market. Therefore, the Dutch government decided to reopen coffee shops, but only for take-aways.
The video below also shows coffeeshop The Old Church II and coffeeshops Smokey’s on Rembrandt Square.
The video above starts at Rokin street and continues at Munt Square, Amstel, Rembrandt Square and Utrechtsestraat.
The video above was recored on 18 March 2020 in the middle of the Red Light District. It shows empty window brothels and closed shops.
Most Dutch people and tourists avoid the streets in Holland’s capital, for now.
Others who read also read Amsterdam Red Light District Questions and Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
Coffee Shops in the Netherlands Open Again For Takeout
Posted on: March 16, 2020
Dutch Government Allows Coffee Shops In The Netherlands To Open During Corona Crisis
Dutch coffee shops (local name for cannabis stores) are allowed to open their doors again to offer cannabis (weed & hashish) at collection points during the Corona-crisis. The Dutch government has decided that the same rules will apply to coffee shops in the Netherlands as to the Dutch take-away restaurants. They are allowed to provide customers with food and drinks, as long as they do not put them at a table.
Dutch source: Dutch Coffeeshops May Offer Cannabis Again
A lot of people visited the Dutch coffeeshops since yesterday afternoon, when they were told that coffeeshops in the Netherlands had to close their doors at 6 pm. There were long lines of people who soon wanted to buy hash or weed during the Corona crisis.
Illegal Street Trade By Closing Coffee shops in the Netherlands
Ook de locale dealertjes zien hun kans schoon voor wat #Marketing. Ze delen kaartjes uit. Vast een adres van thuisbezorgd voor een lekkere maaltijd.
____________________________#coffeeshop #coffeeshops #Coronavirusnl #corona #COVIDー19 #COVID19NL #drugs #joint #hamsteren pic.twitter.com/PzCT6gaWKr— Vincent (@v_baartmans) March 15, 2020
Street dealers share business cards to cannabis shop visitors.
The video above was recorded on March 15th and shows two illegal street dealers sharing business cards to customers of coffeeshops in Amsterdam.
Mayors in the Netherlands already urged the Dutch government today that the coffee shops should be allowed to open their counters again. They feared that the illegal drug street trade would flourish again due to the forced closure. So they hear their call.
Customers of takeaways and coffeeshops are advised to avoid crowds. Also, the purchased items may not be consumed on the spot.
The Dutch government is still looking into the possibility of allowing restaurants that do not currently have a take-away function to open such a facility. This way they can still earn something during the corona crisis.
Dutch sources of this article: Coffee Shops Open Again For Cannabis Takeout and Dutch Government Re-Open Coffeeshops During Corona Crisis
Others who read this also Amsterdam Red Light District Questions and Amsterdam Latest News
Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Ban Does Not Allow Tours
Posted on: January 1, 2024
Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Ban Does Not Allow Tours From 1 April 2020
It will NOT be possible to go on a tour in Amsterdam Red Light District from April, 1st 2020.
A few things will change in Amsterdam city centre from April 1st, this year. There’s no complete Amsterdam Red Light District tour ban. Just some things will change. It is as follow:
With an exemption/license from the City of Amsterdam (which our guides have) it will still be possible to give guided tours for groups up to 15 participants in Amsterdam’s city district – also in the Red Light District. This used to be 20. From the 1st of April 2020, guided tours will not be permitted to walk on streets with window brothels. However there are many other streets in the area which don’t contain windows brothels and where people can still be educated about the area. One can still be educated about legal prostitution, the Red Light District, Amsterdam and Dutch culture. On these streets it’s still allowed: Warmoesstraat, Zeedijk, Nieuwmarkt, Oudezijds Kolk, Beursplein, Geldersekade, Papenburgsteeg, Oudebrugsteeg & Nieuwebrugsteeg.
And, there are a few other exceptions…
What are the new tour rules from 1 April 2020 in Amsterdam?
- Guided tour groups may consist of no more than 15 participants. An exemption is not required for groups of up to 4 people.
- Tours can start from 9 am and must finish by 10 pm at the latest.
- Tours are not permitted to pass window brothels.
- Small tours with 4 attendees can still go everywhere in Amsterdam – also on streets with window brothels.
- Recruiting participants in public places is prohibited.
- Guides must prevent participants from loitering in busy places, including entrances to shops, houses, or bars and restaurants during opening hours.
- No sound amplification equipment may be used during the tour.
- No drugs or alcohol may be consumed during the tour.
- Before the tour begins, the guide must instruct participants to show respect to local residents, sex workers and businesses.
- A tour group must not stop at the same place or move around together with another tour group in such a way that a larger group is formed.
- Shouting and loud noise are prohibited.
- Guides must wear a badge clearly identifying them and the company they work for.
- Taxes must be paid for a guided tour or city tour: the Entertainment Tax.
The last local law (mentioned above) was implemented on 1 January 2020. Since then, Dutch and foreign tourists need to pay entertainment tax when being part of a city tour in Amsterdam.
The Oudezijds Achterburgwal is the famous street of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
What is still allowed for tours in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam’s Red Light District area – a.k.a. De Wallen – has many streets where there are no window brothels. For example the Warmoesstraat, the Zeedijk street, Nieuwmarkt, the Geldersekade, Beursplein, Stormsteeg, Kloveniersburgwal, Beursstraat, Oudezijds Kolk. This is where guided tours can still go after the 1st of April 2020. A map of Amsterdam Red Light District with approved and restricted streets is shown below.
Tours can still go here, on the Geldersekade, in the Red Light District.
When the “Amsterdam Red Light District tour ban” will be introduced on April 1st, 2020 it will still be possible to do tours on the streets mentioned above. One can still be educated by licensed guides about the Red Light District, Dutch culture, Amsterdam’s history and also about legal sex work. There are a lot of ambiguities about sex work. Many visitors want to learn more about this. An Amsterdam Red Light District tour with a licensed & knowledgeable guide provides a better insight into this old, mysterious profession and ‘De Wallen’ itself. Teachers and instructors are not part of the new “Amsterdam Red Light District tour ban” and can still provide guided tours throughout the area (including the streets with window brothels). In that case it concerns people who usually do not get paid for the tour.
Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Ban Map
The map below displays Amsterdam’s Red Light District with the streets where tours can and can not be hosted from 1 April 2020:
Green = allowed to host tours. Red = not allowed to host tours.
Escorting Groups in Amsterdam
Another exemption:
From April, 1st 2020 it will also be allowed to escort groups in Amsterdam’s Red Light District from one location to the other. For example from a touring car stop to a museum, restaurant, attraction or hotel. Or from Dam Square, through the Red Light District, to Casa Rosso for example. In that case, the host have to be able to show a reservation for the location that the group is going to.
Definition of Escorting
The definition of escorting was described by the City of Amsterdam as follow: It means that the group is walking directly from A to B without standing still or the host is telling about the surroundings. Hosts do not need a license/exemption (from the City of Amsterdam) for escorting groups. They must be able to show the reservation of the destination. This escorting-policy only applies within the city centre of Amsterdam, including the Red Light District.
After 1 April 2020, it will still be possible to guide tours in Amsterdam’s Chinatown – also located in the Red Light District.
The temple above is situated on the Zeedijk. A street in the Red Light District of Amsterdam.
So, the new Amsterdam Red Light District Tour ban is not an actual/complete ban. The new policy made by the Municipality of Amsterdam just changed a few things in the exciting local laws that are stated in the exemption system (locally known as an ‘ontheffingsstelsel’)
Other Ways To Get A Tour
In addition to the two ways mentioned above to go on a tour, it is also possible to get a tour with an app.
With the app Amsterdam Audio Tours you can discover the Red Light District on your schedule, at your pass. Navigate De Wallen area with the help of GPS, virtual tour guide Sophie and 22 experts that you’ll ‘meet’ along the way. One of the main benefits of this app is that you can now get a guided tour whenever you want, with whoever you want. Walk alongside the best narrators and hear all the interesting stories that are part of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Had enough? Just press pause and pick up after having a rest in one the many great cafes in the area.
The experts in Amsterdam Audio Tour: local police officers, a Romanian prostitute, historians, entrepreneurs, residents, drug consultants, sociologists, sex-historians, a male sex worker, the Fokkens twins, the Salvation Army, a smart shop owner and many others. You can listen to the audio tour in the Red Light District or just at home as a podcast.
Amsterdam Audio Tours – stories that take you places.
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Why Are These Laws Implemented in Amsterdam?
The City of Amsterdam will implement these laws because:
- It wants to reduce nuisance, such as noise, by reducing the crowds on the streets.
- It wants to create more space on the streets.
- It does not find it respectful and appropriate to host tours alongside the window brothels and to educate people about legal sex work.
The municipality can not ban groups of people in Amsterdam. However, they can ban or restrict groups of people which are part of a tour, hosted by a guide. That’s why they came up with these new local laws.
Red Light District Research
In 2018, the municipality of Amsterdam commissioned a study by the Strabo research agency. Through surveys, Strabo questioned 203 respondents (residents, entrepreneurs & sex workers) about the Red Light District and tours in the area. 14 of these respondents worked in the sex industry, of which only 10 sex workers. Amsterdam’s Red Light District area (De Burgwallen Oude-Zijde) counts currently 4.295 residents, 292 window brothels and an estimated 350 sex workers (who work in day and night shifts). In other words: 2.85% of all prostitutes participated in this study.
There is strong doubt about the reliability and correctness of Strabo’s research. During a study with surveys it is essential that the sample size is correct. When the total population size of sex workers is 350, and when the confidence level should be 95%, then the sample size must be at least 184 sex workers. But only 10 sex workers participated in Strabo’s research. Almost 18 times too little.
Nevertheless, despite its low respondents, this study was still decisive for the policy of the Red Light District. The Amsterdam Red Light District tour ban is based on this rapport with associated surveys of just 10 sex workers.
Owner Research Company Against Prostitution
In the same year of the study (2018) the co-owner of this research agency (Strabo) wrote publicly in Dutch newspaper Parool that he is against prostitution. He wrote: “Also prohibit prostitution in the Red Light District…Close the coffeeshops. Also reduce sex in the Red Light District.” (source)
Counter Arguments On New Laws in Amsterdam Red Light District
- The rules for tours that were implemented in April 2019 stated that from then on, tours with more than four persons were not allowed in the Red Light District after 7 pm. Before April 2019, tours had to be ended by 11 pm. That strict rule already decreased nuisance in the district. Now the City of Amsterdam goes one step further by banning certain streets for tours. Unnecessary.
- Tour guides explain the etiquette of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. They educate people on the do’s and don’ts. Good guides are ambassadors of the area.
- In general, the people in the tours are not the ones who cause nuisance in the Red Light District. They join the tours because they are interested in learning more about legal sex work, Dutch culture, Amsterdam’s history and ‘De Wallen’. They do not scream, they are not stoned or drunk, they just follow the guide peacefully from A to B.
- The experienced nuisance in the area is caused by individual visitors and disorganised groups, who see the Red Light District as an amusement park. The customers of informative tours generally behave calmly and respectfully.
- Guided tours in Amsterdam’s Red Light District can actually contribute to a more positive image for sex workers and show the tolerance of Amsterdam.
- The vast majority of sex workers have indicated that they do not experience negative experiences from guided tours.
- In the Strabo research only 10 sex workers were asked about their opinion. The new policy of the City of Amsterdam is based on this rapport.
- Without good reasons, a distinction is made between unaccompanied groups, individual visitors and guided groups. Stag-parties (bachelor-groups) can still visit the area in big groups without a guide.
- There is no evidence that a group of 15 people causes less nuisance than 20 people and it is unclear how this number came about. Moreover there is no affiliation with the original group size of max. 25 people, introduced during the convenant-agreement in 2017. The new policy in Amsterdam will lead to more smaller groups or an increase in groups without a guide.
- By introducing this Amsterdam Red Light District tour ban, people will miss important cultural and historical places of Amsterdam.
- With a mandatory whisper system or audio tour the Amsterdam Red Light District tour ban would not be necessary. A guide group could then still be larger than 15 people. In that case, the guide does not have to stand still and can talk while walking, so there is no congestion.
- The Oude Kerk (Old Church) is now in the prohibition zone of the Amsterdam Red Light District tour ban, while that is an icon for Amsterdam.
- The new forbidden area for tours is too large and unnecessarily relates to places in the city where it is not crowded at all.
- It is unfair that all other companies and organisations can freely practice their profession in the Red Light District and that guides are excluded from this.
Amsterdam Red Light District New Laws
Over the years the municipality of Amsterdam introduced new local laws. It all started with Project 1012 – named after the zipcode of the Red Light District.
2007: Project 1012 Wallen
In 2007, the City of Amsterdam decided to decrease Amsterdam’s Red Light District (Wallen) by closing window brothels and coffeeshops. A gentrification-plan (called Project 1012) led by former alderman Lodewijk Asscher, ensured that 112 window brothels were bought with tax money from brothel operators, and eventually closed down.
Former alderman Lodewijk Asscher – responsible for Project 1012 – in the Red Light District.
The municipality ensured that the Red Light District became much smaller, by decreasing the windows brothels in the area from 404 to a total number of 292 windows. The spread of people also deteriorated. The largest Dutch daily morning newspaper De Telegraaf claimed that Project 1012 costed 108 million euros (source). One window brothel owner (Charles Geerts) received 25 million euro tax money for selling his 18 properties with 70 window brothels to the City of Amsterdam (source). In other words: 357.142,86 euro per window brothel.
After that, most of these windows were changed into art-galleries, fashion shops, waffle-stores, pop-up-shops and whatnot. The local government wanted more variety.
An example of gentrification in the area: An Upcycle Store with recycles products.
However, most visitors in Amsterdam Red Light District are not interested in the products of these new shops, so it seemed. These relatively unpopular companies can continue to exist despite the fact that they make little profit because they have low rental costs. Cooperatives, which are partly funded by the (local) government, ensure these low rental costs.
There used to be several window brothels in the building where The Upcycle Store (shown in the picture above) is located at the moment.
Amsterdam Tourism Statistics
When Project 1012 was launched, the number of visitors in Amsterdam already increasing. In 2006 Amsterdam had 11 million visitors. In 2013, the company IAmsterdam was founded. This is the marketing company of the city. Since 2013 the city started to promote itself considerably through this organization. The city wanted to get more tourists. This organization also placed the letters Iamsterdam on the Museum Square, in front of the Rijksmuseum.
In 2018 Amsterdam had 18 million visitors. Partly due to the activities of the marketing company of Amsterdam. In other words: Within 11 years tourism in Amsterdam increased by 64%. Project 1012 ensured that the number of coffee shops and window brothels in the Red Light District decreased considerably during that period.
Conclusion: more visitors came to a smaller area. This was one of the main reasons why nuisance in the area was more noticeable.
Rekenkamer Project 1012
The official Amsterdam Audit Office (Dutch: Amsterdamse Rekenkamer) analysed the gentrification-plan Project 1012 and concluded that the project failed (source).
2016: Debate About Tours in Amsterdam Red Light District
Since 2016, the municipality of Amsterdam has been talking with guides, tour organisations, a few sex workers and residents about tours. In 2016, the municipality of Amsterdam started discussions with stakeholders about guided tours in the Red Light District. In 2017, this resulted in making agreements in the form of a Red Light District Covenant Covenant.
2017: Covenant Tours in Amsterdam Red Light District
In 2017, the Red Light District Tours Covenant with accompanying guidelines was drawn up in consultation with tour operators, the local police, representatives of sex workers, other stakeholders and residents. More than 50 parties signed the covenant. We liked this Dutch approach and we were one of the first to sign the convenant to improve things in the Red Light District together with others.
2018: Regulation Policy of Guided Tours in Amsterdam Red Light District
The local parties agreed in the covenant an evaluation would be carried out six months after signing. This showed that the vast majority of the covenant partners and parties who had heard of the covenant adhered to the agreements. However, some of the 4.295 local residents still experienced some inconvenience from groups in this neighbourhood that receive more than 3.1 million visitors annually. Therefore a reason to adopt stricter policies. This was partly because some large parties did not participate in the covenant.
Since April 1, 2018, there has been an exemption policy in the Red Light District and is for guides not allowed to give a tour in the Red Light District without exemption1. Various conditions are attached to the exemption, such as a maximum group size of twenty people. The conditions are largely the same as the agreements made in the covenant and written on the back of the exemptions – which the guides must carry.
2019: Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Ban after 7 pm
At the beginning of 2019, due to the large crowds in the Red Light District, it became suddenly forbidden to give guided tours in the exemption area (2018) after 7 pm after 1 April 2019 after 7 pm. This applied only for tour groups with 5 attendees or more. Red Light District tours with a maximum of 4 attendees may still go through the area after 7 pm because these small groups are not part of the exemption system.
2020: Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Ban On Certain Streets
On Thursday, February 13, 2020, the municipality of Amsterdam sent an email to all touroperators and guides (in their database) containing the final decision and the associated details regarding the so-called new Amsterdam Red Light District Tour ban. In this email (with attachments) it stated that the maximum allowed number of participants in guided tours in the city centre will be decreased from 15. And it showed that guided tours within and around the Red Light District area are still allowed on certain streets.
Which streets are still allowed to host guided tours in Amsterdam Red Light District?
The city of Amsterdam also indicated that tours in the Red Light District are still permitted on certain streets in the area, such as Warmoesstraat, Zeedijk, Nieuwmarkt, Oudezijds Kolk, Beursplein, Geldersekade, Papenburgsteeg, Oudebrugsteeg & Nieuwebrugsteeg. All these streets are located in the Red Light District.
What do others say about the new local laws in Amsterdam?
PROUD – interest group for sex workers: “We are against the prohibition of group tours in the Red Light District. We name three arguments:
- Proud was not consulted by the municipality or Strabo and had to find out via the media.
- Regulated tours can contribute to the quality of life in the city center. Guides always inform the participants how to behave.
- Tourists are an important source of income for sex workers. The municipality’s letter of 12 March 2019 states that they want to introduce a ban, without the municipality asking the sex workers for their opinion. This is a measure against the interests of sex workers” (Source)
Prostitution Information Center asked the city council to reconsider the new local law, to allow tours by professional organisations, to change the local legislation to be able to enforce certain behaviour and consult the stakeholders in the area by conducting proper & thorough research. (Source)
The chairman of Business Association Amsterdam Red Light District.
Business Association Amsterdam’s Red Light District: “The nuisance in the Red Light District is not caused by organised informative tours, but by unaccompanied groups. Drunk bachelor parties for example. It is very disappointing that the municipality of Amsterdam is not using a policy to improve the Red Light District. They could actually use good guides to inform people about the etiquette in the Red Light District.”
Tim – guide: It’s a loss for Amsterdam the lessons of freedom that can be taught in the unique, old part of town.
Henri Struylaart – member of the Dutch Guide Organization: Local guides are ambassadors for Amsterdam. Not being able to show guests around in Amsterdam’s unique area and to tell about local habits, is a big loss for the city.
Conclusion New Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Ban
Yes, From April 1st, 2020 it will still be possible to get a Red Light District tour with a maximum of 15 persons via certain streets. Also, when a host is able to show a reservation for a group for an attraction (or a hotel) in the area, then he/she can still escort the group to the destination within Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
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Others who read this also read Amsterdam’s Red Light District Map With Window Brothels and Amsterdam Red Light District Wiki Page
10 Best Amsterdam Red Light District Photos
Posted on: January 15, 2020
Top 10 Amsterdam Red Light District Photos
This list shows our 10 best Amsterdam Red Light District photos containing most likes on Instagram. This is one of the places where we share the newest images. Learn more about Holland’s most fascinating neighbourhood. Listen to real stories of 22 experts who know this area best. Including prostitutes, historians, police officers and many others. Get our app and become a true connoisseur today!
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1 | Main Street Amsterdam Red Light District
With 440 likes this is the picture that got most likes on our Instagram account. Here’s number one:
2 | Amsterdam Red Light District In Summer
De Wallen is beautiful all year round. But, most people like it even more in summer. With 387 likes just is the 2nd best Amsterdam Red Light District photo.
3 | Window Brothels
At number three, this Red Light District photo has almost the same number of likes as the number of windows in Amsterdam.
4 | Enjoying Life On A Terrace
There so many reasons to visit Amsterdam’s Red Light District and this photo shows just that. Enjoying life on a sunny terrace. It has 351 likes.
5 | De Wallen At Night
At number five, this picture shows the main street of ‘De Wallen‘ and has currently 334 likes.
6 | Coffeeshop The Bulldog The First
This coffeeshop can be found in every Amsterdam travel guide and has become a world famous brand. This photo has 316 likes.
7 | Narrow Alley In Amsterdam
This post actually contains five Amsterdam Red Light District photos, shows the most narrow alley in town and has 321 likes. How narrow do you think this alley is?
8 | Oldest Canal In Amsterdam
This photo in Amsterdam Red Light District shows the oldest canal in town and has 312 likes. On this street on can find window brothels, a church, cafes, coffeeshops, a beer brewery and lots of historical buildings. You have to see this street. By foot and by boat!
9 | World’s Most Liberal City
With 317 likes this is one of those Amsterdam Red Light District photos that perfectly shows liberalism in the Netherlands and open-mindedness of the Dutch.
Did you know that the first gay marriage in the world took place in Amsterdam? Another example of liberalism!
10 | A Church Next To Window Brothels
Another example of liberalism. Where else in the world do you find religion literally in opposite of prostitution? Where else do you see an old church next to window brothels? Only in Amsterdam’s Red Light District! This photo has currently 311 likes.
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ALSO READ:
Amsterdam Red Light District Map
Amsterdam Red Light District Prices
10x Amsterdam Tours
Posted on: January 1, 2024
Top 10 City Tours in Amsterdam
Are you looking for fun things to do in Amsterdam? And would you like to learn a thing or two about this beautiful city and its liberal Dutch culture? Check out this useful list with 10 great city tours in Amsterdam.
1 | Amsterdam Red Light District Tour
This is one of the tours in Amsterdam, that you will never forget in your life!
If you really want to have a good opinion about one of the most unique neighborhoods in the world, then it’s necessary to have all the right info. Get to know Amsterdam’s oldest and most fascinating area – locally known as De Wallen – during our Red Light District tours.
After you’ve done this tour, you’ll have a much better understanding of (legal) prostitution, the Dutch drug policy, sexual education in Holland and Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Legal prostitution in Holland’s Red Light District
Learn everything about legal prostitution in Holland! Did you know that the window brothels in Amsterdam have been present since the 1950’s? Did you know that the window brothels here stand in opposite of a big church? And did you know that 4.305 people live in the Red Light District? (source)
When was prostitution legalised in Amsterdam? How many window brothels are there in Amsterdam? What does ‘it’ cost? Do prostitutees in the Netherlands have to be tested for STDs? What’s the difference between legal prostitution and decriminalised prostitution? Where do the prostitutes come from? Are they self-employed? Which safety measures are there for them?
Get the answers to these and many other questions during our super interesting Red Light District tours in Amsterdam.
Subjects Red Light District Tour
During the Amsterdam Red Light District walking tours local guides explain legal sex work, local laws, Dutch drug policy, sexual education in Holland, a bit of Amsterdam’s history, the ‘coffeeshop’ system and the famous ‘Wallen’ area. Of course you’ll get to see most of the 292 window brothels and the sex workers.
Highlights
Some highlights during our Red Light District tours are: the window brothels, world’s first condom shop, the Old Church (Oude Kerk), Nieuwmarkt, China Town, cannabis shops (a.k.a coffeeshops), Prostitution Information Center, ‘smart shops‘, and much more great things. Our guides can also point you in the direction of the best, hidden places to tourists never see. Good local bars, great restaurants, fun to do tips, you name it.
Fox News listed this tour as one of the wackiest around the world.
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2 | Amsterdam History Walking Tour
Good to know: This is not only a history tour but also a super informative & fun city tour that explains a lot about Amsterdam and Dutch culture. Plus, the route is beautiful!
Subjects Amsterdam City Tour
Amsterdam is an old city with a fantastic, rich history that has determined the rest of the Netherlands and the world. But how old is Amsterdam actually? Did you know that the Netherlands was one of the richest countries in the world during the 17th-century? There was a Dutch company that was worth even more than Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Netflix, MacDonalds and Samsung combined!
Find out why Dutch people are so tolerant & liberal. Learn how such the Netherlands was/is one of the most important players in the world. Join our Amsterdam History Tour and learn everything about its fascinating history while taking one of the most beautiful routes in the city centre.
Highlights Amsterdam City Tour
You’ll get to see the UNESCO canal-ring, Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, Royal Palace, Amsterdam Stock Exchange, New Church, Dam Square, Gay Monument and many other highlights. It’s hosted by licensed guides who were born and raised in the Netherlands. They speak perfectly English and are proud to show you Holland’s capital. This is not only a super informative and fun tour, but also a very healthy tour. You’ll burn 440 calories!
Availability, Prices & Reservations
These History Tours in Amsterdam are offered on Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s at 2 pm. They take approximately 1,45 hours and cost 17,50 euro per person.
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3 | Amsterdam Drugs Tour
This is probably one of the most special tours in Amsterdam. An exciting tour that you can do best in Amsterdam! During this walking tour, our local guides will teach you everything about legal and illegal drugs in the Netherlands. Get to know the interesting history of drugs in Amsterdam. Find out why the Dutch are so tolerant towards drugs, while exploring the beautiful city centre.
Drugs in Netherlands
Did you know that Amsterdam used to have its own legal cocaine factory?
Subjects
During our Amsterdam Drugs Tour you’ll learn all about the liberal Dutch drug policy, drug laws in Holland and our free addiction care. We’ll discuss all types of drugs: weed, hash, magic truffles, ecstasy, alcohol, cocaine, laughing gas, amphetamines, opium, etc.
Drugs and their effects
Our licensed guides explain the Dutch drugs laws, local prices, effects of the drugs, market size and popularity in Amsterdam. We’ll tell more about the biggest drug lords in the Netherlands as well.
Coffeeshops
The average THC percentage of Dutch weed is 16.78%.
Get informed about the first cannabis shops in the world. Here why they are called ‘coffeeshops’. Did you know that Amsterdam has 164 coffeeshops? When and why were the coffeeshops introduced in Amsterdam? Which laws do coffeeshops need to follow? Why is allowed to buy and sell cannabis, but why is it still illegal to produce cannabis? We’ll tell you during our awesome Amsterdam Drugs Tour!
Smart shops in Amsterdam
“A smart shop is a place that offers legal psychedelic drugs.”
Did you know that magic truffles are legal in the Netherlands? Magic mushrooms – locally known as ‘paddo’s’ are illegal though. Did you know that only 7.2% of the Dutch use cannabis once per month? And did you know that in the Netherlands people can get illegal drugs (like XTC) tested legally on its content at legal drug testing centers?
This is one of those tours you have to do in Amsterdam! The Amsterdam Drugs Tour gives you a very interesting insight into the liberal drug situation in the Netherlands. A situation that won’t find elsewhere in the world. Join this fascinating tour, while exploring the best drug highlights in Amsterdam!
The Drug Tours in Amsterdam are offered on Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s. They take approximately 1,5 hours and cost 19,50 euro per person. Including a free sniff of cacao and a visit to a smart shop.
Bookable from 4 January 2020.
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4 | Amsterdam Brothel Tour
What is like to be a prostitute? How does someone decide to work in the prostitution industry? And why is decriminalized prostitution even better than legal prostitution? What kind of men visit these places? How much does a prostitute in Amsterdam earn? Some prostitutes prefer to be called sex worker, why is this?
What’s a better way to get these (and many other) answers from a real prostitute as a tour guide?
This interesting Amsterdam Brothel Tour is hosted by a real sex worker in a beautiful brothel – next to the Heineken Brewery. There won’t be any real customers inside the brothel. Just you, the other participants of the tour, the guide and some staff-members.
Prostitution in Holland
You can ask the prostitute everything you’ve always wanted to know. No need to be shy. Ask whatever you want to know. Learn everything about legal prostitution in Holland. She will show you the entire brothel, including the club section where normally stripteases take place. And if you want, you can also show your best skills on the strip poles. Hear all the interesting secrets of real prostitutes.
These Brothels Tours in Amsterdam are hosted on Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s between 1 pm & 6 pm. They take 1 hour and cost 20 euro per person.
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5 | Amsterdam Audio Tour
Would you like do a Red Light District tour without a group or a tour guide? Then this is for you!
We developed a travel app that allows you to get to know Amsterdam’s most fascinating neighborhood through stories from 22 experts. This app contains a super interesting audio tour in the Red Light District with real stories from locals prostitutes, historians, police offers, drugs experts, sociologists and many others. Even Louise and Martine Fokkens – a.k.a. the Fokkens Twins – are in it. They worked as prostitutes for 50 years!
The CEO of the FEBO tells more about real Dutch snacks.
The app is called Amsterdam Audio Tours and includes a virtual guide, a map, GPS-tracking and dozens of beautiful pictures. Virtual audio guide Sophie will show you around in the Red Light District and will introduce you to 22 experts.
Highlights Amsterdam Tour App
You’ll see the whole Red Light District, window brothels, ‘coffeeshops’, Oude Kerk, the FEBO, Chinatown, city’s oldest streets, a hidden church, beautiful canals, Nieuwmarkt, a peep show, magic truffle store, the Waag, narrow alleys, the Salvation Army, and much more!
Smart shop owner Veronique in the Red Light District.
If you want you can also just listen to these all interesting stories from home, your hotel or at the airport – just like a podcast. So, it is not perse necessary to be in the Red Light District of Amsterdam.
Availability, Prices & Downloads
The app Amsterdam Audio Tours is always available and can it can always be listened to. It costs just 4,99 euro, contains dozens of photos and more than 100 minutes of audio.
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6 | Amsterdam Weed Boat Tour
It’s always great to see Amsterdam from the water. Whether you have seen it once or very often, it is different every time. But it’s always beautiful!
There are many tours in Amsterdam from different companies with which you can admire the beautiful canals and the great Dutch architecture. Small boats, big boats, open and closed deck boats. But there are not so many companies that offer boat tours on which you are allowed to smoke cannabis while exploring the canal ring. During this typical Amsterdam boat trip you can bring your own legal weed or hash and enjoy smoking a joint. Don’t forget to buy it beforehand because they are not allowed to sell it on the boats. In the Netherlands it is only allowed to buy cannabis in ‘coffeeshops‘.
Of course the atmosphere on the boat is very pleasant and relaxed. The staff is friendly and the other young passengers are always laid-back and in for a chat. The proud captain and the host like to explain things about the city, so don’t hesitate to ask questions.
The Amsterdam Weed Boat Tour cost 25 euro, has a duration of 60 to 70 minutes and it includes one drink. You can choose between a Dutch beer, French wine or soda. The boat is also equipped with a toilet.
Bookable from 19 January 2020!
7 | Amsterdam Cycling Tour
Enjoying the view on Amsterdam’s Skinny Bridge is a must-do!
Cycling in Amsterdam is really not as scary as it all seems. It is not for nothing that all Amsterdammers have a bicycle that they use every day. With a bicycle you can see so much more of the city. These are just a few reasons why we would recommend doing a bike tour in Amsterdam. And believe us, the locals immediately recognize tourists by bike and will therefore take that into account by giving space.
During the Amsterdam Cycling Tour you’ll be accompanied by a local guide who’ll teach you basic things about riding a bike in Amsterdam. After a quick introduction, the guide will bring you to some of the best highlights in the city. You’ll also be educated about Amsterdam itself, Dutch people and the liberal culture in the Netherlands.
During the tour you will see the aspects of the different neighborhoods in Amsterdam which all have their own character. Especially when it’s dry or sunny, this tour is highly recommended.
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8 | Amsterdam Canal Cruise
The canal cruise on the Herengracht in Amsterdam.
Do you prefer a canal cruise where people don’t smoke (cannabis)? Then this is an excellent choice!
During this 75-minute boat tour you’ll get to see the Anne Frank House, the Seven Bridges, the Wester Church, the house of Amsterdam’s mayor, the UNESCO protected canals, the wonderful Dutch bridges and much more. Stare relaxed out the window, watch all those people cycle through the city, view the beautiful old buildings and enjoy your well-deserved vacation.
Did you know that boats in Amsterdam do not have a fixed berth in the city? Locals often claim a boat spot by hanging a sign with the name of their boat on the side of the canals.
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9 | Amsterdam Windmill Tour
Whoever says the Netherlands, say windmills. This is one of those tours in Amsterdam where you get to see some of the most beautiful windmills in the whole country.
Near Holland’s capital there are a few smaller, cute places that are called Volendam, Marken and Zaanse Schans. These villages are known for delicious fish, tasty cheese, beautiful windmills, traditional clogs and a Dutch appearance.
During this half-day trip you’ll get to see a bit of Holland’s countryside. Some of the highlights include: entrance to historic windmill, ferry boat ride between Volendam & Marken (only in the summer), watch how clogs are made, see Dutch fishing boats and a cheese factory.
Good to know: Sure you can visit these places on your own – without doing a guided tour, but Volendam, Marken and Zaanse Schans do not have a train station. It’s quite difficult to go here by public transport. It’s much easier and more educational to go there with a guided tour. Therefor we recommend to do this Amsterdam Windmill Tour.
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10 | Amsterdam Food Tour
Soon online and bookable.
New Prostitution Law Netherlands Will Have Opposite Effect
New Prostitution Law In The Netherlands Is A Bad Idea
A prostitution law in the Netherlands aims at requiring a permit for sex workers. That is a bad idea, writes Marjan Wijers in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant.
Criminalisation Of Prostitution
For the first time since 1800, prostitutes are being criminalized again in the Netherlands, at least if it’s up to this Dutch cabinet. Under the banner of “protection”, the prostitution law Netherlands is a new attempt to introduce a national register of sex workers, now through a permit requirement.
Prostitution Law Netherlands Permit Requirements
For such a permit, the sex worker must be at least 21 years old, be allowed to work here under the Aliens Act, and must undergo a ‘self-reliance test’: a conversation with an official who determines whether she (or he) is ‘self-reliant’ enough to be involved (allowed) in prostitution work. If the sex worker is found to be too light or there are suspicions of coercion, the permit will be refused. The argument is that by forcing sex workers to register there would be “more insight” into the prostitution industry and that this is necessary to prevent human trafficking.
Prostitution Laws In The Netherlands
Force doesn’t work without sanctions. A fine of more than 20 thousand euros can be imposed on sex workers without a permit. Clients of “unlicensed” sex workers risk one year in prison. Moreover, under the title “pimp prohibition”, the work and private relationships of “unlicensed” sex workers are criminalised. Examples include bookkeepers and drivers (maximum 2 years in prison).
For clarity, this has nothing to do with coercion, violence or deception, but only with sex workers who refuse to submit to forced registration. Coercion, violence, exploitation and deception have long been punishable; whether it’s forcing someone against his or her will to prostitute or forcing someone to donate money or to work under un-free circumstances. This bill doesn’t change anything and adds nothing. The use of the word “pimp” in the bill is therefore primarily false rhetoric and framing the debate.
Fighting Prostitution
It seems that this bill is more focused on combating prostitution than on combating coercion and violence. That would also be consistent with the beliefs of Mr Segers and his ChristenUnie (Christian political party) colleagues. The major driving force behind this new bill. The problem is that anti-prostitution laws tend to promote coercion and violence. If the government were really concerned with combating abuses, there’s a growing body of research that shows that any form of criminalization has negative effects on the safety, health and rights of sex workers. This is the reason why Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch argue for complete decriminalisation of sex work as the only way to guarantee the human rights of sex workers. This includes protection against coercion, violence and exploitation, the exact opposite of this bill.
Sex Work Stigma
This isn’t the first attempt at introducing a national registration obligation for sex workers. The last one died in the Senate, among other things, because the registration obligation itself creates a new “illegal” circuit. A considerable group of sex workers will not want to or cannot register. They do not want to, because they want to protect their privacy because of the stigma in view of possible other work, family, children and the possibility of ever being able to change work.
Privacy
There is a great fear that data will become public and confidence in data protection and the government is small. Consider the student who pays for her studies with sex work, but who may later become a judge or politician. Once registered as a prostitute, it will hang over her head for the rest of her life. Or those unable to register, because they are under 21, do not have the correct papers or do not pass the “self-reliance test”.
This group will include the most vulnerable sex workers: young and non-European sex workers. They too become punishable, at the expense of their access to and accessibility of healthcare and assistance. And when they are confronted with coercion and violence, they will no longer be able to go to the police safely. They themselves would be breaking the law. Until now, emergency workers could promise victims that, whatever they were told, they themselves are not punishable. That is no longer possible in the future.
Human Trafficking
It also seems to be a misunderstanding that human trafficking is primarily about saving “innocent” girls, which means non-sex workers. But sex workers are also victims of human trafficking. They have the same right to protection against violence as non-sex workers.
If there is anything that needs to be combated from a feminist and human rights point of view, It’s the idea that women’s protection worthiness depends on their sexual purity.
Sex Workers Know The Industry
Finally, consider sex workers as partners in tackling abuses rather than as mischievous children or “controllable objects” by police, state, and operators. Or even worse, as “enemies” who have no eye for the victims. Sex workers are mature people, they are the first to have an interest in a clean sector. They know their sector like no other, including policy makers. Sex workers are not the problem, they are part of the solution.
What do you think of this new proposed prostitution law in the Netherlands? Let the world know by posting your comment below.
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Newly Proposed Dutch Prostitution Regulation, What’s Wrong With It?
Posted on: November 6, 2019
New Dutch Prostitution Regulation Won’t Let Sex Workers Become Their Own Bosses
The newly proposed Dutch prostitution regulation marginalises sex workers and can increase the chance of human trafficking, writes Rik Viergever in the Dutch newspaper NRC. Rik Viergever obtained his PhD on “care after human trafficking” and was a project manager at CoMensha. Since this year he has been a director at the non-profit brothel My Red Light in Amsterdan’s Red Light District.
Dutch Prostitution Regulation For All Types Of Sex Work
There are many different types of prostitution in the Netherlands: escorts, window workers, home workers, solicitors, workers in private homes, bdsm mistresses, cam workers, strippers and much more.
Sex workers are made up of both foreign and Dutch women, men and trans-persons. Among Dutch students, 6 percent have “sex-worked” and 27 percent have sometimes considered it. One in four men in the Netherlands has paid for sex and 5 percent have done so last year.
Newly Proposed Dutch Prostitution Regulation
Last week the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security presented a new law on Dutch prostitution regulation for consultation, everyone can respond. This law proposes – broadly speaking – two measures. The first is that every sex worker in the Netherlands must have a permit to work and is entered in a national register. The idea is that as a result, overseers can more easily find sex workers and in permit interview they can check whether they really want to do this work.
New Prostitution Regulation Sounds Too Good To Be True
At first glance, this seems like a good idea. But Dutch authorities are already able to find sex workers: they can visit anyone who works in a brothel and all other sex workers need to advertise to get customers. The police and municipalities scan those advertisements and they’re getting better at it. Various municipalities and police departments, for example, use a so-called web crawler: a software program that browses through the Internet methodically. They have achieved successes in tackling human trafficking and unlicensed sex work using this method.
When it comes to sex workers, it seems unlikely that a victim will say in one conversation that they are being forced or exploited. The police and the judiciary sometimes spend years building a case, precisely because victims are so scared or have other reasons not to mention the abuse they are undergoing. A permit therefore does not mean that the risk of abuses disappears.
Dutch Sex Workers Forced Underground
At the same time, a licensing obligation has disadvantages that are guaranteed. I know from practice that many sex workers do not want to be registered. They fear that information will leak out and that they will experience problems when people discover their profession. That fear is real. Sex workers are still stigmatized and the profession remains a taboo. For example, I regularly hear about sex workers who have been evicted from their homes because of their profession, even by government housing associations. When you are a sex worker, It’s also more difficult to buy a house, open a bank account or take out insurance. So it’s guaranteed that sex workers will start working illegally as a result of the new Dutch prostitution regulation. This is of course very worrying as there’s evidence that abuses occur more often when sex workers work illegally.
The Fear Of Police Will Return
In addition, these sex workers will contact the police less or not at all in case of abuse, all the more because of the fines (up to 20,500 euros!) that will be imposed on work without a permit. For the same reasons, health workers are concerned that fewer sex workers will be tested or seek help because of the proposed Dutch prostitution regulation. Municipalities that have tried to introduce a permit requirement in recent years have been criticized by the Dutch Data Protection Authority because of these very reasons.
Uniform Rules For The Whole Sex Industry
The second major measure in the Dutch prostitution regulation is that there will be uniform national rules for sex businesses. This is basically a good idea. But one of those rules is that brothel holders lose their license when there’s a sex worker at that company who’s a victim of human trafficking. This sounds good of course, were it not for it that the sex business acquires an interest not to report suspicions of human trafficking (anymore). Instead, they will send a potential victim away. This puts the victims out of sight of the police and social workers. Moreover, human trafficking is often hidden. Often it takes place behind the front door, where a victim is forced or exploited by her partner. You cannot expect from a sex company that they can always signal that.
New Prostitution Regulation, Same Old Approach
In terms of approach, the new prostitution regulation is similar to the current sex work policy in many municipalities. The emphasis is on combating human trafficking. This focus is due to official embedding: the development of sex work policy is usually done by departments that deal with safety, rather than what you would expect, social affairs and employment. The new prostitution regulation is also written at the Ministry of Justice and Security. Contradictory enough, a focus on safety usually marginalizes sex workers, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to human trafficking.
How To Tackle The Problem
The right approach is reversed: allow as many sex companies as the market demands and create a sector that is as transparent as possible. Do not register sex workers but make it as easy as possible for them to seek help. Work together with sex companies in tackling abuses. Ensure that these have the potential to properly identify human trafficking, for example by training employees. Do not punish when there is human trafficking or other abuse, but when companies fail to report it. This approach has been successful for years in identifying domestic violence and child abuse. There are good reasons to believe that this also applies to human trafficking.
Emancipate Prostitution In The Netherlands
Finally, much is still needed to make sex work a good, emancipated and safe sector in the Netherlands. As mentioned earlier, banks, insurers and payment services regularly refuse sex workers. In addition, there is hardly any money for good projects and research in the sex work sector, the sex worker trade union (PROUD) is grossly under-funded, and sex businesses are completely banned in a quarter of the municipalities (the ‘zero option’) while legally speaking this is not allowed. The new Dutch prostitution regulation does not solve these problems and will even allow the zero option.
A Safe Labor Sector Should Be The Starting Point
This is my main criticism of the new prostitution regulation: it takes the wrong starting point. The law is largely about preventing and combating abuses. This is very important. Human trafficking, for example, is a terrible crime. But the prevention of abuse should not be the basis for a labor sector law. That basis should be: the creation of a good, emancipated and – yes, also – safe labor sector. Such an approach starts with ensuring a good legal and social position of the workers. There is so much to do to get the sex work sector up to that level. And this law works against that goal.
What will happen with prostitution in Red Light District of Amsterdam?
Posted on: January 18, 2024
More or Less Window Brothels Amsterdam Red Light District?
Amsterdam’s mayor Femke Halsema is taking the next step in the debate about the future of the Red Light District of Amsterdam (locally known as ‘De Wallen‘).
She will investigate the relocation of prostitution to other parts of the city, including the neighborhoods where those new workplaces can be found.
A prostitution hotel outside the Red Light District of Amsterdam is one of the options, she said during the council debate on Thursday 17th October 2019.
At the request of the city council, Halsema also wants to investigate whether sex workers can be given the opportunity to attract customers online or receive them at home, which is not yet permitted.
New Workplaces for Sex Workers in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam, Dollebegijnensteeg in the Red Light District.
Mayor Halsema uses this to pick out the points that can count on a majority in a further divided city council. The debate is slowly shifting in the direction in which Amsterdammers have to take into account that new workplaces will also be created for prostitutes outside the 3 area’s in the city with Amsterdam brothels, which are:
The Red Light District of Amsterdam (De Wallen), the Singel area and the Ruysdaelkade street. Few political parties object to this.
The party Forum voor Democratie (Forum for Democracy) is against the relocation, but in favor of strict enforcement, closure of window brothels in case of violation and then no new window brothel in return.
Project 1012 Already Closed 112 Window Brothels in Amsterdam
This building used to have several window brothels before Project 1012. Now a recycle store with a subsidized low rent.
The number of window brothels in Amsterdam are currently +- 365. The Red Light District (De Wallen) counts 292 red light windows, the Singel area has 37 windows and the Ruysdaelkade also has 35.
De Wallen used to have more window brothels before the start of gentrification-plan Project 1012 that changed window brothels into art-galleries, waffle stores, recycle stores, record shops, etc. 112 window brothels were closed in De Wallen since 2007, which costed 108 million euros in tax money.
On 26th of June 2018, Amsterdam’s Court of Audit came with hard conclusions after analyzing Project 1012: “Gentrification-plan in Red Light District of Amsterdam failed”.
Disagreement Within Amsterdam’s Council
Amsterdam’s Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
There is disagreement about whether this relocation will subsequently lead to fewer windows in the Red Light District of Amsterdam. The Socialist Party (SP) and Labour Party (PvdA) want to sacrifice part of the window brothels for this. The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Christian Union (CU) and Party of the Elderly (PvdO) even want all windows in Amsterdam’s Red Light District to close.
Green left (GL), Bij1 and Democrats66 (D66), on the other hand, want the window brothels to remain open and that, added together, there should be more workplaces in Amsterdam. Mayor Halsema leaves this in the middle for the time being. “I first want to work out this scenario better.”
What Do Sex Workers Want?
A few of the almost 300 windows brothels in De Wallen.
Red Light United, an union for window prostitutes in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, surveyed 170 of the approximately 375 sex workers in that area.
The survey concluded that 90% of the 170 prostitutes want to say in the Red Light District. They see nothing in moving windows from Amsterdam’s Red Light District to other parts of the city.
They want to stay where they are. Their website states: “Sex workers Amsterdam’s Red Light District: It’s not too crowded and we don’t want to move away!”
“Over 93% of the sex workers are against plans of relocating prostitution to another part of the city, and prefers to keep working behind the windows.”
Tweet of a sex workers union. English translation below.
Yesterday Red Light United tweeted: “Sex workers in the Red Light District want more windows in the Red Light District! We do not want to advertise online with or without curtains closed or work somewhere else. Provide more red light windows and also more workplaces elsewhere in the city for other sex workers. Everyone wins!” (translated from Dutch into English)
PROUD, another union for and by sex workers, is in favor of scenario number four created by Amsterdam’s mayor, meaning more window brothels.
On the 10th of July 2019, PROUD tweeted: “If you cannot change the behavior of tourists, you cannot simply move sex workers. We are not toys you can play with and move around simply because you are not pleased. We are legal independent business owners and you must work WITH us, not around us.”
Four Prostitution Scenario’s in Amsterdam
The expectation is that some residents will resist a new brothel or prostitution hotel in their neighborhood. Amsterdam’s mayor is also investigating the financial consequences, saying that closing window brothels in the Red Light District of Amsterdam can cause hundreds of millions of plan damage.
The mayor ‘narrows’ the discussion that she started by formulating four scenarios: closing all window brothels in the Red Light District, expanding the number of window brothels in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, moving part of the window brothels to another location in Amsterdam, or close all curtains.
Advertising Sex Work on Internet
The Oudezijds Voorburgwal in Amsterdam.
A majority of the council, consisting of GL, D66, PvdA and Bij1, want sex workers to be able to recruit their customers via internet. That should be possible at the new workplaces in Amsterdam, but also in the Red Light District, if prostitutes want to close their curtains, for example, to stay out of sight of tourists. Some sex workers in Amsterdam no need to advertise their services online, partly due to privacy reasons.
How Do People Feel About A Possible Shut Down?
We asked people about their opinion on the possible removal of window brothels in Amsterdam. In total, 4,165 people were reached, 226 people voted. 18% answered yes. 82% is against removal of window brothels in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Both Dutch and foreigners participated in this poll.
More Enforcers in Red Light District of Amsterdam
The call for more enforcement in Amsterdam’s Red Light District is loud. Many stakeholders agree to this. The crowds is one of the reasons to intervene in window prostitution, in addition to combat human trafficking and safeguarding the human rights of prostitutes. Dutch Union for Sex Workers stated in an open letter to Amsterdam’s mayor: “we will tell you that good enforcers and tourist guides are important factors in combating nuisance”
According to the council of Amsterdam, it is not the sex workers who are to blame for the crowds, but a number of political groups note that the Red Light District is an international tourist attraction. More enforcers must ensure that tourists behave better, is mostly said by the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and Forum for Democracy. According to mayor Halsema, the nuisance in Amsterdam’s Red Light District cannot be resolved with enforcement alone.
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Amsterdam Red Light District Prices
New Amsterdam Red Light District Windows Proposal
Posted on: September 6, 2019
Brothel Owners Present New Plan For Amsterdam Red Light District Windows
Brothel operators from 200 of the 330 Amsterdam Red Light District windows, “at least 250” sex workers who rent the windows and their sympathisers have written a new future option for the area. It’s an alternative to the four options that mayor Femke Halsema has presented to the city council.
Stop Reducing The Number Of Amsterdam Red Light District Windows
The initiative is headed by Jan Broers, who is a window brothel operator himself and spokesperson for interest group Wallen Ondernemers Prostitutie (WOP). (Red Light District Prostitution Entrepreneurs) The brothel owners have written down a plan in which the number of brothels in the area remains the same. A ‘prostitution hotel’ in a suburb of the city should offer space for sex workers who want to independently welcome their clients there. Furthermore, Amsterdam must introduce a mandatory license for sex workers. This way they become “full contract parties” who are themselves responsible for compliance with rules.
Help Honest Brothel Operators in Amsterdam
Amsterdam must act harder against window operators who cooperate with human trafficking and other abuses. Honest brothel operators should no longer suffer from the bad ones in the industry. The architects of this fifth option also ask the municipality of Amsterdam to cancel the further expropriation of window brothels.
Four Options To Choose From
Mayor Halsema outlined four options for the future of the Red Light District two months ago. She extensively discussed these with all stakeholders such as residents, entrepreneurs and sex workers. Now it’s up to Amsterdam’s city council to choose. In one of the options, “the curtains will close” and the sex workers can no longer promote themselves in the street view. Brothel rooms will remain the same. The most far-reaching option stipulates that all sex work will disappear from Amsterdam’s Red Light District and an alternative area will be selected elsewhere in the city. A moderate variant of the option requires a reduction in the number of window brothels in the city center by moving a part of those to other areas in the city.
More Brothels In Amsterdam Red Light District
In the fourth scenario; there will be more brothel rooms in the Red Light District, but without windows. For the time being, sex workers want more brothel rooms. A small group of local residents want all the window brothels to disappear. “Mayor Halsema asked us in one of the meetings about her 4 options that we shouldn’t just attack, but come up with a fifth option if we don’t agree with any of her proposals,” says Broers. “Well, we did that.” Halsema received the alternative plan yesterday.
Unexpected Request: Stricter Control & More Rules
Window brothel operators also recognise that government interventions are necessary. Curbing the current uncontrollable bustle of tourists through the area is a priority. Obviously they don’t want the number of window brothels to be reduced even further than in recent years done by the city council during the gentrification-plan called Project 1012. Brothel operators asking for stricter control of their business and more rules for sex workers is something most people didn’t expect. Broers: “If the municipality tackles operators who cooperate with abuses, we, as honest hard working entrepreneurs, will finally be rid of the nonsensical image that we help oppress women.”
Action Against Undeclared Sex Workers
The authors of ‘the fifth option’ also ask the municipality to include rules on so called ‘homeworkers’. Homeworkers are often undeclared sex workers who work in their own apartment/house. New rules must be included in the General Local Regulation, according to the brothel operators. The municipality can then also take action against undeclared workers. Those who do adhere to the rules will no longer be bothered by this unfair construct. The brothel operators want more enforcement to keep the crowds under control.
The sale of laughing gas must be prohibited too. Jan Broers: “That makes you crazy”. (The street sale of laughing gas has become has become a major nuisance in the city.)
Amsterdam Red Light District Wiki
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Amsterdam Red Light District Wiki
This Amsterdam Red Light District Wiki page contains information about its history, prostitution, inhabitants, red light windows (also known as window brothels), visitors, local companies, laws, inhabitants, Project 1012, tours, and whatnot.
It does not contain information about escorts because they do not work in the Red Light District.
The Red Light District of Amsterdam is the oldest part of the city. The area is called De Wallen in Dutch. The official district name is Burgwallen Oude Zijde. The word ‘Wallen’ comes from the canals that cross section Amsterdam Red Light District; the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. A ‘burgwal’ means ‘defensive wall’ with a canal in front, but now the name is used for the canals itself, which were dug as a defense for the city.
Amsterdam Red Light District History
The Old Church in Amsterdam
De Oude Kerk in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
The oldest building in Amsterdam is The Old Church – Oude Kerk in Dutch – and is located in the middle of the Red Light District, on the Oudekerksplein. This church dates back to the year 1306. In the app Amsterdam Audio Stories, Herman Vuijsje – famous Dutch sociologist – says this about the church:
‘The Old Church is not only the oldest church in Amsterdam, but also the largest and the lightest. Because of the weak soil the building was constructed as light as possible, it ‘floats’ in the swampy peat; with the many tall lancet windows and extensive use of wood this can be taken both literally and figuratively. Centuries ago, Amsterdammers used the Old Church as a market hall, but also as a place where nets were mended and sails repaired. The peat carriers used it as a shortcut, and they even hired young boys as dog beaters. Their job was to keep the dogs out of the church. And the prostitutes.’
Amsterdam Audio Tours: Explore Red Light District With 22 Experts In Your Pocket
Prostitution
Prostitution has always taken place in De Wallen/ Red Light District. One reason for this is that Amsterdam’s activities (bars, taverns/hotels, shops, companies, etc) always took place in this specific area. In other words, most men were in this part of the city.
Amsterdam Red Light District, 1905. Prostitutes waiting for men.
Another reason is that prostitution has always been here is because Amsterdam’s port used to be located where central station is currently located, just next to the Red Light District. Sailors arrived there by boat, walked to “de Wallen”, and spent their first money on booze and women.
Today, the Old Church is surrounded by 26 window brothels with sex workers who literally stand in opposite of the church. The rest of the area counts 266 window brothels, meaning that the Red Light District of Amsterdam has 288 window brothels in total.
AMSTERDAM RED LIGHT DISTRICT MAP >
Warmoesstraat
The Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam Red Light District.
One of the main streets in the Red Light District is called the Warmoesstraat. Warmoes is an old, forgotten leafy vegetable. It’s hard to imagine, but in in the Middle Ages, the market gardens that provided the small city with fresh vegetables, were located alongside this street. The Warmoesstraat is the oldest street of Amsterdam. It also marks the Western border of the Red Light District, and it runs all the way from Central Station to the Dam Square.
At the end of the Middle Ages (late 15th century), Amsterdam was the main religious destination of north-western Europe, and from the 16th century onwards it has been an important place of commerce, but it has always attracted tourists as well. The Warmoesstraat would be one of the first things people saw if they entered the city through the Olofspoort.
Amsterdam Oldest House
The oldest house of Amsterdam is also located in the Red Light District. On Warmoesstraat 90. This house dates back to 1485. Nowadays the house is used as a dance club for men only.
Condomerie
The first condom shop of the world is also situated on the Warmoesstraat. The popular shop was founded in April 1987 with the goal to improve sex education and to decrease STD’s and teen pregnancy in the Netherlands. In our app Amsterdam Audio Tours the owner – Theodoor van Boven – tells more about his special store and the importance of early sex education.
Inhabitants in Amsterdam Red Light District
The Oudezijds Achterburgwal – one of the main streets – in De Wallen.
Inhabitants
This area in Amsterdam counts 4,550 inhabitants, which is also shown in a 2022 research by AlleCijfers.nl
Amsterdam’s Red Light District is a residential area. The number of inhabitants in this district – Burgwallen Oude Zijde – increased by 215 inhabitants (that is 5%): from 4.090 in 2013 to 4.305 in 2018. In 2019, 10 residents decided to relocate, bringing the total of Red Light District inhabitants to 4.295. Amsterdam broke a population record on November 30, 2019. The city had 872,428 inhabitants that day, more than the sixty-year-old previous high point. Which means that only 0.5% of the Amsterdam population lives in the Red Light District.
Burgwallen Oude Zijde district has a total area of 40 hectares, 35 of which are land and 6 water (100 hectares is 1 km2). The average density of addresses is 7.589 addresses per km2. In total there are 3.090 households in Amsterdam Red Light District.
Gender
The population of Amsterdam Red Light District consists of 2.395 men (55.6%) and 1.920 women (44.4%).
Age Composition
The Red Light District counts 235 children, including toddlers, who live here. With 5.4%, they form the smallest group of residents in this area. Most people who live in “De Wallen” district are between the age of 25 and 45. The age distribution of Amsterdam Red Light District is as follows:
- 0 – 15 years: 235 inhabitants (5.4%)
- 15 – 25 years: 650 inhabitants (15%)
- 25 – 45 years: 2.210 inhabitants (51.3%)
- 45 – 65 years: 930 inhabitants (21.6%)
- 65 year or older: 380 inhabitants (8.8%)
Income
The average income per year for the residents of Amsterdam’s Red Light District is 33.600 euro. With that average income this district is ranked number 35 on highest income per area out of all the 97 neighborhoods in Amsterdam. This is shown in the graph below. (source)
Housing Prices Chart
The average housing price in Amsterdam’s Red Light District was 400.000 euro in 2018. The prices have increased with 65% since 2014 in this area. Some of the factors that have caused this are the increasing demand for housing and gentrification-plan Project 1012.
Amsterdam Red Light District Houses For Sale
Some houses in the Amsterdam Red Light District cost a lot of money, like these ones:
A 1.6 million house on the main street of Amsterdam Red Light District.
The historical canal-house above is located on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal – next to an erotic shop, a casino and the Bananenbar. The inside surface of this house is 253 square meters and it has 7 different rooms. It cost almost 1.7 million euros.
The apartment above is situated in one of the alleys of Amsterdam Red Light District. It has 201 square meters of space and cost 1.1 million euros.
Companies in Amsterdam Red Light District
This area counts a total of 1.945 business locations. 640 companies (32.9%) are in catering and trading, 460 (23.6%) in culture recreation and related services, 440 (22.6%) in business services, 180 (9.2%) in transport information and communication and 170 (8.7%) in financial services and real estate.
There are 1.945 businesses in Amsterdam Red Light District. (Source)
Sex Work
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, but not decriminalized. Dr. Kate Lister – Sex Work Expert and owner of the popular Whores of Yore Twitter account: “Legalizing sex work means the sex trade is still subject to very tight legal restrictions, such as where one can work. Decriminalisation removes all legal restrictions around sex work and means sex workers are afforded the same rights and protections as all other workers. Decriminalisation affords those in the sex industry the dignity and respect they deserve. It recognises sex work is a choice for many, and creates opportunities to reach and support those who suffer abuse and/or coercion”. (source)
Sex workers in the Netherlands would like to have sex work decriminalized.
Windows Amsterdam’s Red Light District
Amsterdam Red Light District, Dollebegijnensteeg with 14 window brothels.
Amsterdam has three Red Light District area’s. De Wallen is the biggest and most famous Red Light District in the whole country and most likely in the world. There are currently 292 window brothels in De Wallen area. The other two Red Light District area’s are called the Ruysdaelkade and the Singel area. Amsterdam has 365 window brothels in total.
The window brothels are managed by the male or female brothel operators. They rent the windows to the sex workers and are partly responsible for their safety. They also arrange the cleaning and hygiene in the window brothels. Brothel operators in Amsterdam have several windows which they rent during the daytime and nighttime.
Window brothels are usually small rooms – often located on the ground floor – containing a bed, a restroom and a washing table.
Windows Prices
Amsterdam Red Light District, Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
Window brothels in Amsterdam are usually rented two times a day. For a day-shift and a night shift. During the day the rent of a window brothel varies between 80 and 110 euros. At night, the window brothels fluctuates between 130 and 200 euros. In other words; the average rent for a window brothel in Amsterdam is 140 euros.
At night, between 6 pm and 6 am, the rent is higher because most sex workers like to work then due to the fact that at night they have more customers. The rent needs to be paid upfront to the brothel operator, before the start of a shift, meaning that sex workers usually need to get a few (2 -4) clients to get break-even.
Amsterdam Red Light District Map
The map below shows the total number of windows in Amsterdam Red Light District, including the ones that were closed/bought by the City of Amsterdam, as result of Project 1012. The maps demonstrates that the number of window brothels decreased over the last years and that the Red Light District became smaller.
Green = open window brothels. Red = closed window brothels by government.
The windows marked with number 4 on the Oudekerksplein, next to the Oude Kerk, turned into a cafe called Quartier Putain. The two windows marked with 22 turned into a online radio station. The three window brothels marked with 21, on the Sint Annenstraat, turned into a recycle store. The two windows marked with number 5, in the Trompettersteeg, turned into a chocolate store.
All eight windows brothels in the Goldenbergsteeg have been unused and empty since the closure.
Amsterdam, September 2019. The window brothels in Goldbergsteeg are empty and neglected.
Project 1012
In 2007, the Municipality of Amsterdam started a locally well known gentrification-plan called Project 1012. Within a couple of years, the municipality bought 112 window brothels with tax money from brothel owners and closed them. Some of these former window brothels are still closed, but most of them were changed into chocolate stores, barber shops, art galeries, fashion shops, cafes, lunchrooms and whatnot.
The new tenants of the former window brothels can start a business here and pay low rent to subsided organizations that are funded by the government. Because of the low rent, the new entrepreneurs can do business here for a long time, even though they receive few customers and have low turnover.
Amsterdam Red Light District, Oudekerksplein. A.K.A. The Spanish Corner.
Part of Project 1012 was also the closure and displacements of several coffeeshops (Dutch term for cannabis cafes). Coffeeshop Old Church was one of those shops that was located next to the Old Church on the Oudekerksplein.
Amsterdam Audit Office: Project 1012 failed
Project 1012 changed Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The area has become considerably smaller and offers now things for a wider audience. In other words: more variety in a smaller area. The largest Dutch daily morning newspaper De Telegraaf claimed that Project 1012 costed 108 million euros. One window brothel owner (Charles Geerts) received 25 million euro tax money for selling his 70 window brothels to the City of Amsterdam. The official Amsterdam Audit Office analyzed Project 1012 and concluded that the project failed.
Former Amsterdam Alderman Lodewijk Asscher (Labour Party) in the Red Light District.
“Asscher’s (former alderman in Amsterdam and responsible for Project 1012) gut feeling that everything was wrong in the Red Light District can be right, says De Ridder (Director of the Amsterdam Court of Audit), but Project 1012 has never been able to point it out.” (source)
“The director of the Amsterdam Court of Audit would like to mention some of the successes of Project 1012 – the public space has improved, housing values have risen even faster than in adjacent boroughs – and he disputes that municipal officials have not done their best.” (source)
Amsterdam’s marketing company – formerly known as IAmsterdam, now as Amsterdam & Partners – is partly funded by the local government and was founded in 2013. While, Project 1012 was full in progress and changing the Red Light District, Amsterdam’s marketing company was enormously promoting the city to tourists. Since then, more people visit Amsterdam and more people visit a smaller Red Light District.
Amsterdam Red Light District Visitors
Amsterdam gets 18 million visitors per year, almost half of these visitors come from the Netherlands itself (source). The Red Light District gets 3.1 million people (17% of total) visitors yearly. The Red Light District of Amsterdam is the second most popular activity in the Netherlands. Only De Efteling – an amusement park – gets more visitors, namely more than 5.3 million per year.
Below, the top 13 attractions in the Netherlands. (The Red Light District is not included in this research, partly because Amsterdam Red Light District is an area which can be visited to free, just like the Zaanse Schans – which is included in the list below.)
Top 13 attractions in the Netherlands. (source)
Knowing that Amsterdam Red Light District was visited by 3.1 million people in 2017. It should be second on the list above.
With 14.675 visitors, the busiest day of the year in Amsterdam Red Light District was on Saturday 9 September 2017. This is according to research conducted by the business association Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
The number of visitors in Amsterdam Red Light District per hour in September 2017.
Their research measured the WiFi signal from the mobile phones of visitors on the main street of the Red Light District. Within this system, visitors who passed by several times a day are excluded. They were considered a resident or an employee within the area.
In 2017, 3.1 million people visited the Red Light District.
The least visited days in Amsterdam Red Light District were in November and February – during the low season – as shown in the graph above.
Pedestrian Friendly Streets in Red Light District
This research commissioned by the Dutch Environment Defense shows that from the 20 biggest municipalities in the Netherlands, pedestrians have most space in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. In this area, 60% of all space is designated for pedestrians making it the highest scoring neighbourhood in the Netherlands.
The reasons why pedestrian have so much space in the Red Light District is this: A lot of streets in this area can not be reached by car and many alley’s in this area are for pedestrians only. For example; The Old Church Square (Dutch: Oudekerksplein), Trompettersteeg, Molensteeg, Bethlemesteeg, etc. Cyclists and moped-riders can be fined if they ride here. Also, the Warmoesstraat – one of the main streets – can only be reached by vehicles who are in the possession of a transmitter than lowers an automatic metal pole. For example: the police, ambulances, fire brigade and some transportation companies. This measure creates more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Sex Workers Want To Keep Working in Amsterdam's Red Light District
Posted on: October 1, 2024
Sex Workers in Amsterdam Do Not Want To Work Elsewhere
Sex workers want to stay in Amsterdam Red Light District, says interest group Red Light United run by sex workers.
Sex workers do not want the red light windows to be moved to other parts of Amsterdam. They want to stay where they are, in the current Red Light District area.
90% of 170 Sex Workers Want To Work Amsterdam Red Light District
This is the conclusion of a study done by Red Light United, a new interest group formed by window prostitutes in the Red Light District.
Amsterdam Red Light District has 292 window brothels and approximately 375 sex workers.
Red Light United surveyed 170 of them and concluded that at least 90% of the 170 sex workers want to work in the Red Light District of Amsterdam.
As far as they are concerned, there should be more window brothels in the Red Light District, instead of less.
Red Light United publishes these results in response to the four scenarios that Amsterdam’s mayor Femke Halsema presented today to improve the “unacceptable” situation in the Red Light District.
4 Prostitution Scenario’s In Amsterdam
Sex workers like to have more Amsterdam brothels.
Femke Halsema; Green Left party (GroenLinks) member and Amsterdam’s first female mayor has proposed four different scenario’s for prostitution in Amsterdam:
- The introduction of a display ban; the curtains on the Red Light District will close and sex workers will no longer be visible for the public. The window brothels will be changed into private brothels.
- Window prostitution disappears from the Red Light District and goes to another part of the city.
- A part of the window brothels will be moved to another part in Amsterdam.
- More window brothels in the Red Light District.
“Sex Workers Are People & They Are Entitled To A Workplace”
The mobile numbers of brothel operators are shown on the windows.
Proud, another Dutch sex work organisation, is very skeptical about the mayor’s debate about the future of Amsterdam Red Light District.
“No way in hell!”, thought Foxxy, who’s a sex worker herself, when she read the mayor’s plans
“Sex workers are people and they are entitled to a workplace! Relocating those workplaces is not an option because then the customers will not know where to find the sex workers. Will Halsema also organise bus-trips for them to the western port section in Amsterdam?”
According to Foxxy, sex workers who stand behind the windows in Amsterdam’s Red Light District have consciously opted for this form of sex work.
“We believe that it should remain as it is, on top of that the municipality should make it completely legal for sex workers to work more easily from home.“
Entrepreneurs and brothel-operators in the Red Light District also opt for more window brothels instead of less.
Amsterdam’s most narrow alley has currently nine window brothels.
“I’m not so much in favour of extra windows brothels, but about the spreading out of visitors that results from this,” says Masten Stavast of Agapi, a company that rents out a few dozen window brothels in Amsterdam Red Light District.
“Currently, it’s all happening in an area that’s too small.”
More Window Brothels Decrease Pressure In Alley’s
Cor van Dijk is chairman of a the Red Light District entrepreneurs association.
Cor van Dijk, chairman of the Red Light District entrepreneurs association called ‘Ondernemersvereniging Oudezijds Achterburgwal‘, agrees.
“Many window brothels have been removed because of a gentrification program called Project 1012; the previous Red Light District-approach of the local government to change De Wallen neighborhood.
Those were precisely the window brothels in the alleys, where customers still had a certain anonymity,” he says.
“If more windows brothels are added, that will spread the number of people over the entire area and decreases pressure points in certain alleys.
We do not think there have been more tourists in the Red Light District during the recent years, but the City of Amsterdam just compressed the same number of people into a smaller area.”
Sex Workers Earn Less Due To The Change Of Visitors
Mother and daughter walk having a wonder around in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
The sex workers indicate in research done by Red Light United that they earn less.
According to them, that’s not because of mass tourism, but because of the type of public walking around the Red Light District: backpackers and families with children.
Brothel-operator Stavast is not interested in closed curtains in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, with which the sex workers disappear from the sight of tourists.
“That is not the intention. On the contrary, the ladies earn from tourists who pass by.
Amsterdam Red Light District Social Control Ensures Safer Area
A man negotiates at a window brothel in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
According to Cor van Dijk – chairman of Amsterdam Red Light District Entrepreneurs Association, relocating window brothels to other parts of Amsterdam is not a good option.
“Amsterdam Red Light District and sex work belong to each other.“
According to him, the concentration of sex work in the Red Light District has one great advantage in that there is a lot of social. This increases the safety of sex workers.
“No better control than social control!“
Understanding Intimate Encounters in Holland
In the context of the ongoing discussions about the future of Amsterdam Red Light District, it’s interesting to explore how the dynamics of the sex industry might evolve.
As we consider the preference of sex workers to stay in the district, an exploration of how these changes might affect those looking for a sex date becomes relevant.
Will the demand for such encounters shift with the potential changes in the district’s landscape, or will it remain a cornerstone of Amsterdam’s unique cultural and social fabric?
For a deeper insight into this aspect, learn more about it in our detailed article on sex dating.
(This article was translated from the Amsterdam based daily-newspaper Het Parool)
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13 Amsterdam Red Light District Facts
15x Must See in Amsterdam Red Light District
Decriminalisation Prostitution in the Netherlands
Legalized Prostitution in Amsterdam
Posted on: June 19, 2019
If you further criminalise prostitution, you force the women out of sight from government. Decriminalizing prostitution does the opposite. In this translated article from Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant Tom Kroon talks about the signs between voluntary and forced prostitution and how he as a customer deals with this issue. “As a customer you can do little against exploitation, but you can pay attention and use common sense.”
Legalized Prostitution in the Netherlands
Meet a sex worker visitor
Who: Tom Kroon (54), graphic designer and regular customer of the Amsterdam Red Light District.
The problem: How do you prevent yourself from visiting a prostitute who does forced sex work?
The solution: See sex workers as conversational partners, ask how things are going and watch their eyes. Then you know enough with common sense.
Amsterdam Red Light District Experience
As a child I lived in the Spuistraat in Amsterdam, around the corner from a number of window brothels. Even then I was curious what would happen if I went inside. But I postponed it for a long time. Fifteen years ago, I was just divorced, I still wanted to try.
“That first time was at the Red Light District in Amsterdam. She looked at me with a strict and at the same time friendly look. I found her beautiful: slim, brown hair, nice bathing suit. I swirled, just walked around. Once inside I kept on talking because I was nervous. My twenty minutes were up before I knew it. But she reassured me. “We just start again. You can undress,” she said. I did that well. Then you stand naked against someone who you don’t know at all, who then also undresses. That alone is exciting.
Visiting A Prostitute Instead Of A New BMW
“After that I never stopped. Some people buy a new BMW every three years, I do this. I did try dating again, but then I had to do everything again while I wanted to stay free. Even now that I live in Bergen op Zoom, I still regularly take the train to Amsterdam.”
“Behind the windows you can see if it’s a nice girl before you step inside. At the same time she can also see me before she opens. That has always attracted me, but a lot has changed in the Red Light District in the last ten years. The windows that are still there are much less occupied and many window brothels have been closed.
I find it less lively and less safe now. The women used to sit window to window and watch each other. Now there are islands.”
Decriminalizing Prostitution Means Less Criminals
“Further criminalising prostitution, as the youth Christian movement Exxpose wants with a citizens’ initiative, makes no sense (Exxpose is a Christian organization that’s against decriminalizing prostitution and in favor of the Nordic Prostitution Model). Not only do you force the women out of sight of the government, but customers like myself will no longer visit sex workers either. Then, only the people who know their way in the criminal circuit are left.”
“As a customer you can do little against exploitation, but you can pay attention and use common sense. I always talk with the sex workers, show interest and ask how things are going. Then you also hear where you should and shouldn’t be, who has a pimp and who doesn’t. And I look at their eyes. I’ve sometimes experienced that I was not paying attention and met someone with dead eyes. I then left the brothel without giving a reason.”
No Police Office In Amsterdam’s Red Light District
“If you want to protect prostitutes against human trafficking and exploitation, then you need more good neighbourhood police-officers who are known in the area. But since the police cutbacks, there isn’t even a police office in the Red Light District anymore.
Every day there are different supervisors. They are often not even police officers, but enforcers who are just there to make their hours. You don’t easily build a relationship of trust in that situation, you won’t tell a stranger if something is wrong.”
ALSO DISCOVER:
10 Places For The Best Fries In Amsterdam in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Picture source: Elle.nl
Top 10 Dutch Fries According To Amsterdammers
Crispy, greasy, salty and with a good lick of mayonnaise: some Dutch fries once in a while is never a bad idea! But where can you find the tastiest and best fries in Amsterdam? Readers of Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool massively tipped its editors with their favorite Dutch fries.
Amsterdam East at IJburg
1 | Eiburgh Snacks
Locals say: “The ‘Grandpa’ is peeling by hand everyday.” “Do not expect service or neat decoration, but very good fries. The best fries in Amsterdam”
Eiburgh Snacks says: “At our snackbar, the eighty-year-old Jules from Belgium peels potatoes with a lot of attention and love, which we cut into our fries, and the potatoes are a bit smaller now, so there are a lot of small, crunchy pieces in between. Fries with meat stew are very popular, and the Belgians often find it better than at home.”
Address: Zuiderzeeweg 2
Opening times: daily 11:00-18:45
Coolest looking snack bar in Amsterdam: Eiburgh Snacks. Picture source: Yelp.nl.
Amsterdam North
2 | Pont Neuf
Locals say: “Beautiful golden colour, with Belgian mayonnaise for the purists.” “Homemade, fantastically fried in clean oil.”
Snackbar Pont Neuf says: “My brother and I always say to our employees: you are as good as your last sold fries, so we keep our quality high. We are more of a fries specialist than a snack bar. We bake are own cut fries made from biological Agria potatoes in good quality vegetable oil. And we get a good response: we often hear that people grabbed the ferry just to buy our fries. I always say: regular customers say something about your quality; new customers say something about your growth.”
Address: Buiksloterweg 5
Opening times: daily 10:00-21:00
Pont Neuf is located across the IJ river behind Amsterdam Central Station. Picture source: Twitter.com.
Amsterdam New West
3 | De Patatzaak / Molen van Sloten
Locals say: “Debbie makes great fries!” “Not those large weak Belgian fries, but those crispy fries.”
The Patat shop says: “Belgian fries? Those can’t be made with Dutch potatoes. We use “Bintjes” potatoes, those are just a little sweeter than Agria’s, I like them better, a little less dry. We cut them 10 mm, not too thick, not too thin, baked nice and crispy. We’ve been here for sixteen years, with a nice terrace with a view of the windmill, those are the added bonuses, and the love we put in of course!”
Address: Langsum 5
Opening times: daily 11:30-20:30
A wintery night at De Patatzaak / Molen van Sloten. Picture source: De Patatzaak.
Amsterdam North
4 | Het Smikkelhoekje
Locals say: “Good, crispy fries.” “No-nonsense, the employees are down to earth.”
Snackbar The Smikkelhoekje says: “You can tell us whether you want your fries well done or not, we do not use special potatoes, even a dirty potato can be baked into something really tasteful, so it does not make a difference. Our “patatje oorlog” (war fries; fries with mayonnaise, satay sauce and shredded unions) are the most popular, we also use just ready-to-use satay sauce from Wijcko, which people absolutely love.”
Address: Meeuwenlaan 185
Opening times: Mon – Fri 11:00 – 21:00, Sat 13:00 – 20:00, Sun 13:00 – 23:00
A large terrace at Smikkelhoekje: picture source: Smikkelhoekje.nl.
Amsterdam East
5 | Freddy Fryday
Locals say: “A think-out-of-the-box fries joint.” “Delicious, original toppings” “Best fries in Amsterdam.” “Crispy and fresh.”
Freddy Fryday says: “Every two months our menu changes: then we have other toppings on our fries. they are a kind of kapsalon with pulled pork on it for instance, that’s our most sold type.” We also have ordinary fries with mayo of course. we bake all our fries in expensive oil.”
Address: Linnaeusstraat 36
Opening times: Mon and Tue 17:00-21:00, Wed and Thu 12:00-21:00, Fri and Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun 13:00-21:00
For some creative fries combination svisit Freddy Fryday. Picture source: Freddyfryday.nl.
Amsterdam City Centre
6 | Snackbar Vleminckx
Locals say: “Blessed fresh fries.” “Crispy and tasty inside, you can wake me up at night for them! Delicious!” “Some of the best fries in Amsterdam.”
Vleminckx says: “Our secret? Fresh every day, Freshly cut, freshly prepared, we do it with love. Popular is our patatje oorlog, but the Vleminckx house-sauce and our Belgian mayonnaise are also doing well. We bake real Belgian fries, which start at 16 millimetres, everything that is underneath is French fries.”
Address: Voetboogstraat 33
Opening times: Sun and Mon 12:00-19:00, Tue, Wed, Fri and Sat 11:00-19:00, Thu 11:00-20:00
Expect a line because the Dutch fries from Vleminckx are quite popular. Picture source: Het Parool.
Amsterdam West
7 | Snackbar Zwagers
Locals say: “Baked in the skin, and the peanut sauce is top notch!” “You can moor with your boat close by.” “Homemade, busy and delicious, best fries in Amsterdam”
Zwagers says: “Quality, sustainability and pleasure come first with us, we use a fresh potatoes, delivered by the potato farmer from Amsterdam, and we find it important to use the entire product and try to waste as little as possible. In addition, we sell chicken sate and burgers, which come from the local butcher.”
Address: Bos en Lommerplantsoen 2
Opening times: daily 11:00-20:30
Easy access with your boat at Zwagers. Picture source: Amsterdam-athome.nl.
Amsterdam East
8) Vita’s Friet
Locals say: “Nice to the very bottom of the bag.” “Crispy on the outside, soft inside.” “The big red stall can’t be missed.”
Vita’s Friet says: “We buy dirty potatoes and clean them ourselves. Yes, that is quite a bit of work but you get a lot in return. You taste the pure, Dutch potato. Cleaning goes on all day long. If you turn up at the market around 4:00 pm, you’ll still have fresh fries. How I prepare them? Pre-fry once, bake them once, otherwise the fries will be fat and dry. I often work with Agria’s, but currently with Frieslanders. It all depends on what the farmer has, but after all these years I know exactly which potato needs what.”
Address: Dappermarkt
Opening times: daily 11:00-16:30
Vita’s brings fries to the people. Picture source: Het Parool.
Amsterdam South
9 | Frietsteeg
Locals say: “This is what you do a cycle detour for.” “Sauce is served separately, so the fries remain crispy.” “Best fries in Amsterdam.”
Frietsteeg says: “It can get pretty busy here, especially on Friday, because that’s really “friesday”. But if we have the time we talk with our customers. In Amsterdam old-south there are mostly elderly people who are looking for some contact, so we make a chat. We once started with plastic fries containers, but that really started to bother us. That is why all our trays, small- and big bags are now made from biodegradable material, which feels much better.”
Address: Stadionkade 73
Opening times: daily 12:00-21:00
The award for best looking snackbar building goes to: Friesteeg. Picture source: Pom-magazine.nl.
Amsterdam West
10 | Snackbar Doardi
Locals say: “Crispy, golden brown, lots of crunchy edges and they have a wide choice of sauces” “Delicious” “Worth a detour.” “Best fries in Amsterdam.”
Doardi says: “People can go here for fresh fries and a traditional ice cream. I’m originally icemaker, later I started adding baked fries. For both apply: the quality is in the good raw materials and much care in the preparation of course. The shop is located at the main walk to the Westerpark, you can just sit down at one of the picnic benches on our terrace or take something with you for in the park.”
Address: Van Limburg Stirumstraat 15
Opening times: Fri, Sat and Sun 12:00-21:30, Tue, Wed and Thurs 12:00-21:00
BonTon Best Stripclub in Amsterdam
Posted on: June 10, 2019
New High-End Stripclub in Amsterdam
On the Stadhouderskade in Holland’s capital, behind two black-lacquered doors, there is a new high-end stripclub: BonTon. This is the newest stripclub in Amsterdam and it’s definitely not a faded titty-bar where worn-out strippers who spin endlessly around a sticky pole. Rather the opposite! It’s a chic, dark speakeasy, with red velvet sofas, dark walls and an elegant bar for cocktails.
The golden strip-poles shine in atmospheric light, as if they want to say: put mainly twenty euros in the ladies’ underwear, but keep those loose coins in your pocket.
Minimum age
Good to know: the minimum age for entering a stripclub in Amsterdam is 18.
People Visit BonTon For A Drink & Entertainment
BonTon is the new, exciting adventure of sisters Lotte and Myrthe Graanboom. Lotte was already the owner of sex club LV on the Middenweg in Amsterdam-East and is now taking a softer road with a little family reinforcement. Lotte: “People don’t come to BonTon for sex, but for a drink with entertainment.” Myrthe: “And those are acrobatic shows, sometimes literally with fireworks.”
A Stripclub or Sex Club?
Still, the temperature can rise, during a lap dance for example. A public square in the bar, or upstairs in one of the private rooms (€ 150 for half an hour). Is there nothing sexual there? What if a man suddenly behaves rather boldly after five glasses of champagne?
Myrthe: “The ladies who work for us are tough, you know. They show it immediately if they don’t want something in this stripclub in Amsterdam.”
Sex Is Allowed, But Stripping Is Preferred
Sex is allowed at BonTon though. But since the recent opening men are mainly coming just for the strippers. At BonTon they prefer that too. BonTon opened its doors at the end of April 2019. The club has strip posts and various private rooms with beds and XL baths.
There is also a room with a large shower for Japanese Nuru massages. The room can also be reserved for private occasions. Alone or with small groups. It is a beautiful, neat stripclub with a nice atmosphere where both men and women can experience an exciting and unforgettable evening. This new stripclub in Amsterdam is located next to the Heineken Brewery on the Stadhouderskade.
Prices Stripclub BonTon
✦ Entrance: 50 euro
✦ Champagnes: from 50 euro up to 2.500 euro
✦ Lapdance: >20 euro
✦ Private room: 350 euro
Opening Hours Stripclub BonTon Amsterdam
BonTon is open Thursday’s through Saturday’s from 9:00 pm till 5:00 am. The minimum age is 18 years for men and 21 for women. That is regulated by Dutch law. In case of doubt you must be able to show your ID. This stripclub in Amsterdam expects its visitors to adopt a tolerant and positive attitude in respect of various ethnic groups, gender, religion and cultures present.
TIP: Treat the sex workers with respect.
How To Get To The BonTon Stripclub in Amsterdam?
BonTon is located at an easy to reach location next to the famous Heineken Brewery, on the Stadhouderskade.
By Car, Taxi and Uber:
✦ Address: Stadhouderskade 64 | 1072 AD | Amsterdam
✦ UberX price: from Amsterdam Central Station to BonTon: € 9 – 12.
✦ UberBLACK price: from Amsterdam Central Station to BonTon: € 16 – 20.
By Metro:
From Amsterdam Central Station take line 52 in the direction of Metro Station Zuid. Exit at Vijzelgracht Station. From there it’s a 5 minute walk.
By Tram:
From Amsterdam Central Station: take tram 2, 4, 12 or 24.
✦ For line 2 and 12 exit at stop “Amsterdam Rijksmuseum”. Then it’s a 9 minute walk.
✦ For line 4 and exit at “Amsterdam Frederiksplein”. Then it’s an 11 minute walk.
✦ For line 24 exit at stop “Amsterdam Marie Heinekenplein”. Then it’s a 4 minute walk.
By Night Bus To Stripclub In Amsterdam:
Between 1:00 am and 5:00 am there is a special night bus in Amsterdam that can take you from, or back to Amsterdam’s Central Station. From Amsterdam Central Station take line 284 in the direction of Amstelveen Bus Station. Get off at stop “Ferdinand Bolstraat”. Then it’s a 3 minute walk.
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First 5D Porn Cinema of the World in Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2024
World’s First 5D Porn Cinema in Amsterdam
The 5D Porn Cinema in the Amsterdam Red Light District is a one-of-a-kind experience. As the name suggests, the cinema is designed to give viewers a 5D experience, with each of the five senses being stimulated. The cinema uses special effects to create an immersive environment.
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The A 5D porn cinema is located on the Oudekerksplein (Old Church Square). It’s next to the Oude Kerk – an active protestant church, the Prostitution Information Centre, residential houses, a bunch of window brothels and several bars.
Whether you’re looking for a unique night out or a way to spice up your sex life, the 5D Porn Cinema is definitely worth checking out!
History
It means a comeback of a dying phenomenon. Sex cinema Venus Tempel, which opened its doors as the first sex cinema in Amsterdam in the 1970s, closed in 2009.
The rise of the internet, where sex and porn are available without restrictions and anonymity, made sex cinemas superfluous.
Moreover, they no longer matched the clean-up plans, also known as Project 1012, that the municipality of Amsterdam had in mind to turn the Red Light District into an area that has more to offer than sex.
Famous porn-actress (Kim Holland – middle) opens 5D porn cinema.
What is the 5D Porn Cinema in Amsterdam exactly?
This sex show in Amsterdam is a new initiative of several Red Light District entrepreneurs, including the owner Nathalie Venekamp.
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Kim Holland Quote
Kim Holland, a Dutch porn-actress and producer, has made the short film that will be shown six times per hour.
“It has taken a lot of effort,” she says. “A 5D movie is new to us.” She expects the new 5D porn cinema to be able to compete with the internet. “It’s new, exciting, interactive, and the first porn movie in the world in 5D!”
In addition to the three-dimensional images, five-dimensional films also offer moving chairs and special effects such as smoke, water/bubbles. What this looks like during a porn-movie is left to your imagination, but according to Kim Holland all senses are stimulated.
The new 5D porn cinema in Amsterdam opens at a time when the municipality is trying to reduce the entertainment content in the Red Light District. The municipality of Amsterdam had to grant a permit to these entrepreneurs, says Alderman Udo Kock, because a sex cinema fits within the destination of the building.
However, according to Kim Holland, the new cinema is a special case. “People can go here on their own.”
Inside Amsterdam 5D cinema.
During our Red Light District tours we pass by this exciting attraction as well, which is located in the heart of Amsterdam’s old centre.
Which Dutch celebrities did porn?
Dutch celebrities are no strangers to the world of pornography. In fact, several Dutch celebrities have made careers in the porn industry. One of the most successful Dutch pornstars is Bobbi Eden. She has appeared in over 200 adult films and has won numerous awards for her work. Other Dutch celebrities who have worked in the porn industry include Kim Holland, Dana Dearmond, and Nikki Benz. Ferry Doedens is a Dutch television personality and actor who has also appeared in pornography. Doedens has been open about his work in the adult film industry, and he has said that he enjoys performing. He has also stated that he believes that pornography can be empowering for women.
Only Kim Holland contributed to the making of the 5D Porn Cinema in Amsterdam.
What does porn mean?
porn (noun): sexually explicit material (typically videos or photographs) that is typically viewed in a sexual manner.
The term porn is derived from the Greek word porne, which means prostitute. Pornography has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t until the advent of the internet that it became easily accessible to a wide audience.
Today, porn is big business, with millions of people across the globe viewing it on a regular basis. While some people see porn as harmless entertainment, others believe that it is damaging to both individuals and society as a whole.
Porn can be addictive and lead to distorted views of sex, body image, and relationships. It can also be damaging to the performers involved, who often suffer from mental and physical health problems as a result of their work.
Whether you see porn as harm or fun, there’s no denying that it’s one of the most controversial topics in today’s world.
What is 5D?
5D refers to the five dimensions of space and time. In physics, the three spatial dimensions are usually denoted by x, y, and z, while the two temporal dimensions are denoted by t and u.
5D spacetime is a mathematical model that combines these five dimensions into a single manifold. This model is used to describe the motion of particles and objects in space and time.
It is also used in Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which describes the gravitational force as a curvature of spacetime. In 5D spacetime, gravity is caused by the presence of mass and energy, which distort the fabric of spacetime.
This distortion causes particles and objects to move along curved paths, rather than straight lines. The 5D model of spacetime can also be used to describe other phenomena, such as black holes and the expanding universe.
Tickets 5D Porn Cinema in Amsterdam
E-tickets are sold for 14,99 and can be bought on our website, including a skip-the-line addition:
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Amsterdam Red Light District Tour + 5D Porn Cinema
Tourist Ban In Amsterdam: No More Guided Tours In Red Light District
Posted on: March 27, 2019
Group Tour Tourist Ban In Amsterdam Red Light District
By January 1, 2020, they should be gone from the Amsterdam Red Light District: groups of tourists, shuffling through Amsterdam’s old historical centre during “rush hour”. The executive board of the municipality of Amsterdam considers it “not respectful towards the sex workers”. Alderman Udo Kock thinks it “no longer fits in 2019 to see sex workers as a tourist attraction”. In addition, neighborhood residents, sex workers and entrepreneurs in particular, experience a great deal of nuisance from drunken and disrespectful tourists. The measures must also help against the pressure on the Red Light District. The tourist ban in Amsterdam at this time only applies to guided tours.
“The Red Light District is unique, people need to know more about it”
Elard Tissot from Patot sees a different side to the story. His company has been organizing group tours through the Red Light District since 2014. “I think the Red Light District should remain a tourist attraction, surely everyone should be able to see this neighborhood?” The tourists give him dozens of questions about sex workers, the neighborhood and how brothels can exist alongside daycare centers. “They are surprised about how things are done here, that this is possible. It’s important that tourists keep hearing about this.”says Tissot van Patot.
A review from an Amsterdam-visitor concerning the new measures.
He acknowledges that there is nuisance in the neighbourhood, but he finds that tour groups do not cause this. He believes that the nuisance is caused by pub-crawls and lacking surveillance. Regardless of whose fault the nuisance is, according to Tissot van Patot it would be a shame if the history of the Red Light District could no longer be told.
The Red Light District: Amsterdam’s Historic Center
Tissot van Patot has always had an interest in this neighborhood, which he believes is the historic center of the city. “I was curious about the history of the neighborhood, what kind of people live and work there.” He thoroughly researched that story and now tells the thousands of tourists who walk through the Red Light District area every year.
“It ‘s not that they are all looking at the sex workers with mouths open, but they are interested in the background of the neighborhood and have a lot of respect for the Red Light District and its sex workers,” says Tissot van Patot. “They also want to know everything about the sex workers: for example, about the security, where they come from and especially how it’s possible that this neighborhood can exist and how this can be legal here.”
A Part Of Amsterdam’s Rich history
According to Tissot van Patot, the Red Light District is part of the city of Amsterdam. “The people of Amsterdam see this as a normal neighborhood, this is where Amsterdam originated.” According to the guide, the Red Light District shows a large part of Dutch liberal culture. “This is probably the only place in the world where prostitution is next to faith, where brothels can be found next to daycare centers. This is unique in the world.” And the tourists need to keep hearing about that special story.
Cooperation With The Municipality of Amsterdam Wasn’t Enough
It has been restless in the Red Light District of Amsterdam for some time. For example, local residents, guides and civil servants signed a covenant in 2017. “A gentlemen’s agreement,” Tissot van Patot calls it. “We shook hands and agreed that we would handle the situation in the Red Light District properly”.
First convenant-signatories: City of Amsterdam (incl: Kajsa Ollongren & Boudewijn Oranje), residents, guides and tour operators.
Not everyone adhered to to it, according to Tissot van Patot. This was followed by an exemption with municipal agreements: a permit, introduced on 1st of April 2018. You are currently not allowed to walk around with more than twenty participants. No standing still in certain alleys. Show respect for the sex workers and no taking pictures for example.
Nowadays there are 1600 individuals with a permit to host a Red Light District tour. 12 persons (0.75%) received a fine for breaking the new rules that are part of this permit/exemption. From those 12 individuals, 6 were hosts of pub-crawls. (More data)
According to the municipality of Amsterdam, these rules also weren’t adequate enough. It was decided that there should simply be no more group tours in the Red Light District and they will implement the tourist ban in Amsterdam for tour groups starting on the first of January, 2020.
This interview was originally posted at the Dutch Metro newspaper.
Drug Use In The Netherlands: Facts & Figures
Posted on: January 1, 2024
Drug Use In The Netherlands
Ecstasy is the most popular entertainment drug among young adults. Alcohol and tobacco cause the most deaths from substance use. These are key takeaways from the Dutch National Drug Monitor 2018. The annual report of the National Drug Monitor (NDM) contains trends, figures and facts about the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Various things stand out about drug use in the Netherlands in the report.
The full report on drug use in the Netherlands can be read here (Dutch, PDF).
Almost 1 Million Cannabis Users In The Netherlands
In 2017, 960,000 adults in the Netherlands used cannabis in that year, the same number as in 2015 and 2016. That is around 7,2% of the total Dutch population aged 18 and older. Among young adults aged between 18-24, 2017 usage is the highest at around 25 percent.
THC Content In Dutch Cannabis Has Increased
The average level of THC in Dutch weed remained at the same level in 2018 as in 2017, seen over several years however, an increase can be observed. The most bought (popular) Dutch weed measured an increase from an average of 13,5 percent THC content in 2013 to an average of 16,8 percent in 2018; for weed that was purchased as the “strongest option”, the increase was on average from 15,3 percent in 2014 to 19,5 percent in 2018.
The highest THC content was measured in imported hashish (on average 23,5 percent), more than in previous years (14,9 percent in 2014). In contrast to Dutch weed, imported hashish also contains significant amounts of Cannabidiol (CBD), 8,5 Percent in 2018.
Average Price For Dutch Cannabis
The average price of one gram of the most popular Dutch weed (€ 10,09) did not differ from 2017 (€ 10,10) in 2018, but has risen since 2006; this also applies to the price per gram of the “strongest” weed.
Drug Use In The Netherlands: XTC
The increase in the percentage of ecstasy users between 2009 and 2015 appears to have stopped in 2016 and 2017. Nevertheless, the Netherlands remains a leader in Europe, followed at a distance by the United Kingdom (England and Wales). Use is highest among highly educated, young adults between 20-24 and in (very) urban areas. Ecstasy is still the most important party drug in the Netherlands. The percentage of students aged 12-16 who have experience with ecstasy decreased between 2015 and 2017.
Ecstasy Continues To Increase In Strength In the Netherlands
In 2017, synthetic drugs were generally of high dose and not or less often mixed with other substances. In 2017, an ecstasy pill contained an average of 167 mg MDMA, again more than in previous years. Even nine out of ten pills had a high dose (> 106 mg MDMA).
Cocaine And Amphetamines in The Netherlands
The average percentage of cocaine in cocaine powders increased from 49 percent in 2011 to 68 percent in 2017. The price remains stable; since 2008 it has been an average of around 51 euros per gram. The content of amphetamine in speed powders is stable at an average of 42 percent.
Drug Use In The Netherlands: Ketamine
Ketamine appears to gaining in popularity in the Netherlands. The number ketamine samples that were submitted to the DIMS in 2017 increased. Since 2009 the proportion of registered drug incidents on first aid that involves ketamine has also risen sharply: from 2,9% in 2009 to 8,2% in 2017.
The percentage of last-year users is many times higher among frequent partygoers than in general adult population, although the drug is not really a ‘typical’ party drug.
GHB Relatively Often Leads To Health Incidents
The use of the anesthetic agent GHB is relatively rare nationally and in the general Dutch population. In 2017, 0,4 percent of adults (around 50,000 people) had used GHB in the past year; that is less than ecstasy (2,7 percent), cocaine (1,8 percent), and amphetamine (1,4 percent). However, the number of health incidents with GHB is relatively high and often of serious nature.
Alcohol And Tobacco Use in the Netherlands
The number of smokers in the Netherlands is declining. The decrease is smaller among people with a low level of education than among people with a medium or high level of education. The number of excessive drinkers stayed stable. In contrast to smoking, it’s precisely the higher educated who drink more frequently (9,9 % of adults) compared to people with a low level of education (8,7 %). There are an estimated 1,800 deaths due to alcohol consumption in the Netherlands (source). These are largely attributable to strokes, cancer, diseases of the digestive organs and mental disorders. The estimate takes into account the protective effect of light alcohol consumption on some diseases and mortality. For smoking, the estimated total related number of deaths is 19,500 (source).
Drugs in the Netherlands
Learn more about the Dutch drug policy, Amsterdam’s history and harm-reduction during our interesting Amsterdam Drugs Tour. During this tour our local guides explain the more legal & illegal drugs in Netherlands together with the history, local laws, use and prevention drugs.
MORE INFO >
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10 Drugs Facts in the Netherlands
Amsterdam Tour App For Red Light District
Posted on: January 2, 2019
Explore Red Light District With Amsterdam Tour App
You often hear it; complaints from locals about tours in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Tour groups that block the street. But there is a different way. Just recently an Amsterdam tour app was released that offers visitors a (private) tour in the Red Light District with a virtual guide and 22 experts who give their explanations about the neighbourhood, without street congestion.
This article about our new audio tour app was taken and translated from Amsterdam’s local neighbourhood paper “d’Oude Binnenstad“. A paper made by locals.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District in the summertime.
A New Challenge
The founder of Amsterdam Red Light District Tour studied economics and worked at Tours & Tickets and Groupon. In the meantime he developed an informative comparison website AmsterdamRedLightDistrictTour.com back in 2011. Back then, the site pulled in 3000 unique visitors each month. When he was looking for a new challenge his girlfriend advised him to do more with that website and gave him the idea to specialize in personalized tours.
“It feels like your walking through the neighborhood with a friend”
“It feels like your walking through the neighborhood with a friend”. This is the credit that Tissot van Patot got during a broadcast of Fox News and Yahoo. That was a turning point for the company that he started in 2014. The number of website visitors increased ever since to the current number of 70.000 unique visitors per month.
Listen to stories of 22 experts and see dozens of photos.
Virtual Guide In Amsterdam Tour App
Later on, the idea came up to mind to create a virtual Amsterdam Red Light District tour. ‘I discussed the idea with my father in a café, and he told me to finally right down the ideas that I had in my head.’ Tissot van Patot lays a couple of scribbled bear mats on the table.
‘This is the first concept idea’, he says. ‘Neighborhood stories; flexible; exciting / unique; no big groups; never get lost,” he reads out loud. On another mat, under the heading What do I need?; ‘stories, technology; routes / maps / photos; payment system; sharing ‘. It was the start of the recently launched Red Light District Amsterdam Tour App.
Famous Cafe ‘t Mandje located in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Amsterdam Tour App Got Great Feedback
The business owner did the research himself and wrote the script together with an employee. He was surprised by the enthusiastic reception for his idea. Storytellers worked pro bono. Although a number of companies are mentioned by name, there is no sponsorship or commission, he stresses.
‘And the Amsterdam tour app can also help with the reduction of the number of groups and improving the traffic flow in the Red Light District.’
Amsterdam’s Red Light District main street.
22 Experts In Amsterdam Tour App For Red Light District
With the English Amsterdam tour app you can get a tour of the Red Light District at any time, and as often as you’d like. During the audio tour, the listener walks with Sophie – a (virtual) local guide.
Along the way, she introduces 22 experts, including historian Russell Shorto, Henny Tinga of the Salvation Army, city archaeologist Jerzy Gawronski, Martine and Louise Fokkens (a.k.a. The Old Hookers), a Romanian window prostitute and the founder of the Prostitution Information Center Mariska Majoor. Theodoor van Boven, owner of the Conomerie, and Jan Otten of the Casa Rosso also speak.
Tissot van Patot: ‘It’s about topics that are directly or indirectly linked to the Red Light District, Dutch culture and Amsterdam’s history. All the people that Sophie introduces along the way have a connection with the neighbourhood.’
Amsterdam’s most narrow alley is part of Amsterdam tour app
31 Highlights
The tour has 31 stops. The starting point is the Schreierstoren – the last fortification of the city walls that were erected in 1482. While many people think that the tower owes its name to all the crying women who saw their husbands go to sea, our virtual guide Sophie tells us that ‘schreier’ means a sharp bend in the city wall and that the English researcher Henry Hudson in 1609, at that time in the service of the Dutch East India Company, left here to discover New Amsterdam, later New York.
The Schreierstoren is the starting point of this Amsterdam Tour App.
Sophie provides the listener with historical information and ‘meets’ Patrick – a local policeman – at the Schreierstoren. He tells us that while we are in a safe neighborhood with more than fifty police cameras, we still have to watch out for pickpockets and street dealers. He also presses us to always stay on the sidewalk whilst listening to your headset. Then the tour goes crisscross through the oldest streets of the Red Light District.
Immersive Stories
The stories can also be read and you can continuously see where you are on the map. You don’t have to be afraid of getting lost and can interrupt the tour everywhere; you can also determine the route and order the stops yourself.
At the Old Church, your virtual guide meets sociologist and writer Herman Vuijsje, editor-in-chief of the most exhaustive book on Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Inside Amsterdam’s oldest building: The Old Church.
Herman Vuijsje teaches the listener:
“The Old Church is not only the largest church in Amsterdam, but also because of the limp subsoil, the church was constructed as lightly as possible, literally and figuratively with lots of high pointed windows and as much wood as possible. The building ‘floats’, as it were, on the boggy peat. The building therefore derives its beauty and airiness not from any architectural or theological viewpoint, but just practical considerations.”
Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll
Useful information about soft drugs and hard drugs are also presented to the listener. Drug consultant August de Loor discusses drug policy and the importance of drug testing. De Loor advises, if desired, to purchase an easy-to-use drug testing kit at smart shops, that can clearly indicate what is in the drugs.
Dutch Drugs consultant August de Loor.
Sex Work
In the heart of the Red Light District Sophie calls the British sex historian Dr. Kate Lister. She says: “According to anthropologists, there is no evidence that sex work is the oldest profession in the world.” And she continues: “Nowadays, whore is a loaded word, but in the past it was used for women who stepped outside the usual norms.
hat’s how Jeanne d’Arc was called a whore. The German word ‘horon’ means ‘someone who desires’. According to that explanation we are by definition all whores, because we all desire.” The close to two-hour tour ends at the Zeedijk with Diana van Laar of ‘t Mandje, the famous gay-café of Bet van Beeren.
“Nowadays, whore is a loaded word, but in the past it was used for women who stepped outside the usual norms, said Dr. Kate Lister”
Kate Lister tells more about prostitution in the Amsterdam tour app.
With this unique, educational and fun app you have the best Red Light District experts in your pocket for just 4.99!
GET THE APP >
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Big Amsterdam Alcohol Sign To Inform Drinking Tourists
Posted on: December 13, 2018
Amsterdam Alcohol Sign To Inform Tourists
Amsterdam is using large banners in the Red Light District to inform tourists that drinking alcohol on the streets is not allowed. The banners are placed on – the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal – the most visited streets in the area, next to some bars. ‘0.0% zone’. ‘No alcohol in public space’, is written in English. ’95 euro fine.’ There has been a ban on alcohol in the Red Light District for a few years but alcohol is regularly consumed on the streets. The Amsterdam alcohol sign must ensure that enforcement becomes easier.
Alcohol sign on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal in “De Wallen”.
Amsterdam Alcohol Sign One Of The New Mayor’s Measures
Mayor Halsema – Amsterdam’s first female mayor – is taking new measures to prevent nuisance in the Red Light District. Those who drink in the streets risk a fine of ninety-five euros. Most people do not know that there has been an alcohol ban for years in the Red Light District. ‘Enforcement officers have a very difficult task. They have to tell drunken people what they can and cannot do, while you do not see what is allowed and what isn’t allowed.’ This confusing situation should be clarified through the new measures taken by mayor Halsema.
Amsterdam Alcohol Laws
“We hope that it will bring less violence’, says the mayor.” You see that it’s not allowed, so you do not have to have a discussion about it anymore.” In addition, there are talks with the police to get officers on the spot faster if people misbehave against enforcers.
New Measures After Years Of Complaints By Amsterdammers
According to a spokesperson for the municipality, residents of the Red Light District had complained a lot about public drinking in the streets. The banner is part of a package of measures that the municipality wants to take for the inhabitants. According to the spokesman, the banner will remain in place for a while. ‘It’s not something that will be solved in a day. The campaign will be conducted systematically.’
10 Best Amsterdam Red Light District Bars in 2025
Posted on: January 11, 2025
The Tailor cocktail bar. Picture by: Roï Shiratski
10x Best Amsterdam Red Light District Bars
Avoid bad bars and avoid bad experiences. Discover this useful list with the ten Amsterdam Red Light District bars and cafe’s according to visitors who’ve already been here and left their reviews at Tripadvisor!
1 | The Tailor
First on our list is hotel bar The Tailer of the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. The Tailer actually received the best hotel bar award for 2017. The bar is located on Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam. Online reviewers state that the personnel there have a true passion for their craft and that the bar has a great ambience.
The interieur of The Tailor cocktail bar.
2 | Excalibur Café
If you’re in for some hard rock music the Excalibur Café is a place you should definitely visit. The café also has pool tables at the top floor if you want to do more than drink beer and listen to music.
3 | Belushi’s
A great place to eat some hamburger and have some drinks. The drinks here are better prized compared to other similar bars in the area.
4 | Het Elfde Gebod
A typical Dutch café where you can have a drink and a chat (the music isn’t too loud). The beer lover should definitely check this place out because they have a huge selection of beers. One negative: they don’t serve food.
The cosy and warm interieur of Het Elfde Gebod.
5 | Dirty Nelly’s Inn
Another hotel bar on our list of 10 best red light district bars. This one offers cheap drinks. Located on the Warmoesstraat – in the Red Light District – it’s great place to start off a (party) night in Amsterdam!
6 | Mata Hari
This “bar, restaurant and living” is named after the famous Dutch spy and femme fatale; Mata Hari. Don’t expect any James Bond stuff though, just a good atmosphere, food and drinks at a great location. It’s situated on the main canal of Amsterdam’s Red Light District and has a nice view on the back of the Zeedijk street. Cocktails are delicious here!
The original Mata Hari, not the restaurant though 😉
7 | Winston Kingdom
The Winston Kingdom is a mix between a club and a bar. It’s a great little venue with live music and good dj’s. Winston is located on the oldest street of Amsterdam and it attracts mostly tourists. As one reviewer put it: “The bar might be small but they know how to throw a party.”
8 | Café De Pool
According to many reviewers this is great place for a short stop to eat some food,. The price for a high quality burger with fries is just € 7,50. This is great value for money by Amsterdam standards. The bar also has a good selection of beers.
Great looking and tasting burgers at Café de Pool. Picture by Marta H.
9 | Temple Bar
A great place for (Dutch) drinks and to feel like an Amsterdammer. Besides drinks they also have some finger food. The location of the bar makes it perfect for watching people go by.
10 | Café Remember
A true Dutch parry café that has fair prices for their drinks! The staff is great; expect the DJ to play party music like 90’s cheesy dance music. The bar also has a smoking area so no one needs to go outside whilst having a blast.
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10 Best Amsterdam Christmas Markets
Posted on: December 6, 2018
Picture source: zoover.nl
Does Amsterdam have a Christmas market?
Yes, there are many Amsterdam Christmas markets! So where should you be in December for mulled wine, ice-skating, last minute presents and some cozy Dutch atmosphere? We’ve made a list with the 10 best Amsterdam Christmas markets below:
Christmas Market at Amsterdam’s Museum Square
The monthly Museum Market puts on an extra festive occasion on Sunday the 9th of December. On the market you’ll find over a hundred designers in the field of jewelry, art, fashion, photography and interior. Ideal if you you’re looking for a special Christmas souvenir. You can also go ice-skating here till February 3rd, 2019. Moreover, there’s a huge Christmas tree over here which makes it a great place to take a nice Christmas picture.
Sunday, December 9th (12:00 – 18:00) – one day duration
Location: Museumplein
More info: http://www.museummarket.nl/thehottestdesginers-market-intown
Picture source: kerstmarktuitjes.nl
Christmas Market in Amsterdam City Centre
It’s also party time at sawmill The Otter. During this Christmas market you can take a steam mill lessons course and there is a living nativity scene. There’s also live music and a Christmas market with local entrepreneurs such as Vleesch (meat), Visch, Stadshout and Café Binnenvisser.
Saturday, December 15th (11:00 – 19:00) – one day duration
Location: Gillis van Ledenberchstraat 76
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1624239361208980/
Picture source: studeersnel.nl
Christmas Market at Ruigoord in Amsterdam West
Let’s be honest: the location alone is just perfect. Ruigoord is back with the annual Christmas market. With great food (from, among others, Hot Lightning, Tante Tofu and Dos Chicas), workshops, and activities such as potato beating, making earrings and doing tarot cards. And whilst you’re there: go and have a good time searching for treasure on the market. Who knows, you might come across a special gift!
Saturday, December 15th (12:00 – 18:00)
Sunday, December 16th (12:00 – 18:00) – two days in total
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/378752405995946/
Sissy-Boy Christmas Market in Amsterdam-North
There are two things certain in life: you have a Sissy-Boy market in the summer (Vondelpark) and one winter. This Christmas edition takes place at the Sissy office in Amsterdam North. Expect lots of Christmas balls, Christmas outfits, live music and hot chocolate with whipped cream. In other words: go ahead ad try to come home empty-handed.
Saturday, December 15th (10:00 – 17:00) – one day duration
Location: Aambeeldstraat 34
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1915822428533394/
Vintage at the Sissy-Boy Christmas market. Picture source: eengoedverhaal.nu
Kesmarkt in Amsterdam West
After last year’s success, a new Kesmarkt could of course not fail to come. This year Kesbeke director Oos organizes the Kesfeest, a cozy Christmas market in Bos & Lommer – an area in the western part of Amsterdam. Kesbeke is an Amsterdam family business whose main activity is the production of products such as dill pickles, Amsterdam onions and silver onions. The proceeds of the Kesmarkt will go to a charity located in Amsterdam West and is yet to be determined.
Saturday, December 15th (10:00 – 22:00) – one day duration
Location: Adolf van Nassaustraat 3
More info: https://www.kesbeke.nl/nieuws
Japanese Christmas Market in Amsterdam North
Christmas, but a little different for a change? Then take the ferry to Amsterdam North’s NDSM area because there you can enjoy a Christmas market in Japanese style. This Christmas market is part of the Sushi Festival. Expect Japanese snacks, drinks, Santa Claus and … Pikachu.
Saturday, December 15th (12:00 – 21:00), 8 euros per ticket
Sunday, December 16th (12:00 – 21:00) – two days in total
Location: NDSM Plein 85
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/306462600154813/
Entrance to the Dappermarkt Christmas market. Picture source.
Nostalgic Christmas Market on Amsterdam’s Dappermarkt
On the square between Mauritskade and Pieter Vlamingstraat you can go to a nostalgic Christmas market on Saturday the 15th of December. With drinks, food, music and a carousel for the little ones.
Saturday, December 15th (15:00 – 22:00) – one day duration
Location: Dappermarkt
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2732295153662169/
Funky Xmas Market at Amsterdam’s Westerpark
Do you still need to score gifts? Then you are at the right place at the Amsterdam Christmas markets Funky Xmas on the Westergasterrein. For the eleventh year in a row, the Sunday Market organizes a fine market with many original stalls and gifts.
Sunday, December 16th (12:00 – 18:00) – one day duration
Location: Westergasfabriek
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/454223041651490/
It’s getting funky, at the Funky Xmas market! Picture source: vvv.nl
Amsterdam Christmas Markets: Amstelkwartier
The brand new Amstelkwartier celebrates Christmas with a market full of sustainable and local products. Nice as a gift, or for yourself. With Bettinabakt pies, fresh and smoked fish from Jan Woord from Urk (a fishing village in the central Netherlands), herbal tea from Sean, bags and vintage from Karla Keet. There’s also fire, Koor (choir) aan the Amstel will sing under the heavenly stars and there will be mulled wine.
Thursday, December 20th (16:00 to 21:00) – one day duration
Location: Ouderkerkerdijk (at the white drawbridge)
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1501071390221720/
Scandinavian Christmas Market
How do they celebrate Christmas in Scandinavia? Well, with baking bread and cookies, for example. You can do that during the Scandinavian Christmas market in the Muiderkerk. Creative people are will be at the right address anyway: you also make decorations for ‘jul’, the wheel of the time that turns the year to lighter days.
Friday the 7th December (12:00 – 19:00)
Saturday, December 8 (10:00 am – 5:00 pm) – two days in total
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/scandinavische-kerstmarkt-amsterdam
What is there to do in Amsterdam in December besides the Amsterdam Christmas markets?
Picture source: Amsterdam Light Festival
Besides the regular activities in Holland’s capital, such as taking a canal cruise, going to the best bars, visiting a real Amsterdam coffeeshop, and doing a Red Light District tour with a local guide, there’s also the Amsterdam Light Festival! Take a canal cruise and see the 30 different light artworks stretching over, or standing next to, Amsterdam’s historic canals. All the artworks are specially created for Amsterdam. We’ve also made a list of the 10 most unusual museums which should all be nice and warm inside.
Amsterdam in December. Picture source: Amsterdam Light Festival
Is December a good time to visit Amsterdam?
The city is a lot less busy in December than in the warm summer months so if you don’t like crowds December is your month. This is mainly between the 1st and the 19th of December. Because it’s less, busy hotel and Airbnb rates should also be lower. An added bonus is that you can experience this dazzling historic city with all the beautiful Christmas lights everywhere.
Is it cold in Amsterdam in December?
Yes, it’s quite cold in December! Bring warm clothing with you, including a warm jacket, gloves and some headgear. The average temperature in December is around 4 °C (39 °F).
Others who read this also read Prices in Amsterdam Red Light District and 6 Great Tours in Amsterdam
Prostitute Visitors in Amsterdam Can No Longer Pay By Credit Card
Posted on: November 24, 2018
Sex Workers in Amsterdam Lose Credit Card Payment Option
It’s a safe means of payment and is anti-money-laundering. However, one week ago Amsterdam’s Red Light District credit card payments were no longer an option. The last payment processor has pulled the plug from the payment terminals. “About 30% of all sex workers have such a device, both in the clubs and behind the windows.” says Eric Hamaker, owner of accounting company Red Light Tax. “They’ve been out of operation since the 16th of November”
The British supplier MyPOS has stopped the service because the company doesn’t want to be associated with the sex industry. The company wants to go public on the stock exchange in 2020 and for that reason Citibank advised them to withdraw from the sex industry. It’s a slap in the face of the sex workers in the Red Light District.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District Credit Card Payments More Popular
Payments via credit card have been possible for some time and Red Light District credit card payments are becoming more popular. Foreign customers of the window brothels increasingly want to pay by credit card because they have less cash on them. With credit card payments, financial flows become more transparent and exploitation can be proven more easily. Also, sex workers in Amsterdam feel safer if they don’t have to walk the streets with large sums of cash, according to the trade association for Dutch sex workers PROUD.
Still Plenty of ATM’s in the Red Light District of Amsterdam
The new development brings back the fear in the Red Light District that cash will become the norm again. Those who want to pay with a Dutch bank card can still go to the Red Light District, but international visitors, a large proportion of the customers in the Red Light district, do not have a Dutch bank card. However, there are still plenty of ATM’s in the Red Light District of Amsterdam where one can withdraw cash with their credit card.
Banks Don’t Want The Cash But Won’t Provide A Digital Option
Large amounts of cash have always been the reason why bankers kept the sex industry at a distance. Banks don’t want their financial systems to be used for, among other things, money laundering. For this reason it’s wry that a credit card company does not want to renew contracts with sex workers. Sex workers are now being thrown back to old times. Former prostitute Metje Blaak is clear that the time of a shoebox with cash under the bed must be a thing of the past. “We laundered the money by going to the casino,” she recalls. “We bought casino chips for two hundred guilders but then didn’t not do anything with them. After an hour we left again and delivered the chips back to the cash register. Our money was ‘healthy’, as we called it at the time.”
Legal Sex Work Not A Common Thing
In Amsterdam’s Red Light District it’s legal to start working as a sex worker from the age of 21 onwards. There must be a registration at the Chamber of Commerce and taxes must be paid.
Joints Forbidden In Dutch Coffeeshops
Posted on: November 22, 2018
No More Joints In Coffeeshops In The Netherlands
Smoking tobacco will soon be illegal in Amsterdam coffeeshops. Customers will no longer be allowed to light up joints (Wikpedia: a rolled cannabis cigarette) in coffeeshops with tobacco in them. Paul Blokhuis – politician of the Christian Union serving as Dutch state secretary for Health, Welfare & Sports – has formed an agreement on this together with the participants in the so-called National Prevention Agreement. Participants include companies, civil society organisations and governments all working together to reduce unhealthy behaviour. Blokhuis wants to be consistent and doesn’t want to exclude coffeeshops from the smoking ban that applies to the Dutch hospitality industry and other public places.
Amsterdam’s newspaper Parool on 21 November 2018: Tobacco smoke will also be banned in coffeeshops. Dutch news channel RTL Nieuws: Lighting a joint in a coffeeshop not allowed anymore.
Cannabis coffeeshop The Jolly Joker in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Herbal Mix For Joints In Coffeeshops in the Netherlands
Whoever wants to smoke joints in coffeeshops that contain tobacco must smoke outside or take them home. A joint with a spice/herbal mixture will still be allowed, confirm insiders. Source: Dutch national newspaper AD.
Coffeeshops Voyagers in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Plans To Improve The Health Of The Dutch
The National Prevention Agreement contains several plans to improve the health of the people in the Netherlands. Plans against for instance; overweight and excessive alcohol consumption. The agreement also states that tobacco shops will no longer be permitted to advertise by 2021 and that their smoking products can no longer be visible. These are shops such as Primera and special cigarette sales outlets in supermarkets. An exception will probably be made for real super specialty stores such as cigar shops and pipe tobacco vendors. For them, the advertising ban and a ban on showcasing their products could mean bankruptcy. According to Dutch newspaper Het Parool, more facts on the Prevention Agreement will be presented on Friday November 23rd, 2018.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District canal with some grass.
Total Smoking Ban For Dutch Hospitality Industry In 2022
The Dutch Cabinet previously wanted to ban smoking in cafes within two years with the removal of special smoking rooms from the hospitality industry and regular offices. The Dutch hospitality industry argued for a longer run-off period. According to the newspaper, the complete smoking ban in the hospitality industry will definitively be in force in July 2022.
Price Rise For Cigarettes In The Netherlands
The price of cigarettes will also gradually rise in the coming years, to 10 euros per pack in 2023. However, the Dutch government will first investigate whether this will not lead to more cigarettes being imported from abroad. To prevent this, the Ministry wants to make price agreements with neighboring countries.
10 Questions For Sex Worker Expert Kate Lister
Posted on: January 1, 2024
dr. Kate Lister from Whores of Yore. Picture source: Leeds Trinity University
Whores of Yore Expert About Sex Work
Kate Lister works as a Dr. at Leeds Trinity University but she is more widely known around the world because of her Twitter account @whoresofyore. With Whores of Yore Kate aims to give a voice to the voiceless and to start the needed conversation on the history of sexuality along with the plight of modern sex workers. The Twitter account was started back in 2015 and Kate has since added a great website. She’s also currently working on a new book called “A Curious History of Sex.” With such an awesome resume we couldn’t let the opportunity pass us by to do an interview with Dr. Kate Lister.
1791 sketch by Samuel William Fores showing the difference between first floor and second floor ladies.
Sex History And Education
How did you became so interested in the history of sex and sex work?
Whores of Yore is a project that took me quite by surprise. Unlike most academic research projects that require precision planning, ethical approval, funding and a clear sense of purpose, Whores of Yore snuck up behind me and happy slapped my career. I was researching medieval sexuality when I found a London court record from 1340 of a “notorious strumpets”; Clarice la Claterballock. The wry with in the alias made me laugh. But, beyond being funny, the fact that such names would be adopted said more about sex work in the fourteenth century then many academic texts I have read; there was a real humanity to it. I started the Twitter feed @WhoreofYore to share snapshots of history like that.
“I AM a whore. Find something else to fight about!” Said courtesan Nell Gwyn (1650-1687), to her coachman, who was fighting a man for calling her a whore.
Whores of Yore
What inspired you to start the Whores of Yore Twitter-account and the Whores of Yore website?
I built the Whores of Yore website in the hope it would provide a space that enabled a process of democratisation and facilitate a discussion, rather than a lecture into the study and history of sexuality. I have been extremely lucky in the scope of articles people have wanted to share on the site; authors, academics, archivists, historians, activists and (of course), sex workers have all contributed work around the issue of sexuality and sex work. BASIS Yorkshire (a charity who work with street sex workers and some of the most vulnerable members of the sex work community) have agreed to write a monthly blog about their work, which is a real honour.
I work with the archivist at Delta of Venus, the web’s largest collection of vintage erotica, to bring a selection of historical pornographic images. The purpose of this archive is not to create a goldfish bowl for others to stare into, but to provide a platform and invite people to share their experience and story.
The history of sexuality is placed side by side with sexuality today in the hope we can join up some of those conversations. Shame and stigma are broken down through conversation, and when we listen to one another; I hope that’s what this project can play a part in.
You now have over 160.000 followers on Twitter. Which subjects are the most popular on the account?
Victorian lady.
The Victorian erotic photographs are always very popular. Partly because they left us such an enormous amount of evidence to study, but also because we love to present them as buttoned up, overly starched, table leg hiding prudes, but the truth is that they were as mucky as we are. I love looking at Victorian pornography because the medium is so new, you can really tell they are trying to work out what looks sexy. Today our pornography is so stylised, but Victorian pornography is truly experimental. There are images with stuffed dogs in the shot, people are smiling, body hair is flowing in the breeze and tummies and cellulite are running wild. It’s lovely to look at.
Sex Work Research
Erotic frescoes on the walls of the Lupanar brothel in Pompeii (AD 79.)
You are a board member of the International Sex Work Research Hub. What is it exactly that you do for that organization?
The Sex Work Research Hub connects researchers and academics across a range of universities and disciplines, working on sex work, sex working and sexual exploitation, around the world. We also connect with sex workers, sex work support projects and other stakeholders, such as healthcare providers, lawyers, police, policy makers, educationalists, youth and community workers, to support and develop research that produces new knowledge, critiques dominant discourses on sex work, as well as delivering tangible public benefit and impact. I am also an adviser on digital media and the history of sex work.
Sexual Education For The Youth
In many countries it’s still a taboo to talk about sex. How do you think that countries should deal with sexual education?
Erotic frescoes on the walls of the Lupanar brothel in Pompeii (AD 79.)
We need to talk to each other and we need to talk to our kids. If you’re relying on government censorship to get you out of that tricky conversation, you are letting your children down. A UK NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) report into children watching online pornography directly asked the children participating about the effectiveness of age verification and reported that the children ‘pointed out its limitations’. When asked what intervention would most benefit them, this was the overwhelming response; ‘Whether provided in the classroom, or digitally, young people wanted to be able to find out about sex and relationships and about pornography in ways that were safe, private and credible’.
Do sex workers appreciate the work that you do (with your Twitter account)?
Twitter is a great leveller; your voice is on an equal footing with everyone else, and the feedback is instant. I started getting feedback from followers who were reacting to the material I was posting in ways I could have never predicted. In the beginning, getting daily, uncensored and anonymous feedback about your work is daunting, but follower feedback also made the feed better; it encouraged me to break away from a western focus, include more trans voices and to be braver. But, what changed my research was that Twitter allowed me to engage directly with the sex worker community. Suddenly, history was not a dead story – it was a powerful context to modern debates around sex work and sex workers today. It has changed the way I conduct research, because history isn’t just a story, it’s a heritage. What’s more, it’s not my heritage; it’s the heritage of the sex work community and I am serving them.
Sex Work In Amsterdam
What is your opinion on window sex work, like in Amsterdam?
I would rather see sex work be fully decriminalized in Amsterdam, but as long as the people working in the windows are doing so with full consent and informed choice, then I support that choice.
Legal Sex Work Across The World
Do you think that sex work should be legal everywhere around the world, just like as in the Netherlands? If so; why?
No. I think sex work should be fully decriminalized like in New Zealand and New South Wales. Legalising sex work means the sex trade is still subject to very tight legal restrictions, such as where you can work. Decriminalization removes all legal restrictions around sex work and means sex workers are afforded the same rights and protections as all other workers. Decriminalization affords those in the sex industry the dignity and respect they deserve. It recognises sex work is a choice for many, and creates opportunities to reach and support those who suffer abuse and/or coercion.
In 2003, New Zealand decriminalized sex work in order to support sex workers, not the state, in controlling their work. According to research carried out by the University of Otago, more than 60% of New Zealand sex workers reported feeling empowered to refuse to see certain clients, and 95% said they felt they had rights after decriminalization. In 2014, a New Zealand sex worker took a brothel operator to Human Rights Tribunal, after being sexually harassed – and won her case.
Sex Work Education
What’s the most important thing you’d like to teach people when it comes down to sex work?
A sex worker standing in the doorway of a window brothel in Amsterdam, 1969.
Many people are still panicking about sex work, but it’s worth remembering we have been having this debate for centuries. But, we have come a very long way. We are far more open about sex today. You can buy dildos on the high street, sex clubs are becoming mainstream and we don’t sentence gay people to hard labour or chemical castration! Sex is always going to be an emotive issue as long as people moralise around it and deny sex is a natural and healthy expression. I am a historian of sex work and I can categorically tell you that no attempt to abolish either the selling or buying of sex in the whole of human history has been effective. Not one.
It’s time to listen to sex workers and work with them, rather than pushing abolitionist tactics that don’t work.
The Whores of Yore twitter account.
Amsterdam Red Light District Audio Tour
Why did you decide to work with us on our new audio tour about the history of the Red Light District?
History is a powerful thing. It provides context and can endow marginalised groups with a heritage. Every generation thinks they invented sex, and we too easily forget that issues around sex work are nothing new. In fact, we are having the same conversations around controlling sex work that they were having in Ancient Babylonia. Once you understand that sex work is not going anywhere and has been a part of society as long as there has been money to purchase sex, all the moralising, handwringing and futile attempts at abolishing it seems utterly ridiculous.
Get to know Amsterdam’s Red Light District together with Kate Lister of Whores of Yore
In our brand-new audio tour, 22 experts – like Kate – tell more about their expertise that are directly linked to the Red Light District of Amsterdam. Kate explains (the history of) “the oldest profession in the world”. Our new app also includes the Red Light District police officer, the Fokkens twins, an archeologist, a male and female sex worker, a drug consultant, a historian, founder of world’s first condom shop, the Salvation Army, a sociologist, owner of a peep show, and many other interesting experts who can teach you a lot about Amsterdam’s most fascinating area.
GET THE APP >New Campaign Against Street Dealers Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Street Dealers Amsterdam: A Persistent Problem
Street dealers in Amsterdam remain a persistent problem despite the deployment of police and other measures. In fact, the problem continues to extend even beyond the city center. As is well known, street dealers cause nuisance and feelings of anxiety among residents and entrepreneurs. Tourists are often stuck with inferior, dangerous or completely fake drugs. What is less known is that some of the street dealers intimidate or even steal from tourists during the point of sale.
An information sign at the Nieuwmarkt in Amsterdam.
Fighting Street Dealers Amsterdam By Informing Tourists
Some time ago this was the motivating reason for the Amsterdam coffeeshop (the Dutch term for an cannabis shop) and the smartshop branch to start a campaign to warn tourists about these practices. With flyers, stickers, posters, an informative film and the website www.ignorestreetdealers.com the most basic tips are given plus advice on what to do when tourists get into trouble. That both industries are an effective medium for warning campaigns has been proven by the fact that more and more cities in the Netherlands are taking part in the campaign when they run into similar problems with street dealers.
Activation Event At Leidseplein in Amsterdam
To give the street dealers Amsterdam campaign a new impulse, an activation event was held on Friday the 19th of October at Leidseplein. In addition to an enlarged version of the poster in the middle of the square, an explanation of the fact that more structural measures are needed than just warnings will be given. Street dealers (actors) will try to sell their (fake) drugs to the men and women in the streets. All those who are able to resist their sales methods in the most playful or effective way are eligible for free tickets to a party this Saturday evening (Project Sugar has provided 20 tickets for this).
New Suggestions And Ideas
The neighbourhood director of the Leidseplein and the neighbourhood itself are very positive about the new action. Amsterdam’s City Hall has given the permit and there is support from the coffeeshop union and the smartshop union. Suggestions for new ideas that support the street dealer campaign are coming in from everywhere and can be implemented for a more liveable city center.
Short Interview With Organiser August De Loor
An Interview With A Female Window Brothel Manager in Amsterdam
Posted on: January 9, 2024
Justine le Clercq On The Amsterdam Brothel Business
Back in 2016 it was announced that the Startfoundation – an independent social development company – would start working on setting up the brothel My Red Light in Amsterdam – better known as the ‘municipality brothel’.
This Amsterdam brothel was created at the initiative of the former mayor Eberhard van der Laan, with the assistance of a large number of renowned companies.
The brothel has no one owner, but is a foundation. We did an interview with the current chairwomen Justine le Clercq about the Amsterdam brothel business and the Red Light District.
Justine le Clercq in front of My Red Light – a new Amsterdam brothel.
Who is Justine le Clercq and in what ways are you involved with Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
J (Justine): I have no idea who I am; I hope to have figured it out before I pass away! How did I get involved with the Red Light District? A friend who works in the escort service directed me to it.
And because of my own past, I have always followed the developments. And I’ve always thought; well with my personal experience, if there ever comes a project where it makes sense to use my own expertise and skills, then I will do that, but not just anything.
When the My Red Light Foundation was founded, when they almost opened, they needed a press officer for 5 hours a week. Then I thought that’s okay, because not many people want to be in the media, but I was already in the media because I’m an author and I organize exhibitions and so I was already everywhere in the media, so I’m used to it.
And I have a history of drug addiction and prostitution etc. So I thought, I felt called to it, let me put it that way.
Three weeks later I was chairwoman of the board of an Amsterdam brothel, but that’s the way things go!
For how long did you yourself work in that world as a sex worker?
J: Three years.
Did you work in Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
J: No, I was an addict, which is of course a form of prostitution that isn’t usually practiced in Amsterdam Red Light District. It was in the 1980’s when there was a lot of drug addiction in the Netherlands.
I lived in The Hague – a major city in the Netherlands – and the first 3 years that I was hooked I made ends meet by hustling, which meant stealing stuff.
When I turned 18 I thought to myself that if I got arrested, I’d have a criminal record for the rest of my life. I was very aware of that in one way or another, but I could not stop using drugs either, so I just started doing prostitution the day I turned 18.
Quite shrewd actually!
What made you decide to become a Amsterdam brothel owner?
J: No, that was not a decision. No, absolutely not. I never expected that I would do this. I’m not a career planner anyway, but this would have been complete out of the box thinking.
No, I started at My Red Light for the press officer position, I felt called because not many ladies who’ve worked in the sex industry want their face in the newspaper or on TV.
I’m an easy talker, I was already in the media and I also have the kind of career that I can’t be disappointed anymore. You are a little younger yourself, but you will understand that as you get older it becomes easier to talk about your past.
When I was twenty it was of course a completely different story compared to now.
“I feel obligated towards my own past.”
Yes, it’s a kind of commitment that I feel, I feel obligated towards my own past. That may sound a bit melodramatic, maybe it is, but you have to envision that when you were addicted in the 80’s that a lot of people died.
A lot of people died from aids, a lot of people were destroyed by their past and had no chance to rebuild a good life. I had a chance; I have an exceptionally good life.
Because of this you feel a kind of obligation to do something with it. So I came for the press officer position but when I got there there was actually hardly a board, and a foundation has to have a board.
When we opened it turned out to be a bit of a rudderless foundation. And then I was asked to be chairman of the board. I thought it was just a temporary position; well temporary has now been more than 1.5 years.
And what’s the difference between your Amsterdam brothel and a regular commercial Amsterdam brothel?
J: The most apparent difference is that we don’t make a profit. When we make a profit, then it goes to the foundation and not to the people who work there or the owner.
There is no owner at a foundation, if you have a commercial company and you’ve made a 100, – euro profit, it goes to the owner. At a foundation the money goes to the foundation.
The foundation consists of a board and it’s checked and also obliged to be consulted by all people involved in the foundation. In My Red Light’s case they’re all the sex workers.
They advise and say what they want to do with the money. So together we decide to buy new towels with this 100, – euro. Or are we going to improve the lighting? What do we do with the money? That is the most obvious difference.
“Together we decide … that is the most obvious difference.”
There are of course more differences because if you set up a foundation in the Netherlands you have to determine on paper what goals you want to achieve.
That’s not necessary with a for profit company. The goal of a company is simply to make a profit, if they have other goals then that is nice (if they’re nice goals), but it isn’t necessary.
For a foundation it’s obligated. So we have a number of goals that state that we want to contribute to normalizing and decriminalizing the sex industry.
We want to work together to develop the potential of the women, if they want to go to school, if they want to learn a profession. We want to offer them that opportunity and that they are also more proud of themselves.
We want to encourage them to take good care of themselves and be able work in a beautiful environment. We want to encourage them to lead another life alongside the industry.
You have 14 window in your Amsterdam brothel, how many sex workers are using your windows at the moment?
J: You’ll always have sex workers who have a permanent contract and that usually means that they have a window for 5 or 6 days a week.
Well, if you count then you already have 14 women who work 5 or 6 days. On the other days in the evening you have the freelancers.
These ladies are registered with us, so we have had a conversation with them and they’ve worked with us in the past. We have a total of 135 registered freelancers but we obviously don’t have enough room for 135 persons.
Some ladies have worked with us from the start but there are also a lot who travel around: Somebody leaves at a certain point and another lady replaces her full time spot for a couple of months.
Windows are mainly rented out in the evening. So I assume the 14 sex workers mainly work in the evening. How much do they rent during the day?
J: During the day we have 1 to 3 ladies who work, which is very few.
If you walk in the Red Light District during the day you’ll see that there are very few ladies at work. That’s because there are hardly any customers during the day.
There is so much tourism that showing up as a customer during the day is actually too annoying. When a customer does come by it will be in the evening hours, in the dark.
You see this during the summer months; the ladies start their shifts at a much later time because otherwise it is too light outside.
“So all the brothels are pretty empty at this time (during the day), and that’s a huge loss.”
So all the Amsterdam brothels are pretty empty at this time (during the day), and that’s a huge loss.
It’s also a loss because we only have a small number of issued permits for the sex industry and they are becoming ever more scarce. So there are fewer places for the ladies to work.
We would prefer to rent out our empty rooms to homeworkers during the day. These are ladies who do not want to stand behind a window and do not want to work in a private club but prefer to just rent a room to work in.
That isn’t allowed in the Netherlands, a lady can only work in the licensed sector. So that means a building or a place that has an issued municipality permit.
Amsterdam brothel operators are banned from renting out their rooms to ladies who don’t want to stand behind the window.
And all those sex workers are registered as homeworkers at the Dutch chamber of commerce?
J: No, all sex workers are registered under “remaining services”.
So when you register under “remaining services” then you can still… what is the difference? You go to the chamber of commerce and you register as other services than you should be able to do homework and stand behind a window, right?
J: No, it’s an important difference. A homeworker is not a window sex worker. A homeworker will never stand behind a window.
So it has nothing to do with registration but purely with personal preference?
J: Personal preference. You can do anything in the sex industry and everyone has his or her own preference.
Some like to hang from a pole, whilst others do escort with a hotel stay, another finds the Amsterdam brothel more comfortable or the streets.
Everything has it advantages and disadvantages; it’s a personal consideration. Working from home is forbidden whilst prostitution itself is a legal profession.
A physiotherapist can start a practice from home; a masseur can start a practice from home. Everyone can start a practice from home. I myself and others also work from home.
But for a prostitute this is forbidden. So what can she do? She has to find a workplace that already has a permit. Well, those are the Amsterdam brothel operators, the private clubs or the escort services.
But what if you don’t want one of those three options? What if you just want to work at home? We have everything here in the Red Light District but the windows are empty during the day.
Why not rent out these beautiful rooms that are vacant to ladies who prefer to arrange their own business. It’s a great solution? But to this day the City of Amsterdam makes it impossible because it forbids it.
How does Amsterdam forbid this?
J: The permit of a Amsterdam brothel operator states that a sex worker can only rent a room if the she solicits her customers through the window.
And that’s very strict. It’s even so strict that a sex worker cannot advertise on the Internet because she can only solicit her customers through the window.
And then you think what is this absurdity? This cannot be right? But yes, it’s true. It really is unworkable in the digital age and it’s also unrealistic.
How do sex workers find the “My Red Light” brothel?
J: Well, it’s not a question of advertising (laughter).
Ladies tell each other, of course, which brothels there are and every Amsterdam brothel, every operator, has its advantages and disadvantages.
An advantage could be, for example, the place where the window is located, but there can also be disadvantage: One room is more beautiful than the other room.
There are advantages and disadvantages so ladies look at which operator they want to work with.
“There’s a shortage of window brothels in the Red Light District.”
There’s also the question of available places. They might want to work somewhere but if there are no windows available then it stops and you have to go to another Amsterdam brothel operator.
There’s a shortage of window brothels in the Red Light District. We can say that the ladies who start working with us tend to not want to leave.
That is of course because we have a fantastic Amsterdam brothel! Much better than anyone else (laughter)! We have beautiful rooms and we are very nice, so.
And what kind of screening or preliminary procedure does your Amsterdam brothel have before you rent out a window to a sex worker?
J: Exactly the same as every other Amsterdam brothel. We all follow the same procedures.
Through an introductory meeting which consists of an official section where you have to check all papers and an unofficial part where you, you just want to know who you let enter in your house.
That’s what it comes down to. You cannot ask a too intimate question, of course, that is not the intention at all, but you want to know; gosh you want to rent here, who are you then?
Some important questions are: are you already in the sex industry or not? Because it’s quite something when someone knocks on your door and wants to start. That’s quite a different story.
Have you already stood behind a window? Have you been standing behind a window in a city like Amsterdam or a place like the Red Light District? And then: how is your situation? Are you married do you have children etc.? So here are a few important questions.
“We also try to gauge whether someone is a confident person … you do have to have a certain character to stand behind a window “
We also try to gauge whether someone is a confident person. And you notice that if they have doubts themselves and they work a night that they disappear afterwards.
You have to have real courage and a backbone to stand here. At night there are thousands of people passing by, half of them nice and the other half are totally, well, let’s say removed from any form of decency, and that’s an understatement, so it isn’t easy.
You do have to have certain character to stand behind a window in the Red Light District. And then in the weeks after their first night you try to have a lot of contact to see if things are going well.
What kind of regulations are there for Amsterdam brothel owners like yourself?
J: A LOT (laughs), which ones do you want to hear?
The important ones!
J: We have a lot of rules! And you know what’s so funny, they also make special rules just for us. Amsterdam brothel have been legalised since 2000, and that should have meant that it would have become a normal legal business, but that doesn’t mean that we are treated like it. The hospitality industry also suffers from this, they also have special rules that other entrepreneurs don’t have. Well, we have those hospitality rules too! You have to think of very strict hygiene rules, rules on cooperation and the signaling of suspicions of coercion and human trafficking. That is a very complicated regulation because it’s completely unclear who should do that, how you should do that and what actually has to be reported. Anyway, we do have that obligation. We have all kinds of obligations regarding the staff who work at our office. We have all kinds of obligations, we can’t just do something else with a room. We also rent it out sometimes for an art project or the like, well of course you need all kinds of event permits. We must of course cooperate with the police. There is also regulation and legislation around that. Well do you have some more time? (laughs)
Do the sex workers who rent your window brothels have to be tested for STD’s?
J: No, that isn’t mandatory. No, mandatory testing isn’t possible in the Netherlands either. You can insist, and yes, that’s a nice thing about the Netherlands, the care and service and the standards are so high that everyone does it. We know from other countries and big cities where there is a lot of prostitution that if there isn’t a norm for being very hygienic and getting tested that it gets neglected pretty fast. But here it comes from the government. It’s very good, it’s great. Girls do not have to go anywhere for a test. The care providers of PNG (Prostitution and Health project) just drop by with their suitcases full of things and they just ask; hey, shall we test you? So yes, everyone here gets tested. And of course it’s also true that when you come here as a new foreign sex worker and you see that everyone gets tested, then you are going to do it yourself too.
And how are things going now with My Red Light, your Amsterdam brothel?
J: It has been exciting for us from the start, and that’s actually because on the day of the opening a number of things had gone differently than what was intented on paper. We had a false start as a foundation and as a company. We had to work extra hard, but on the way we encountered even more difficulties. So it actually means that at this moment the Amsterdam brothel My Red Light is fighting to survive every day. What caused the false start? The business plan was based on two sources of income: window brothel rents during the evenings and homeworker rents during the days. We did not get a permit for homeworkers, so half of our income fell away. The second false start was that we’d hired employees for office services, which is mandatory, they call them administrators and you always have to have one administrator present at all times for the 14 windows. A few days before we opened, half of our staff was rejected by the municipality. They weren’t allowed to work for us due to past violations. So we opened with hardly any staff and financially in the red. And that was the start. You can imagine that it has been tough.
What’s your opinion on project 1012 and the closure of window brothels by the City of Amsterdam in the Red Light District?
J: I think it’s an unheard of hypocrisy. Look, that you have a kind of natural political distrust as a citizen seems normal to me, that’s also the field of tension we all act in, as a citizen you have to look critically and they look critically at us. But what I’m experiencing since working at this brothel as chairman of the board, and what I see politicians do over the backs of prostitutes, well I have led a turbulent life and I find these moves that are made by politicians and councils really outrageous. I find it unheard of and that it can all happen with the approval of the right-minded people in the Netherlands who hold key positions within our society or researchers who know perfectly well that the figures they use aren’t correct.
“prostitution touches so many strings with people that they completely go off track.”
In one way or the other, the subject of prostitution touches so many strings with people that they completely go off track. And that this can happen in a fairly restrained country like the Netherlands, where we talk things out, act rationaly and “polder”, that there is a constant secret. Project 1012 is simply a secret agenda. It’s very simple, the goal is the removel of prostitution from the Red Light District. The joke is that it’s completely obvious to everyone but no one speaks of it, those who pronounce it are not heard. That is the game. It’s not easy as a citizen to say to a respected politician that he has a secret agenda. Especially when you’re a sex worker, everyone will just roll their eyes. It seems to be that if you are, or have been a sex worker, you’re a kind of mindless amphibian who can no longer identify things or think, that is the general tenor.
“I’m disappointed in the system, even at this age.”
I’m disappointed in the system, even at this age. And working in the system, it does more with you than I’d orignally thought. The whole board, not only me but also my colleague Marcel Heyman and a third secret board member, really experienced a personal crisis because our picture of humanity and our image of society changed. It sounds very bombastic but I mean it seriously. We’ve had sleepless nights. Before this project we all had three normal and long careers. But now we were suddenly in a place where we saw that a completely different game was played. A game that was impossible to win. I can tell you if you are used to having opertunities and taking them that a guerenteed bad outcome really gives you a stomach ache.
So does project 1012 directly and indirectly ensure that the sex workers who work with you get fewer customers?
J: Of course, everyone knows that. Tourism is so gigantic these days. As a customer you try and go to the prostitute around 11:00, chances are that you have to go in under loud applause from 146 drunken Englishmen, and who wants that? Going to a prostitute is a game of eroticism and sexuality, of the forbidden but still desiring. It’s an intimate game you play from the moment you look at each other, there is a foreplay and a follow-up. You do not want that under the eyes of 1000’s of tourists. But that is not the worst. To then close down more Amsterdam brothel and to state “gosh, how is it that it’s so busy in the Red Light District?!” whilst you’ve just closed down 200 window brothels, forcing the tourists to walk around in a much smaller area. I’m stunned by this, I mean, this would an interesting case for a parliamentary inquiry. How can right-thinking people do this? That they can close down window brothels and then with each other, I’m talking about the Dutch intelligentsia, act surprised about what happens.
I think that when most people think of prostitution, one of the first things that comes to their minds is illegal or forced prostitution. How do you prevent women from being forced to work at your Amsterdam brothel?
J: I can’t, it’s as simple as that. Because a lady can say that she does not work for someone and that she does not hand over her money. I just rent out windows. So when she comes home and she gives her money to someone, I can’t see that. I don’t know if she’s in a very bad situation at home either. So we’re absolutely not free from any compulsion or human trafficking. What we do is that we build a relationship with our renters. This does not mean that we are free of these dangers, but we do see it when a women changes or when something is going on.
“It’s not always the case that if we find that there is coercion, the lady also experiences it as coercion.”
We have contact in such a way with many ladies that at some point they also tell things. In that way we can offer something extra. We can’t drag them out of that situation, of course, because that would mean using force too. And the boundary between coercion and the feeling that you still have a choice is a grey area for the girls. It’s not always the case that if we find that there is coercion, the lady also experiences it as coercion. It’s difficult matter. But we are extremely involved with them and if we signal something, we will talk to them. So that means you’re trying to lower the threshold for them to talk about it.
What do you think should be improved in the Red Light District?
J: There really should be a taskforce. I have enough ideas, no shortage of those for me, but it’s not about my ideas. There are two structural big problems where things went wrong. Number one: the political motives behind 1012 weren’t made public. They started a project where they pretended to have certain goals, but beneath the service the goals were completely different. Two: all the knowledge and skills that are present in the Netherlands weren’t consulted. How is it possible that you start a project without talking to universities where research has been done into tourist flows, how crowds of people move? A lot of research has been done about this subject, also in the other cities in Europe. How is it possible that they never sat at the table? These are the most basic of things. At this time the debate has warped into trench warfare; parties have dug themselves in and there is no sensible conversation to be had. It is beneath all levels.
“the debate has warped into the First World War. Parties have dug themselves in and there is no sensible conversation to be had.”
I see only one solution and that is a taskforce where people are obliged to commit and leave their own standards at the meeting room door and really look at the issues objectively. That starts with what Amsterdam wants with its tourism, and that’s question one. What does the City of Amsterdam want with its residents? Do they want vacancy in the city center or not? In the 1980’s we had vacancies in city center here and you know what happened to the city. Taskforce means that you first lay down a number of basic starting points for the larger urban design goals and from there you descend into how you should carry it out at the micro level. Look, and if they just honestly say we want prostitution gone from the city center, fine, but then we’re going to talk about that and we’re going to see how we can shape that policy. But do not say that you want it and then continuously work against it. I think that residents and entrepreneurs alike have just as much need for transparency. We need transparency a task force and a 15-year plan.
Dutch Drug Gangs Rolling In Billions Of Euros In Profits
Posted on: August 30, 2018
Dutch Drug Gangs Make A Killing
Dutch drug gangs produced at least € 18.9 billion of ecstasy and amphetamine in the Netherlands in 2017. Most probably the actual turnover was significantly higher. These striking numbers come from a new study done by the Dutch Police Academy.
Dutch Drug Gangs Produce More “Value” Than Philips
The € 18.9 billion is higher than the annual turnover of a Dutch company such as Philips and around two times the Dutch defence budget. It can be regarded as the contribution of Dutch drug gangs towards the illegal world economy. A substantial part of that amount – estimated to be around three to five billion euros – goes straight towards the pockets of the Dutch drug gangs themselves, according to the research led by Pieter Tops, professor at Tilburg University.
The researchers have spent a year and a half working on their report, entitled: “waar een klein land groot in kan zijn” (ways in which a small country can be great). They concentrated on the year 2017 and on just the production of a xtc and amphetamines (speed). Cannabis, cocaine and heroin were left out of consideration.
An Inconvenient Truth
The four researchers speak of ‘an inconvenient truth’. More than 600 million grams of amphetamine were produced in the Netherlands in 2017 and nearly one billion ecstasy pills. The Dutch National Police, the Public Prosecution Service and the Brabant-Zeeland Task Force had asked for a documented insight into the scale of the trade. Up to now, there were no such insights. According to the researchers, synthetic drugs are a national problem. A problem with international consequences for the position and image of the Netherlands.
Illegal drug lab discovered in the south of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands: Ideal Location And Business Climate For Criminals
This global top position can be explained by, among other things, the great location and infrastructure of the Netherlands. The Dutch tolerant attitude towards to the use and production of synthetic drugs also plays an major role. There currently is a shortage of investigating officers, as a result the chances of getting caught are small. And the penalties for drug crimes are low. Dutch drug gangs, however, are the root of a great deal of violence in society. According to the researchers, a broad international approach should be top priority for the current and of future Dutch governments.
Dutch Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus.
Dutch Justice Minister Shocked By Figures
According to Minister Ferd Grapperhaus (Justice), the report spells out the seriousness of the drug problem and the role of the Netherlands. He finds it “shocking when you see it all put together like this”. The minister says that he’s aware of the “shameful position” of the Netherlands in the international ranking of drug-producing countries. “I have realized the urgency. We have to put a lot of effort into this, we will do that and we will do it even more strongly.” says the minister, who has made available extra capacity and money to tackle the problem.
Could Amsterdam Drug Dealers Soon Face The Dutch Tax Authorities?
Posted on: August 24, 2018
Will A Tax Levy On Amsterdam Drug Dealers Scare Them Off?
The tax authorities must be used to deal with the criminal profits of Amsterdam drug dealers that roam the city streets. That is what the CDA (Christian Democratic Appeal) wants in Amsterdam and in the Dutch congress. But is it a feasible plan?
1600 Amsterdam Drug Dealers Roam The Streets
Some 1600 street dealers walk around the streets of Amsterdam, according to new figures from the police. These Amsterdam drug dealers cause a lot of inconvenience. If they are caught, they usually get a fine and an area ban, but that doesn’t scare them off. “The punishments are too low”, says party leader Diederik Boomsma of CDA Amsterdam. “Dealers see the fine as a business risk, they laugh at that fine, so we have to think of something else.”
Will the Dutch tax authorities levy 1600 Amsterdam street dealers?
Boomsma, together with Lower House member Pieter Omtzigt, therefore want to make use of the tax authorities. This is already happening with illegal hemp growers in the Netherlands. Boomsma doesn’t know whether it is an effective measure.
A lot of street dealers sell fake drugs. Don’t buy from street dealers!
Abuse Of Taxing Powers
Dutch Lawyer Peter Plasman, who regularly represents drug dealers, calls the CDA plan ‘ridiculous’ and ‘wrong’. He finds the use of the tax authorities in this case ‘an excellent definition of the abuse of powers’. In addition, Plasman doesn’t think that a levy from the taxing authorities will be a deterrent for Amsterdam drug dealers. And, unlike with hemp growers, it is difficult to prove how much a street dealer has earned. “Street dealers are often just runners who give their money directly to the people responsible for the trade. The only way to prove how much such a person earns is to follow him intensively, then you have just one person, which isn’t a realistic option.”
This might look like cocaine but it’s actually baking flour.
No More Party Tourists
Despite all the criticism, Boomsma wants to have a good look at his plan. He wants to recapture the inner city of Amsterdam for civilization. That is why he also wants to tackle the buyers and users of drugs. “We have to get rid of the image of Amsterdam as a city where you go to do things that aren’t allowed in your home country. It isn’t a solution but that shouldn’t discourage us.”
CDA chairman for Amsterdam Diederik Boomsma.
About The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) in Holland
The CDA was formed in 1980 from a merger between three separate Christian political parties. The CDA is conservative and has been a ruling party in most Dutch cabinets since its founding. They currently hold 12,4% of the seats in congress and 16% of the senate. They are the second largest political party for all Dutch municipalities. CDA Amsterdam has just 1 seat out of a total of 45. According to the party leadership, the CDA is in the middle of the political spectrum. Since October 26, 2017, the CDA is again a governing party and is part of the Rutte III cabinet. More information about the CDA can be found here.
This article is a translation of a piece that was originally posted here.
Former Sex Worker & Daughter Present Exhibition in Red Light District of Amsterdam
Posted on: July 20, 2018
The sex worker exhibition Amsterdam is a creation of Mariska Majoor and her daughter Robin and can be seen from the 21st until the 29th of July, 2018. It’s open on all days. It’s accessible free of charge through the coffee bar of the Old Church. We did a short interview with former sex worker and activist Mariska to get an idea on how her new project is going.
What is your sex worker exhibition Amsterdam all about?
Mariska Majoor: The sex worker exhibition Amsterdam is an interim presentation of our project ‘United under a red umbrella’. We are halfway through the project and still have a number of countries to visit. In the Old Church (in a side room that connects to their own coffee bar) we show a number of photos and texts of the first 8 countries that we’ve visited. In these countries we visited sex workers who are fighting for better rights, social acceptance and good working conditions. Things that I’ve always fought for, so a goal that makes me feel very connected.
I really wanted to do something with this and make a book containing stories from sex workers from all over the world about their beforementioned struggles as well as the differences and similarities; it’s an idea that I already had years ago. The title was chosen because a red umbrella symbolizes sex workers’ rights in all countries.
Preparations in the Old Church for the sex worker exhibition Amsterdam.
You’ve done this project and the book together with your daughter, is there a special reason for this?
Mariska Majoor: The idea to do this together with my daughter Robin arose when she started a photography course. I asked her if she wanted to do this project with me and take pictures of the people I was going to interview. It seemed like a great mother / daughter project. Instructive for both and especially because we would speak with so many people who keep their work a secret from their own children. Something I understand very well and that I fortunately never had to do. Robin isn’t a professional photographer but she really loves doing it and I think she makes beautiful pictures.
Putting the final touches on some of the photographs.
How long have you been working on this project?
Mariska Majoor: Our first trip was in October 2017 and our last trip will be in October 2018. We will now travel to India, Thailand, Nigeria and the Dominican Republic. The final presentation will be on 17th of December 2018. The day that calls for an international end to violence against sex workers. By then we will have worked on the project for a year.
You strove to visit 15 different countries, did you succeed?
Mariska Majoor: Our planning ran into a little trouble at the beginning of the year because I got a sudden and very painful hernia. I’ve had surgery in the meantime. Because my personal health leaves a lot to be desired, this joke took half a year and we have to wait and see how it develops in the coming weeks and months. But the next few trips have already been booked so it will probably all be good!
Preparations in the Old Church for the sex worker exhibition Amsterdam.
What was your most impressive experience?
Mariska Majoor: Of course we are not ready yet and to be honest, I think we still have to make the most impressing journeys for us. but we have met wonderful people and heard many stories that are all meaningful, instructive and impress in their own way. What I personally find very intense is that I get confirmation in every country that the biggest problems are caused by government action and a judgmental society.
Sex workers with huge debts to their government because they get multiple fines per night whilst they can’t pay them. Because of these debts they can’t stop working (Romanian street prostitutes). Sex workers who end up in jail because their work is illigal in their country (America), unable to live with their partner because they could be arrested for being their pimp (Italy) and so on. Sex workers fight for their rights everywhere in the world, but also against prejudices and an extremely strong anti-prostitution lobby that ‘frames’ sex work like sexual violence or trafficking and thus silences the individual sex worker. This works the same in every country. It’s very special to experience this and incredibly frustrating.
‘United under a red umbrella.’
Can the Netherlands still learn something from other countries?
Mariska Majoor: Almost every country in the world has had a hard look at the Netherlands to learn from its prostitution policies. The Netherlands has done the best for a long time but is now slowly sliding. It’s still better here than in most other countries so long as the criminalization of customers (in any case) has not yet been introduced and there’s still no license obligation or a new anti-pimp law. The Netherlands could learn from the negative effects that these types of laws have in the countries where they’ve already been introduced.
For example; in almost all the countries whe’ve been to there were sex workers complaining about the lack of safe and good work opportunities. Everything is made impossible by the authorities. They would prefer to work with colleagues but this is not allowed. When they do it anyway they could all be prosicuted for pimping. How bizarre is that? How can they be eachother’s pimp when they share an apartment out of collegial and legitimate safety considerations? That is why they work in unsafe conditions (on the streets or alone in an apartment). The Netherlands can learn a lot from this and do it differently, but instead they follow the policy of influential European politicians who feel a lot more comfortable with “feminist” anti-prostitution laws.
Photoshoot for the new book and sex worker exhibition Amsterdam.
Where did you encounter the worst conditions?
Mariska Majoor: I found the circumstances of Roma sex workers in Hungary very troubling. They are dealing with a racist government and a society that couldn’t care less about them because they are Roma. Prostitution is legal, but the workplaces are not. Great system, right? As a non Roma and high class escort you have quite some opportunities, but as a Roma on the street you are screwed (figuratively speaking). You can’t count on the police when something happens to you. The only sex worker organization that Hungary has does not get a penny from the government, it is precisely in these types of countries that they are so desperately needed.
Mariska Majoor and her daughter Robin.
How do you see, after all the traveling, the acceptance of sex work worldwide?
Mariska Majoor: Ask that one again in December! In any case there still needs a lot of work to be done. But in one country it is better than the other. Finland, for example, is pretty progressive!
Where can we buy or order the book when it comes out?
Mariska Majoor: The book isn’t finished yet, but it will be released in December and will be made available through our formal sponsor: the PG292 (www.pg292.nl). But it will undoubtedly also be available at the Prostitution Information Center (PIC) in the Red Light District.
The sex worker exhibition Amsterdam can be seen until the 29th of July and is open on all days. It’s accessible, free of charge, through the coffee bar of the Old Church. You can follow their project via their Facebook page.
Amsterdam Red Light District Audio Tour In Dutch Press
Posted on: July 18, 2018
Amsterdam Red Light District Audio Tour In The News
Dutch media has reported on our Amsterdam Red Light District Tour. The reason for all the attention is the launch of our new application: Amsterdam Audio Stories. This is the only app that offers an audio tour with 22 experts in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Moreover a virtual guide, GPS and dozens of images are included. Amsterdam Audio Tours can be experienced in the Red Light District or from home as a podcast. Below you’ll find a translation of the articles that appeared in the Dutch newspapers: Het Parool and AD.
Travel App With Virtual Guide & Stories From 22 Experts
Amsterdam Red Light District Tour has created an app that enables tourists to do an audio tour through the Red Light District on their own. The company hopes to do something about the inconvenience caused by tourists entering the area in large groups.
Window brothels in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Secret recordings of the contact between sex worker and client, a look at the prostitutes standing in the narrow Sint Annenstraat and a visit to the Old Church: ‘Where do you find religion, prostitution, drugs and a daycare so close together?’
For € 4.49 (iPhone) or € 4.99 (Android) the Amsterdam Red Light District Audio Tour guides you in two hours along 31 stops, from the Schreierstoren to the Nieuwmarkt. In the Warmoesstraat The virtual tour guide ‘Sophie’ points to ‘the best smart shop in Amsterdam’ and at the Korte Niezelbrug the grandson of FEBO’s founder tells about the automatic.
Dutch papers publish (in Dutch) about our new app.
Dutch Tolerance
During the trip she talks to 22 experts. Jerzy Gawronski, Amsterdam city archaeologist, is introduced as ‘the man who knows everything about the history of the city’. According to Sophie, drug expert August de Loor has ‘seen everything’ and the American writer/ historian Russell Shorto receives praise: ‘Anyone interested in history and liberalism should read his books’. ‘Gedogen’ can’t simply be translated for the American tourist who does not know the middle between equal and unequal. ‘Technically illegal, but officially allowed’ is what the app makes of it.
The Fokkens twin sisters – Holland’s most famous (retired) prostitutes.
Sex Workers Talk About Their Trade
Window prostitute Kasia says she earns around 10,000 euros per month: ‘Most sex workers are their own boss, some have a sort of pimp.’ The twin sisters Fokkens, A.K.A. ‘the Old Hookers’, are also featured. In English, with a heavy Dutch accent, they tell about their 50 year long careers. Careers in which they’ve served cruise ships full. Finally, sex show owner Jan Otten can say something about the last peepshow in the Red Light District. Go there, says the tour guide. Otten agrees with ‘Do that’.
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Others who read this also read Amsterdam Red Light District Prices and The History Of Prostitution In The Netherlands
This Travel App Makes You An Amsterdam Connoisseur (From Home)
Posted on: May 14, 2020
Amsterdam Audio Tours App
Become an Amsterdam connoisseur today! From home or in the Netherlands. Listen to fascinating stories from 22 experts. Learn everything about Holland’s most fascinating area with the Amsterdam Audio Tours app.
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Amsterdam Audio Tours: stories that take you places.
It allows you to experience a GPS-guided tour in the Red Light District independently, affordable and at any time of the day. Amsterdam Audio Tours contains an unique audio tour with stories from 22 experts and a virtual guide. They tell teach you everything you must know about the Red Light District.
Can’t visit Amsterdam? Just download Amsterdam Audio Tours app and listen to all stories at home.
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1 | How It All started
In 2014, we came up with the idea to create Amsterdam Audio Tours. We thought; ‘how cool would it be if people could experience an audio tour in the Red Light District (or at home) in which experts tell the stories themselves?’
In the last few years we learned a lot about the Red Light District and we met a lot of interesting people. People with different backgrounds and different expertises. During our walking tours, our local guides often share their knowledge with tourists.
We wanted to create something in which these experts could share stories directly to you. Real stories, from the best experts!
This is why we created the app Amsterdam Audio Tours. It contains a super interesting audio tour with 22 specialists who share their knowledge that is in some way connected with Amsterdam.
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2 | Virtual Guide & 22 Experts
Amsterdam Audio Tours is hosted by virtual local guide Sophie who is born and raised in the Netherlands. She will show you around in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, tell you everything you need to know and she’ll introduce you to all the best experts. In our brand-new Amsterdam Audio tour, these experts share their knowledge with you so that you really get to know the famous Red Light District.
Meet The Fokkens
Listen to the Fokkens twins who were sex workers for 50 years!
3 | Get Educated By Real Experts
Hear what it is like to be prostitute, learn what “De Wallen” used to be like, get to know the locals, hear more about the Dutch culture, tolerance, Dutch food, sexual education, Amsterdam’s history and whatnot. During your walk together you’ll meet the following 22 people:
✦ Patrick – Amsterdam Red Light District police officer.
✦ Jerzy Gawronski – City archaeologist & professor of maritime at the University of Amsterdam.
✦ Veronique Verschueren – Magic truffle shop owner.
Veronique Verschueren – Director of smartshop Kokopelli.
✦ August de Loor – Drug consultant.
✦ Walther Schoonenberg – Architectural historian.
✦ Russell Shorto – Amsterdam historian.
✦ Dennis de Borst – CEO of FEBO Netherlands.
CEO of FEBO Netherlands.
✦ Birgit Buchner – Director of a hidden Catholic church.
✦ Dr. Kate Lister – Sex work expert & owner of famous Twitter-account Whores of Yore.
Kate Lister – Sex work expert.
✦ Hugo van Heijningen – Founder of Red Light Radio.
✦ Herman Vuijsje – Dutch sociologist & writer.
✦ Mariska Majoor – Sex worker activist.
✦ Elard Tissot – Tour guide.
✦ Theodoor van Boven – Founder of world’s first condom shop.
✦ Kasia – Window prostitute.
✦ Martine & Louise Fokkens – Dutch twin sisters who worked as prostitutes for 50 years.
✦ Jan Otten – Owner of the Amsterdam’s peep show.
Jan Otten – Business owner of the Sex Palace Peep Show
✦ Lyle Muns: local politician and escort in Amsterdam.
✦ Diana van Laar: Owner of Amsterdam most famous gay bar
✦ Piet Middelkoop: Ex police-officer who worked in the Red Light District in the 1980’s.
✦ Henny Tinga: Front woman of the Amsterdam’s Salvation Army.
7 of the 288 window brothels in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
4 | Benefits of Amsterdam Audio Tours App
✦ Independent: This audio tour can be done whenever, wherever. No one else is needed to do this tour.
✦ Unique: This is the only audio tour in Amsterdam that includes all the real experts.
✦ Affordable: This audio tour cost just 4,99 and offers everything you want to learn about Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
✦ Educational: 22 experts who share their knowledge with you.
✦ Modern: This app is the newest way to discover Amsterdam.
✦ Accessible: This audio tour is accessible for all smart phones.
✦ Comprehensive: It includes all subjects that are connected with the Red Light District, Dutch culture and Amsterdam history.
✦ Funny: Our new app is informative but contains many jokes as well.
✦ Exciting: Explore the fascinating Red Light District on your own or sync with friends.
✦ No waiting: for others and no lines.
5 | Highlights
✦ Weepers Tower
✦ Oldest streets of Amsterdam
✦ Amsterdam’s first smart shop
✦ The Salvation Army
✦ Dutch architecture & facade
✦ A hidden Catholic church
✦ The FEBO: Typical Dutch food out of a wall
✦ The Old Church
✦ Window brothels with red & blue lights
✦ A daycare
✦ “Spanish corner”
✦ Red Light Radio
✦ Prostitution Information Centre
✦ Cannabis shops (“coffeeshops”)
One of Amsterdam’s first cannabis shops.
✦ World’s first stock exchange
✦ The Condomerie
✦ A peep show
✦ The Waag & the Nieuwmarkt
✦ Buddhistic Temple
✦ Amsterdam’s first gay-friendly bar
6 | Immersive Audio Tour With Real Experts
Walk alongside the best local and expert narrators and hear all the amazing stories that are part of Amsterdam’s landmarks. With Amsterdam Audio Tours you won’t be shackled to a tour group. It will be on your schedule, at your pass. Your eyes won’t be glued to guide-books or clumsy city maps. Just keep your eyes open and follow Sophie’s lead. You’ll walk down back alleys and beautiful old streets, to where the real heart of the city beats.
Doing the Amsterdam Audio Tours at the Salvation Army.
Bring friends or family if you want and listen together. Sophie takes you to the most special places in the city and tells you the backstories. She shows you the needle in the haystack, you might not otherwise find.
Good to know: You can also experience the virtual tour at home, while listening to all the stories as a podcast.
7 | Download App
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ALSO READ:
15 Things To Do in Amsterdam Red Light District
August de Loor Awarded With Prestigious City Medal
Posted on: June 5, 2018
Amsterdam Drug Consultant August de Loor Gets A Medal
August de Loor started his work on drugs and drug use in the early 1970’s. He was one of the co-founders of the ‘junkie union’ Medical Service Heroine Users (MDHG), the first interest group in the Netherlands by and for hard drugs addicts. Instead of referring heroin users, the MDHG was of the opinion that primary care should be the main focus. “We weren’t going to lock up junkies in prisons or distant clinics, but provide care in the city where they were taken seriously,” states August de Loor in a recent interview with Dutch newspaper Het Parool.
Hinge Point For Dutch Public Opinion On Hard Drugs Users
This ensured low-threshold assistance in an environment familiar to the user. It also changed the image of hard drug users who until then were mainly seen as nuisance to society. In 1986, August de Loor started with the Drugs Advisory Service. As a drugs consultant he was the connection between the local and national government on one hand and the various associations for coffee shops and smart shops on the other.
Drugs Advisory Service in a Dutch Newspaper: “Listen to uncle August”, “Monday morning is rush hour“.
Amsterdam Drug Test
August started the Safe House Campaign in the nineties and became a founder of the test system for drugs at parties and festivals that is still used today. Several initiatives originally launched by August de Loor are still part of Amsterdam’s drug prevention policy.
In the Netherlands, illegal drugs like ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamines can be tested legally on the quality at official drug test places. Companies that offer drug testing service do this to increase the safety for the user by providing them with important information, like the dosis of MDMA in a pill.
The Frans Banninck Cocq Medal
The Frans Banninck Cocq Medal is awarded to people who have dedicated themselves to Amsterdam for at least twelve years. People who’ve made exceptionally great achievements for Amsterdam also get the medal. De Loor received the medal in December from deputy mayor Eric van der Burg.
August de Loor talks to attendees and deputy mayor of Amsterdam on the right-side. Source: F. Roosma
Others who recently received the honorary medal are cabaret artist Jetty Mathurin and Huub van Riel of the Bimhuis. The former director of the Amsterdam zoo Artis, Haig Balian, also received a medal.
August de Loor Explains The Amsterdam Drug Policy
Back in January 2016 we interviewed August, which you can read over here. In the interview Dutch drug policies are discussed and how August got his interest in this subject matter. August de Loor is also featured in our new Amsterdam audio tour in which he tells more about the history of drugs in Amsterdam, drug testing, “coffeeshops” and safe drug use.
10 Questions For Russell Shorto About the History of Amsterdam
Posted on: January 3, 2024
Interview With Russell Shorto
Russell Shorto Bio
Russell Shorto is an American writer, historian and journalist who’s best known for his book Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City and his book on the Dutch origins of New York City: The Island at the Center of the World. If you’re interested in Amsterdam, liberalism, tolerance and the Dutch way of doing things we definitely recommend that you check out these two interesting books. Shorto has received the knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau from the Dutch Queen for strengthening the relationship between the United States and the Netherlands. He lived in Amsterdam for 7 years and currently resides in Cumberland, Maryland in the United States.
Russell Shorto can also be heard in the app Amsterdam Audio Tours. It contains a great audio tour with 22 real experts who share their knowledge of the Red Light District. The GPS-guided app also includes a virtual guide, a transcript and many beautiful pictures.
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What inspired you to write a book dedicated to just the City of Amsterdam?
Russell Shorto: I had written a book about the Dutch founding of New York: i.e., about New Amsterdam. Then I moved to Amsterdam. It seemed a natural progression — writing the prequel. The first book was about what made New York the way it is. The answer, in short, was: Amsterdam. So the second book would be about what made Amsterdam the way it is.
Shorto’s book on the history of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam History
What made Amsterdam such a successful city?
Russell Shorto: Many things, of course. Beginning in the Middle Ages, the Dutch developed an unique approach to free trade. The struggle against water forged a collectivism, a kind of socialism, that gave them the chance to innovate. Where others in Europe were locked in their feudal roles, the Dutch were simultaneously farming, inventing, trading, exploring. This led to an economic dynamism. Amsterdam was part of this. What distinguished it was its location, and the fact that, with the fall of the southern Netherlands in the war with Spain, there was a mass exodus of population from places like Antwerp; many of those people moved to Amsterdam, and brought their wealth and connections and know-how.
Russell Shorto in Amsterdam’s last hidden church, located in the Red Light District.
The Amsterdammers of the late 1500s and early 1600s were very savvy in building on this. To give one example, they encouraged entrepreneurs to found publishing houses, so the city became perhaps the center of European publishing. Publishers attract writers — which means they attract ideas. So Amsterdam became the center of ideas. And Amsterdammers were then the first to learn of these new ideas, and to build on them and profit from them.
Artist impression of the Dutch colony New Amsterdam. Source: NYC Department Of Records.
Dutch Culture
You lived in Amsterdam for 7 years. What things did you enjoy the most?
Russell Shorto: Pretty much everything, except the weather.
How would you describe Dutch people?
Russell Shorto: Frank.
This is what Amsterdam looked like in the year 1538.
Dutch Golden Age
Why do you think the Dutch are so humble about their past (and current) achievements?
Russell Shorto: I guess it’s because the Netherlands is a small country. It’s always been tucked between England, Germany and France. Much of its wealth came from doing business in faraway lands, so I think it’s success was often confusing to other Europeans. The Dutch, historically, wanted to keep a low profile. I remember the first review of my book “Nieuw Amsterdam” in the UK began with this line: “The most Dutch thing about the Dutch contribution to world history is how little you notice it.”
The Netherlands was once a superpower and played a large role in the creation of modern capitalism.
Amsterdam To New York
You also wrote a book about the Dutch influence on US history, can you name a few ways in which Dutch culture had an impact on the U.S?
Russell Shorto: The Dutch brought two innovative things with them to Manhattan: tolerance and free trade. The 17th century was the age of religious intolerance: people were fighting and dying over religion. But the Dutch made religious tolerance a hallmark. And their free trade spawned their empire. If you put those two things together, you get a recipe for New York. It was what made New York distinct. And because New York had such influence, it therefore influenced the rest of America.
In our new audio tour you explain the Dutch “gedogen” policy. Would you prefer the “gedogen” system over the one that is being practised in the United States?
Russell Shorto: I think inherent in “gedogen” is the need to find ways to get along. It’s a system for overcoming strong differences. American society seems to be built on confrontation. The archetypal American confrontation is the gunfight in the Old West. That’s not generally conducive to a healthy society. We are, sadly, still having gunfights today: I mean of course mass gun violence. So yes, it would be great if the US were able to adopt such a policy.
A window brothel for rent in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
What is your personal opinion about legal prostitution, like we have it in the Red Light District of Amsterdam?
Russell Shorto: I guess I’m of two minds. On the one hand, I believe in personal liberty, and in general favor things being legal if they don’t harm others. On the other hand, it seems very difficult to have legalized prostitution and also avoid exploitation.
The American Revolution
Your latest book Revolution Song: A Story of American Freedom was released on the 7th of November 2017 and is about the American Revolution. Does Amsterdam or the Netherlands make a cameo appearance in it?
Russell Shorto: There is actually a substantial Dutch component to the book. The book follows six people who lived through the period of the American Revolution. Two of them have Dutch ancestry. One is Abraham Yates, a shoemaker from Albany, New York. Albany was a very Dutch place in the 18th century; Yates’ mother was Dutch, and he grew up speaking Dutch. As a shoemaker, he settled accounts in Dutch. His account book records things like: “Eeen paar schoenen voor je kind en een paar gelapt.” The other is the Native American leader known as Cornplanter, who played a significant role in the Revolution. His mother was Iroquois, and he was raised Iroquois, but his father was a Dutchman named Johannes Abeel.
Close up of the front cover of Russell Shorto’s latest book: Revolution Song: A Story of American Freedom.
Amsterdam Future Prediction
How do you see the future of Amsterdam?
Russell Shorto: As I see it, Amsterdam is working very hard at positioning itself to embrace the big issues: climate change, the digital future, sustainability. I don’t see many American cities working with the same kind of singleminded purpose. In that sense, it’s being very smart. Of course, what happens to Amsterdam is competely dependent on wider events in Europe.
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We made an unique travel app that guides you through Amsterdam’s Red Light District with an audio tour. In it 22 experts, including Russell Shorto, and locals with a deep connection to the area will teach you everything about the oldest and most infamous part of Amsterdam.
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Interview With CEO FEBO Netherlands: Dennis Borst
Posted on: January 1, 2025
FEBO Netherlands: Typical Dutch Food Out Of A Wall
10 Questions For The CEO of FEBO Netherlands
Dennis Borst (in picture above) is the current managing director of FEBO Netherlands. He’s also the grandson of Johan de Borst (1919 – 2008), the founder of the FEBO.
The restaurant chain was originally just a bakery named “Maison FEBO” after the Ferdinand Bolstraat in Amsterdam. Since then the Dutch concept has changed and the name has been shortened to just “FEBO”, but the quality remains. We did a short interview with him about Holland’s most loved walk-up restaurant.
1 | How would you describe the FEBO to foreigners?
The FEBO at Leidsestraat Amsterdam back in 1987.
FEBO is the largest confectioner in the Netherlands. Every day FEBO Netherlands makes its snacks fresh in the kitchen. Everyone knows FEBO of the automatic. Take a snack from the wall. This Dutch heritage is strictly guarded by the FEBO family.
The FEBO nowadays at the Leidsestraat in Amsterdam.
2 | The “kroket” is an original Dutch snack. What are its ingredients?
We make a fresh broth from Dutch beef. In grandfather’s fashion we make a creamy ragout that serves as a filling for our delicious croquettes.
3 | What was the favourite FEBO snack of famous football player Johan Cruyff?
Johan Cruijff often visited the two branches at Amsterdam’s Stadionplein. The FEBO and FEBO Olympia, his favourite snacks were the sandwich special and the sandwich “halfom”. The halfom being his true favourite. (Editor’s note: a sandwich “halfom” is a typical Dutch snack consisting of salted meat and cooked liver, with or without bacon. The name “halfom”comes from “half-to-half” sandwich, i.e. half-baked with two types of meat.)
4 | What type of snack is the vega grill-burger?
The VEGA Grillburger is the vegetarian version of our 40-year-old hero the Grillburger. Just as tasty but without the meat.
5 | Do you plan on releasing any more surprising new Dutch snacks in the future?
We are working hard to further expand our vegetarian assortment. Soon we will also come up with surprising combinations for our famous FEBO ice cream.
6 | Not too long ago, FEBO Netherlands had a floating “sail through” restaurant in the canals. What was the reason for this and will it someday return to Amsterdam?
On the occasion of our 75th anniversary, we treated the whole City of Amsterdam to free party croquettes. Who knows, maybe it will return someday. It was a big success! Even on the water, FEBO is extremely popular.
7 | How many FEBO’s do you have in the Netherlands?
FEBO Netherlands currently has 75 branches.
8 | What is the most popular (best) snack of the FEBO?
The Kroket and the Grillburger are our absolute heroes. But right on their heels are our French fries, chicken, milkshakes and ice cream.
9 | In what ways is FEBO adapting to the new healthy food trend?
We monitor our 77 year old family recipes and ensure that there is less salt in them and we fry responsibly. We do not serve alcohol and promote the drinking of water.
10 | Why did you decide to work with us our brand new audio tour about Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
De Wallen (which is the Dutch name for Amsterdam’s Red Light District) forms an important part of the history of Amsterdam. And wherever our guests visit Amsterdam you will always find a FEBO. We are proud of our FEBO in the Red Light District. Didn’t you just get hungry spontaniously during this interview?
Learn more about FEBO Netherlands, Dutch culture & Amsterdam during our Red Light District tour. With the app Amsterdam Audio Tours you get stories from 22 different experts (including FEBO’s CEO) who share their expertise about Holland’s capital.
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15 Fun Things To Do in Amsterdam Red Light District
Amsterdam Escape Room Best of Europe
Posted on: January 13, 2024
Amsterdam Escape Room Sherlocked
What is an escape room?
An escape room is a physical adventure game in which players are locked in a room and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles and escape within a set time limit. The games are designed for groups of two to six people and usually last around 60 minutes. Escape rooms first became popular in Asia in the early 2010s, and they have since spread to other parts of the world. Although some escape rooms are considered to be horror-themed, most are designed for family fun and team building. Many businesses now use escape rooms as a way to promote team bonding and communication.
Looking to add a little exitment to your trip to Amsterdam? Always wanted to experience a real life video game or Ocean’s Eleven heist? This Amsterdam escape room is one of the newest additions to the Red Light District. It might be just be the group activity for you!
Escape rooms are physical adventure games in which the players must solve puzzels and riddles using clues, hints and deception to finish the game in time. These escape rooms rank as some of the best in the world! They will put your problem-solving, observational and communication skills to the test like no other.
Sherlocked Escape Room Amsterdam
At Sherlocked you get to choose between two Amsterdam Escape Rooms: The Vault and The Architect. Both rooms are of world class quality and detailed in the highest way possible. Each prop is handmade to perfectly fit into the aesthetics and functions of the room. It all fits in perfectly with the stories that accompany both unique rooms. Sherlocked describes the puzzles in the room as “age-independent” but that the rooms might be tricky without the insights of an adult.
Requirements
The minimum age requirement is 14+ for groups without adults. Both Escape Rooms require a minimum of three people for the best gameplay experience and allow for a maximum of 6 players per game. The Vault is the most difficult of the two, so if your new to Escape Room games it’s perhaps best to start off with The Architect Escape Room.
Amsterdam Escape Room Location
The escape rooms are located in the heart of Amsterdam at a very special place, hidden in the catacombs of the Beurs van Berlage. This is the former Dutch stock exchange constructed between 1896 and 1903. This building has a rich history and has even become a Dutch national monument. De Beurs van Berlage is a 5 minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station and also just a 5 minute walk from Dam Square; Amsterdam’s main square.
Amsterdam Escape Room Games: The Vault & The Architect
Sherlocked has two different escape rooms for you to play in. A tremendous amount of effort has been put into both rooms to create the most realistic and engrossing gameplay! Truly unique experiences.
The Vault Escape Room
In the Vault you’ll have to break into Amsterdam’s toughest security vault. You and your team of players will have to turn into highly skilled burglars. The design of the space dates back over 90 years with antique vaults, but be warned: the security system is high tech. Your teams mission: penetrate the vault complex, disable all security systems, steal the prized object and get out as soon as possible!
The Architect Escape Room
Hidden in the underground of the Beurs van Berlage stands a rooms that has remained untouched for 94 years. It’s believed to have been the room of the architect of the building: H.P. Berlage. Rumour has it that Berlage used to be one of the highest ranking members of a secretive society called “the Crossed Keys.” This secretive group has guarded the world’s most potent secrets until Berlage died back in 1934. Not a single soul has heard of the Society or its secrets ever since. The last traces of the secret society might lay hidden inside this newly discovered room, and this is where your team is needed for help!
Amsterdam Escape Room TripAdvisor Reviews
“Best Escape room in Amsterdam and probably all of Europe! So much thought has gone into these experiences coming from exceptionally creative, clever people. We did a few team events here and it brought out a fun competitive spirit in the team. The guys who usually win everything came in last. Really, truly a lot of fun and a not to be missed experience if you are spending a few days in Amsterdam.”
“Architect Challenges & Delights! We were lucky enough to book the Architect escape room during our visit. We were surprised, delighted and challenged, and thoroughly enjoyed the clever puzzles and historical location. Would definitely recommend—great way to bring a group together!”
“Still can’t get over how amazing this was – I didn’t realise escape-type experiences could even be this immersive! They make it like you’re starring in your own Mission Impossible film, so it’s not just about solving puzzles but also “fooling” the staff and cooperating with mission control (they all do a great job of staying in character!). Lots of fun, very exciting, would definitely recommend!”
The Best Amsterdam Group Activity
The prices for the Amsterdam Escape Room range between € 149,- and € 159 depending on the room, time and date of your reservation. Looking for a real and fun challenge with your friends, family or colleagues? Then you should definitely book this activity. You can make your Amsterdam Escape Room reservation here.
