Amsterdam's Prostitutes Demonstrate Against Sex Doll Brothels
Posted on: April 1, 2018
Amsterdam’s Prostitutes Demonstrate Against Sex Doll Brothels
Over 200 sex workers and sympathizers are protesting in Amsterdam against the opening of more Red Light District brothels with just real sex dolls. From the Oudekerksplein, located in the heart of the Red Light District, they walked to city hall, to offer the local mayor a petition. Sex doll specific brothels have been popping up all over the Red Light District in Amsterdam. There are already 10 window brothels that only offer so called “real doll” services for male and female customers. 15 more of such window brothels are planned to open next month in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Amsterdam Red Light District Best Prostitutes
According to TROTS, the Dutch association for sex workers who organise the demonstration, up to 30 sex workers have lost their jobs due to the newly arrived sculpted competition. “Our women simply can’t work 24/7 and won’t do everything that the customers demands.” Red Light District brothels with sex dolls also offer their services at a far lower rate, thus undercutting the sex workers who work in the area. The sex doll brothels can charge less because dolls are cheap to maintain, the brothels don’t need to invest in security measures and they pay lower rents because of lower insurance costs. Because of a loophole in the current Dutch laws, sex doll brothels can also stay open 24/7 whilst the brothels with actual women don’t have this option.
Picture source: ANP
Red Light District Brothels in Amsterdam
“Sexuality should be about human interaction and emotion, not automation and a factory line. Prostitution is an age-old tradition in Amsterdam that started around the Old Church” states TROTS in the petition. “Human prostitution is inextricably linked to the Red Light District, deeply rooted in the social structure of the area and part of the open-mindness of the Dutch. It makes the area a central part of the Amsterdam and Dutch cultural heritage. Throwing that all away in favor of sex dolls and automation would be a disgrace.”
Picture source: ANP
Amsterdam Brothel Owner With Sex Robots For Women
Eena Pril, a brothel-owner, owns a few Red Light District brothels and recently invested in seven male sex doll robots for her predominately female clients. “I noticed the need for robot-prostitutes when I asked women around me if they’d be interested in this. One can hardly distinguish the difference between robots and real men. The robot-prostitutes perform every given command and understand English, Spanish and Dutch.
Celebrity Robot Prostitutes
Three of the popular sex-robots closely resemble famous male stars Brad Pitt, Leonado di Caprio and Peter André. Their erotic services cost 25 euro per 15 minutes, a fixed price. Eena Pril often gets positive responses from her clients via anonymous Telegram messages, she reads a few: “OMG, Brad was heaven! Finally, a man who gets what I want!” and “I loved it when Peter said that I’m a mysterious girl”
April fools! Or as the Dutch would say it: “1 april, kikker in je bil”. Literally translated: 1 April, a frog in your butt.
Mandatory Permit for Tour Guides in Amsterdam
Posted on: March 13, 2018
New Permit For Guides In Amsterdam Red Light District
(updated on April 02, 2018)
From the 1st of April 2018, all tour guides who work in Amsterdam’s Red Light District will need to have a permit from the City of Amsterdam. This has been decided by the local government. We have been informed about this via several meetings and e-mails from the City of Amsterdam. Tour guides have been able to apply for the new permit for guides in Amsterdam since yesterday (12th of March 2018) 5 pm. After applying for the new permit it will take about a week before the permit is sent to the tour guides via the postal services. All guides will need to have the permit before the 1 April 2018.
The City of Amsterdam, together with other stakeholders, hosted an “Amsterdam Tour Guide Afternoon” in de Bazel on the 13th of March. The goal of the gathering is to give a clear picture of the new permit for guides in Amsterdam. During the afternoon, the City of Amsterdam, tour operators (including us), tour guides and organizers talk to each-other about current developments and changes.
Mandatory Permit For Guides In Amsterdam: The Costs
The cost for a single guide permit is 111,40 euros. The permit will be valid for the period starting from 1-4-2018 through to 1-1-2020. The permit is personal and guide bound. The guide must be in possession of the permit if he provides a guided tour in the area. Local enforcement and police officers can ask for this permit and it must be presented.
What Lead To The Introduction Of the Permitting System for Tour Guides?
Tourism and guided tours have been increasing in the Red Light District, locally known as “De Wallen”, leading to crowdedness and congestion in certain areas at certain times and in certain periodes of the year. The two major reasons for the increase in tourism in Amsterdam’s Red Light District can be attributed the local government. In 2007 Amsterdam started with Project 1012 with the aim of “cleaning up” the Red Light District. This lead to the closure of many window brothels thus reducing the size of the Red Light District. At the same time the City of Amsterdam invested heavily into international tourism in a response to the financial crisis and Amsterdam became a popular destination. Fast forward to 2018 and there are far more tourists in Amsterdam than before. Those tourists want to see the now much smaller Red Light District.
Some Tour Operators in Amsterdam Didn’t Agree To A Voluntarily Solution
To get a grip on the issue the City of Amsterdam first tried to get all the tour operators to voluntarily agree to new rules for guided tours in the Red Light District. Our company voluntarily signed that covenant back in April 2017.
Our tour company together with the City of Amsterdam and other stake-holders presenting the Red Light District Convenant.
However up-to 60% of the international and national tour operators didn’t take part in Amsterdam’s Red Light District Convenant, like Sandemans New Europe Tours. Some tour operators in Amsterdam bluntly stated that would wait for the law to be changed or else they wouldn’t change their daily operation. They didn’t want to decrease the size of their groups voluntarily, even while residents and prostitutes have been complaining. For this reason the City of Amsterdam has now introduced the new permit system to get a grip on all guided tours in the Red Light District area, including those who didn’t want to sign the convenant.
New Permit For Tour Guides In Amsterdam With Stricter Rules
All guides in the Red Light District will have to get a permit from the City of Amsterdam starting April 1st, 2018. Tour companies and guides will have to adhere to stricter rules set forth by the City of Amsterdam. The new permit for guides in Amsterdam is introduced to alleviate the city bustle within the Red Light District. Guides guiding groups of more than five people will need the permit. This includes new rules: do not dwell at busy places, respect the residents, stand with your back to prostitutes and do not take pictures them, no alcohol, no shouting and no more than twenty people per tour group. The new permit applies to all tours, so also for the pub-crawls, the tours via Segway and tandem bicycle.
Three Strikes You’re Out Policy Implemented
The municipality will deploy extra enforcers to check whether the guides are complying with the new rules. In case of three violations the guide loses his or her permit for guides in Amsterdam. When a self employed guide breaks the new rules he or she will have to pay a fine of 190,- euros. If the guide works for a company that company will have to pay a fine of 950,- euros. The permit system for tours in Amsterdam’s Red Light District gives the municipality the power to pick out the bad apples.
Key Takeaways From The Amsterdam Tour Guide Afternoon
- The new rules will be introduced in the month of April starting April 1st. In the first month guides will only get a warning if they break the rules.
- The new rules apply to everyone equally. This includes foreign tour guides/ groups.
- Foreign tour guides/ groups who aren’t up-to-date about the new rules and who enter the Red Light District area with groups larger than 20 persons will have their tours ended by enforcers.
- Tour operaters will get a single direct contact within the local government to address any problems that occur due to the new rules
As a signer of the at first voluntary Red Light District Covenant, our company was also invited today for the Amsterdam Tour Guide Afternoon. We were given the opportunity to be one of the first tour companies to receive the new permits for its guides.
We Received The Red Light District Permits The Government
All our tour guides have received the new obligatory permits from the City of Amsterdam. These official documents are mandated by the local government and, starting April 1st 2018, they are required to able to lead tour groups through the Red Light District. At our tour company we are very proud to have received these permits for all our local guides.
Amsterdam Red Light District Documentary From BNN
Posted on: March 1, 2018
New Popular Amsterdam Red Light District Documentary
Dutch TV broadcaster BNN recently made a very interesting Amsterdam Red Light District Documentary. The documentary makers interviewed prostitutes, residents, brothel owners, brothel cleaners, tourists, strippers, local authorities, our tour company owner and many other experts. The production team contacted us and asked if they could join one of our Red Light District tours to get a better understanding of “De Wallen”. Our company owner hosted the tour for the film crew and 10 tourists. Afterwards, the owner and the tourists were interviewed by famous Dutch presenter Fillemon Wesselink.
Our Red Light District tour group in front of world’s first condom shop.
The Amsterdam Red Light District Documentary became very popular in the Netherlands and was viewed by almost 2 million people. Holland’s capital has been in the Dutch news lately because of increased popularity & tourism and its accompanying issues that have mostly to do with crowdedness and congestion in certain areas. These issues are a direct result of the government closing down many window brothels & coffeeshops, as part of Project 1012, and thus shrinking the Red Light District area. Since the financial crisis, the City of Amsterdam also invested heavily into tourism, international marketing and founded IAmsterdam.com – its city marketing organization. The investments of the municipality also led to a big increase in the number of visitors to the city.
Amsterdam Red Light District Rules: The Convenant
Our company voluntarily signed a covenant back in April 2017, together with around 35% of all other tour operators, and the City of Amsterdam. The convenant was a co-initiative from the local government and was intended to improve the livability of the area for everyone in the Red Light District. By signing the convenant tour operators agreed to certain rules like: shrinking their groups to 20 persons, not hosting tours after 11 pm, no longer standing still at certain busy spots, etc. Our groups also stay clear of certain shop entrances. We did this to improve the flow-through of people in the area.
60% of Tour Operators In Amsterdam Didn’t Care About Red Light District Rules
However, >60% of the (international and national) tour operators didn’t want to take part in the convenant. They didn’t want to improve Amsterdam’s Red Light District voluntarily. They didn’t seem to care about the complaints of residents, prostitutes and entrepreneurs. One of those tour operators that refused to sign the covenant of the City of Amsterdam in April 2017 was Sandemans Europe Tours. Sandemans made it clear from the start that they would only change their ways when they would really have to; when the local government actually changes the law in Amsterdam.
New Red Light District Laws For Tour Operators In Amsterdam
The City of Amsterdam has now decided that the problems won’t be solved on a voluntary basis. The terms contained in the orignally voluntary covenant have now been implemented into law.
License For Tour Guides In Amsterdam’s Red Light District
Starting April 2018 tour groups will only be allowed to have a maximum number of 20 people. All tour guides will have to get a license from the City of Amsterdam. When a guide breaks the rules three times, it will lead to a loss of his or her license to guide. Police and local government enforcers in Amsterdam will see to it that everybody lives up to these new Red Light District rules. Our company already agreed to these new measures voluntarily so we fully support this new approach. We have the utmost respect for the Red Light District, the sex workers and all of the inhabitants. Hopefully, the new laws will solve the current issues.
For more info on the current situation in the Red Light District you can read the interview that our company owner did with BNN. The four-part Amsterdam Red Light District documentary can be viewed here. The Amsterdam Red Light District documentary aired its first episode on the 2nd of November 2017. Elard’s interview can be found in part two of the series.
Our company owner: Elard, being interviewed for the Amsterdam Red Light District Documentary.
Amsterdam Red Light District Documentary Interview With Tour Company Owner:
F (Filemon, presenter): A lot of prostitutes experience hindrance from tourists that take their pictures. Does your company do anything about that?
E (Elard, company owner): Yes, of course. At the start of every tour our guests are told that it’s forbidden to take pictures of the prostitutes. We always tell them that the prostitutes often lead double lives. They often don’t tell their friends and family about their work here and that this is probably the main reason why they don’t want to be photographed.
F: It’s becoming ever more busy in the Red Light District, do you notice this yourself as well?
E: Yes, I’ve been doing this for several years now and I do notice that the area is becoming more crowded. I can’t deny this.
F: Your company is of course a part of this.
E: Exactly. From the start our company has always been doing these tours with a maximum of 25 persons, which we recently decreased to 20 in consultation with the municipal government. Twenty is now our maximum tour group size and we will stick to the agreement.
F: Does everybody comply with this?
E: No, definitely not. There are many tour operators, predominately from abroad, who continually walk with groups of up to 50 persons and with just one guide. That screws up the neighborhood. There are around 20 to 30 operators that do stick to the rules, but 200 to 300 tour operators that don’t.
Should There Be Stricter Amsterdam Red Light District Rules?
F: Should there be stricter regulations?
E: Yes, I do think so. I’ve signed the covenant for my company with the City of Amsterdam, but if you break that agreement you won’t get a fine or lose your permit because those don’t exist.
F: So the covenant doesn’t have teeth?
E: No, I don’t think so.
Elard guides the tour group through the Red Light District, locally known as “De Wallen”.
What Led To The New Amsterdam Red Light District Rules?
F: Has it also become busier because a number of window brothels have been closed down?
E: Yes, I believe that to be the case. The area used to be more spread out. I think the blame can also be laid with the City of Amsterdam who’s been responsible for the closure of the window brothels. The result is that many people want to visit the area these days and can only visit these specific spots.
F: What should the municipality do?
E: What I think they could do is implement one-way traffic for the pedestrians in certain parts. For instance, at the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, people walk on two streets (note: streets on both sides of the canal) in both directions. If you were to regulate that more, so right side (of the canal) is walk that way and left side the other way you would already have a better flow trough of the people.
F: Amsterdam is known around the world as a party city where anything is possible, and legal. Do you yourself notice any excess?
E: Yes, sometimes I do. People who throw up, people jump in the canals, people who fall into the canal and even occasional fights.
F: Should the Dutch authorities enforce more?
E: The authorities could enforce better. There is oversight here but it’s not like you have to watch what you’re doing because there are cops everywhere. So when I compare it to a different city, New York for instance; you clearly notice over there that you have to watch out with what you do in the public space.
The Amsterdam Red Light District Interview
The interview ends at 39:10.
The four-part Amsterdam Red Light District documentary can be viewed here.
Tourism Economy In Amsterdam Needs Marketing Abroad
Posted on: February 15, 2018
What Is The Current Situation Of The Tourism Economy In Amsterdam?
“Amsterdam must continue with its city promotion abroad!” That is what the directors of all Amsterdam’s cultural institutions (like the Van Gogh Museum & Rijksmuseum) advocate in Dutch newspaper “Het Parool.”
The tourism sector in amsterdam continues to grow. As a result some political parties want to shut down the subsidies for marketing of the tourism economy in Amsterdam. According to important cultural institutions, it is precisely Amsterdam marketing that contributes to the distribution of tourists over the city and the region, furthermore it brings in ‘quality visits’. “Cuts on this quality promotion means capital destruction and doesn’t show a long-term vision on the tourism economy in Amsterdam.”
Some Amsterdam Left-Wing Parties Are In Favor Of Cutbacks in Tourism:
Amsterdam’s Labour Party and GreenLeft have been calling for the ending of city promotion. Jan Paternotte of the Social Democrats argued that the NBTC should stop campaigns with a prominent role for Amsterdam. “Amsterdam promotes itself, it’s stupid to spend money on it.”
Amsterdam Cultural Institutions Make The Case For Maintaining Marketing Abroad:
“Ending the promotion of Amsterdam is stupid”, thus: Taco Dibbits (Director of the Rijksmuseum), Axel Rüger (Director of the Van Gogh Museum), Ivo van Hove (Theatre Group), Judikje Kiers (Amsterdam Museum), Simon Reinink (The Royal Concert Building) and many others.
We hear it more and more often, the call for stopping the promotion of Amsterdam. The city is supposedly already busy enough. Tax money spent on marketing and branding could better be used elsewhere. Politicians make this point through their party programs. By stopping the promotion of Amsterdam you get the impression that all the problems of the city bustle are solved. We are convinced that this is short-sighted and unwise. As cultural institutions of Amsterdam and the metropolis, we jointly argue the opposite.
Tourism Economy In Amsterdam Needs Its Tourists
First of all Amsterdam needs organisations that focus on hospitality and connection and on promotion of quality visits plus the good distribution of people. Because they are all of great importance during these busy times in the city. Cutting down on quality promotion means capital destruction and does not show a long-term vision. Whilst we, the cultural institutions of the city and region, promote our own range, quality and hospitality, Amsterdam Marketing brings our total range into the limelight. It seduces Amsterdammers and stimulates the distribution of visitors across the city and region.
High Quality Information For Best Tourism In Amsterdam
The information provision of Amsterdam Marketing is of a high level and lowers the threshold for cultural visits. Presenting the information about our offers in various ways and by making it visible to Amsterdammers and visitors to the city. Platforms like iAmsterdam.com for example. And it works for both large institutions and especially for those small institutions that have limited marketing budgets. This means that every day again we fundamentally work on the reputation and image of Amsterdam as a cultural city. A reputation which the people of Amsterdam can be proud of. Enthusing the people of Amsterdam to take part in all things cultural is the goal.
Cultural Tourism In Amsterdam Needs Promotion
Furthermore that reputation is also there abroad. Just last week about 60 cultural institutions from Amsterdam visited Paris. Amsterdam showed both cultural and economic strength. When he next new city council decides, we strongly urge them to continue to focus on the promotion of our city’s culture. Also for the residents and visitors from home and abroad. Because each of us contributes to this, but most of all Amsterdam Marketing connects us. It brings the richness and hospitality in its fullest into the limelight.
Experiment With Amsterdam Sex Doll Brothel
Posted on: January 26, 2018
Picture by Kippa Evert Elzinga, ANP.
Amsterdam Sex Doll Brothel In The Red Light District
Dutch television program Spuiten en Slikken (Injecting and Swallowing) opened a “Pop Up Brothel’ in the Red Light District on the 24th of January 2018. There you could have sex with a real doll. The Amsterdam Sex Doll Brothel was an experiment done by Dutch public broadcaster BNNVARA who also did a great documentary about the Red Light District in which our tour company was featured. The sex dolls could be found sitting behind the red lit windows at the Oudezijds Achterburgwal 46. The Amsterdam Sex Doll brothel was only open on the 24th of January.
Research Into The Future Of Sex
Spokesman Thijs Verheij told local news AT5 that the television program wants to find out if the world is ready for sex with dolls. In addition, the program makers wanted to investigate to what extent sex with a doll is similar to human sex. They also look at what this new development means for STDs, illegal prostitution, the exploitation of sex workers and human trafficking. ‘Science states that in thirty years it could be quite normal to have sex with a robot. With this experiment we want to anticipate that change and investigate what the current societal view is.’
Presenter Gwen in the sex doll brothel. Picture source Instagram.
Presenter Gwen van Poorten investigated if the Netherlands is ready for sex with dolls. The proceeds from the Amsterdam sex doll brothel will go to Free a Girl. This foundation is committed to freeing young girls from forced prostitution around the world.
Multiple Sex Dolls To Choose From In Amsterdam Sex Doll Brothel
The Amsterdam sex doll brothel was open on the 24th of January 2018 from 3.30 pm to 7 pm and there were four dolls ready and waiting for customers. They were in different shapes and sizes. “So something for everyone” stated Verheij. The Tuesday after the so called “pop up brothel” closed its doors the results of the experiment were discussed on live television in the Netherlands. Injecting and Swallowing is broadcast on NPO 3 on Tuesdays from 10 pm.
Did you enjoy this article? Others who read this article also read Amsterdam’s Red Light District Map and 10 Questions for Dutch Prostitution Expert Mariska Majoor.
New Local Prostitution Policy In the Netherlands
Posted on: December 6, 2017
New Local Prostitution Policy In The Netherlands
The Dutch municipality Almere, located 22 kilometers away of Amsterdam, plans to make an inventory on whether sex workers in the region want to stop with their work. This is evident from the concept for prostitution policy that was sent to the city council. Almere anticipates a new prostitution policy in the Netherlands with this concept. The municipality also wants to raise the minimum age for sex work in Almere from 18 to 21 years. The national minimum age for sex work in the Netherlands is currently 18. Municipalities are free to increase this. For instance, the minimum age for (window) prostitution in Amsterdam’s Red Light District has been 21 years old for quite some years now.
Almere is located to the right of Amsterdam on the map.
Will There Be Help For Prostitutes in the Netherlands Who Want To Quit?
National funds have been made available for sex workers who want to quit. The funds are there to help prostitutes to find new work, offer them daytime activities or training. Sex workers who quit the job often have to deal with a loss of income and their social network. Sometimes they suffer from psychological or addiction problems and have little other work experience. The chance of them returning to prostitution is high without supervision. The GGD (municipality health services) and Care Group Almere already started with a monthly consultation hour for sex workers. Questions about help are answered there.
Almere’s city hall, where the policies will be debated.
Why Do They Intend To Raise The Minimum Age?
Strengthening the position of sex workers is one of the spearheads of the new policies. According to Almere this means an increase in the minimum age for sex work. It used to be 18 years old, but the municipality now believes that sex workers between the age of 18 to 21 years are not resilient enough. They are less able to make an informed choice on whether they want to work in the sex industry. At the age of 21 sex workers could make a more informed choice about their future.
Continuation Of Existing Prostitution Policy In The Netherlands
The proposed prostitution policy is in many respects primarily a continuation of the existing policies. The basic assumption is that prostitution simply exists in the city and that it should be regulated and controlled as best as possible. Abuses are tackled and illegal prostitution should be combated as much as possible.
A sex worker in the Netherlands. © AmsterdamRedLightDistrictTour.com
No Brothels In Residential Areas In Almere
Brothels and massage parlours will remain forbidden in residential areas within Almere. This Dutch municipality will start to monitor sex workers who work from home, to assess the extent to which bigger business activities are involved. The municipality of Almere is anticipating future prostitution policy in the Netherlands with their own new policies.
New prostitution policy in the Netherlands was under review by the Senate for 1,5 years, but has now been retrieved for adjustments by the new Dutch cabinet. Almere says it no longer wants to wait and wants to make their municipal policy more up-to-date.
Did you enjoy this article? Others who’ve read this article also read: An Interview with Dutch Prostitution Expert and Amsterdam Red Light District Etiquette & Customs
20 Amsterdam Red Light District Rules & Laws in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Top 20 Amsterdam Red Light District Rules
Before visiting Amsterdam it’s important that you are informed about the Red Light District rules and etiquette that play an important role in De Wallen. Do you not want to come across as an annoying visitor, but as a decent guest? Then follow these 20 simple Red Light District etiquette rules.
GET MOULIN ROUGE TICKETS
Top 20 Amsterdam Red Light District Rules
1 | Do Not Take Pictures Of Prostitutes in Amsterdam
A really important Red Light District etiquette rule is to not take pictures of sex workers. They value their privacy and sometimes come after you if they see you taking a picture.
Most sex workers lead a double life. Their family and friends do usually not know that they do this. Respect their privacy and safety. During our visits to De Red Light District we regularly see tourists who secretly and unsolicitedly take photos of sex workers. We don’t think that’s polite. During our contact moments with sex workers, we were told that this is one of the biggest annoyances of sex workers.
It’s okay to take pictures of buildings, streets or (empty) red light windows though.
2 | Respect Sex Workers
Always show respect for the women and transgenders standing in the window brothels. Laughing at them is really frowned upon in Amsterdam! Also in the Red Light District. Treat the prostitutes as you would like to be treated yourself. Be kind!
So whether you make an appointment with Amsterdam escorts or visit a window prostitute. Be respectful, kind and clear.
3 | Don’t throw cig butts or joint-leftovers on the street or in the canals
Despite the high price of a pack of cigarettes and the damage to health, people still smoke. Do you know what’s really not cool and bad for the environment? Tossing your leftovers on the sidewalks.
Did you know that the cellulose acetate of a cigarette filter is difficult to degrade? It takes at least 10 years! Do not let someone else clean your mess but clean it up yourself and throw it in an ashtray.
4 | Say Hello to others with a smile
When you make eye-contact with someone outside for more than a few seconds, a friendly smile in response is appreciated in the Netherlands.
5 | Nod To Sex Workers
The same goes for sex workers when making eye-contact. Give them a friendly smile and nod. When we pass the ladies in the red light windows and eye contact is avoided, we always try to nod to the sex workers with a friendly smile. This is how we show our respect to them. To us, this feels like the correct standard of interaction
6 | Don’t Be Noisy
Don’t shout whilst walking the streets. The Red Light District in Amsterdam is a normal neighbourhood like any other part of town where regular people live, work and sleep.
7 | Bring Cash Money
Sex workers generally do not accept credit cards or other forms of digital payment. Most banks and transaction-companies do not want to be active in the sex-industries, which frustrates the sex workers in the Red Light District.
If you want to visit a prostitute in Amsterdam, make sure to bring enough cash money (euros). Cash is king!
8 | Negotiate Respectfully
Another Red Light District etiquette is that you do not start a negotiation with a sex worker with an a price offer that is too low. This can be taken as an insult.
The starting price for any serious negotiation with a window prostitute is 50 euro. Let the sex worker start the negotiation. This avoids inconveniences.
9 | Walk On The Right Side
Cyclists in Amsterdam tend to go fast in Amsterdam, even in some streets of the Red Light District! Keep this in mind whilst walking the streets and always give way to bicyclists.
Tip: Worry less about the local cyclists. They’ve seen you far before you’ve seen them. If you just keep walking on the right side (of the pavement), then you’re doing it correctly.
10 | Be Visible
When you have a rental bike make sure that both your head- and tail light work! This is required by Dutch law and the police can give you a ticket of 55,- euros for it.
The Oudekennissteeg in the Red Light District.
11 | Cycle On Cycle Paths
If you rent a bicycle in Amsterdam, make sure that you only cycle on the designated bicycle lane, not on sidewalk. It’s unsafe and frowned upon to cycle on sidewalks. Also check these free tips on How To Cycle in Amsterdam.
12 | Always Bring Your ID
Everybody in the Netherlands is required by law to have their ID’s on them. If you can’t identify yourself, you can be fined.
13 | Do Not Drink Alcohol Underaged
Drinking alcohol in the Netherlands is legal from the age of 18.
14 | Talk English (or Dutch) With The Locals
Most Dutch people enjoy helping tourists or making small talk with them. Especially those who respect the Amsterdam Red Light District etiquette and Dutch laws. Almost all people in Amsterdam speak proper English.
Amsterdammers generally don’t speak French, Spanish, Italian or any other foreign language. Do not try to ask anything in a language other than English (or Dutch). It’s not appreciated to just ask anything in French to a Dutchman – assuming that he or she also speaks French. The Dutch will look at you strange and wonder why you do not speak English.
15 | Book At Restaurants
The Oudezijds Voorburgwal next to De Oude Kerk.
It’s common practice and appreciated to make a reservation at restaurants in Amsterdam and in the Red Light District.
16 | Respect The House Rules
Don’t argue or fight with bouncers. It’s a waste of time and when push comes to shove. Bouncers will kick your ass. If you don’t like their house rules, just go elsewhere (and write a negative review online).
17 | Do Not Drink Alcohol in The Red Light District
It is forbidden by law to drink alcohol on the streets of Amsterdam Red Light District. The fine is 95 euro. Moreover, most residents do not appreciate it when people drink alcohol publicly or at the canal-sides.
18 | Do Not Violate The Minimum Age
You can not enter a (cannabis) coffeeshop when you are under the age of 18. Also know that coffeeshop owners have to close their doors as soon as the police notice if minors are present.
19 | Ignore Street Dealers in Amsterdam
Do not buy any drugs from street dealers. This is illegal and they mostly sell fake drugs anyway.
20 | Eat Something Before Smoking Weed
If you don’t have any experience in smoking cannabis, but want to try it whilst visiting the Red Light District, make sure that you have a filled stomach before you start. Whilst smoking weed have some sugary drink (cola) on hand for when you might feel dizzy. Also check 10 Tips For Using Drugs in Amsterdam.
Visiting with a date, or not?
Visiting Amsterdam Red Light District with a new date can be a unique and exciting experience for both individuals. The vibrant atmosphere, stunning architecture, and intriguing history of the area provide a backdrop for a memorable night out. Exploring the district together and experiencing all that it has to offer, from the famous Amsterdam Red Light windows to the bustling bars and cafes, can help to break the ice and foster a sense of adventure and spontaneity.
It’s recommended to follow these 20 customs that are part of the Amsterdam Red Light District.
ALSO READ:
No Better Red Light District Amsterdam Tours Than Ours
Posted on: December 1, 2017
(last updated on May 6, 2020)
The Best Rated Red Light District Amsterdam Tours
Our tour company has been doing Red Light District Amsterdam tours since 2014. Through the years we’ve built up an unbeatable expertise on this most infamous and oldest part of Amsterdam. And that knowledge hasn’t gone unnoticed: our tours have been featured on media channels such as: Fox News, The Telegraph, Huffington Post, Metro, Yahoo, The Post Internazionale, Twin Doctors TV, Holiday Extra Travel Guides, The Culture Trip, Parool, BNN and World Travel Guide.
Yahoo and Fox News even listed our tours as some of the wackiest tours in the world!
Red Light District walking tours during the evening.
Why Should You Book Your Red Light District Amsterdam Tours With Us?
Providing the most accurate information about the Red Light District and Dutch culture is the core of our business. We don’t just do this with our tours, we also do it via this online platform. Furthermore we are the only tour company which regularly publishes interviews with active and retired sex-workers. We do this to give people an idea of the personal views of those who normally get drowned out in debates about sex work. We also publish the latest news articles about sex work, drugs, history, politics, technology and other interesting things in the Netherlands. This way people from abroad can stay up-to-date.
On top of all this we also provide overviews on all the best cafes, coffeeshops, restaurants, hotels, museums, clubs and interesting shops in the district. On our FAQ page we also answer all the general questions about the Red Light District. If you have any questions you can always contact us via the Whatsapp contact button located on the right side of your screen.
Architecture in the Red Light District.
Highlights During Our Red Light District Amsterdam Tours
First Condom Shop In The World – Female sex workers – Red and blue-lit window brothels – Amsterdam history – Latin-American sex worker corner – Transgender sex workers – Hallucinogenic mushroom shop – Street art – Window brothels in narrow alleys – Amsterdam’s last peep show – Chinatown – Coffeeshops – Historic architecture – The Old Church – And much more during our Red Light District Amsterdam tours…
We Offer The Greatest Variety In Tours
We have the largest variety in Red Light District Amsterdam tours. Our regular and exclusive walking tours are already the highest rated Red Light District tours on Tripadvisor, but we offer even more specialised tours. Take our Amsterdam Audio Tour app for instance. This app lets you explore Amsterdam’s Red Light District on your own with an impressive 22 experts explaining the rich history and culture of this area.
Another niche tour that we offer is the Amsterdam Drugs Tour. During this tour an experienced guide will tell you everything there is to know about legal and illegal drugs in Amsterdam. Hear how drugs have influenced Amsterdam culture. This tour also goes through a significant part of the Red Light District area. Last but not least our Amsterdam History Tour. This tour gives you a great understanding of the city’s history, culture and influence, a great starter for your visit to Amsterdam.
Our Amsterdam Audio Tour App.
What Do Guests Say About Our Red Light District Amsterdam Tours?
“There are some tours in life you don’t forget and this is one of them.”
“Take this tour. Despite what you may think, it’s fascinating and provides great insight into the political and social views of the city of Amsterdam.”
“We took a walking tour of the red light district with Mark and can’t say enough positive things about the experience. It made for a genuinely educational experience in a unique neighbourhood of Amsterdam.”
“This was such a fun tour. Our guide had lots of good information and was very open and informative about himself and his fiancé who works in the red light district.”
“Take the tour… you will be so glad that you did! While visiting Amsterdam, my husband and I thought about walking the area ourselves, but we would have missed so much.”
“This was a fantastic tour. Martjin was our guide and he was incredible I loved his insight his humour and his honesty. I would recommend this tour to anyone. Martjin really opened our eyes to the many aspects of the city.”
Window brothels located right next to the oldest Church in Amsterdam.
If you have any questions about our Red Light District Amsterdam tours, please feel free to contact us via the Whatsapp button on the right side of your screen or send us an email.
Other who read this article about our Red Light District Amsterdam tours also read: Interview With A Dutch Prostitute From Amsterdam and An Interview With A Brothel Owner In Amsterdam.
An Interview With Ex-Sex Worker Mariska Majoor
Posted on: January 1, 2025
10 Questions for Mariska Majoor about Prostitution and the Red Light District
Mariska Majoor is one of Holland’s most well known and respected sex worker experts. She even got a royal distinguishing in 2017 for all the work she’s done. In our exclusive interview with her we’ll talk about prostitution, her interesting experiences in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, the future of the area, new projects she’s working on and much more.
What compelled you to start the Prostitution Information Centre?
Mariska Majoor: “That is already more than 23 years ago. I wanted to do something in the neighbourhood and decided, very impulsively, that there should be an information centre about prostitution (the term sex worker didn’t exist back then). The name Prostitution Information Centre (PIC) was quickly devised and I found it to be a very logical name. It was clear to me back then that most of the prejudices about this subject exist because people know too little about it, and that what they do know is mostly one sided and too negative. A place with information, given by someone with experience in the field, seemed like a good plan. And I still think that. that is why I am very happy that it still exists.”
When and why did you decide to leave prostitution?
“I started working at the age of 16 and worked until my 20th. I slowly got tired of it and found that it was time for me to do other things. I picked up my school again and started my own company with prostitution as expertise. My first project was the magazine Pleasure Guide, A mini-magazine about prostitution. The topic continued to interest me so I never really got out of it…”
Sex workeractivism in the Netherlands. Picture source: Facebook.
What are some of the most interesting and important insights you got whilst working for the PIC and PROUD?
“I was very young when I started with the PIC and still had to learn a lot. I actually had a big mouth. During the years and through the enormous amount of conversations I had with people from all over the world, I gained an ever-deeper insight into the world that I thought I knew everything about. Contacts with sex workers from other countries made me realise that circumstances, laws and culture are different, but that the stigma on this profession is more or less the same everywhere in the world. Which has enormous negative effects for sex workers: social exclusion, a double life and often, because of bad and hypocritical legislation, they have to work under dangerous and unhealthy conditions. Because there was no good advocacy for sex workers in the Netherlands in 2014, I set up the PROUD association with a group of like-minded people. Even though the situation in the Netherlands is not so bad compared to many other countries, there are also a lot of wrongs here and that is why an interest group was desperately needed.”
How do you see Amsterdam’s Red Light District develop in the next 10 years?
“Amsterdam will get even busier and that will lead to certain measures, some which are already happening, like the attempt to set a maximum for the number of people in guided tours trough the Red Light District. But that is not very drastic. Only time will tell whether there is a future for window prostitution in the Red Light District. My ideal picture is the beautiful combination of everything that is already in the neighbourhood, but with places where the window prostitutes can work without too much trouble from tourists. Maybe people can figure out a good plan for that. But I don’t believe that so much will change in the next 10 years compared to all the changes in the last 10 years.”
Which advice would you give to someone who wants to start out as a sex-worker?
“Of course first go get a coffee at PIC & Proud at the Oudekerksplein, and maybe read my book ‘When Sex Becomes Work’ (buy at Amazon) for more tips. But what is especially important is that you think about it in advance and inform yourself about all the work methods, your rights and obligations, your health and especially your boundaries. There is nothing wrong with sex work, but sex remains an intimate affair that you should never go against your will; unless you have a very good reason or purpose.”
Mariska Majoor in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Picture source: Expreszo
How can prostitution be improved in the Netherlands?
“The best possible legislation is full decriminalisation of prostitution. This aligns sex-work with all other legal professions and would give sex-workers the same rights as other workers. But you aren’t there yet with just legislation. Without social acceptance, sex workers won’t get their rights, even with good legislation. Things can only really change when people see a sex worker as an ordinary person and her, or his , work as a fair and honest profession.”
How did it make you feel to get a royal distinguishing in 2017 for all your work as a sex worker activist?
“At first I thought it was overly exaggerated and unnecessary. Later on I was quite proud, mainly because I heard that it meant a lot to sex worker rights activists (in other countries) and also felt like recognition for them.”
You’ve previously stated in an interview that “standing in a window brothel can be real good for your confidence”, can you elaborate a little further on that quote?
“People have a totally wrong picture on window prostitution. It’s not the case that you are sad to be there and just have to wait and see which dirty pervert would want to pay for you. One condition is of course that you yourself choose to be there; otherwise my argument does not apply. But you’re sitting there in your own space, in clothes that make you feel sexy and you flirt with whom you want to flirt. That is a wonderful game. You can see very quickly whether someone finds you exciting and you focus on that. The responses that you receive can give a huge boost in self-confidence. Of course not everyone falls for you and if you are a little bit fatter or older you can get incredibly rude comments from some people who pass you by. However, there will be enough other people that do react nice to you and you pay attention to that. From behind the window you can very easily ignore people that are of no use to you. I have given many workshops to insecure women and let them stand behind the window and that was often experienced as therapeutic.”
Mariska Majoor and her daughter in Budapest to work on their new project. Picture source: Facebook.
On which projects are you currently working and for what purpose?
“I said years ago that I would like to make a book about the circumstances of sex workers around the world. I have filed this plan with the Amsterdam prostitution and health centre (P&G292) and they reacted enthusiastically. I’ve started working on this project together with my daughter. We’re traveling through 16 countries on 5 continents to talk with sex workers and their trade unions about the situation in their country, the job and their personal lives. My daughter is a student at the photo academy in Amsterdam and she photographs them. The stories and photos of all these people will be bundled in a book that comes out in July 2018. It will get the title ‘United Under A Red Umbrella’. The red umbrella is the global symbol for the struggle for the rights of sex workers. It’s very special to be able do this together with my daughter. You can follow the work of Mariska Majoor and her daughter via their Facebook and Instagram accounts.” 
“Belle” a tribute to all sex workers in the world. The statue was made by artist Els Rijerse. Image by: Catherine Le Nevez/Lonely Planet.
Do you think you’ll ever return to the Red Light District of Amsterdam, never mind in what role?
“I always hope to remain present a little bit via the PIC which still exists and is being advanced by a top team of successors. Of course my heart is also in Belle, the statue on the Oudekerksplein, which I put up back in 2007 to show respect for all the sex workers around the world. But I do not think I’ll be there physically, my health is not so good and I would actually prefer to sit in a house in the forest and write a book. Maybe, if we succeed, we’ll present the book together with a photo exhibition in the old church. then I will be back again for a little while.”
Did you enjoy this article about Mariska Majoor? Others who’ve read this article about Mariska Majoor also read: Red Light District Tour with a Local Expert and Interview With A Dutch Prostitute In Amsterdam.
10x Amsterdam Drug Laws For Tourists in 2025
Top 10 Amsterdam Drug Laws For Tourists
Are you considering using drugs in Amsterdam? Or do you want to learn how legal and illegal drugs are handled in the Netherlands? Then read this article with 10 Amsterdam Drugs Laws.
This overview answers the most frequently asked questions about drug laws in Amsterdam which results into safer situations.
1 | What are the legal drugs in Amsterdam?
“Are drugs legal in Amsterdam?”
That’s one of the most frequently asked questions by tourists. Here’s the answer:
Cannabis in all its forms is allowed in Amsterdam. Think of weed, hash and even different types of cannabis oils.
Hallucinatory magic truffles are also ‘legal’ in Amsterdam. In Dutch they are called “truffels” or “paddos” derived from the word “paddestoel” which is Dutch for mushroom. In the Netherlands, magic mushrooms or paddos have been banned but replaced by truffels, which are basically the same thing. The main difference is that magic truffles grow underground, while magic mushrooms grow above ground.
Cocaine, XTC, amphetamines and all other hard drugs are illegal.
2 | At what age are soft drugs in Amsterdam legal?
Dutch coffeeshops maintain a minimum age of 18 years for going inside and buying cannabis.
When police officers see a 16 year old smoking cannabis they will talk to him or her about their usage, and if they follow procedure, confiscate the cannabis. But there are usually no legal consequences.
Source: Jellinek
3 | How much weed or hash are you allowed to have on you in Amsterdam or the Netherlands?
The maximum amount of cannabis that you are allowed to have on you under current Amsterdam drug laws is 5 grams per person. This drug law applies to the entire country.
4 | Can you grow your own weed in the Netherlands?
Yes, you can grow your own cannabis in the Netherlands. Every person in the Netherlands over the age of 18 is allowed to grow (not more than) 5 cannabis plants. If you do this under the age of 18 you can be prosecuted. It is forbidden to sell the cannabis that you legally bought or that you’ve grown by yourself.
5 | Do Amsterdam drug laws differ between soft and hard drugs?
The current Dutch drug law has within it two lists.
List one is for hard drugs. These drugs (like cocaine, speed, XTC, etc) are considered to be more harmful to someone’s health.
List two contains soft drugs that are less harmful than hard drugs. Cannabis, sleeping pills, sedatives and Valium are all on list number two. Drugs on list two – soft drugs – are not illegal.
6 | What happens in the Netherlands when you get caught with drugs?
Possession of hard drugs is illegal in the Netherlands but the drug laws allow for the possession of small amounts without legal consequences. For hard drugs the maximum amounts are: half a gram of cocaine, speed/ amphetamine, MDMA, methamphetamine. 1 XTC pill and less than 5 ml. of GHB. When you get caught with these amounts the police can confiscate them, but you won’t get a fine. If you posses more you’ll get a fine. Depending on the amounts you carry you can even get a prison sentence. Source: Jellinek
7 | Can I still return to a party when my drugs are confiscated in Amsterdam?
Most events in Amsterdam (or the Netherlands) have a so called “zero tolerance” policy. This means that even if you have less than the aforementioned amounts you’ll still be denied access to the party. However this can of course vary greatly between different types of events, locations or the person who finds out about your substances.
8 | What are Amsterdam drug laws concerning driving under the influence?
Not only in Amsterdam but in the whole country there are legal limits to how much drugs you can have in your system whilst sitting behind the steering wheel. These limits apply to alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA and other drugs. Taking any of these drugs together whilst driving is a punishable offence.
For alchohol the legal limit is a promillage of 0,5. Men reach this level by drinking two beers/wines. Women reach the 0,5 level even sooner. Below you’ll find the legal amounts of drugs that you are allowed to have in your bloodstream whilst driving.
Our advice: Do not consume any drugs or alcohol before or during a car/ bicycle ride.
| Substance | Measurable Substance | Behavioural limiting factor in Plasma (microgram/L) | Behavioural limiting factor in blood (microgram/L) |
| Amfetamine | Amfetamine | 50 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Methamfetaimne | Methamfetaimne | 50 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| MDMA | MDMA | 50 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Cannabis | THC | 5,0 mg/L | 3,0 mg/L |
| Cocaine | Cocaine | 50 mg/L | 50 mg/L |
| Heroine | Morfine | 20 mg/L | 20 mg/L |
| Morfine | Morfine | 20 mg/L | 20 mg/L |
| GHB | GHB | 10 mg/L | 10 mg/L |
Source: Dutch senate report: Analytische grenswaarden voor drugs
Amsterdam police officers make an arrest.
9 | Amsterdam drug testing is legal at specialised locations. Why is that allowed even though hard drugs are illegal?
Hard drugs are illegal but the Dutch government believes in the so called “harm reduction model”. People will use drugs anyway, so it’s best to provide proper information and testing to reduce the potential amount of harm to society as much as possible. Drugs users can visit an Amsterdam drug test lab and get their illegal drugs tested legally. Hard drugs – like cocaine, XTC, amphetamines – will be tested on the content (ingredients, size/amount, etc) by lab-analysts.
In Amsterdam, hard drugs (like Cocaine, XTC, Speed, Ketamine, etc) can be tested anonymously and legally at the Jellinek or GGD drug testing service. Drugs that are submitted to the employees of these organisations are analysed, if necessary in their laboratory. For some pills such as XTC which can be matched to those in their database, there is a 50% chance that the result will be given on the same day or right away. The costs for these drug tests are 2,50 euro per sample.
There are many of these official drug testing locations in the Netherlands which are all part of the typical Dutch tolerant approach: harm reduction.
For soft drugs it’s not necessary to test for the contents because usually the quality of cannabis in the Netherlands is good. If it’s not, someone could just go to another coffeeshop and legally buy cannabis from a different provider. That’s the benefit of coffeeshops: they all compete with each other and try to offer the best quality possible. Source: Jellinek
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Coffee shop The Bulldog First.
10 | Under what conditions are coffeeshops in Amsterdam allowed to operate?
Amsterdam drug laws stipulate that coffeeshops are not allowed to advertise. They can’t sell hard drugs either. Coffeeshops can not cause any public disturbances like noise nuisance or filthiness caused by loitering customers. No entrance or sale to youth under the age of 18. No sales larger than five grams. And coffeeshops are not allowed around schools in a radius of 200 meters or 250 meters walking distance. Source: Union Of Coffee Shop Retailers
9 LAWS FOR COFFEESHOPS >
Amsterdam Drugs Tour
Did you know that the Netherlands used to have its own legal cocaine factory in Amsterdam? Did you know that 99% of all coffeeshops get their cannabis from illegal growers? Did you know that addiction-care is free here? And did you know that the Netherlands is one of the biggest XTC producing countries in the world?
ALSO READ:
9 Laws For Amsterdam Coffeeshops
10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
An Interesting Red Light District Facebook Page
Posted on: November 17, 2017
Our Red Light District Facebook Page
We started our Red Light District Facebook page (the link is on the top right corner of our website) back in 2013. Since then we’ve been providing our friends and followers all the latest news about the legendary district and Amsterdam. Expect the unexpected, and stay up to date about Amsterdam, the Netherlands and the Dutch culture, when you follow our Red Light District Facebook page! 😉
Most Active Red Light District Facebook Page
Our Red Light District Facebook page is the most active page on the web on this particular subject! Expect daily funny, beautiful or special pictures from one of the, in our humble opinion, best cities in the world. But we don’t just provide visual entertainment there, we also tell some great (personal) stories and will provide you with some useful tips for when you visit Amsterdam and the Red Light District!
The inside of an Amsterdam window brothel back in the 1950’s
Our Amsterdam Red Light District Facebook Page Also Delves Into History
Because all our tour guides are greatly versed in the history of the Red Light District, and Amsterdam obviously, we will also provide you with great historical insights if you follow us. When did prostitution become fully legalised in Amsterdam? How did prostitution become so accepted in Amsterdam even hundreds of years ago? What did prostitutes wear decades ago? Why do some prostitutes in Amsterdam work in a window?
Find out by following our Amsterdam Red Light District Facebook page (link on the top right corner of this page)!
Our Red Light District Facebook Page and Prostitution
What’s the minimum age for being a prostitute in Amsterdam’s Red Light District? What do the ladies charge for their services here in Amsterdam? Is it mandatory for them to get tested on STD’s? Do the prostitutes own the windows in the Red Light District or do they rent them? Do the sex workers work for themselves or not?
Get all the answers on these and other questions via our tours, our website or follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram).
Stay Up To Date On Dutch Drug Policies
If you are interested in typical Dutch drug policies you should also definitely follow us. We also offer Dutch news about drug policies and coffeeshops directly into English so that you are up-to-speed about all current developments in the Netherlands.
This guy is already following us on Facebook… you should too!
Get Acquainted With Real Dutch Culture
If you want to understand the Dutch culture, we would definitely recommend following us on Facebook. Via our tours, our website and through our social media channels we share everything that you need to know about Amsterdam’s Red Light District. When you understand this part of Dutch society you’ll automatically have a better grasp of Dutch culture and its pragmatism. Follow us and really get to know Amsterdam, “de Wallen” and the Dutch culture!
Did you enjoy this article? Others who read this article also read: Interview With A Dutch Prostitute In Amsterdam and History Of Prostitution In The Netherlands.
Street Prostitution In Amsterdam Has Almost Completely Disappeared
Posted on: November 8, 2017
Hardly Any Street Prostitution In Amsterdam
There is almost no street prostitution in Amsterdam, reports the mayor of Amsterdam. The interest group for sex workers – Proud – wonders if this is a positive development.
“The most vulnerable ones easily move out of sight.” In 2014, 17 applications were filed with the police in Amsterdam for so-called tipple permits. “tippelen” is the Dutch term for doing street prostitution and translates loosely into hustling.
In 2015 applications dropped to just nine and for 2016 (until October) the count stood at six. The Amsterdam mayor sent this information via open letter to the city council. These numbers stand in stark contrast to Amsterdam’s past. From the 1950’s till the 90’s street prostitution was highly prevalent.
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 1950’s. Street prostitutes left & right.
What is the definition of a street walker?
A street walker is a person who solicits customers on the street for sexual services. Streetwalkers are often considered to be a subcategory of sex workers, as they are typically working in public spaces and may have less control over their work environment and clientele.
Streetwalkers are usually female, but there are also male and transgender streetwalkers. In many cases, streetwalkers are also drug addicts or otherwise economically disadvantaged, which can contribute to their vulnerability to violence and exploitation. Streetwalkers typically charge lower rates than other sex workers, as they have fewer overhead costs and are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors.
As a result, streetwalking is often considered to be the lowest rung on the prostitution ladder. However, streetwalking is not without its dangers, and streetwalkers face a high risk of assault, rape, and murder. In addition, streetwalkers are often targets of police raids and sting operations. Consequently, streetwalking is generally considered to be a high-risk occupation.
No Legal Zones For Street Prostitution In Amsterdam
At first glance, good news, as the city doesn’t have any legal tippel zones (hustling zones). Until 2003, Amsterdam had a so called hustling zone on the Theemsweg in the western harbour area, but it was closed down due to the many problems that arose because of the remote location of the area. Since then, the police of Amsterdam has been clamping down hard on women who still hustle on the streets.
Street Prostitutes Just Disappear Out Of Sight in Holland
There used to be street prostitution in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, just next to the church.
According to Proud, the consequence of this prohibition is that the most vulnerable people in prostitution disappear off the radar from social workers and other supervision. “The fact that the hustle zones have disappeared does not mean that sex workers are all safe,” says a spokesperson of Proud.
“On the streets you often find the people who can’t afford anything else, for example, because they do not earn enough money to rent a window brothel or because they do not fit into the image of brothels.” These people can be drug addicts, but, for example, also transgender people who can’t easily get work anywhere else.
“The prohibition of street prostitution does not mean that these people simply disappear, but that they just disappear out of sight. You deny them access to the legal labor market.”
Illegal Brothel Hotels And Mobile Phone Hookups Offer Alternatives
According to Proud, these people often opt for illegal brothel hotels or mobile phone prostitution. Via text messages they talk to customers and set up a meeting at, for example, the train station. “At that moment, you’re completely at the mercy of who you get in the car with,” says the Proud’s spokesperson.
“There is no social control from colleagues or the opportunity to discuss the risks and experiences with others.” These type of things are all present at legal hustling zones.
Street Prostitution In Amsterdam Is Drug Related
Former zone for street prostitution in Amsterdam (locally known as a tippelzone).
Veldwerk (field work) Amsterdam, an organisation that searches and cares for people with psychiatric problems, states in the Mayor’s letter that the cases of street prostitution that were known to the authorities were all drug-related. The location of the cases coincided with drug dealer areas.
“When the dealer areas move because of police actions, these women also move,” writes the mayor. “Another option is diverting to another city,” says Proud. “But many other places in the Netherlands have been closing down their hustling zones too, and in Utrecht, where one can still be found, there is a waiting period of sometimes four years for people from outside of the city. In addition, we’re dealing with a group of people for whom even a train ticket to Utrecht can be too expensive.”
In 2006 the Dutch political party GroenLinks (Green Left) pleaded for the reopening of a hustling zone for street prostitution in Amsterdam when The Hague and Rotterdam were about to close their zones. They believed that leaving everything for just Utrecht to solve would be like throwing all your problems on your neighbour’s lawn. However, the proposal by GroenLinks didn’t manage to garner enough support in the city council.
ALSO DISCOVER:
Amsterdam Red Light District History
Marijuana Users Have More Sex Than Non Users
Posted on: January 2, 2024
Regular Marijuana Users Have More Sex Than Non Users
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine examined data from 50,000 Americans aged 25 to 45, from an earlier national research project. The results were published in Journal of Sexual Medicine. The participants of the research project had to indicate how often they had sex in the last four weeks and how often they had smoked marijuana in the past year. Female marijuana users who used the drug daily had an average of 7.1 times sex in the past four weeks. Six people who did not smoke marijuana came out on an average of six times intercourse.
In the case of men, the researchers found a similar difference. Men who smoke marijuana daily had an average of 6.9 times sex, compared to 5.6 times in the non-users group. Based on data from the 50,000 Americans, it can be concluded that marijuana users have 20 percent more sex than people who do not smoke the drug, reports the researchers.
Picture by: Jason Redmond/Reuters
Is There A Causal Connection?
The study doesn’t establish a causal connection between marijuana use and sexual activity. But the results hint at it. “The overall trend we saw applied to people of both sexes and all races, ages, education levels, income groups and religions, every health status, whether they were married or single and whether or not they had kids.”
Marijuana Users Statistics From The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, just 1.2 % of the eighteen-year-olds smoke daily, according to Jellinek figures. 21.1% has used the drug and 4.2% indicates it has been used once or several times in the past month.
Dutch Marijuana Users Between The Ages Of 15 And 64
The Dutch Lifestyle Monitor was launched in 2014, a survey by the Dutch Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in collaboration with the RIVM (Dutch Health Ministry) and, among others, the Trimbos Institute (Dutch knowledge institute for mental heatlh and addiction). This monitor also looks at the use of alcohol and drugs among the general population. In 2015, 21.1% of the ages 18 and over have ever used marijuana in their life.
Marijuana Users Among Dutch Pupils
Every four years research is done into the use of alcohol and drugs among pupils in the Netherlands. Of the pupils who are between 12 and 16 years old, 4.9% has smoked marijuana in the last month. Of the 15-year-old students, 8.5% have smoked marijuana in the last month. A quarter of all 15-year-old students smoke more than 9 times a month.
Did you enjoy this article? Others who read this article also read: Growing Weed In The Netherlands To Become Partially Legal and 10 Tips For Using Drugs in Amsterdam
New Red Light District Rules Have Not Had The Desired Effects
Posted on: November 1, 2017
New Red Light District Rules Don’t Lead To Better Control
Window brothel operators almost got completely buried by the new Red Light District rules and regulations implemented by the city of Amsterdam. “We had to inspect if the ladies were washing their sex toys with the right disinfectant and if the perishable date of their condoms wasn’t lapsed. It drove us crazy”. The entrepreneurs went to court and the judge agreed with them. The detailed interference by the city of Amsterdam in the local sex industry went too far, ruled three (female) judges, and hurts the interests of sex workers.
Strict New Red Light District Rules Made Life Difficult For Entrepreneurs
The Oudezijds Achterburgwal, a.k.a. the main street, in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Monique rents out three windows in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. “Always to women that I know really well, self-employed.” Monique wasn’t allowed to leave the neighbourhood if the ladies were working according to the strict regulations. “I had to be on the scene within 12 minutes” she states. “Visiting my old mom in Amsterdam Noord (North) or visiting a physiotherapist in between was out of the question. Even a quick run to the supermarket for some groceries had me stressing, terrified that I would break the Red Light District rules and lose my permit.” Only in court did it become clear that the 12-minute-rule was implemented to make sure that the window brothel operators were reachable, at all times, by municipality surveillants and police who walk around the neighbourhood. “Well, according to the court that is also possible via mobile phone” states Monique. “That rule has now been removed, and I thankfully have my freedom of movement back again.”
The Red Light District Plays A Big Economic Role In Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 1 November 2017.
The Red Light District is – together with the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum – one of the most important tourist attractions of the city. This makes the area a significant economic factor. Still, the municipality would like to see a Red Light District with a more international city like grandeur. At this time the sex industry and fast food diners dominate the Red Light District. To tune this lopsided and “uncultured” image, the government decided to drastically reduce the number of window brothels. The newly made available spaces would lend themselves for restaurants, fashion stores and nice shops. These changes would in turn revamp the entire district and all of its members to higher level, even chic. But the dreamed of new economic order in the Red Light District ran into a though reality.
Failed Amsterdam Project 1012
Former alderman Asscher, here in the Red Light District, was responsible for Amsterdam’s Project 1012.
Source: J. van den Broek.
Lodewijk Asscher, former deputy prime minister of the Netherlands, used to be an eager alderman in Amsterdam. One of his statements was that beneath every stone that you lift in the Red Light District you’ll find vermin. According to him the sex industry in Amsterdam parasitised off of ruthless human trafficking. He announced an offensive against the sector. Whoever was caught in illegal, misogynistic activities, would lose his or her brothel license, after which the government would turn off the red lights behind the windows and would take over the real-estate for pennies on the dollar and make something nice out of it. 10 years later only one conclusion can be drawn. The Asscher-plan, also known as Project 1012, has turned out to be an unsatisfactory – and costly – failure. The government hasn’t been able to close down a single window brothel based on human trafficking. The reduction in the number of window brothels has only been achieved by buying out sex-entrepreneurs, like Charles Geerts, who received the mother lode for their real estate. It cost the city of Amsterdam 10’s of millions of euros.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District Neighbourhood Hasn’t Been Revamped
A normal night on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal in the middle of the Red Light District.
The high priced window brothel real estate that was bought up didn’t turn into high-end restaurants, fashion stores or shops that would lift up the entire neighbourhood. To somewhat limit the financial losses Amsterdam decided to rent out the dismantled brothels to a smart entrepreneur who made a, prostitution museum out of it, complete with red window lights.
Earlier this year Amsterdam sold four former window brothel buildings to My Red Light, an independent collective of self-employed sex workers who now exploit 14 window brothels. In short: business as usual. The project is partly financed by the Rabobank, the same Rabobank that cut off all financial connections for Red Light District entrepreneurs because they were operating in the “immoral” sex industry.
Amsterdam Regulations Had Good Intentions, But The Results Are Bad
Amsterdam Is justifiably worried about human trafficking and forced prostitution. However, those practices appear to not be happening inside the Red Light District but outside, in illegal sex clubs, escort services and private houses, where there isn’t any form of regulated oversight. Still, Red Light District entrepreneurs feel like the government is putting all the problems on their plate.
Window brothels in Amsterdam, located next to a bar.
“I was forced to do intake conversations with the women who wanted to rent a window brothel from me” states Monique. “I had to ask the ladies deeply probing questions and had to find out if they were sufficiently self-reliant, and if they weren’t forced to sit behind a window by some guy. I had to write it all down in reports that had to be accessible for municipality inspectors at all times. But I was never trained for this kind of work. I just rent out window brothels to independent entrepreneurs, people who can take care of themselves.
Judge Agrees With Red Ligt District Entrepreneurs
The judge agrees with her. “Window brothel operators aren’t trained to recognise the signs of exploitation and human trafficking,” reads the verdict from start of August 2017. Further more, the recording of private information about sex workers in reports at the behest of the government is a violation of Dutch privacy laws. The municipality of Amsterdam isn’t sure whether it will appeal the verdict on the Red Light District rules.
This article was originally posted in Dutch by Brandpunt, a Dutch news program.
ALSO DISCOVER:
Top 8 Sex Dating Apps In Holland
Anne Frank Cold Case Investigation Set To Answer Remaining Questions
American Team Investigates Anne Frank Cold Case
(Source picture above: Anne Frank House)
An American cold-case team tries to find the answer to the question: Who betrayed the Frank family in 1944? They will use specially developed software to find out. The Anne Frank cold case team is led by former FBI agent Vince Pankoke, who retired last year. In the past he hunted down the Colombian drug cartels and men like drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, but he considers the Anne Frank cold case ‘the ultimate cold case’.
Former FBI agent Vince Pankoke. Follow him, and the cold case, via Twitter.
A Crack Team Made Up Out Of Different Specialists
A team of 19 criminologists, historians, journalists and data specialists supports the former FBI agent. The Dutch police and other former FBI agents are also involved. The Anne Frank Foundation, the municipality of Amsterdam and other agencies have made their archives accessible. The team works with specially developed software that should help to organise the large amounts of available data. According to the researchers, the software allows them to “see connections that remain invisible to the naked eye”. Xomnia, an Amsterdam based company that can handle huge batches of data, supplies two so-called big-data specialists who are going to work on all the data.
Anne Frank Cold Case Already Investigated Twice
The case of the Frank family has so far been officially investigated twice. In 1947, Otto Frank, father of Anne, and the only survivor of the family, urged the police to launch an investigation, which led to no results. In 1963, a second investigation by the police again failed to point towards a perpetrator. According to the researchers, the case has so far only been looked at by writers, journalists and historians, never by a team of forensic researchers who use cold case techniques and modern software.
The Frank family. Picture from a family album.
People Are Asked To Give All The Information They Have
The team asks people to come forward with information. “Even tough there are hardly any witnesses still alive,” it says on the website, “there may be family members, friends, or other people who can be important to the investigation.” The researchers request that these persons share information, old letters, photos or documents through the site.
Amsterdam, 22 juli 1941. The only existing film footage of Anne Frank.
It’s the summer of 1941. The girl next door is getting married. Anne Frank leans out of the window of her house in Amsterdam to get a good look at the bride and groom. This is the only moment of Anne Frank that has ever been captured on film. At the time of the marriage, the bride lived on the second floor at Merwedeplein 39 in Amsterdam. The Frank family lived at number 37, also on the second floor.
Biggest Suspect Before The Start Of Anne Frank Cold Case
The biggest suspect in the case has always been warehouse assistant Wilhelm van Maaren. But this could never be proven. Other names that have passed the revue are cleaner Lena Hartog van Bladeren and the wife of another warehouse assistant, Lammert Hartog. The researchers estimated that a total of thirty potential suspects have emerged from previous investigations. Whether the actual betrayer is among those has to be proven. “Although we have not officially started the investigation,” Pankoke writes in a blog, “we have already found unique material that has previously not been linked to the Anne Frank affair.” On August 4th, 2019, exactly 75 years after the arrest of Anne Frank and her family, Pankoke wants to have finished his research and publish the results.
Did you enjoy this article? Other who’ve read this article also read: Anne Frank Comic Book Made From Diary and Red Light District History: During The Second World War.
New Drugs Laws in Holland Caused By Dutch Municipalities
Posted on: October 30, 2017
Picture source: Explosion
Growing Weed In The Netherlands Takes its Next Step To Full Legalisation
(This article has last been updated on the 10th of November 2017)
The new Dutch cabinet will allow for the distribution of legal weed in some municipalities. The new government weed will be cultivated locally and then spread among six to ten municipalities. It is a test to see if legally growing weed in the Netherlands decreases crime and if the weed can contain less harmful substances. Municipalities can sign up for the experiment. The intention is that mainly medium and large cities participate. One organisation is given a government license to grow weed. The responsible ministry will elaborate how and who will precisely handle that task.
Less Drug Crime Is The Goal
With the production of legal weed, the Dutch government hopes that drug crime will decrease. At the moment, it is tolerated to sell weed at a coffeeshop, but it is illegal to buy the drugs as a coffeeshop. Coffeeshops are forced to deal with criminals to get, and replenish, their inventory. Illegal weed cultivation creates a lot of nuisances and dangers. The experiment must also show what effects the legally grown weed has on public health. Illegal weed contains many harmful substances.
Breakthrough After Many Years About Growing Weed In The Netherlands
“An experiment with legal cultivation can be called a breakthrough,” says political reporter Fons Lambie. “It has been talked about for decades. It’s remarkable that it’s the current coalition that is making it happen. On one side, D66 has always been in favour of complete legalisation, on the other side, the Christian parties such as the Christian Union and CDA have always been against it.” The Christian parties believe that the government should do everything in its power to remove addictive substances from society. The legalization in the Netherlands is also a sensitive subject for the VVD, but a majority of the VVD Party Congress voted in November 2016 for smarter regulation of weed cultivation.
New Law Happening Because Of Pressure By Dutch Municipalities
The fact that the experiment is happening at all is due to the calls made by more and more municipalities for legalisation, according to Lambie. The calls mainly come from municipalities in Noord Brabant and Limburg, where the nuisance from weed crime is high. In addition, our policies are becoming increasingly out of date.
Dutch Municipalities Line Up For The Legal Production Of Soft Drugs
Mayor Paul Depla of the city of Breda is pleased that some 25 municipalities have already registered with plans, even if there is only room for eight or ten municipalities in the trials. “I want to experiment with as many models as possible, so we can choose which one is best for regulated weed farming,” he told the Dutch state broadcasting service NPO during a radio interview. Depla was one of the initiators of the “weed manifesto”, drawn up in 2014 by municipalities, which states that weed farming regulation is the solution to the problems of soft drug policy.
Joint Vending Machines
Depla also finds it dangerous that it is currently not clear how the weed is produced. “We do not know how the weed in our coffee shops is produced. That’s a big problem.” Rotterdam has also signed up for the trial. Mayor Aboutaleb wants to go even one step further and add distribution to the experiment, for example, via the Internet or with joint vending machines. If successful, coffee shops could close the doors.
A weed vending machine. Picture source: Greenrushdaily
New Crime Sabotage Fund
During the new Dutch cabinet, there will also be a so-called “sabotage fund” containing 100 million euros to tackle drug crime. The money is being invested into seizing drug shipments and the tracking down of perpetrators. The previous cabinet also promised to make a serious effort in the fight against drug crime. That is what the new cabinet is doing.
Did you enjoy this article? Others who read this article also read: Amsterdam Coffeeshops Closing Down. But Why? and 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Drugs Holland.
Anne Frank Comic Book Made From Diary
Posted on: October 28, 2017
Anne Frank, drawn as the lauded journalist and writer she hoped to become. This Article was originally posted by Dutch newspaper NRC.
New Anne Frank Comic Book Shows Her Thoughts & What She Hoped For
For the first time, an official comic book of Anne Frank’s diary has been published. Israeli film maker Ari Folman (known for the animated film Waltz with Bashir) and draftsman David Polonsky converted the world famous diary-in-letters into a graphic novel. They did so at the request of the Anne Frank Fund in Basel, which owns the rights to the diary. The reason for the authorised Anne Frank comic interpretation is the fact that it was seventy years ago that Anne Frank’s diary first appeared in print. Her father Otto Frank, the only survivor of the family to make it trough war and out of the camps, published Anne’s report of hiding in the backroom in 1947. Among others, after advice from author Cissy van Marxveldt, whose books Anne Frank admired, and were the form on what Anne’s diary letters are based: a (imaginary) girlfriend. (“Cissy of Marxveldt writes bang,” wrote Anne on October 14, 1942).
“When the Nazis came to power, they wanted to remove all the Jews from German society. Even though the Jews only made up 1 percent of the population, still the Nazis believed that we are the root of all evil.” – excerpt from the Anne Frank Comic Book
Catering To A New, Younger Audience
Folman and Polonsky have been working on the project for five years. Initially, he did not see anything in the project, Folman writes in the afterword: what can you add to the diary of the thirteen-year-old that is already world-renowned and written so imaginatively and humorously? The fund of the heir’s of the Frank family also asked him to make an animation film about Anne’s life – coming out next year. That request struck him less hard to do than the stumbling block of the book. The Anne Frank Fund would like to have this Anne Frank comic book (and animation film) to keep the story of Anne and the murderous persecution of the Jews alive among a younger audience, which is more attracted to images than texts due to modern media forms.
Eventually, Folman and Polonsky took on the task of depicting Anne’s diary. They sometimes follow the diary literally, with complete letters, and they place Annes’s text into images with speech bubbles. Like Anne’s description of the eight people living in the Backroom having dinner – all persons being drawn as funny animal species.
The fellow residents and Anne hiding from the Nazis in the Backroom, presented as funny animals.
This is done with the spirit of Anne in mind, not her literal descriptions. There are more of those successful artistic solutions to capture the atmosphere of Anne’s diary. Like her dreams of fear, or how she has continuous criticism about herself – we see Anne in the form of Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream. There is also a portrait of Anne in which we see her later self, as a famous writer and journalist – that she dreamed of becoming: „[…] Will I ever become a writer or journalist again? I hope so, I hope so […]” (April 5, 1944).
Anne Frank imagines herself being one of the famous movie stars of that era.
The unsettling atmosphere in the hiding place, the piercing war news, Anne’s humorous look at fellow residents, her emerging sexuality – they are very successfully captured in comic form. Because her letters are sometimes literally included, you get the feeling close to the written original. The comic book stops where Anne’s diary ends, on August 1, 1944. How they and others are taken out of the Back House three days after and die in the camps, is told briefly in the afterword. In the animation film that Folman made about Anne Frank’s life, he wants to portray her end, he said.
The Anne Frank comic book adaption is 148 pages long and will published in a total of 40 different languages.
Did you find this article interesting? Others who’ve read this article also read: Red Light District History: During The Second World War and 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Netherlands.
Prostitutes In The Netherlands Cost Almost A Million Per Year
Posted on: October 26, 2017
Prostitutes In Utrecht Aren’t Cheap
In the Dutch city Utrecht, only a handful of prostitutes are active. Yet they cost the community tons of money, reports Dutch newspaper WNL. This year alone, the municipality has spent 833.226 euros in aid and other services for prostitutes in Utrecht.
Outdoor Prostitution Allowed With A Permit In Utrecht
Currently, 62 women have a permit for the designated tippelzone (hustle zone), an outdoor are where cars come to pickup prostitutes . Of these 62 women, 26 women are addicted to some type of drugs. They usually live in Lister hostels (specialised in drug addiction and mental care) or at the Army of Salvation. There they get shelter and guidance. The addicted prostitutes who live in hostels can apply for addiction care and relief assistance.
Parking spaces for sex at the hustle zone in Utrecht. Picture by: Hanno Janse/Mobypicture
Living Room For Prostitutes In Utrecht
The only place where addicted prostitutes are active is at the designated hustle zone at the Europalaan (Europe Lane). There is also a living room project at the Europe Lane where about 25 to 35 women spend every night. They get shelter during work, can request for help, and a doctor is present twice a week. This project is operated by “de Tussenvoorziening”, a company with various projects that assist prostitutes. De Tussenvoorziening is the largest subsidy applicant with 1.05 million euros. They were awarded a little more than 783.000 euros.
From that amount, long-term projects are also funded. These are projects that, according to their spokesman, require a lot of personalised care. The goal is to support the women who want to leave prostitution.
Hustling in the rain at the Europe Lane. Picture by: Matty van Wijnbergen.
Hustle Zone At Europe Lane In Utrecht Needs To Move
The local VVD (a conservative-liberal political party in the Netherlands) calls the high costs “ridiculous” and would prefer to close down the hustle zone at the Europe Lane. “Of course, we want women to get out of prostitution as easy as possible. But there’s just too much that goes wrong within prostitution,” said group chairman Dimitri Gilissen to The Telegraph. The hustle zone at the Europe Lane is located on a neglected industrial area. Prostitutes have been active there for thirty years. The municipality has been looking for another workplace for the prostitutes for years, but it has not been able to find a suitable alternative location so far.
Did you enjoy this article? Others who’ve read this article also read: Interview With A Dutch Prostitute In Amsterdam and Street Prostitution in Holland – An Interview With A Sex Worker.
Amsterdam Safety Rating: Number Six In Global Ranking
Posted on: October 19, 2017
The Amsterdam Safety Rating One Of The Highest In The World
Major capitals aren’t by definition unsafe and thanks to The Economist we now have a list of the safest cities in the world. Most noteworthy, Amsterdam is in place six of the safest cities in the world. Curious about the safest city in the world, and want to know where you should probably not walk the streets? Find out what the Amsterdam safety rating was based on below.
Yearly Safety Rating Done By The Economist
The Economist has compiled a list of the safest and unsafe cities in the world, the list was made by using 49 different indicators. It looked at personal safety, digital security, health safety and the quality of infrastructure. When it comes to personal security, you should think of terrorism and crime together with other types of violence. Similarly, digital security mainly deals with preparedness against cyber attacks. For health security they looked at access to healthcare, hospitals and first aid. With secure infrastructure the looked at the quality of the roads, buildings and bridges.
Japan Has The Most Safe Cities
The safest city in the world is Tokyo in Japan with 89.8 points followed by Singapore with a rating of 89,64. After Singapore we find the Japanese city, Osaka, in third, with a rating of 88.87. Amsterdam safety rating is 87.26 points. The city ends up between Melbourne and Sydney at the sixth spot. Last we find Karachi, located in Pakistan. Karachi was named to most unsafe city with just 38.77 points. Karachi had around 21,242,625 inhabitants in 2011, making it one of the largest cities in the world.
Most Safe Cities In The World according to The Economist’s Safe Cities Index 2017
- Tokio – Japan
- Singapore
- Osaka – Japan
- Toronto – Canada
- Melbourne – Australia
- Amsterdam – Netherlands
- Sydney – Australia
- Stockholm – Sweden
- Hong Kong – China
- Zurich – Switzerland
How safe is Amsterdam?
Very safe! It ranks in the top 6 safest cities in the world. There is a very low crime rate and strict laws against drugs and violence. Amsterdam is also small enough that you can easily walk or bike anywhere you need to go. The only time you might need to be careful is when you’re out at night, as there are areas of the city that can be unsafe. However, as long as you stay in well-lit areas and don’t wander off the beaten path, you should be fine. So overall, Amsterdam is a very safe city to visit.
Most Unsafe Cities In The World According To The Economist’s Safe Cities Index 2017
And these are the unsafest cities in the world…
- Karachi – Pakistan
- Yangon/ Rangoon – Birma
- Dhaka – Bangladesh
- Jakarta – Indonesia
- Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam
- Manila – Philippines
- Caracas – Venezuela
- Quito – Ecuador
- Teheran – Iran
- Cairo – Egypt
ALSO DISCOVER:
13 Amsterdam Red Light District Laws
Best Terraces In Amsterdam With Most Sun in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
25 Best Terraces In Amsterdam For Sun Lovers
As the weather warms up in Amsterdam, locals and tourists alike flock to the terraces in Amsterdam to enjoy some of the best views, food, and drinks in the world. Whether you’re in the mood for a Dutch beer, a French wine, a refreshing cocktail or a delicious meal, there is a terrace in Amsterdam that will exceed your expectations. In this article, we’ll take you on a journey to discover the top 25 best terraces in Amsterdam. From canal-side cafes to hidden rooftop bars, each terrace has its unique specialty, picturesque location, and atmosphere. So sit back, grab a drink, and get ready to explore the best of Amsterdam’s terrace culture!
Nothing beats hanging out at one of Amsterdam’s many terraces. And with a jacket on, it can also be done outside of the summer season. What follows are the best terraces in Amsterdam, with the most sun throughout the day, according to Dutch newspaper Het Parool.
Best Terraces in Amsterdam North
Amsterdam North has terraces by the waterfront and it still has plenty of open space. In North one can do some great sunbathing. For example, at Hangar and at de Ceuvel. Both have a Industrial design and everything well assembled. Another great spot for some early or late summer time chilling is Pllek? Pllek’s beach will have you in a heat wave in early March!
The beach at Pllek in Amsterdam North.
Best Terraces in Amsterdam East
This part of Amsterdam has many roof terraces like: GAPP at Casa 400 and Badplaats van het Volkshotel (bathing terrace). But you also have some nice places below sea level in the Eastern part of Amsterdam like Elsa’s and de Vergulde Eenhoorn, where even a watery sun is pleasant.
Best Terraces in Amsterdam South
At Gent aan de Schinkel you can sit with a blanket on the terrace as the sun shines. If you find that place too noisy, you can cycle on towards the Blue Tea House in the Vondelpark. Don’t feel like doing self-service? Then go to the beer terrace Vondelpark3.
Het Bosch located on the waterfront of de Nieuwe Meer will provide you with plenty of sunshine, but you’ll need a windjacket.
The Blue Thee House located in the center of the Vondelpark.
Best Terraces in Amsterdam West
In West, Rooftop terraces have also become a normal sight. At Floor17 you’ll sit like a royal in a beanbag slurping a cocktail. A more fashionable audience can be found at Radijs at the Admiralengracht. And, of course, the Westerpark is a wonderful place for some careful sunbathing; at Pacific Park and Ton Ton Club West you’ll be in the sun for a long time.
Best Terraces in Amsterdam City Centre
Where do you find a terrace in the center that isn’t very touristy? We would like to be in: Hanneke’s Boom and Roest though they are on the edges of the center of Amsterdam. For some real center terrace action we’d advice the Soundgarden. The terrace is on the side of the Lijnbaansgracht, not far from the ‘tropical’ waterfront terrace. Nice and quit is the terrace of Pension Homeland, which received five stars from a reviewer of the Parool.
Best Terraces in Red Light District
De Wallen or Red Light District is also located in the city centre of Amsterdam. This is the oldest and most beautiful part of the city. The terraces on the a square which is named the Nieuwmarkt, have surprisingly long sunshine, lots of cafes and really great for people watching. Combine your terrace visit with this fascinating Red Light District tour. It’s an app with an amazing audio tour hosted by a virtual guide and it has real stories from 22 experts, including sex workers.
The Nieuwmarkt in the center of Amsterdam. Picture by: Roeland Koning.
Best Terraces In Amsterdam New West
At Hotel Buiten, on the north side of the Sloterplas, You’ll see the sun disappear in the water of the Sloterplas. And it’s a bicycle ride, but at Het Rijk van de Keizer you’ll sit heavenly in the meadow at the edge of the city. Close to Sloterdijk, Bret’s roof also is quite nice to bath in the sun.
Best Terraces In Amsterdam’s Southeast
There aren’t that many nice terraces in the Southeast part of Amsterdam, but at Oma Ietje at the Heesterveld, you can sit well. Here you can enjoy tasty sandwiches and salads and they also serve a nice seasonal beer. A little further away, at the Gaasperplas, is Boerderij Langerlust, an idyllic spot in the middle of the greens.
Tips on the best time to visit and reservations or booking requirements
Amsterdam’s terrace culture is incredibly popular, and you may find that some terraces are packed during peak hours or the weekends. If you want to avoid the crowds, it’s best to visit during the early afternoon or mid-week. Additionally, some of the terraces may require a reservation, especially during the summer months. It’s always best to check beforehand, especially if you’re visiting with a large group. Finally, don’t forget to dress appropriately for the weather; Amsterdam can be unpredictable, and you don’t want to get caught in the rain while enjoying a drink on a terrace. Make sure you checker the weather in Amsterdam with these forecast apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 | What are some of the best terraces in Amsterdam with a canal view?
Some of the best terraces in Amsterdam with a canal view include Café de Jaren, Hannekes Boom, and Waterkant.
2 | Are there any rooftop bars with a terrace in Amsterdam?
Yes, Amsterdam has several rooftop bars with terraces, including SkyLounge Amsterdam, Canvas Op de 7e, and Madam.
3 | Can I smoke on terraces in Amsterdam?
Smoking is banned in all indoor public spaces in Amsterdam, including terraces. However, some terraces may have designated smoking areas.
4 | Are there any terraces in Amsterdam that are open year-round?
Many terraces in Amsterdam are only open seasonally, from April to September. However, some terraces like Café Wildschut and Café de Jaren are open year-round.
5 | Are there any family-friendly terraces in Amsterdam?
Yes, there are several family-friendly terraces in Amsterdam, such as Pllek, Roest, and Westergasterras. These terraces offer a variety of food and drink options and often have outdoor play areas for children.
ALSO READ:
5 Bars in Amsterdam Dam Square
15 Things To Do In Amsterdam Red Light District
New Dutch Prostitution Laws: Cabinet Reintroduces A Ban On Pimps
Posted on: October 13, 2017
New Dutch Prostitution Laws Will also Create A Compulsory Licensing System
The new cabinet wants to re-introduce the ban on pimps. There will also be a compulsory licensing system for prostitutes. These are the new Dutch prostitution laws set out by the future cabinet. Those involved in the cabinet formation confirm that these new dutch prostitution laws are in the new government accord. VVD, CDA, D66 and Christen Unie (Christian Union) hope to fight exploitation in the sex industry. There will also be additional money for prostitution-exit programs.
Pimp Ban In The Netherlands
The ‘souteneursverbod’ (pimp ban) was scraped back in 2000, along with the brothel ban. Since then it is a legal profession. But gaining financial benefit from other people’s sexual services now returns to the Dutch criminal code, if its up to the new coalition.
Dutch parliament. Picture by Markus Bernet, Wikimedia.
Prostitutes To Register With The Government
Simultaneously with the reintroduction of the ban, the new coalition wants prostitutes to register. This has been the subject of debate within Dutch parlement for years. Proponents, such as the Christian Union, think that such a duty of consent gives the government better visibility over the sex industry. Opponents, including D66, say that the privacy of prostitutes is being violated. In the formation, D66 party has now given in to the Christian Union.
Mandatory Registration Has Been Debated For Years
Previously, Cabinet Rutte II abolished the proposal for a registration requirement for prostitutes because there was insufficient support for it in the First Chamber (Senate). Instead they went for a minimum age of 21 years for workers in the sex industry. This proposal however has not yet been adopted. In practice, municipalities like Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague already use a form of registration. Recently, the administrative court and the Personal Data Authority have slammed this practice: it would be in violation of the Personal Data Protection Act. These new Dutch prostitution Laws are the brainchild of the Christian Union, which has been fighting against forced prostitution for years. Party leader Gert-Jan Segers previously submitted a law that would make it a criminal offence if someone has sex with a prostitute who might know that they are victims of human trafficking. That proposal was adopted last year in the Lower House (congres).
Did you find the article interesting? Others who read this article also read: Interview With A Dutch Red Light District Prostitute and Interview With A Male Sex Worker In Amsterdam
20 Best Red Light District Pictures of Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2024
The 20 Best Red Light District Pictures and of Amsterdam
The pictures were collected from our Instagram account and sorted according to the number of likes by our followers. Like the pictures? Stay up to date on Amsterdam and the district via our Instagram account and get the best Red Light District pictures everyday!
Number 1, with 375 likes!
One of our guides took this picture from his bike in Amsterdam. “I just came from the Red Light District and cycled home – to the south of the city.”
Number 2, with 282 likes!
Meanwhile in Amsterdam… the World Naked Bike Ride!
Number 3, with 235 likes!
Amsterdam’s Red Light District in LEGO. ???
Number 4, with 234 likes!
The heart of the Red Light District.
Number 5, with 232 likes!
The famous Bull Dog coffeeshop is number five on our list of best Red Light District pictures. The shop in the picture was the first Bull Dog coffeeshop in Amsterdam and is one of the highlights of our tour.
Number 6, with 228 likes!
The Red Light District, not just on the street level.
Number 7, with 225 likes!
A farmer looking for a wife in Amsterdam.
Number 8, with 222 likes!
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Oudezijds Kolk. Yes, this is the Red Light District too! ?
Number 9, with 213 likes!
Amsterdam from above, look like lego!
Number 10, with 213 likes!
This dog is waiting for his boss to come…
Number 11, with 212 likes!
Winter in Amsterdam… and this also a highlight during our walking tours!
Number 12, with 208 likes!
The Red Light District (a.k.a. De Wallen) is part of The Canon of Amsterdam – a list of 50 subjects, called ‘windows’, containing important events & developments in the history of Amsterdam.
Number 13, with 202 likes!
Number 13 on our list of best Red Light District Pictures, don’t you just love Amsterdam?!
Number 14, with 199 likes!
Yahoo & Fox News listed us as one of the wackiest tours of the world. Join us and learn everything about the most fascinating part of Amsterdam!
Number 15, with 198 likes!
Chilling by the canals in Amsterdam.
Number 16, with 198 likes!
Is this the real life?
Number 17, with 197 likes!
Hotel de l’Europe is a five-star hotel located on the Amstel river in the centre of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Hotel de l’Europe is situated opposite to and overlooks the Munt, where the river Amstel flows into the Rokin canal. The 19th-century hotel became an official monument (rijksmonument) in 2001.
Number 18, with 198 likes!
Prostitution comes from Latin and means: Placing in front [pro is upfront and otatuere means placement]. ‘Whore’ is an old Indo-European word, related to the Old Indian word Kama [like in Kamasutra] meaning lust.
Historically, levied at any women who stepped outside the norms of modest behaviour and upset the status quo. Whore originally derives from the Germanic ‘horon’ meaning “one that desires”.
In old Norwegian the word is ‘hora’ [adulteress woman]. In Dutch it’s called: “hoer” and is almost pronounced the same way as the English word ‘whore’.
Number 19, with 197 likes!
A stormy night in the Netherlands.
Number 20, with 195 likes!
The last one on our list of best Red Light District Pictures, take a walk on the wild side…
Others who read this piece also read Frequently Asked Questions of Amsterdam’s Red Light District and something you should know about Amsterdam’s La Vie & Proost
Filemon Op De Wallen New Red Light District Documentary
Posted on: October 12, 2017
Amsterdam Red Light District In Dutch Documentary ‘Filemon Op De Wallen’
On Tuesday September 26th 2017, Dutch reporter and presenter Filemon Wesselink from Dutch public broadcaster BNNVARA joined one of our Red Light District tours with his camera team to do a recording for his new documentary series: Filemon op De Wallen.
In it he will try to get a better picture of Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District and the changes that have been made to it in the last 10 years. For the documentary Filemon op De Wallen other stakeholders like the brothel operators, sex workers, employees of sex theatre Casa Rosso, locals and the Dutch justice department were also interviewed.
Our local guide showed him around in Amsterdam Red Light District together with 15 other regular tourists. The rich history of the Red Light District was discussed and our guide showed the highlights of the area, like: world’s first condom shop, Amsterdam’s oldest building, the window brothels, the coffeeshops, the typical Dutch architecture, the last peep show in the Netherlands, transgender & female sex workers, the infamous Zeedijk street, hidden art and much more…
Not Just The Highlights Of The Red Light District Were Discussed
Besides the highlights subjects like the safety measures on the Red Light District, Dutch liberalism and open mindedness, sexual education in the Netherlands and Dutch drug policies were discussed.
How Did The Tourists And Filemon React To The Red Light District?
During the recording for Filemon op de Wallen, Filemon asked questions to both the tourists and our local guide. Filemon was particularly interested in the views that the tourists had about the Red Light District of Amsterdam. The tourists were pleasantly surprised about the openness of Dutch society in the Red Light District.
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Old Church Square (Oudekerksplein)
After the tour was finished Filemon interviewed our local guide and asked him questions, such as: What can be improved in Amsterdam’s Red Light District? Where do you get all your information? What can be done about the big crowds in the Red Light District? What is your opinion about the recently implemented covenant with the City of Amsterdam? Do you tell the tourists not to take pictures of the sex workers? Etcetera.
Filemon Wesselink’s Rise To Dutch Fame
Filemon Wesselink arrived into the Dutch national spotlight when he became the last person to do a radio interview with Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn just minutes before he was assassinated. By pure coincidence he also witnessed the arrest of the assassin. After that the Netherlands got to know him a little better with the TV program “Injecting And Swallowing” (Spuiten en Slikken). In this program he tried out a different type of drug every week on Dutch National television.
Production House De Witte Geit (De White Goat)
The documentary is being produced by production house De Witte Geit, established in 2014. The company is owned by Pim Castelijn and Balt van Zeggeren. Van Zeggeren also joined us on the tour during the recording night. The duo behind the De Witte Geit have produced some of Holland’s best known TV programs like: Try Before You Die, Ranking The Stars And Spuiten En Slikken Op Reis (Injecting And Swallowing Travels Abroad). You can check out more of their production work here.
Tourism In Netherlands Keeps On Growing
Posted on: October 4, 2017
People Spend More On Tourism In Netherlands
Foreign tourists spent 7% more during their stay in the Netherlands in comparison to last year according to the CBS (Governmental Statistics Bureau). Tourism in Netherlands continues to grow, showing only positive numbers. Compared to the entire Dutch economy, the tourism sector has been growing faster for years. As a consequence the interests of tourism sector are also gaining in importance.
Light blue line: hospitality sector, dark blue line: Dutch GDP. 100 represents 2010, starting point. Source: CBS
Netherlands Tourism Revenue
At this time tourism in Netherlands accounts for 3,9 percent of the Dutch economy. A few years ago in 2015 this number was just 3 percent. This big increase is predominately due to the foreign tourists. When the Netherlands was in a double dip recession during the great recession and Euro crisis, tourism in Netherlands kept increasing. One could say that the foreign tourist bailed out the Dutch economy.
Foreign Tourists Go To Amsterdam
Besides the increase in euros spent the number of tourists visiting the Netherlands has also increased. This is especially the case for Amsterdam which attracts tourists from all over the world who want to stay for a couple of nights or people who are in Amsterdam for a plane change over and decide to stay for one or two days.
Other popular places in the Netherlands for international tourists are Volendam en Giethoorn.
The Dutch Themselves Are The Biggest Tourist Group In The Netherlands
In the rest of the Netherlands there are more Belgian and German tourists, but the increase in tourism for these parts of the Netherlands is predominantly due to the Dutch spending more themselves. In general, the Dutch tend to avoid Amsterdam. In total the Dutch spent around 45 billion euros on tourist activities in 2016 in their own country.
Tourism spending in the Netherlands in billions of euros, source: CBS
– Dark green: foreign tourist spending
– Light green: domestic tourist spending with internal destination
– Dark blue: domestic tourist spending with destination abroad
– Light Blue: Other
Tourism Jobs In Netherlands
With the increase in tourism and spending the number of jobs also increased with 20% in the last 6 years. A total of 542.000 people work in the hospitality sector accounting for 389.000 full time jobs. Around three quarters of the jobs in the hospitality sector consist of typical services like the hotel and catering services, amusement parks, air travel, travel- and mediation and culture and art. The remaining quarter consists of retail, public transport and taxi services.
Others who read this article also read 10 Things You Didn’t know About the Netherlands and An Interview with a Prostitute and her Boyfriend
Amsterdam Does Not Agree With Court Verdict On Prostitution Policies
Posted on: September 18, 2017
Amsterdam Prostitution Policies Won’t Given Up Without A Fight. City Of Amsterdam Won’t Settle For Judges Verdict
The court ruled, among other things from the current Amsterdam prostitution policies, that window brothel operators no longer need to take do intake interviews with their candidate tenants to test whether they are doing the work voluntarily. Since 2013, operators were obliged to conduct such conversations, but according to the judge, they did not contribute to improving the position of the sex workers.
Window Brothel Operators Can’t Be Responsible For Everything
The Dutch judge ruled that that window brothel operators can not be responsible for checking if sex workers clean their sex toys with the right disinfectants. According to the court, they can’t do more than inform and facilitate the sex workers.
Registration Of Sex Workers in the Netherlands Information Goes Against Privacy Law
The fact that operators have to keep the copies of signed intake forms, and be able to present them during inspections, is in violation of the Personal Data Protection Act, which is National legislation. In other Dutch municipalities, including The Hague, this type of data was registered at the municipality level. But on Tuesday, the Authority on personal information announced that the municipality has no right to do so.
Interviews Have Been Taking Place For 4 years
The intake interviews were mandated by the municipality in 2013, allowing operators to become aware of signals that indicate exploitation and possible human trafficking. However, according to the court, this goal is not achieved because operators are not trained in recognising these signals.
City of Amsterdam Won’t Settle For Judges Verdict
Amsterdam continues to believe that the window brothel operators have a responsibility in preventing wrongs in their companies and fears that the new ruling has far-reaching consequences for the implementation of Amsterdam prostitution policies. The municipality has requested an accelerated appeal. In the interim period, the operator’s duty of care remains valid. The operators have been informed about this by letter.
Others who read this also read Criticism On Prostitution In the Netherlands Rebutted By Dutch Professor and An Interview With an Amsterdam Prostitute and her Boyfriend
Prostitution Criticism Rebutted
Posted on: September 13, 2017
Everywhere, within prostitution in the Netherlands and outside of it, you’ll find aggressive assholes
Aggressive assholes can be found everywhere, in and outside of prostitution in the Netherlands. Most customers of prostitutes use their services in a correct manner, writes professor Ine Vanwesenbeeck, associated with Rutgers Knowledge Center on Sexuality in this opinion piece, originally posted by the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant.
Ine Vanwesenbeeck is Professor of Sexual Development, Diversity and Health at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Utrecht University.
Renate van der Zee, journalist & writer, recently made the call in the Dutch media that above all we should stop romanticising prostitution in the Netherlands. Against, in her eyes, unreasonably rosy representations of prostitution she brought some so called objective facts that had to convince the reader of the fact that prostitution is a horrible place, where women are systemically abused by malicious men.
As we have become to expect of her, she won’t shy away from lying, exaggeration and ballyhoo. My work gets indecently cited using figures found by me that 40 percent of women in prostitution have been abused in their youth. She doesn’t mention another study done by me, published at the same time, which showed a number of 15 percent (a figure that doesn’t meaningfully differ from abuse figures among the general female population).
Link Between Childhood Trauma And Prostitution Remains Vague
No word on my central conclusion, after a systematic review of 20 years of scientific research on prostitution in the Netherlands, that the link between childhood trauma and sex work remains vague. Or on the fact that figures invariably differ with every sample that is researched and that the only fact in all this remains that most sex workers don’t have childhood traumas and that most trauma victims don’t become sex workers.
Violence Against Women Is A Societal Problem
The biggest problem with the tendentious rabble rousing done by Van der Zee is that she makes it seem like just about all violence against women happens just in prostitution. But even tear-jerking, sensationalised anecdotes about ‘anal rape by large endowed males’ are not exclusive to the world of commercialised sex. Stories about sexism, exploitation, manipulation and sexual violence can be cataloged for private and work environments too. The same goes of course for ‘cultures of silence and secrecy’ with, eventual, psychological problems as the end result.
Don’t Ignore The Happy Sex Workers And Customers
In 2015, prostitutes protested in Amsterdam’s Red Light District against the closure of dozens of window brothels.
Aggressive assholes can be found everywhere. Most customers of sex workers use their services in a correct manner. The denial of this basic fact shows the ignorance about the positive quality of many commercial sex relationships. And the belief that commercial sex isn’t sex together with romantic sex being the only good form of sex, is entirely unrealistic and naïve. Everywhere, in sex work and outside of it, there is a large diversity. Everywhere things like autonomy, agency and vulnerability are unevenly divided. The point is to work out how the position of especially the most vulnerable, in sex work and outside of it, can be empowered.
Critic Offers No Vision For Improvement
And this shows the second flaw in Van der Zee’s analysis. It offers no vision for improvement for sex workers or other women. Screaming out loud that prostitution is unacceptable doesn’t console anyone. Moreover, the actual framing of sex workers as sorry victims and prostitution as the ultimate form of misery only strengthens the stigma on sex work and the vulnerability of sex workers towards exploitation and violence.
Don’t Ignore The Scientific Research
These days there is an international body of work that shows it’s lawlessness and the marginalising of sex workers that promotes isolation and aggression. Van der Zee is apparently unfamiliar with this body of work. She decries the so-called romanticisation of ‘us Dutch’, ‘free thinkers and sex positives’, but the battle for de-stigmatisation and sex workers rights has been amply supported by science and is being campaigned for by dozen’s of respected NGO’s and 250 sex worker organisations globally. The continuous discourtesy against millions of sex workers, who are represented by these originations, is unbecoming of a fair-minded opinion maker.
Want To Help? Stop Stigmatising Prostitution in the Netherlands!
Prostitution in the Netherlands isn’t an isolated phenomenon, but part of the large complex whole of sexual and economic relationships: between the sexes, between ethnic groups and between countries and continents. All (hetero) sex, commercial or not, relates to in one-way or the other the current female sexual subservience and male sexual privilege. Sex workers won’t as a matter of course draw the short straw automatically, but as a group they do become relatively vulnerable because of stigmatisation. Opinion makers who endlessly hammer on about the horrors of prostitution only make that problem worse.
Others who read this article also read: Interview With A Dutch Red Light District Prostitute and Illegal Sex Work Takes Place In Areas With The Least Control
Illegal Prostitution In Smaller Cities in the Netherlands
Posted on: September 1, 2017
Illegal Prostitution On The Move in the Netherlands
Illegal prostitutes (without license and/or registration) have become more active in the border communes of the city of Rotterdam and also in the Eastern provinces of the Netherlands: Overijssel and Gelderland.
In Rotterdam illegal prostitution has been on the decline since new strong measures by the Dutch government have been implemented. Illegal prostitution and the accompanying crime are now moving to Vlaardingen and Ridderkerk, located 30 minutes away of Rotterdam.
A map of the Netherlands. The red circles mark Dutch cities with increased illegal prostitution.
In the last few years’ dozens of properties have been closed in Rotterdam. The properties usually stand in normal residential areas. In the illegal brothels one generally finds bad working conditions and exploitation of the women who work there. Neighbours have to deal many hindrances because of the visitors during the day and night. Whore visitors stand in their streets and sometimes, by accident, in front of their door.
Other Dutch Municipalities Are Following Suit
Schiedam, Vlaardingen, Ridderkerk, Nissewaard and Capelle aan den Ijssel have al started closing down their illegal brothels. Other municipalities in the Rotterdam region, such as Barendrecht and Maassluis, state that they are unfamiliar with illegal prostitution.
Zoomed into the Dutch cities Vlaardingen & Ridderkerk, just outside of Rotterdam.
The Problem Of Illegal Prostitution Is Still Being Underestimated By Others
All these facts came to light after stock-taking done by Dutch newspaper Het Algemeen Dagblad who got the information after applying for a Dutch version of a freedom of information request. According to many persons involved, municipalities still underestimate the problem.
Illegal prostitutes offer their services on multiple online platforms specifically for sex or even on Dutch versions of Ebay, like Speurders.nl. Who searches for a random municipality will almost certainly find active prostitutes. A segment of them do it by the book, the others illegally.
Rotterdam On The Offensive Against Sex Industry
Rotterdam has been clamping down on the sex industry in the last few years. It saw the number of in-home sex workers increase significantly after it closed the tippelzone (hustle zone: prostitutes can offer their sex services on a designated street outdoors or indoors) on the Keileweg. It wants to stop the uncontrolled growth.
An example of a tippelzone in the Netherlands, located in Utrecht.
Crime Just Moves To Other Places
Maria Scalei, director of SHOP (Social Workers for Prostitutes and Victims of Human Trafficking), warns against the ‘waterbed-effect’. She argues that; “Criminals will start operating in the areas where the chances of getting caught are the lowest”. Municipalities with a plan/ procedure against illegal brothels check every sexual advert. They also receive reports from the anonymous crime report hotline in the Netherlands.
Total Number Of Illegal Prostitution Cases In Rotterdam
Last year Rotterdam handled a total of 66 cases concerning illegal prostitution. 30 of them were about the closure of illegal prostitution brothels – including 10 massage parlours – and 29 non-compliance penalties. A total of 5 warnings were also handed out. Two times, after further study of the case, Rotterdam refrained from sanctions. By comparison: the combined number of cases for 2014 and 2015 was just 39. Documents also show that illegal prostitution isn’t just confined to problem areas, it happens in every quarter of Rotterdam.
Illegal Prostitution On The Outskirts of the Netherlands
In the eastern provinces of the Netherlands, Overijssel and Gelderland, illegal prostration has been on the increase according to the Dutch Prostitution Surveillance Team from East-Netherland. The special police team reported 100 cases of illegal prostitution in the last year alone.
Three-quarters of the cases were about prostitutes working from home without a permit. In most of the cases their pimp provided the housing. In 43 cases the prostitutes had debts. They were trying to get out of debt by doing illegal prostitution. 7 times the police found cases of human trafficking.
Less Options For Legal Work In Prostitution in Netherlands
The number of legal brothels in Gelderland and Overijssel has decreased in the last few years from 85 to 68. The surveillance team of the police checks about 1200 adverts per day so the increase of illegal prostitution is quite obvious.
Others who read this article also read The Red Light District in Amsterdam Is The Most Pedestrian Friendly Part of the Netherlands and An Interview With a Dutch Street Prostitute
Amsterdam's Red Light District Most Pedestrian Friendly Part Of Holland
Posted on: January 1, 2024
Best Streets of Amsterdam in Red Light District
60% of all space is designated for pedestrians
The Netherlands is a bicycle country, but research encompassing the 20th largest municipalities shows that predominately the car gets the most public space. Both cyclists and pedestrians lose out. But for pedestrians there is most space in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, it has the best streets in Amsterdam and 19 other major cities.
The Red Light District has the best Amsterdam pedestrian area.
Cars Have Primacy in the Netherlands
According to this study commissioned by the Nederlandse Milieudefensie (translated: Dutch Environment Defense) more than half of all the streets, 55% to be exact, have been reserved for cars. About a third of all street space is designated for pedestrians. The Dutch cyclist has to do with just 12 percent of all street space.
Research Done In 20 Dutch Municipalities
Researchers looked at every municipality in the Netherlands, separating the square meters designated for every car, bicycle and pedestrian. Based on this they determined which type of road users get priority in every neighbourhood of all 20 municipalities.
Red Light District Has The Best Streets In Amsterdam For Pedestrians
This sign in Amsterdam’s Red Light District says that it is for pedestrians only.
Interesting detail: Amsterdam’s Red Light District is one of the neighbourhoods where pedestrians get most of the available space. A total of 60 percent of all space is designated for pedestrians making it the highest scoring neighbourhood in all of Holland and the best streets in Amsterdam to walk around.
A lot of streets in Amsterdam’s Red Light District can not be reached by car and many alley’s in this area are for pedestrians only. The Old Church Square (Dutch: Oudekerksplein) is located in the heart of the Red Light District and is also only for pedestrians. Cyclists and moped riders can be fined if they ride on this square.
How To Prevent Future Congestion
A view of Amsterdam’s Red Light District during the day.
According to Milieudefensie municipalities should give more space to bicyclists and pedestrians to keep the cities live-able and to improve the air quality. Campaign leader Anne Knol states that “Cities are increasingly more congested and the largest polluting means of transportation takes op most of the space.” Saskia Kluit, director of the cyclist federation agrees with Knol: “Giving more than half of all space to cars is of course bizarre.” According to Kluit this research proves that cars take up an unevenly amount of space. “For a long time this worked out well because bicycles don’t take up much space. But we can see now that the limited space for bicycles is starting to cause problems.”
New Types Of Bicycles Cause Problems
Kluit emphasises that in the last few years many new types of bicycles have been added to the road. “You can see an ever larger variety of bicycles: from the “bakfiets” (cargo bicycle) that moves slower than average to the new speed pedelecs that reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers an hour.” With wide bicycle lanes you could manage all different types of bicycles according to Kluit. “Only that rarely ever happens because there are always parked cars in the way.”
Dutch source: http://www.ad.nl/binnenland/meeste-ruimte-voor-wandelaars-op-de-wallen~a93340ce/
Others who read this news article also read New Rules for Amsterdam Red Light District and An Interview with an Amsterdam Prostitute together with her Boyfriend.
Amsterdam Red Light District Stories: Sex Worker Confessions
Posted on: July 23, 2017
Amsterdam Red Light District Stories
Some while ago, we received a comment on our website posted under our article about the Sex Palace Peep Show. A former stripper left a short message and shared what it was like to work in the Red Light District of Amsterdam. We’re always interested to hear Amsterdam Red Light District stories. Therefor we contacted this person, arranged an interview and asked these 10 questions:
Male Sex Worker in Amsterdam
1 | Who are you and what kind of work did you do in Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
I am Jimmy Wilson; born in Newcastle UK: I am now aged 59 years old, and during the 1990s I used to work in the Red Light District of Amsterdam as a performer in the peepshows. I was approx. 33 years old when I began performing in Amsterdam.
A photo of Jimmy outside of a sex shop in Amsterdam in 1992.
Peep Show Definition
2 | Can you explain what a peep show is? How does this work exactly?
A stripper in Amsterdam’s peep show.
Amsterdam Red Light District Live Show
A peepshow such as the sexy palace – The Krat; was an establishment in which there could be up to 30 cabins built around a revolving circular podium, which would be approximately 2.5 metres in diameter. The customer would go into the cabin which had a window approx. 400mm x 300mm, some were two way mirrors and some had a curtain, there was a coin slot into which you had to insert guilders to open the curtain or reverse the mirror which would enable you to enjoy the performers and behind the closed door they could pleasure themselves.
There was a DJ who would play music non stop throughout the day. There could be up to twelve girls who would take it in turns to perform on the podium for 4 minutes at a time. The podium was never left empty; and so, when time was up for the girl who was performing another girl would say “hello”, and then pull the curtain aside and step onto the podium as the other girl gathered her material and got up to leave: each girl had her own velvet sheet to perform on; this was mainly for cleanliness.
There would also be a live show couple: this was a couple- man and wife; boy friend & girlfriend; that would put on a live sex show. We exchanged places in the same way as the girls; except that when the next girl to come onto the podium said “Hello”, I would stop what I was doing; wrap the material around myself and exit the stage via the curtain covering the doorway; the girl would then go on stage and my partner would exit the stage.
The girls who danced or performed would wear sexy bikinis and pose erotically for the men looking through the windows. They would slowly strip off what they were wearing, then when naked they would slowly and seductively go through different poses; rubbing their breasts; tweaking their nipples, opening their legs: they’d move from one position fluently and effortlessly from laying on their backs legs open’ then onto their sides raising a leg and then ono their hands and knees; always letting the customer see what he desired but could not touch. always making eye contact with the windows, pouting and licking their lips.
The entrance of Sex Palace Peep Show. Home to many Amsterdam Red Light District stories.
The sex show would be performed 14 times per day, seven days a week by the same couple; each show would last 15 minutes and would begin on the hour or on the half hour; depending on the peepshow. The couple show – live sex show – would always be performed to the same music by Enigma from their album MCMXC: The first 15 minutes of the album.
Some couples wore a costume or the men wore shorts: my partner always wore just a bikini and I walked on naked. During the first five minutes would begin by standing in the centre of the revolving podium kissing and touching each other. I would strip her bra away as we kissed and she fondled me, then we would be on our knees doing more of the same; I would then take her bottoms off so that she was like me; completely naked, the next five minutes was spent performing oral sex on each other. The final five minutes was spent having full intercourse in different positions; including anal sex with one girlfriend. After fifteen minutes our time was up and we’d exit the stage.
The inside of Sex Palace Peep Show: Solo cabins.
There were also two or three solo cabins in which a client or customer could have a one on one with any performer working that day. There were photos of the girls and the couple in the cabins each with a number. On the wall there was a panel with lit up numbered buttons; and the customer would push the button and a number on a panel in the girls room would light up letting them know who was needed in which cabin.
The girls room was where the girls relaxed; ate and watched TV between dances.
Instead of watching the girl or couple perform through a small window, the solo cabin windows were full length and the men could talk to the performers and ask them to do certain things to themselves. A striptease used to cost the equivalent of £10; a masturbation show was £20; and a vibrator show was £30. There was a space in the glass where the customer could pass the money to the performer. If they wanted to watch the couple together it was a lot more money. £50 for kissing and touching: £100 for oral: and £150 to watch the couple do it all. As long as the customer kept putting coins in the slot to keep the light on the performer; the girl or couple kept on going. Once the light went off the performer and went on in the customers side the show was over.
The first live show was at 11am and the final one was at 1 am. The girls started maybe an hour before the live show and finished a few minutes after the last live show.
3 | When and why did you do started working as a stripper in Amsterdam Red Light District?
Before starting as a stripper in Amsterdam I was a stripper in the pubs and clubs in the north east of England and Scotland. Then I began bringing girls over to Belgium to do striptease in the porn cinemas between breaks in the film, it was while my wife at the time that we ventured into the peepshows and saw how clean and horny it was compared to Scott’s cinemas. The manager of the Kuperskai peepshow was a coloured guy named Jean; I used to have a girl working in Gent porn cinema ABC and I used to drink in the bar over the road and id have a few drinks with Jean. He asked me to do a kind of half live show with my wife. It sounded like good money and it sounded horny so we agreed.
In these shows I could not take my shorts off nor could any kind of penetration take place; oral was only allowed on Paula. It was the same in the solo cabin: however once the door was locked and the customer asked to see us fucking, if the money was right we’d fuck in front of the customer as he masturbated. Once we’d had a taste of the live show we liked it, it was well paid; exciting and horny.
Our next stop was in Brussels where there were two porn cinemas on Adolph max boulevard; the ABC and the Paris. Just out of Brussel’s Nord train station was the Pigalle and the Babylon peepshows just about next to each other. The manager of the peepshow was Christoph and we spoke to him and his brother,’ Dito’, about doing live show. They asked if we’d seen a live show before to which we answered ‘no’. ‘ Go watch one’ its due on in five minutes’ we were told. We locked ourselves in the cabin and inserted some franc’s into the slot and the window cleared; the girl left the podium and the music of Enigma began to play and the couple started to do their thing; except this was a real live show; unlike the show we had performed in Gent.
We decided that we’d like to give it a shot and so went back to the office and discussed a contract. Christoph booked us into the Krat- sex palace, in Amsterdam for our first two weeks of real live show. This would have been about 1992. The manager of the peepshow was Eric- the boss’ son.
4 | How was it to work in Amsterdam Red Light District during the 1990’s? What were the reasons you liked this job so much?
This is what Amsterdam’s Red Light District looked like in the 1990’s. (Source: Huub Prickaerts)
The work in the red light district of Amsterdam was great! It was new; exciting; and of course everything about it was horny. I was being paid to fuck on stage; I was sitting in a room surrounded by naked and half naked girls; everywhere you looked there was a bar; porn; drugs; prostitutes; and some of the girls were up for sex too, a 3some with me and my wife.
‘I was being paid to fuck on stage…’
Amsterdam, 1994. A man paints a window brothel in the Red Light District.
I also carried a camera around with me and some of the dancers wanted their photos taken for the publicity boards outside the peepshow doorway and in the solo cabins. I got on well with Eric and everyone working in the peepshows, even some of the girls in the windows got to know me and used to give me a wave passed their window. What was there not to like?
5 | What kind of shows did you do in Amsterdam strip night club(s)? Solo? With women? With men?
All of the shows that I did were with my girlfriend or wife: I got through three marriages whilst doing the sex shows. Quite the Amsterdam Red Light District Stories. The only time I was alone with a male was in a solo cabin. The guy would press the number for the couple show and my partner would go to the solo cabin to tell the guy the prices of the show. A few times she came back and said that the guy wanted me! He wanted me naked and masturbating but he wanted me to watch him masturbate too. I did not enjoy that part of the work, and thank god it did not happen very often.
6 | How old were you when you realized you wanted to become a stripper/performer/sex worker?
I was 28 years old when I began stripping in the UK. My wife had began working as a stripper two years before me. I needed a job and she talked me into being a stripper.
Stripper Salary
7 | How much money did you earn per month as a sex worker in the peep show(s) of Amsterdam?
The pay worked out the same in most of the places that I worked, whether it was the German mark; Belgian franc; or the Dutch guilder it all worked out about £20 per show: 1000 Belgian Francs per show x 14 shows per day. 50 or 60 Dutch guilder per show; 1000 Luxembourg franc per show; all were 14 shows per day for the first few years; except in Hanover, Germany where I worked 19 shows per day. Multiply the pay per show by 14 and then multiply that by 7 and then multiply that by 4.2
8 | Did you have a relationship while you worked as a stripper in Amsterdam? If so, was your partner okay with working in the strip clubs?
Yes I was in a relationship while doing the live sex shows, though none of my marriages lasted. But I did have relationships with some girls over there too. I had a few threesomes with one of my wives and a girl, and more threesomes with another of my wives a few guys. It was free love just like back in the 60s I suppose.
9 | What were the things you liked most about Amsterdam?
I enjoyed Amsterdam and its people very much and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I liked the openness; the honesty; the girls; the bars; the atmosphere; the cafes; the sex; I loved it all and would do it all again if I could.
It’s just a shame that all of the establishments that I worked in, around Europe are now closed. But every time I hear the music of Enigma, the first 15 minutes of the album MCMXC it takes me right back there…
Amsterdam Red Light District Advice
10 | What would you like to say to people who visit Amsterdam Red Light District?
Leave your inhibitions behind. Try what you want to try; do what you want to do; live the life while you are there; embrace the way of the Red Right Area; no regrets…
ALSO READ:
An Interview With The Owner Of The First Condom Store In Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Interview Founder First Condom Shop In Amsterdam
We spoke with Theodore van Boven who is one of the owners of world’s first condom shop which was founded in 1987, on the oldest street of Amsterdam. It was opened in a time when there were more sexual transmitted diseases (STD’s) in the Netherlands and when talking about sex was still a taboo. Theodore, who lives in Amsterdam Red Light District – right above the condom shop, is a huge fan of sexual education at a young age. Early sex education decreases the chance on STD’s and teen pregnancy.
Fun fact: the child birth rate among teenagers in the Netherlands is one of the lowest in the world.
Theodore van Boven in front of the Condomerie – world’s first condom store. And the most famous condom shop Amsterdam.
History Of The Condom Shop In Amsterdam
When and why did you decide to start a condom shop in Amsterdam?
In 1987 on the 10th of April the idea popped up in our minds. A condom shop was necessary because of AIDS, the epidemic of the eighties. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was a deadly disease in those days. When you think about Aids you look, sour, sore and sad. We thought that if you make love in times of aids but you use a condom you can smile again! And that was the philosophy, to give the smile back to the people with safe sex. On the 20th of April we decided to do it and we opened the shop on the 30th of April 1987.
How did people react when you started this now famous condom shop Amsterdam?
When we started discussing this idea immediately the smile came on the faces of the people. We took it very seriously. Despite the art that we have, the color, the open atmosphere and the transparency, the fun parts, we seriously focus on the condoms. But even if you talk serieus about sex and safe sex automatically a smile will be on everybody’s face. So we have that perfect combination between serieus and fun.
Where does the name “condom” come from?
Nobody knows exactly. They say it’s latin, they say it’s from England, some say it’s from France, but I guess it has something to do with the latin origin but I’m not sure. The word Condomerie is something else! It does not exist, it’s a word we invented, it sounds French but it isn’t. In French it would be “capotterie”. In Dutch the word Condomerie gives a smile and some chicness. Lenny Bruce was my inspiration, he said “tits and ass is dirty, but if you say it in French it’s art”. So we decided on Condomerie.
Could you tell us something about the history of the condom?
The word condom is a couple of hundred years old probably. The condom itself, the history of the condom, is much much older. I like to study so I know that 5000 years ago king Minos on Crete used fish bladder condoms. But that was just written history, I’m pretty sure oral history goes even further back in time, maybe 10 – 20,000 years old. If we consider homo sapiens as our equal they had the brain to draw conclusions so I’m pretty sure it was used worldwide as a prevention tool.
When we started the condom shop in 1987 we were lucky because the Dutch liberal approach on sex education in general already existed. I believe that it existed because of the pragmatic approach of the Dutch in general. When you have a problem you have to solve it. It has to do with water, with dikes and other stuff but also with sex education. You also need a liberal mindset within society but also within the churches and that already existed. Of course you have left and right wing parts in the churches but for example in the sixties my father was involved in the protestant church in the legalisation of condom sales, and also sex education in primary schools. You need to educate your population. You need to provide them with products to protect themselves. You need to provide them with the knowledge to know how to protect themselves. If you don’t do that as a society or as a country in my belief you’re pretty stupid. The people living in all countries worldwide are not stupid and they are eager for knowledge. Sometimes politicians and decision makers are blocked by some belief, not religious per se, but just to stop educating their people.
Sex Education In (Public) Schools
At which age should people or teenagers get sex education?
In the Netherlands you get sex eduction in schools. I remember that I got my first sex education from the head of the primary school when I was 11 years old. It took around an hour but I only remember a single point he wrote down on the chalkboard. We believe now, because of our experience in the Condomerie with education and helping schools, that sex education should be given four times. The first time should be in primary school, the second time should be in secondary school in the first year when the are 12/13. When they become sexually active around the ages of 15/16/17 they should get the third instalment. And we believe it should be repeated when children leave the home. So when they go into the army, start at a job, studying, you have to repeat it.
Why do you think sex education needs to be started at this young age?
At a young age you have to explain it because they are starting to experiment with their thoughts, you don’t have to be very explicit. Unfortunately nowadays with the internet and social media children get confronted with images from a very young age. Don’t be naive, you have to tell them. Tell it in a good way, but not everything, you just have to start with it. If you ask young people about kissing you have to watch their expression if you start about adults kissing or parents kissing. Almost every young child finds that to be one of the most dirty things in life. But you have to educate them in a smart way.
The Target Audiance For The Condomerie Condom Shop Amsterdam
Where do most of the customers in your condom shop come from?
When we started in ’87 we were in the centre of Amsterdam. From the start we have had Dutch customers, local customers, from the rest of the country and prostitutes. The prostitutes have all different nationalities. And because Amsterdam is a tourist destination we also get people from all over the world. In the beginning we had people from Thailand from the ministry of health to see how we were doing it. We have a Dutch approach but we get interest from all over the world. What I have found out is that every culture and country is interested in a pragmatic good solution.
Is it mostly men or women who buy condoms in your shop?
Of course we sell male condoms since 1987. But not to our surprise women are also really interested. It’s probably 50/50 between men and women. We predominately focus on the women part because they are more interested in self protection because they can get pregnant. Their reproductive health and sexual hygiene are important. So it’s been 50/50 from 1987 all the way till the present.
What’s the most sold product in your condom shop?
In the beginning I did research for the brands and the novelty stuff. The novelty stuff like a hand or an elephant, everybody want’s to take a picture of that, but believe me, they only buy that one time. The most sold condoms, maybe 98/99%, are the dull standard condoms. But they do of course differ in size, material etc. etc. The normal condoms are sold the most, in the millions!
What if someone has an allergy for latex?
In 1987 the first questions were about sizes and latex allergy! So we researched that and asked advice from dermatologists and we developed our own allergy system which we called “CASSFFAC”. It stands for Condomerie, Amsterdam, Search System, For Finding, Allergy free, Condoms. That is what we use to advise people on allergy free condoms.
Condom Safety Tips
What’s important to guaranty the safety of a condom?
What we learned pretty quickly is that size is very important for safety. The standard size fits around 80% of all men so that’s fine. But you really need a good size, if it is too big it slides off, if it is too small it breaks! Circumference size is maybe even more important than thinness. The quality of the condom itself is of course also really important. In Europe the EU quality stamp is CE. ISO is the international standard, we are members of that organisation and the quality of condoms is written down for global use. The current set standard is ISO 4074 – 2002 but we are working on an update. Wherever you buy a condom both standards tell you that it is a good condom! Much better than 27 years ago. I’m not a big fan of the European community project because of some crazy rules but in this case it definitely works and the world standard is also helping to protect the people.
Condom Market Trends
What are the latest trends in condom shopping?
In 87 we had a couple of different brands but the development speeded up a lot. In the 90’s you had the non-latex condom and the arrival of the female condom. The female condom is made from nutrition and polyethyleen. It’s a good product. Then you had a trend with thinner condoms, non-latex condoms, sensoprene, isoprene. We still sell the sheep gut condom which is new but in a way also very old. The funny thing is that you have all kinds of new stuff and new trends but everybody entering the safe sex market is a newby. That is the fun part about selling condoms, every year you have a new generation who needs explanation! Luckily we can help them much better these days in finding the best option for them.
What’s the reason for the female condom not being really popular?
The female condom entered the market in 1992. I think it’s a very good option. Back then I figured that the market for the female condom market would be very small, around one or two percent. People say that it doesn’t sell that well versus male condoms but you should not look at it that way. In the Netherlands we have a whole range of options to protect ourselves and we should be happy with that. Something selling better than the other is really irrelevant for the consumer, they should be happy that there are so many options.
Condom Tips and Tricks
Could you share some do’s and don’ts with condoms?
When we started we developed our own list of do’s and don’ts to help our customers. One example is that young people like to shave. Strangely enough all the hipsters grow big beards but down there they shave! If that shaven hair grows then you have sharp hair and sometimes that sharp hair can cause breakage of the condom. Another example is making love for too long causing too much stretch of the condom. We advice a formula one tire change kind of pit stop to solve that problem. I challenge everybody to change their condom as fast as Max Verstappen changes his tires.
What would you like to say to the visitors of Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
We have a lot of sex workers here in Amsterdam and they should be respected at all times because they are practising safe sex while earning their money. What I really hate is people making pictures of the ladies, cursing, yelling and disrespecting these women. Most of the female sex workers are pretty well aware of what they are doing and you should respect them. Be gentle and be nice!
New Amsterdam Red Light District Rules
Posted on: July 12, 2017
New Amsterdam Red Light District Rules By City of Amsterdam & Tour Companies
The number of organised tours in the Red Light District has grown quite a bit in the past few years. Amsterdam’s Red Light District (locally known as “De Wallen“) is a popular area because it’s unique area in the world. It’s the oldest & most fascinating part of Amsterdam and contains typical Dutch architecture, several churches, a Buddhistic temple, cannabis shops, stock exchange, restaurants, bars, many window brothels, prostitutes and much more. But the Red Light District of Amsterdam is not just a tourist attraction; people also live and work there, and that has to be respected. New Amsterdam Red Light District Rules for tour organisations where made by the local government together with the help of tour guides.
Goal Of New Amsterdam Red Light District Rules
A select group of tour companies (us included), neighbourhood residents, interest groups and the local government have recently joined forces to ensure that the growth in interest in the Red Light District develops on the right track. They want to reduce the inconvenience that some tour companies cause and wish to maintain the industry’s good reputation as a hallmark of Amsterdam. For this reason we have agreed on new Amsterdam Red Light District rules created by the local government that stipulates how to carry out tours in this unique part of Holland’s capital. We’re a very proud member of the Amsterdam Red Light District tours agreement, sanctioned by the City of Amsterdam.
One of the goals of these new Amsterdam Red Light District Rules is to keep the area nice and liveable.
Exclusive members (inclusive us) of the Amsterdam Red Light District Tours agreement, sanctioned by the local government.
The picture above contains a big white-board with all the signatures of the companies/people who created and agreed to the new guidelines and Amsterdam Red Light District rules. The board is held by among others: Chairman of the City Centre of Amsterdam Boudewijn van Oranje (with glasses on the right) & alderman and the deputy major of Amsterdam Kajsa Ollongren (center, wearing the light brown coat). We’re at the top; fourth row.
You can read about the new guidelines on Red Light District tours in Amsterdam in this article.
The City of Amsterdam asks that all tour companies working in the Red Light District comply to some ground rules. By working together they can keep the Red Light District liveable and attractive for residents, business owners, prostitutes and visitors alike.
10 Guidelines For Red Light District Tours In Amsterdam
- The agreement pertains to the area that border the following streets/squares:
- Dam Square
- Warmoesstraat
- Zeedijk
- Nieuwmarkt
- Kloveniersburgwal
- Oude Hoogstraat
- Oude Doelenstraat
- Damstraat
- The goal is to limit the size of groups to 20 persons per tour guide. 20 persons is the maximum, but can be raised to 25 persons under exceptional circumstances.
- There will be no more Red Light District Tours after 11 pm.
- In order to limit nuisance to local residents, businesses and road users, groups will not standstill in the following areas:
- The alleys in the Sint Annenkwartier.
- In front of the entrance of coffeeshop The Bulldog.
- The Bridges on Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
- In front of the entrance of Casa Rosso Erotic Theatre.
- In front of the entrance of the Condomerie when it’s opened.
- Stoofsteeg alley.
- Gordijnensteeg – corner of Monnikenstraat.
- Bloedstraat.
- The guides will make every effort to prevent groups from restricting the flow of traffic.
- During opening hours, there will be no stopping in front of shop entrances, or entrances to restaurants, pubs, etc.
- The guide and the company can be identified by their company logo or badge.
- Sound amplification is not permitted during tours.
- The guide will kindly ask the participants to comply with the following local rules of conduct:
- Do not take pictures of sex workers.
- Do not misbehave, either in general or towards other members of the group or people on the street.
- Stay with the group.
- The guide will ensure that:
- The group doesn’t spread in different directions;
- The group doesn’t stand still in from of the window brothels;
- The group does not block entrances to shops, restaurants, etc. And only enters establishments with the permission of the owner;
- The group does not impede the flow of traffic;
- The tour ends before 11 pm.
Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Map
The image below shows the area where the new rules apply. The streets where groups aren’t allowed to stand still anymore are marked in dark red.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District and Dam Square.
Are There Also Tour Companies That Do Not Follow The New Rules For Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
Yes, some tour companies or individual tour guides did not agree to these new Amsterdam Red Light District rules. For example: Sandemans New Europe Tours a.k.a Sandemans New Amsterdam Tours. Most likely this company did not want to sign the government’s new rules because it uses a business model that requires more than 25 or 30 attendees per tour guide. This creates a lot of irritations for everyone associated with the Red Light District including the prostitutes. It is a pity that Sandemans New Europe Tours (and some other companies) do not care about the area and the people in it. The City of Amsterdam contacted this company several times trying to convince them, but repeatedly they refused.
There are currently about 36 organizations (including us) that agreed with these new Amsterdam Red Light District Rules and the City of Amsterdam is working hard to convince (new) tour operators to follow these rules too.
Also read 11x Amsterdam Red Light District Laws & Amsterdam Red Light District Ban Still Allows Tours.
Legally Grow Your Own Medical Cannabis In the Netherlands
Posted on: April 6, 2017
New Agreement On Cultivation Of Medical Cannabis In the Netherlands
With great pride Dutch stoner magazine “Rolling Stoned” has introduced the newest home grower in Holland: BeëlzeBud (Nickname). One of the first patients who is now legally allowed to grow his own medical cannabis in the Netherlands (medical marijuana). BeëlzeBud has gotten this option by signing an agreement that was realised by the PGMCG Foundation (Patient Group for Medical Marijuana Users). We’ve translated his first report for the readers of Rolling Stoned below!
One of the First Legal Growers of Medical Cannabis in the Netherlands Introduces Himself
Source: RollingStoned.nl
My name is BeëlzeBud. I will be reporting about my legal indoor growing of medicinal marijuana. Being a medical cannabis user myself I recently signed the newly launched agreement by the PGMCG foundation together with the mayor of Tilburg. I’m a stay at home dad who has two amazing sons aged 1,5 and 4 years. Since the start of the 90’s I’ve been using cannabis for recreational and therapeutic ends. I use the term therapeutic because even though I didn’t get a doctor’s recipe, I was using weed for medical purposes. A situation that I think a lot of people are in without actually realising it. I myself for example was a teenager who got prescribed Ritalin to curb my ADHD. (I was one of the first kids in Holland who got this prescription.) After a few years I was so fed up with the side effects of that drug that I decided to stop using it for good. During that time I was also a rebellious teenager and started experimenting with cannabis. I soon discovered that this particular plant had a far better effect on me than the medications a got from my doctor. So I did not have prescription marijuana but certainly used it for medical reasons.
Chronic Nerve Pain And Cannabis
Fast Forward To 2015. At this time I was already suffering for a couple of years from chronic nerve pain due to several hernias. As a result, I pretty much tried every known painkiller. Nothing was good enough. Only Oxycodone (a synthetic opiate) worked well. But the side effects I got from it were too much. I also read many stories about problems of addiction so I also wanted to stop using this drug, and as soon as was possible.
Medical Cannabis In the Netherlands
And then there was Medi Cannabis! After a few good conversations with my doctor, he decided to write me a recipe for Bedrocan and – like I expected – it really helped me with my ADHD. Ever since I’ve been using weed types with a high BBD content and at night types with THC. A fine recipe, if I may say so myself!
Fast Forward To Today
I’ve been using medical cannabis in the Netherlands for quite some time now. However the options at the pharmacy are so limited that I’m still forced to go to coffee shops. And that is quite expensive. So expensive that I can’t really afford the amount that I need. And this problem led me to the PGMCG foundation. Pioneers Marian Hutten and Serge de Bruijn have been fighting for years for the right of patients to grow their or medical cannabis in the Netherlands, at home. And not without results! Thanks to their efforts I’m now allowed, with the approval of the mayor, to grow my own medical cannabis in the Netherlands at home! And I’ll keep you guys informed about my efforts in the future for your enjoyment! Now that I’ve introduced myself I’ll keep you posted about my efforts, about my grow setup, the ins and outs of the new agreement and everything I have to deal with to make this thing work! I’m looking forward to it, I hope you guys do to.
Green Greetings, Bud.
Others who read this also read Coffeeshop The Bulldog Wins Lawsuit Against Red Bull and New Dutch Law On Cannabis Could Legalize Production
The School For Amsterdam Prostitutes Opens Its Doors
Posted on: April 1, 2017
Aspiring Amsterdam Prostitutes Can Get A Diploma
Honey Pot – A new Dutch organization by and for sex workers – in collaboration with the city of Amsterdam has officially opened The School For Amsterdam Prostitutes today. The new institution will provide a 4-month course for aspiring prostitutes from all over the world. The course offers “sexual knowledge” for its participants. The cost for enrolment will be 400, – Euros (approximately 430 Dollars). This is in large part due to subsidies by the city of Amsterdam and volunteer teachers.
School For Prostitutes Not Just About Sex
According to Justin Beaver, spokes person of Honey Pot, topics of the course will vary greatly.
‘Besides the sex stuff we’ll dive deep into the history of prostitution, changing social views and its stigma”. The course also intends to convey the traditional Dutch entrepreneurial spirit: “accounting, sales, (online) marketing, customer service and necessary negotiating skills will all be taught’.
Government Supports Amsterdam Prostitutes
‘We believe education plays a key role in creating safe working conditions for Amsterdam prostitutes”, states a spokesperson of Amsterdam’s city council.’
The local government hopes that the new prostitution school will further professionalize the local industry. People are already speculating that a diploma from The School For Amsterdam Prostitutes will become mandatory before one can enter the trade. However, Justin Beaver has made numerous official statements in the past trying to dispel this rumour.
Amsterdam Prostitutes School Affects Coffeeshop
Not everybody is happy with the arrival of the new school. Due to current Dutch laws there is a big chance that the world famous cannabis/coffee shop The Bull Dog will eventually have to close its doors. The so called “distance rules” ordains that coffee shops within a 250 meter range of a school should be closed. The School Of Amsterdam Prostitutes will be located 249 meters from cannabis store The Bulldog. A quintessential Dutch legal cannabis debate is expected in the near future.
(This article was published on April Fools day, 2017.)
ALSO READ:
20x Amsterdam Red Light District Rules
Amsterdam Cannabis Shop The Bulldog Wins Lawsuit Against Red Bull
Posted on: March 29, 2017
Coffee Shop The Bulldog Takes A Bite Out Of Red Bull’s Wings
For more than twelve years Henk de Vries – Dutch Fortune 500 member and owner of coffee shop The Bulldog – has been under judicial fire from the Austrian soft drink maker Red Bull. De Vries introduced his own energy drink at the start of the century called “Bull Dog Energy Drink”, a brand name that didn’t suit the Austrians of Red Bull.
One of Forbes Richest Dutch
The owner of Amsterdam’s cannabis store The Bulldog is the 254th richest person in the Netherlands. (Source: Quote)
Did you know that the owner of coffee shop The Bulldog in Amsterdam is the 254th richest person in the Netherlands?
Henk de Vries and his business are worth 95 million euro or 106 million dollars. This was estimated by Quote in 2016. Quote is a Dutch magazine which is most notable for making the Quote 500, a list of the 500 wealthiest people in the Netherlands with their financial position, similar to the list produced by Forbes.
Bulldog And A Bull, What’s The Difference?!
According to the Austrians the brand name “The Bulldog” is too similar to “Red Bull” which could lead to confusion among consumers. Beside that, De Vries has the bad fortune of registering The Bulldog brand name on the 11th of July 1983, three days after the registration date of the brand name “Red Bull”. Nevertheless, the court of Amsterdam rejected Red Bull’s claim on the basis that the brands were different enough and that it wouldn’t lead of confusion among consumers.
Red Bull Fights On!
However, on appeal, the court of Amsterdam sided with Red Bull. De Vries stopped selling his energy drinks fearing further problems. Red Bull threatened coffee shop The Bulldog with a million dollar claim, an amount that would bankrupt the coffee shop The Bulldog empire, if the court ruled in favour of it. But the European court ruled against one of the objections made by Red Bull, and in cassation the case was eventually sent back to the court of The Hague.
This court has now ruled that there is enough difference between the names Red Bull and The Bulldog to prevent confusion from happening, confirming the original decision made by the court of Amsterdam.
Nitpicking Of The Highest Order
The front of the first coffee shop The Bulldog in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
The considerations that were made for the ruling are nitpicking of the highest order. Some passages from the ruling: ‘A bull and a dog differ ways from each other: a bull is a hoofed animal/ herbivore/ meadow animal and much larger than a dog, which is a predator/ carnivore/ pet. The average consumer, whilst perceiving the ‘bull (1) dog’ or an image of the animal won’t think of a bull.’ Red Bull countered by stating that the brand could indeed cause confusion because the bulldog breed gets its name from the fact that the animal was used for bullfights. The Austrians also find that ‘a bulldog and a bull are both animals, and more particularly: strong, aggressive animals.’
The judge cast the argument aside because ‘in the Benelux it is generally not known that the bulldog was used in bullfights’ ‘with regard to the second argument, ‘animals and ‘strong, aggressive animals’ are to vague and general categories to create the relations argued by Red Bull: there are an infinite number of animal species,, including countless strong and aggressive species. ‘
Coffee Shop The Bulldog Not Celebrating Yet
De Vries, owner of coffee shop The Bulldog, told Dutch magazine Quote that he was satisfied with the verdict. “But Red Bull may still appeal, and I’m quite superstitious, so that is all I’ll say about that”. Red Bull’s attorney informed Quote that they didn’t want to comment on the case.
Some Background Info On Bulldog Owner Henk De Vries
A picture from the 1980’s of coffee shop The Bulldog in the Red Light District.
He is considered to be one of the most famous members of what ones was called: Penoze or Penose is a colloquial term that is used to describe the organized criminal underbelly in Amsterdam and other major cities in the Netherlands. Penose usually means the organisations formed by criminals of Dutch descent, especially used between the 1960’s and 1990’s. It is a slang word coming from the old Amsterdam Bargoens language. The people who hanged around the Red Light District with a tendency towards street selling and sex shops, but with their harts in the right place. The Grandma of Henk de Vries was Mien Veth, the first brothel owner on the Zeedijk, and his dad’s Rinus sex shop, he turned that it into his first coffee shop.
The Next Step For De Vries
This is how coffee shop The Bulldog in Amsterdam warned the basement for a police raid, when selling weed was still illegal.
In 1985 the police station on the Leidseplein was relocated and De Vries bought the property with the help Freddy Heineken (CEO for Heineken from 1971 until 1989). ‘Heineken ones lent some money to my grandma for her hospitality business’, he tells Quote. ‘I traveled after him to the south of France.’ With great succes, because he was able to get a loan from Freddy. The coffee/cannabis shop in the former police station, called the Bulldog, is now the most famous in the world. De Vries slowly expanded his business with more coffee shops, cafes, souvenir shops and a hotel in Amsterdam. Because of the legalisation of cannabis in several American states the interest in the Dutch coffee shop has increased a lot. There are rumours that there is currently a bid for 60 million dollars.
De Vries doesn’t want to think about it. ‘At my anniversary last year I spoiled 46 people who have worked between 10 and 40 years for me. They are the people, together with my family, who will inherit the company. But it is true that people from the US really want the Bulldog.’
Others who read this also read 10 Tips For Using Drugs in Amsterdam & 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Amsterdam’s Red Light District District.
20 Best Captions For Amsterdam Red Light District Picture
Posted on: January 1, 2025
The Best Titels For This Funny Red Light District Picture
We asked the internet to send us the best captions for this red light district picture. This is how the internet reacted – check out the best ones:
- “Would you look at that… this advert says there’s single girls in my area.”
- “I need better headphones.”
- “Study or you’ll end up next door.”
- “Brian never knew that one day his colourblindness would throw him a curve ball.”
- “Cash me outside , how bout dah.”
- “The new “Beats one off” by Dre.”
- “I wonder if next door accept Paypal
“ - “I was confused why they said the rent was hourly, until I opened the blinds.”
- “Tits and I.T.”
- “New bose noise cancelling headphones, guaranteed to drown out the loudest noises.”
- “Google Search: “Amsterdam escorts near me…”
- Ask your employer about working from home.
- “It only seems honest to put the Apple Store in the red light district.”
- “Even Metallica at volume 10 didn’t drown out the incessant banging from next door.”
- “Amsterdam’s co-working space attracted more attention than Bob thought… but the office parties were a hoot!”
- “When you live in the city that never sleeps but minecraft is life.”
- “No matter how hard life gets, always remember someone is getting fucked harder.”
- “Living next door to Alice.”
- “Stealing the brazzers wifi the little snake.”
- “Man sits in window while his mates keep next door busy.”
Some Facebook comments on this Red Light District picture.
We spotted this guy during one of our walking tours in Amsterdam and we just had to make a picture!
Amsterdam Red Light District Etiquette
You might wonder if it’s allowed to take pictures in the Red Light District. The answer is yes! You can photograph all the beautiful buildings, streets and sights in the area.
However we wouldn’t recommend taking pictures of the sex workers. They don’t want to be photographed. They have their own reasons for that. Most of the sex workers do not want to be photographed because they don’t tell friends, relatives and acquaintances that they do this kind of work.
Our local guides know the best places in Amsterdam’s Red Light District for taking pictures.
Do you have a better caption in mind for this Red Light District picture? Drop it in the comment section below.
Amsterdam Coffee Shops Closing Down. But Why?
Posted on: January 13, 2017
Amsterdam Coffee Shops Closing, Not A Good Idea
It’s rush hour in Mellow Yellow on the last day of 2016. Italian tourists who just visited the Heineken Experience are crowding around the counter. Coffee shop owner Johnny Petram calmly weighs their order. Mellow Yellow is one of eight coffee shops that were closed in the first weekend of January 2017, by order of the municipality of Amsterdam. The reason for the Amsterdam coffee shops closing policy is just 230 meters away: a Barber Academy. Had it been just 21 meters further away, then Amsterdam’s oldest coffee shop – since 1972 – would have remained open. Johnny Petram has fought hard. Conversations with the local government, gathering signatures and lawsuits: it was all to no avail.
Dutch Political Trade-Off Led To Amsterdam Coffee Shops Closing Campaign
The closure is the result of a “trade-off” from 2012 between Mayor Eberhard van der Laan and former Minister Of Justice Ivo Opstelten. The minister wanted to implement the so-called “nationality test” nationwide, whereby foreigners would be excluded from purchasing cannabis. This policy was implanted to tackle drug disturbance in the border provinces of the Netherlands. Amsterdam managed to convince the national government that this criterion was unworkable in Amsterdam. In a deal with the Ministry of Justice it was decided to not introduce such a criterion, in exchange for more measures to curb cannabis use among young people. The most important criterion was the “distance test”; in a radius of 250 meters around primary schools or vocational schools no coffee shops would be allowed because the children could encounter cannabis that way.
Coffeeshop Mellow Yellow on the Vijzelstraat in Amsterdam is closed down.
Amsterdam Coffee Shops Closing Down
The Mellow Yellow coffee shop is one of the eight shops that were part of the Amsterdam coffee shops closing action during the first weekend of January 2017, as a result of this deal. Meanwhile, the number of coffee shops in Amsterdam has been reduced from 350 in 1995 to just 167 in January 2017. Most of the coffee shops closed due to financial reasons or on grounds of public order. Around twenty other coffee shops had to be closed because of another Amsterdam coffee chops closing initiative: Project 1012, a project – started in 2007 – that tackled the monoculture in the Red Light District. Another 11 coffee shops were closed because of the distance criterion.
Statistics of Cannabis Coffee Shops in the Netherlands
At the end of 2014, the Netherlands had 591 coffee shops spread over 103 municipalities. The number of coffee shops decreased by 4.2%, compared to the previous measurement in 2012 – when there were 617 coffee shops. At the end of March 2015 there were 582 coffee shops in 103 municipalities in the Netherlands. The number of coffee shops has decreased in the largest cities (over 200,000 inhabitants). In 1999 there were 443 coffee shops located in these municipalities, while there were 297 in 2014. The average number of residents per coffee shop spread over 103 towns/cities was 32.459 by the end of 2014. This average is slightly higher than in 2012 (31 523).
Source: https://www.intraval.nl/
Coffee Shops Closed in Rotterdam
However, the effects of the measure are controversial. Research company Intraval did a study in 2015 commissioned by the city of Rotterdam on the effects of the “distance test” on schools. ”The closure of coffee shops has had no effect on the use of cannabis by students”, state representatives of the schools. Interval concludes that the proximity of coffee shops to schools does not have an effect on students and them using cannabis or not. Previous experiences in Rotterdam paint the same picture. The city already implemented the distance test back in 2009. This led to the closure of 16 coffee shops. A total of 45 remained open in the city of Rotterdam.
No Effects
An evaluation done in the autumn of 2010, once again by Intraval, is crystal clear about the effects of the distance test on cannabis use among students: zero. Amsterdam now has to deal with the reality of an increase in tourism and a decrease in the number of coffee shops. This has pushed the sale of cannabis back onto the streets again. The demand for cannabis has remained, according to the owner of Mellow Yellow. He points outside; where tourists smoke their first joint of the day.
Drug Rip Deals More Likely
An unexpected effect of the Amsterdam coffee shops closing is that the sustained demand for cannabis has led to much more revenue in the remaining coffee shops. The increased demand at the door leads to problems at the backdoor: “You must resupply several times a day,” says Ferry de Boer, “because the Dutch law only allows for one pound of cannabis, but these days 1.5 kilo in stock is already a tight supply”. The Bonger Institute of Criminology conducted a study last year on behalf of the cannabis industry on the impact of the closures. The Institute points out that those who need to get new stocks of cannabis are more vulnerable, because they are on the road more often and stand out more because of this. The chances of being mugged on the way (rip deals) increase, as does the risk of discovery by the police.
Tourists Become Prey Of Illegal Street Dealers in Amsterdam
Petram points out another consequence of the Amsterdam coffee shops closing: street dealers. “My coffee shop was located on a busy tourist route, but was the only coffee shop. You’ll soon get these little rascals here who store their cannabis stock in their scooters and start dealing with 5 grams in their pockets (the legally permitted amount in the Netherlands).”
According to the Dutch authorities, the street dealers entered the trade because of years of increasing tourism flows. The Bonger report agrees with that in part, but also suggest that Project 1012 is responsible. Foreign tourists are now a prey to street dealers, which nowadays even sell them fake drugs. The Bonger Institute expects that the street trade will increase even more because of the closure of more coffee shops in the future.
What Will The New Dutch Government Do?
Meanwhile, it is still questionable whether the municipality will now stop with Amsterdam coffee shops closing after these last 8 coffee shops. Although Mayor Van der Laan referred to the distance test as “symbolic politics”, at the same time he stated that he would abide by the previous agreement to show goodwill for a subsequent government.
The reason for this is simple: the distance test is anchored in the Opium Act, and a new Minister of Justice may still call for enforcement. A spokesperson for Mayor Van der Laan announced that in that case “the mayor will say he has had the exact same conversation with Minister Opstelten ‘who was receptive for our very reasonable arguments.” And with a progressive government Amsterdam could perhaps reopen 8 coffee shops again.
Petram won’t wait for that, and is already working on a new location for coffeeshop Mellow, because “the oldest coffee shop in the world should not be lost.” Would you like to learn more about the latest cannabis news in Amsterdam? Hear all about it during our walking tours in the Red Light District.
Source: https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/01/04/als-de-coffeeshop-sluit-gaat-de-handel-de-straat-op-6023362-a1539697 written by P. Zandstra
Others who read this article also read Undercover Police in Amsterdam Hunt Fake Drug Dealers & The Drug Test Lab in Amsterdam: An Exclusive Interview With August de Loor
Here's What The Salvation Army Does in Amsterdam Red Light District
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Salvation Army Officer in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Red Light District Stories
Who are you and what do you do for the Salvation Army?
My name is Henny Tinga and I have worked for the Salvation Army in the Red Light District for a very long time, more than 50 years! I have seen a lot and have met a lot of people.
What does the Salvation Army do here in the Red Light District?
The Salvation Army does all kinds of different things in the Red Light District and throughout all the years. Major Bosshardt, well known in the Netherlands, started with the army work in 1948. Back then they took care of all the children living in the district. Since then things have changed.
Major Bosshardt, the public face and officer of the Salvation Army in Amsterdam, year 1965.
What we do today in the Red Light District is taking care of the ladies who work in prostitution. We have a meeting point for that and we visit the sex workers three/four times a week and ask them how they are doing, offer them a cup of coffee or some chocolate. We offer people from the neighbourhood a place where they can drink some coffee. On Sunday we have the Salvation Army service. We also have place where people who are really ill can spend the last period of their life. We have all kinds of different work to do in this neighbourhood.
How many people work for the Salvation Army in Amsterdam?
More then 1200 people work for the Salvation Army in all different kinds of jobs, from helping the homeless to looking after children who are badly ill.
Are those volunteers or people that are employed by the Salvation Army?
Most of the people are employed by the Salvation Army. Volunteers visit the sex workers who work in the Red Light District and they do the soup rounds. They bring the people who live on the street soup, coffee and bread. They also run the meeting place for the neighbourhood every afternoon. That’s the work of volunteers.
Henny Tinga in front of the home of the Salvation Army in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
What do you think of prostitution, Henny?
Prostitution has always been in this neighbourhood. I believe that we have to accept the ladies for who they are and what they do. However when things are not right we have to help them and we must always have an open mind when meeting one of the ladies about who she is or what she does and try and do something for her.
Do you think that there is human trafficking or forced prostitution in the Red Light District?
Everywhere where there is prostitution there is human trafficking and forced prostitution. Figures about it however are politics! Someone says this the other says that, most things that are happening are not black or white but grey.
How did Amsterdam’s Red Light District change from your point of view?
Through the years a lot of things have changed. In the sixties you had Dutch women working here with their pimp and things like that. After that you had women from all over the world and you had a period of a lot of heroin prostitution. Afterwards I saw that the prostitutes were very young because we took care of some of them that had gotten aids. When they died we saw that they had to be so awfully young when they started. These days you see women from all over Europe and South America working here. The Red Light District has become much more international, and you see that reflected in the pubs, the food you can eat. In that way things have changed a lot.
Salvation Army volunteer “Aunt Jans” at sex shop Nana in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, year 1995. Pic: Bogaerts, Jan.
Do you think that the Red Light District has improved or that it has gotten worse?
I think neither. It hasn’t changed, it hasn’t really improved and it hasn’t gotten worse. The only thing that has changed is that it has become globalised.
Are you in contact with the police in Amsterdam or the local government?
Yes. The meeting point is paid for in part by the local government. They have a lot of contact with the police. The police always contact us when they are searching for a missing person. When we see that things are wrong we of course always go to the police and tell them.
So you have worked for the Salvation Army for a long time. You are now retired. What do you do nowadays for the Salvation Army?
I can’t really stop. The Salvation Army is my life! Downstairs we have a meal for men who don’t have much contacts or are homeless. On the other canal of the Red Light District we offer meals for women who work in prostitution or former prostitutes. We have a program for them and I’m part of that. I also visit the girls working in prostitution. I also visit the people who are responsible for the housing that the prostitutes work in. I also do the soup-round in my own way. I try to do a lot of things! I love it! I love to meet people.
Can you tell us something about Major Bosshardt?
My husband and I have known Major Bosshordt our whole lives. I started working here when I was 17. I started as girl giving a cup of coffee and she asked me to come work for her. Coos, my husband, was born and raised in the Red Light District. As a young boy Bosshardt helped him go to school and to go to university. She said that children from the Red Light District could best be helped by learning. That’s what she wanted.
Amsterdam’s Salvation Army in 1950’s.
One of the greatest things that she has done is that a lot of young people from the 1950’s and 1960’s were sent to school because of her. This gave them the opportunity for a better life than their parents. She has been a part of our life and we have helped her by doing the work here.
What would you like to say to visitors of the Red Light District?
Be respectful when you walk around! Everybody; men and women work here or people being here, they are all also God’s people. So be careful with each other even though we are all different, be careful with each other.
Salvation Army in Red Light District Audio Tour
Henny Tinga is also part of our new audio tour in the Red Light District. In it, she tells more about Major Bosshardt – a national hero & officer of the Salvation Army – and her important activities in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Others who read this article also read An Interview With The First Condom Shop Of The World & An Exclusive Interview With A Prostitute And Her Boyfriend.
Free STD Test In Holland Wide Open For Fraud
Posted on: November 23, 2016
STD Tests In Holland Are Free When You (Say You) Are A Sex Worker
Robbie regularly visits the Dutch Area Health Authority (locally known as Gemeentelijke GezondheidsDienst or GGD abbreviated) to get an STD test in Holland. Every time he makes up a fake story so he doesn’t have to pay.
“I don’t feel like paying 90 Euros for a regular STD test in Holland. So I check some extra marks on the application form”.
Robbie isn’t alone. GGD’s across Holland suspect that people regularly lie to get a free test. This fact has emerged after research done by the Dutch news network NOS.
“It’s a daily occurrence”, our doctor assistants have almost become police officers. We know this is happening because everyone uses the same story when they call us. The story apparently has been doing the rounds at students’ guilds.” states a spokesperson for GGD Gelderland-Zuid.
STD Testing For Sex Workers
It’s not mandatory for prostitutes in the Netherlands to get tested on STD’s. Everyone in the Netherlands can decide for themselves whether he or she would like to get tested on STD’s or not. That is a fundamental right and therefore it also applies for prostitutes and their customers. Although it’s not mandatory to get tested, the Dutch government and several Dutch organizations promote STD testing for these 3 groups (sex workers, youths and gays) by offering them for free.
Stricter Rules To Get A Free STD Test In Holland
The 2015 stricter rules were implemented for getting a free STD test and the total number of STD tests that could be done by GGD’s was decreased. Only people who are a part of so called “high risk groups” can get a free STD test in Holland. Youths under the age of 25, homosexuals and sex workers are considered high risk groups. Those not part of a high risk group can still get a free STD test in Holland if they are warned by their sexual partner, have obvious symptoms, or if they had sex with someone from a high risk group.
The GGD’s determine via a screening procedure if people are granted the free STD test. People who are not part of the aforementioned high-risk categories have to go to their general practitioner. You often have to pay your own bill if you get tested there because of the obligatory deductible that comes with health insurance in Holland. The bill for an STD test can run up to 200 Euro and doing the test at your general practitioner is of course less anonymous.
Excuses, Excuses
These rules and costs give big incentives to people to make up symptoms, lie about their age or exaggerate their sexual past. Some GGD’s inform the NOS that people openly admit to this once they are accepted into to the consultation. Statistics also show that people don’t always tell the truth. “We know that with certain typical excuses, less STD’s will be found than expected”, states a spokesperson for GGD Noord- en Oost-Gelderland. “The detection percentage is remarkably low”.
Costs Push People To Lie
The Dutch RIVM, responsible for coordinating the national health services, recognises the observations. “Despite a strict screening, people are able to get a free STD test in Holland. We have noticed a relationship between the higher obligatory deductible and the increase in GGD-testers”. Even though many GGD’s doubt the claims made by some of the applicants they rarely send someone home because of it.
“When someone is at the free consultation, even though they shouldn’t be there, our professionals would still rather help them instead of sending them away” states GGD Zeeland. “Taking care of people is our line of work”.
Fewer STD Tests In Holland
According to the RIVM, the number of people who got an STD test in Holland has decreased for the first time in years. This is in part due to the fact that less people can be tested. However, the detection percentage has increased, which means that more just applicants have been tested. For this reason GGD’s are still satisfied with the current state of the program. “Our detection percentage has been increasing for years”, states GGD for the Utrecht region. “We’ve observed that also the right people get a consultation!”.
Increase In Sexually Transmitted Diseases In Holland
STI Statistics
A total of 66,000 people were tested in the first half of 2016. The number of people who actually had an STD increased from 16.7 percent to 18.2 percent. 9,429 people were diagnosed with Chlamydia. An increase of 6 percent compared to 2015. Chlamydia is especially prevalent among females and heterosexual males. The number of Gonorrhoea infections has also increased by 12 percent to 2,800.
In the past it affected mostly homosexuals but the last few years heterosexuals have been getting the infection at an increasing rate. Infectious Syphilis has increased from 446 to 629 cases. This STD is more common among homosexuals.
A total of 125 people got an LGV-infection. This is an aggressive variant of anal chlamydia. In the first half of 2015 there were only 88 cases.
ALSO READ:
How To Get A Sex Date in Amsterdam Without Strings Attached
10 Tips For Kings Day In Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Top 10 Tips For Kings Day In Amsterdam
On the 27th of April, Amsterdam turns into one giant party to celebrate our Kings birthday. Kings Day is one of the best days of the year.
It’s our favourite and also this year it’s gonna be legendary! Discover the best tips for Kings Day in Amsterdam.
For an insightful and comprehensive guide on how to navigate through the festive celebrations of King’s Day in Amsterdam, make sure to check out our detailed Red Light District directions. This map will help you find the best routes and good highlights.
Tip 1: Don’t Mistake The Date!
The date for Kings day Amsterdam is the 27th of April. It might be a good idea to write it down. Some tourists make the mistake of using dates that are mentioned in old tourist books. Those describe the date for Queens Day – showing up completely in orange in Amsterdam on 30th of April.
GET AMSTERDAM APP >
Tip 2: Check The Weather Forecast
If it rains there will not be enough places to shelter as most of the parties are hosted outside. Taking some extra clothes with you when rain is forecasted is advised. Make sure you check Holland’s best weather forecast site too. It shows any predicted rainfall and is very accurate as well.
Tip 3: Buy Something Orange, Anything!
#3 of Tips For Kings Day In Amsterdam: Get yourself an orange outfit!
It doesn’t matter what you wear as long as it’s orange! From orange tuxedo’s to orange burkas, anything orange will do!
Tip 4: Avoid Dam Square & Rokin Street in Amsterdam
Having a party with a lot of people is fun. But being able to move is more fun! We recommend avoiding these overcrowded places.
Tip 5: Arrange An Accommodation In Amsterdam
Public transport is a nightmare on Kings Day and taxis are too! Best thing to do is find a room, hotel or Airbnb close to the party that you want to go to.
Tip 6: Buy Your Beers/Drinks The Day Before Kings Day!
#6 of Tips For Kings Day In Amsterdam: Buy your drinks the day before Kings Day.
During Kings day the shelves at the liquor aisle will be mostly empty. You’ll probably only be able to get high percentage craft beer. If you prefer local beers like Hertog Jan, Grolsch, Bavaria, Amstel or Heineken buy it the day before Kings day. At party locations throughout Amsterdam you will only be able to buy watered down beer for a hefty price, possibly combined with long waiting-lines at the bars. Our advice is to buy a couple of six packs, a kilo of ice and a cooling bag. All available at the normal super markets like Albert Heijn, Deen, C1000, Jumbo, etc.
Tip 7: Watch your alcohol intake!
Drinking beer is fun and all, but is it really fun when your completely wasted at two o’clock in the afternoon? You have all day/ evening/ night so take it easy and enjoy all the (party) people, music and scenes. You’ll love it!
Tip 8: Don’t Put Your Valuables Next To The Canals Unsecured
Locals from all over the country come to Amsterdam to party. Some of them throw stuff in the canals – “just for fun”. A harsh reality for bikes and other valuables in Amsterdam.
Tip 9: Kings Day By Boat
Kings Day by boat is the best way to experience this amazing event. But a boat brings with it new problems like traffic jams of boats each blasting out their own music to the max.
The “vaarwater app” (waterway app) shows all the possible routes. It also comes in handy when you have to find a snackbar or toilet close to the canals.
Tip 10: Don’t Fall Into The Canal!
The last of our 10 tips for Kings Day in Amsterdam might sounds perhaps a bit weird but people have actually died by falling in the canals (mostly during the nighttime). So after a long day of partying watch out where you’re walking.
10 Places To Go in Amsterdam During Kings Day
- Jordaan District – Explore the charming streets of Jordaan, where spontaneous street parties and local bands create a festive atmosphere. It’s a great place to experience the traditional Dutch King’s Day vibe.
- Vondelpark – Ideal for families, Vondelpark opens up to children for a special “vrijmarkt” (free market), where kids sell toys, perform acts, and play games. It’s a relaxed environment compared to the bustling city center.
- Amstel River – Watching the boat parade along the Amstel River is a must. Boats of all sizes and shapes, filled with party-goers in orange, create a lively spectacle on the water.
- Museumplein – Often hosting large-scale events with live music and DJs, Museumplein is the place to be for high-energy celebrations and concerts.
- Nieuwmarkt – Check out Nieuwmarkt for its bustling scene. The square is known for its food stalls and beer tents, making it a popular gathering spot for both locals and tourists.
- Dam Square – Visit Dam Square for some of the biggest public gatherings and performances. It’s central and usually features a variety of entertainment options.
- The Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes) – Wander through these quaint streets for unique shopping opportunities. The area is famous for its boutique shops, which often have special King’s Day offers and displays.
- Rijksmuseum – Take a moment to visit the Rijksmuseum, which usually stays open on King’s Day. Besides its fantastic collection, the area around the museum is filled with activity and street performers.
- Rembrandtplein – Known for its nightlife, Rembrandtplein is a hot spot for those looking to continue the celebration into the night with bars and clubs hosting themed parties.
- A Local Café or Pub – For a more laid-back King’s Day, consider visiting a local café or pub. Many establishments have special offers and orange-themed decorations, providing a perfect spot to people-watch and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
ALSO READ:
An Interview with a Street Prostitute
Posted on: November 11, 2016
Street Prostitution In Holland Through The Eyes Of A Sex Worker
Utrecht wants to end a designated street prostitution zone, called ‘tippel zone’ in Dutch, where street prostitution in Holland is legally allowed. Closing of the designated street prostitution zone at the Europalaan is a hotly debated topic within the municipality. Project developers and entrepreneurs are urging the government to make a decision as fast as possible. Currently the hustling zone is a major impediment for new large-scale home construction in the area. The mayor and aldermen are now looking for alternative locations. People are expecting a definitive decision at the end of the year. Rightwing and Christian parties want to get rid of the hustling zone while leftwing parties argue for maintaining a hustle zone for legal prostitution in Utrecht.
Meet Sex Worker Bubbles
Bubbles (not her real name) has worked for six months at the designated street prostitution zone. During the interview at a sandwich shop close to the Europalaan, she only picks vegetarian sandwich fillings. Later in the conversation she states; “I could for instance never become a butcher. Killing animals is horrible”. However Bubbles has chosen a profession that a lot of people couldn’t imagine doing themselves: working as a street prostitute. She also does work for PROUD, a Dutch union for sex workers.
What did your workday look like?
“During the day I did things for PROUD or for myself. At the end of the afternoon I would get my clothes and make-up and take the Bus to Utrecht. I live in a rural town. In the living room at the designated street prostitution zone I would talk for a couple of minutes with my colleagues, then I got changed and went onto the street. No high heels, because I’m tall. When a car drove by I would try to make contact to see if the man inside was interested. Some asked how I was doing. Most of the time however they started out with: how much does it cost?”
Did you have your personal spot on the street?
“No, but I liked standing underneath a big tree. That is of course less street like. Sometimes I found it pleasant to lean against a lamppost. Lampposts are the symbol of prostitution. In former times in France prostitutes were allowed to solicit for costumers when the lampposts started to glow. “
Did you accept every costumer?
“I make a quick judgment. I pay attention to the tone and look and feel of a person. If there are multiple persons in the car I never get in. You can get fined for that. That rule has been implemented for our own safety. I refuse at least half of all requests. A lot of scum passes by as well. They’ll insult you and after that ask you to come with them. I hate that kind of behaviour. Or they want to pay too little, or without a condom. I always have safe sex. Most men only want a blowjob. The standard rate is about 40 Euros. If everything feels right I get in the car and then we drive to the sex drive-in. On our way to the drive-in I usually make small talk. I consider it a part of my safety check. My costumers are very diverse, from students to the elderly and everyday blokes to traveling businessmen who do a stopover in Utrecht. Some men you see just once and some loners you see everyday. In the sex drive-in area I do my job. For penetration this can be quite tricky in the smaller cars. When we’re done the costumer drops me off at the designated street prostitution zone.
In the debate about the designated street prostitution zone some political parties state that it’s demeaning work.
“It’s a subjective and personal view. Before there was a designated street prostitution zone there was less safety for the women. If you find the work to be demeaning at least provide better working conditions for street prostitution in Holland. There’s still a big stigma surrounding street prostitution. People view the work as dirty and sad. But I made the conscious decision to do this job. The work itself means very little to me. I just go trough the motions and get paid. I believe that sitting behind a cash register is a far tougher job. Working hard for little money.”
What do you like about the work?
“When I was a kid I really hated my looks. I’ve become more confident because of the positive attention that I get. It can get annoying when the umpteenth man wants to start a relationship with you, but it is also a very nice feeling. I also really enjoy the contacts that I have with my colleagues and costumers.”
Many cities have closed down their own designated street prostitution zones. Utrecht wants to move or even close down this hustling zone because of housing developments.
“Closing the zone without an alternative is too drastic. Women would start making money illegally on the streets or the Internet. In Amsterdam, where there are no designated street prostitution zone, girls hustle around the Central Station.”
Less women are working on the Europalaan in Utrecht. This year only 64 permits were given compared to a 140 in 2009.
“That is correct, but you never hear the authorities talking about the waiting list that exists for getting a permit! The list applies to women from outside the region. If Utrecht has problems with the costs associated with sex workers from outside the region other municipalities should help. Sex workers won’t have a problem if they get a viable alternative for the Europalaan.”
You already work somewhere else?
“Everything was alright, but I had some unpleasant interactions with the police. Officers have questioned me multiple times while I was in the designated street prostitution zone. That creates distrust among colleagues and costumers. I got the impression that they believed I was standing there against my will. They probably meant well but I just want to make money. I also had some nasty costumers one of them was aggressive. He was taking pictures without permission and was doing things we hadn’t agreed upon. The police took real good care of me. Sadly there aren’t any security camera images. I’ve accused him of sexual assault. The case is being investigated. Colleagues advised me to go look in Antwerp. I’m now renting a window brothel for not that much money. The landlord didn’t ask any questions. I only had to show my passport and pay on time. For now this is the best place for me to work.”
How long do you want to continue?
“Sometimes I think about getting an education, but it costs so much money. I only have my high school diploma.”
Many prostitutes don’t want publicity, why did you want to do this interview?
“The interests of sex workers must be heard! On the designated street prostitution zone there is police surveillance and you have great coworkers. prostituting illegally outside of the zone is far more dangerous. Nobody knows where you end up. Working in the designated street prostitution zone didn’t pan out great for me. There are no guaranties. But if I was at home with that aggressive costumer he probably would have gone much further! That is why designated street prostitution zones should be a regulated part of street prostitution in Holland.
Others who read this also read this interview with a window prostitute and her boyfriend & 10 Laws in Amsterdam Red Light District
Happy Hooker's Bed & Breakfast in Amsterdam
Posted on: November 9, 2016
Xaviera Hollander – ex-call girl, former madam, & famous author of the book ‘The Happy Hooker’ – runs a bed & breakfast in Amsterdam
Xaviera Hollander, born in Surabaya, Indonesia, is a Dutch author and former prostitute and madam. She became world famous for her book The Happy Hooker: My Own Story 1971.
Xaviera Hollander, after she finished her highschool, won the award of “best secretary in Holland” at a competition organized by ManpowerGroup, a multinational human resource consulting firm. She left the Netherlands in her early 20’s to stay with her stepsister and family in Johannesburg. In South Africa she met and became engaged with an American economist. In 1968, when the engagement was broken off, Hollander went to New York, where she worked at the Dutch consulate in Manhattan as a secretary. She left this position to work as a luxurious call girl/ escort, something she could no longer combine with her day time job at the Consulate.
In 1969, she opened her own brothel: Madame Xaviera’s Girls. Within a short period of time Xaviera Hollander became New York City’s leading madam. Three years later, in 1971, she was arrested for sex work by the New York police and forced to leave the United States. This after she had also become involved in a massive Police Corruption Scandal in Manhattan, referred to as the Knapp Commission scandal.
The Happy Hooker Book
In the same year, 1971, Xaviera Hollander published her memoir; The Happy Hooker. The book was remarkable for its frankness by the standards of the time & is considered a landmark of positive writing about prostitution and sex.
In the Happy Hooker book, Xaviera Hollander detailed her life as an open-minded woman. It was also the very first book in the world where an author could freely write about sex in a frank way without using misguiding words. In other words Xaviera was allowed to mention the proverbial “beasts by their names”. Four letter words have since been totally accepted by the usually quite prim and proper American people.
From Happy Hooker to Happy Hostess in Amsterdam
Nowadays she lives in the south of Amsterdam, called “Gold coast “. Together with her darling Dutch husband Philip, she runs a lovely bed and breakfast in a beautiful and quiet part of the city. It’s the fanciest neighborhood of Holland’s capital and it has the highest average disposable income per household from all parts of Amsterdam.
Details Bed and Breakfast Xaviera Hollander
Hollander’s Happy House B&B is closely located to Museum Square with its Van Gogh, Rijks and Stedelijk museum. Her B&B offers free WiFi, king size beds, a beautiful and spacious garden, terrace, lovely art and a cozy ambiance.
Xaviera and her husband speak 5 languages between them. Staying in Xaviera’s Happy House gives you the opportunity to meet & greet a famous writer, who can also organize a delightful workshop for up to 12 people with, as her main topic: How to Make Your Partner Into A Super Lover. It’s most interesting to actually meet her and her charming man. He is also a great cook and they organize lunches and dinners up to 10 people. You can ask her all sorts of questions!
Book Bed and Breakfast in Amsterdam
Xaviera’s accommodation has 84 reviews and is rated with a 7.8/10 on Booking.com. On TripAdvisor it has 96 reviews and a 4-star rating. Click on the link below for more details, prices and reservations.
11 Facts And Fables On The Effects on Ecstasy Pills
Posted on: January 1, 2025
11 Important Facts And Dangerous Fables On The Effects Of Ecstasy Use
This article on the effects of ecstasy is based on research from the Dutch Trimbos Institute. Examples in the article refer to incidents that happened in the Netherlands.
FACT: Women Are More Sensitive Towards The Acute Effects Of Ecstasy Than Men
Women are more sensitive towards the effects of ecstasy than men when they take the same amount of product. Why this is the case is not yet clear. Clinical studies have shown that the female body responds differently to MDMA than the male body. The female body needs more time to remove all the MDMA from the body. The maximum concentration of MDMA in the blood, when the same amount of MDMA per kg of bodyweight is given, is higher among women than men. The female body is made up out of relatively more fat than the male body leading them to have a lower volume of fluid in the body. Because MDMA can only spread over a lower volume of fluid the concentration increases more rapidly for women than for men.
FABLE: The Best Way To Combat The Effects Of Overheating Is To Drink Alcohol
Most serious ecstasy related health disturbances and fatalities are cases that also involve alcohol. A big part of those fatalities are due to overheating after excessive dancing in a hot and crowded establishment where people start to sweat a lot. Fluids are lost due to the excessive perspiration and are not replenished. One the of possible effects ecstasy is overheating and dehydration, alcohol also dehydrates the body. Combining both products thus increases the chance of dehydration and with that overheating.
FACT: When You Think That The Ecstasy Has Worn Off The Effects Are Not Over Yet
Ecstasy still has an effect on the body even though the subjective (desired) effects have worn off. Depending on the taken amount of MDMA the effects of ecstasy can last for many hours, even a day.
FABLE: Nobody Dies From The Pure MDMA Drug
Some people believe that you can only die from polluted ecstasy pills. Yes, ecstasy pills that contain PMA or PMMA instead of MDMA pose a greater health risk but people have also died from “pure” MDMA. Autopsy reports in the Netherlands show that many people have died from taking just one or multiple “pure” ecstasy pills or MDMA powder.
FACT, But.. : It’s Better To Start Off With Just Half A Pill And Take The Other Half If It Gives The Desired Effect
Taking half a pill first is in general less bad than swallowing an entire pill entirely. For most users the total amount of substance taken is the most important factor, not spreading it out in smaller doses. It should be noted that back in 2015 three young women in the Netherlands died because of ecstasy use even though they first took one half of an ecstasy pill and two hours later the other half. In all three cases victims got ill immediately after taking the second half of the pill.
FABLE: Water Intoxication Is The Greatest Danger When Using Ecstasy
Water Intoxication due to ecstasy use is a rare occurrence. Due to media attention (in the Netherlands) a lot of people believe it’s the most dangerous side effect of ecstasy use. The number of people who arrive at the intensive care due to overheating or heart problems is far greater. Prevent water intoxication by drinking a maximum of 1 glass of liquid per hour.
FACT: Combining Ecstasy With Other Forms Of Medication Brings Extra Risk
The current medical literature shows that people who are on medication have a heightened risk of side effects. People who already have high blood pressure or hart problems should avoid MDMA. Same goes for people with liver or kidney problems. Multiple fatalities have been recorded where people were also on anti depressants. Some anti depressants (Prozac, Zoloft) can suppress some effects of MDMA, which can lead to people taking more ecstasy. The biggest threat, according to the literature, is HIV inhibitors. Using ecstasy in combination with other types of medication can also lead to dangerous side effects.
FABLE: Pillreports Gives Reliable Information About The Composition Of Ecstasy Pills
Many sites on the internet give information about the composition of ecstasy pills. Pills with the same appearance (logo, diameter, thickness and color) can have totally different contents. It is best to test each pill individually.
FACT: Safe Ecstasy Use Doesn’t exist
Some users present ecstasy as a harmless drug. Indeed, ecstasy addiction almost never happens, but taking ecstasy is definitely not risk free. A few people die every year in the Netherlands due to the effects of ecstasy. Long and intensive use possibly leads to brain damage and damages the liver and kidneys. Safe ecstasy use is therefor impossible, even when ecstasy pills are tested!
FABLE: Accidents With Ecstasy Happen Due To Polluted Drugs
This is a persevering misconception. Ecstasy on the Dutch market is generally quite pure. Back in the 90’s large batches of ecstasy sometimes contained amphetamine instead of MDMA. In 2008/2009 the Dutch market was also quite ‘polluted’. Since 2009 there are more pills with high MDMA dosing, this adds risk.
FABLE: When You Had A Good Experience Taking Ecstasy Pills You Are No Longer At Risk The Next Time
This is incorrect! The literature shows that there are multiple fatal cases of people who had used ecstasy before. It is possible that a different set of circumstances had a big effect on the outcomes in those cases. MDMA disrupts multiple regulatory mechanisms in the body. The body might not have needed to ‘intervene’ the first time because internal or external conditions didn’t demand it. The next time, when it was necessary, it didn’t happen because the regulatory mechanisms were disrupted by MDMA.
Undercover Police In Amsterdam Hunt Fake Drug Dealers
Posted on: October 18, 2016
On The Hunt With The Undercover Police In Amsterdam
Two men in alien suits are walking in the Red Light District, singing and dancing, screaming and cheering. They look drunk. Every twenty meters they check the drink menu of a bar. Until they get asked if they are interested in some cocaine, xtc or speed. “Good stuff, want to try it?” asks the short man with a white cap. The aliens tell him that they aren’t interested. At that point colleagues of the men in alien suits have to make their move. In an adjacent street amidst hundreds of tourists stands Jeroen Hahn with other members of the Priority Police Team, specialised in pickpocketing. They are part of the undercover police in Amsterdam. Their mission for this night: “arrest fake drug dealers”.
Fake Drugs In Amsterdam
Varied products are being presented as real drugs whilst being regular household items. Small pellets of molten candle wax are sold as crack cocaine. Grounded up Dutch cough lozenge tablets go for heroine, moss from the closeby flower store is presented as weed and a piece of shoe sole is sold as hash. Another favourite among dealers is lidocaine. Intended to be used for the treatment of haemorrhoids and premature ejaculation, sniffing the substance gives the same effect as cocaine. All the dealers in the Red Light District buy the stuff for 1.50 Euro per gram and sell if for 50 Euro per gram.
More Drug Dealers In Amsterdam
According to the undercover police in Amsterdam the group of street dealers is growing. They believe that the growth is correlated with the booming tourism in the city and the Red Light District. You’ll find the street dealers wherever there are English, Italians, Spaniards, Saudi’s and Americans. The dealers come from all parts of the Netherlands and even Belgium. In the last two years a total of 3000 arrests were made.
Source: Police Amsterdam Centre
A New Type Of Drug Dealer in Amsterdam
The whispering little men on the streets are an image problem for the city of Amsterdam, annoying and possibly dangerous. The biggest danger lies in the addition of new ultra young and aggressive fake drug dealers. Team leader Hahn gives a warning on the kids in town. They are more violent than their older drug addicted counterparts and armed. Failed dealings often end up becoming a street-robbery. “These boys often have knives, never make an arrest on your own.”
Teamwork To Catch The Bad Guy
For this reason the Undercover Police In Amsterdam will work in groups of three or four tonight. They should behave themselves like regular Red Light District visitors: strolling around with an empty beer bottle. Fake drug dealers are sharp and relay descriptions of undercover officers to each other. For this reason the group has decided on wearing the alien suit.
Amsterdam Undercover Police Makes An Arrest
After Jeroen Hahn and his team arrest the short man with the white cap they add his name to the white board: number seventeen of the night. Most of the arrested dealers don’t stay in jail for long. Most of time just an hour. The problem is that the selling of fake drugs is not regulated under Dutch drug laws. New offenders will only get a maximum fine of 250 Euro and a 24-hour ban from a certain area in Amsterdam. Repeat offenders are not allowed to enter the district for half a year.
Can The (Fake Drug) Problem Be Solved in Amsterdam?
Arrests alone won’t fix the problem. Put double the amount of cops on this case and you’ll only catch twice the number of fake drug dealers. There are many, many more. Add other tourist areas like Leidseplein and Rembrandt square and het Spui and you begin to understand that a week of undercover police in Amsterdam cleanup actions would be a drop in the ocean. Warning campaigns, more police, variable-message signs with information; they are all just temporary measures. A systematic solution is not available. “Nothing works, there is just too much money to be made”.
ALSO DISCOVER:
10 Best Sex Shows in Amsterdam
Rent A Boat in Amsterdam Electric
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Why You Should Rent A Boat In Amsterdam
It is thanks to the 17th-century canal ring and its spiderweb of canals that weave around the medieval city – that Amsterdam is occasionally referred to as the Venice of the North.
It’s a city that must been seen via its old streets but also through its beautiful canals. And what’s a better way to explore Amsterdam by boat yourself?
These days you can easily rent a boat in Amsterdam! Or you can of course hop on one of those big tour boats but isn’t it more adventurous and exciting to find your way trough those 4 centuries old canals all by yourself?
Requirements to Rent A Boat in Amsterdam
It turns out that there aren’t many requirements for visitors who want to rent a boat in Amsterdam. You don’t need a license to steer the boats that are being rented out. No experience is required. You do however have to be 18+ to be able to rent and no more than six persons are allowed per boat. You will get thorough instructions on how to safely operate the electric boat by the rental companies and they will provide you wit a rout map so you don’t get completely lost. They will also give you instructions on the rules of navigation on the canals. An important thing to remember is that the big tour boats always have precedence over you.
Cheap Boat Rental
A three hour boat trip cost 79,- Euro. However we always advice our clients to take the four hour tour (prices are around 99,- Euros) because that makes everything a lot less hasty. Remember, your sailing in a fairly slow electric boat not a powerboat so take into account that things move a little slow.
Tip: Make An Online Reservation
Plan your trip well in advance because renting a boat is quite popular, especially on one of those warm summer days! Bookings can be done by phone or online. Most companies offer a rescheduling service if the weather forecast turns out to be really bad so don’t let that hold you back when making up your mind on if your should rent a boat In Amsterdam.
Rent A Boat in Amsterdam Electric
Forget about your carbon footprint for a sweet couple of hours. Most boats these days are equipped with electric motors. Besides not ruining the planet you won’t have to worry about a stinky or noisy engine. Explore Amsterdam noise and smell free, what more could one ask for?
Tips To Rent A boat In Amsterdam
Food & Beverages
– Before sailing off into the sunset make sure you bring enough snacks and drinks
– A few big bottles of (sparkling) water is recommended.
– Alcohol-free beers (or wines) are a great option for the captain. You or one of your fellow-travellers.
Keeping it cool
– Most supermarkets in Amsterdam like the Albert Heijn supermarket sell cheap cooling bags.
– Most supermarkets also sell ice cubes in kilo bags, a cost-effective and an easy way to keep everything cool for the day.
Alcohol on the canals of Amsterdam
– While everybody on board can drink alcohol the captain of the ship has to remain sober! The police conduct routine checks on the water, so keep that in mind.
Restrooms
– Amsterdam offers public urinals next to canals on many locations. Sadly the city offers no such facilities for the ladies. Luckily all canals are surrounded by cafes and restaurants. Most of them are easy accessible by boat. These places usually charge 50 euro cent to a visit to the restroom, so make sure to bring some change.
New Dutch Weed Laws
Posted on: September 23, 2016
New Dutch Weed Laws Aim To Legalize Weed Production
For the first time in Dutch parliamentary history a majority of parliamentarians are in favour of legalising weed production. The new Dutch weed laws are proposed by D66 (liberal democrats) and could signal the end for the Dutch world famous so-called “gedoogbeleid:” policy of tolerance.
State Of Current Dutch Weed Policies
Combatting illegal weed plantations is costing too much money and the government should regulate weed production, states Vera Bergkamp, D66 Member of Parliament. The Netherlands should again become the global standard for forward-looking policies. Crime is flourishing at the moment and fire hazards due to illegal plantations are estimated to exist on 50,000 separate locations throughout the country according to Bergkamp.
She further states that: “the Netherlands has had a crooked weed policy for far too long, you can sell weed but you can’t grow it on a professional scale or transport it. We believe that is wrong. When we regulate, it should be good for public health and enables us to get a grip on related criminal activities. A large part of Dutch society and many municipalities support these new Dutch weed laws”. Regulations would also mean governmental quality control on weed, according to Bergkamp people at this point don’t have a clue about what exactly they are smoking.
Dutch Mayors In Favour Of New Dutch Weed Laws
Several mayors have been advocating for measures that reduce illegal weed plantations for quite some time. Back in 2013, 25 mayors asked then minister of Justice Ivo Opstelten to reconsider his position on not allowing for legal weed plantation experiments. The new Dutch weed laws gives coffeeshop owners the possibility to buy weed from permitted weed plantations. The weed will be checked by the government, which would make it easier to track down and disrupt illegal plantations.
Dutch Cabinet Position
The current cabinet believes it is up to congress, and will deal with the matter when it is presented to them. The cabinet position will be determined in the procedure. It should be noted that at this point there is not a senate majority in favour of the new Dutch weed laws so anything could still happen.
ALSO READ:
9 Laws For Amsterdam Coffeeshops
Interview With Amsterdam Window Prostitute & Her Boyfriend
Posted on: January 1, 2024
Jaw-dropping Interview With An Amsterdam Window Prostitute And Her Boyfriend
(Last updated: 1 November 2020)
A little introduction
For some years now we’ve been following Felicia Anna and Mark on social media. She is a sex worker from Romania who works in Amsterdam. Not as an escort but as a window prostitute. Mark is her Dutch fiancee. They both like to stay anonymous and use pseudonyms. Felicia’s says the following about herself on Twitter: ‘Real Romanian prostitute in the Amsterdam Red Light District (De Wallen), speaking out for the truth about prostitution‘
A window brothel in Amsterdam.
We became really curious and wanted to know more about them so we decided to send them a request for an interview. They said yes. Read the exclusive interview below.
How did they meet?
ARLDT: How did you guys meet each other?
Mark: Hahaha…
Felicia: He was my customer!
Amsterdam’s most narrow alley.
What? Really?!
Mark: Yeah I went in as a customer, it was four years ago in the summer – in 2012. It was the first time that I ever went to a window prostitute. So I was looking around and saw this beautiful woman.
A man talks to a window prostitute.
Second day I went back and walked around and I thought; ‘Ok, maybe I’m going to do this.’ The third day I was kind of like; ‘I want to do this but I want to go to that woman that I saw on the the first day.’
So I walked around and around, and then I saw her and thought; Yeah I think that’s her! So I went inside and the first time was kind of normal. Kind of the typical thing, I guess.
Felicia: And then he said maybe I’ll come back. Perhaps next week.
Mark: And the next day I was back again, haha! And, let’s see, the second time when I visited we started to talk after I paid the 50 euros. I came in at around 12 PM and I think we then talked till 5 AM! So that was money well spent! Haha…
Then I went back two more times and after that we went to her place and since then I’ve never left! So that’s how we met. Funny story!
Dating A Window Prostitute
So then you dated for a while?
Mark: Actually it went very quickly, within a few weeks we were actually living together.
Felicia: Yeah, we were at my place a couple of times and he came back.
How long were you living in the Netherlands at that point?
Felicia: Two years, two and a half.
So in 2010 you came to the Netherlands?
Felicia: Yes.
Getting Into Prostitution in the Netherlands
So why did you decide to leave Romania?
Felicia: I wanted something more, like my friends. It’s not like if you live in Romania that you are starving because you don’t have work to pay for food. I had a normal job, I made around 300 euros a month. For me that was pretty good, an average salary.
Compared to prices here in the Netherlands this is of course nothing but over there you could rent a pretty nice apartment for 50 – 100 euros. I had money for going out and buying stuff, everything. But at one point I just wanted more.
I always had the dream of buying my own house but without taking out a mortgage for it because I was always scared of what would happen if I’d lose my job and couldn’t make payment on the mortgage and lose the house. So then I thought about this, something where I can basically make more money.
How did you make the decision to come to the Netherlands specifically? Did you hear it from friends?
Felicia: Yes, from a friend of mine who was working here. So that’s how I came here.
Did you first come here to explore Amsterdam to see how it was or did you directly start to work?
Felicia: The first week I stayed with some friends and after the first week I started working in Alkmaar for three weeks. Back then you needed much more papers than you need right now. After I worked in Alkmaar for three weeks I moved to Amsterdam and since then I’m still here.
Mark: That’s because at that moment people from Romania and Bulgaria were not allowed to work in the European Union without papers. That only started in 2014. In 2010 you needed a working permit to stay here.
What Is It Like To Be A Window Prostitute In The Netherlands?
How was it to start the first day or week in this business in the Netherlands?
Felicia: It was weird because I basically came here with the idea of trying it and see if I could do it. At that point I could’ve easily have gone home back to my regular job and don’t lose anything.
The first couple of days were weird but then you know it is kind of a weird feeling but at the end of the night you count your money and see how much you’ve made. That’s satisfying.
My first night for instance… I was really nervous but I made like 800 euros. So I was like; that’s really good! Haha!
Sex Work And Relationships
So you met each-other via a window brothel. Were you still okay with her doing the job while having a relationship, Mark?
Felicia: In the beginning, no! Hahaha!
Mark: Well it’s actually kind of funny… I had a girlfriend before and I used to be really jealous with my ex-girlfriend when she was a little to close with another guy. But I think because I’ve been there as customer and I understand the platonic kind of relationship that it is with a customer it is really different than having sex with your boy or girlfriend which is really intimate.
I was a customer so I can understand that there is really nothing between her and her customers. That was a big reason why it was easier for me to accept it. At this point I really don’t have a problem with her job.
I would however have a problem if she started an affair with someone! Everybody would.
Felicia: But in the beginning you were kind of like; ‘Yeah now you should change your job, get another job’, etc’. I was up for it but it had to be good and steady job. But because we were in the beginning of a relationship I didn’t want to give up everything that I had for something that wasn’t 100% certain.
Mark: But I was also thinking of the long term you know. You don’t want to be doing this job forever till your fifty or something.
Felicia: My god, no!
Mark: So it’s not the work itself. You work in the nights and I think that that is really hard work doing it years on end. It also effects your social life when you do nightshift. So for instance we only have one off day in the weekend where we can do stuff, watch a movie or something. Friday night drinks are never an option.
Working Hours
How many days do you work?
Felicia: Five.
Ok, and never during the daytime?
Felicia: No, too much light. Haha! To be honest, I don’t want it. There is less work because there are less customers during the daytime and I would have to start at 10 AM and work till 7 or 8 PM. During dayshifts you have to work more to make the same amount of money.
When I work in the night I start at 11 or 12 PM and am home at 5 AM. The next day I sleep till 12 or 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Then I have till 11 PM to do whatever I want. I feel like when you work during the day you are there constantly.
What Do Prostitutes Tell Their Partners When They Get Home?
What do you share with your partner when you get home?
Felicia: We are pretty open about that because I always have a lot of funny stuff to tell him!
Mark: I always tell her to write more about it on her blog about the funny stuff, it’s hilarious. Of course a lot of things she does are not so interesting, yeah I had a guy and he wanted a blowjob. That’s not very interesting, I already know that. It’s more the extreme cases like a guy who wanted her to step on his balls or something like that. Weird stuff! Or just the crazy stuff that happens in Amsterdam Red Light District every day.
Felicia: A lot of stuff happens.
Mark: I work in IT (Information Technology). I’m also not going to talk about the codes or scripts I wrote. That’s not really interesting. I only talk about the out of the ordinary stuff.
Felicia: Or when I had a fight or argument with somebody who pissed me off.
Mark: In those cases she’ll blow off some steam, when she had a bad night. You also try to help and offer some support.
Felicia: Basically the same as every couple.
Do Prostitutes Still Have Sex When They Get Home From Work?
When prostitutes come home, do they still feel like having sex?
Mark: She comes home around 5 AM and I start working at 9 AM so usually when she comes home I’m asleep. In the weekends I try to stay awake when I can so I see her when she comes home. But when you’ve worked the whole night you’re kind of tired after that.
Felicia: I just want to go to sleep. When I had a bad night (not many customers) I’m still really tired. Even more tired than when I’ve had a good night! Just standing there and waiting is more exhaustive than being busy.
Amsterdam Red Light District Prices
Do you always stick to the agreed time with a customer or are you flexible?
Felicia: No, I always stick to my rule: 15 minutes for 50 euros. But the pricing depends. From some people I ask 100 euros, others 50. It depends on how you see the customer. When I can earn more money from him, yeah why not?
It also depends on what they want. Not everybody want to have sex. I have customers who come to me just to talk. I have my own customers like that and with them it depends on how long they want to stay.
Services in Amsterdam’s Red Light District
What are the things that you don’t offer?
Felicia: Oh there are many things. Haha!
Mark: Haha, anything without a condom.
Felicia: I do everything with a condom. Even hand jobs! I do not kiss. I do not allow oral sex. I used to do threesomes when I was working next to my best friends. But now? No!
But it really depends, a few weeks ago I had a couple of guys who just wanted to come in, sit down and talk for 5 minutes and then they left. So I take those two.
You don’t allow couples?
Felicia: Yes I do, sometimes. But that also depends on what they want. If they want me to go down on her or stuff like that, no. Because I don’t do that. I’ve had really bad experiences with couples so I prefer not to.
What Do Window Prostitutes In Amsterdam Offer?
Quite often when we walk in the Red Light District we wonder why there aren’t signs on the windows stating what the ladies offer? Is there a specific reason for that?
Felicia: No.
Mark: I think it has to do with the fact that they always negotiate with someone, I think.
Besides reading the Amsterdam Prostitution Menu. How can people know what’s for offer?
Felicia: They should just go to the Red Light District and ask window prostitutes. Every window prostitute can decide for herself what she does for 50 – 70 euros.
Mark: There are no standard rates for anything. Sometimes there’s room to negotiate. With the standard price of 50 – 70 euros everybody has kind of an equal chance.
Salary Of A Window Prostitute In Amsterdam
Lately Amsterdam is becoming more popular. Does this also mean that last year your revenue has increased?
Felicia: Actually the work for us has gotten a lot worse.
Whats the reason for that?
Felicia: I still think it’s the economic crisis because in 2010 – when I started to work here – I easily made a 1000 euros per night without really that much effort. But now? Not really.
If you make a thousand euro a night you’re really, really lucky.
Back then, I had English customers who didn’t even ask for the price. They just gave the money and afterwards they asked if they could pay more to stay five minutes longer. They were paying like 100, 150 of 200 euros extra.
Mark: I also think that different kind of tourists are visiting Amsterdam.
Felicia: I don’t see it that way, really. I still see the same kind of people everyday.
Mark: But it’s kind of interesting because brothel owners are saying that it’s becoming more quiet. I think there are different types of people, maybe older people and couples. They’ve heard about the Red Light District and for years they didn’t want to go to Amsterdam. Maybe it helped a little that the government closed down some window brothels and some coffeeshops, get a little bit more of a friendly family face.
That is what the city government wanted: to attract a different type of tourist.
Amsterdam Red Light District Visitors
Where do most of your customers come from?
Felicia: Most of them are tourists. I have a lot of British and Italians customers. They are the type of guys who pay but don’t pay more because they don’t have it. They just pay the 50 euro standard price. But they are nice people and quick. That’s why I like working with them!
And British tourists? They are quite known for drinking a lot and yelling a lot. Are they also like that in the window brothel?
Felicia: No, not at all! If I had to chose between a drunk British guy or a drunk Dutch guy, I’d go for the British one.
Amsterdam Prostitutes & Health
How often do you get tested for sexually transmitted diseases?
Felicia: I do everything safely. I always use condoms. I also check all the condoms I use. And I regularly get tested on STD’s.
A few times per month?
Felicia: Not a few times a month, no! You actually have to wait more than a week to get your results. I heard stories before from other window prostitutes who say they check themselves everyday but that’s not true. You have to wait for more than a week for the results.
What If Your Boyfriend Would Get Into Prostitution?
What if your fiancé would also become a sex worker? Would you be okay with that?
Mark: Haha…
Felicia: I don’t think he can do it!
Mark: Hahaha…
Career of A Window Prostitute in the Netherlands
How long do sex workers in the Red Light District usually work here?
Felicia: I really don’t know. From when I started 6 years ago there aren’t that many left. Only a few came back.
Mark: I think the average is around 5 years if I remember correctly. It also makes kind of sense to me because there are some women that really work for a long time like 10 to 15 years and there are some girls who do it for 2 years. It’s really difficult to say.
Felicia: Pretty much about how smart you are. One of my best friends from Bulgaria decided to spend as little money as possible and save everything that she made. She worked for 4,5 years and she has stopped working in the sex industry.
Prostitution & Anonymity
Why do you use pseudonyms? I get it why Felicia uses a pseudonym but why does Mark use one?
Mark: Because my parents don’t know that my girlfriend does this kind of work. We talked about this for a long time. My parents are Dutch so you would suppose that they would be very open about this. But I talked to a lot of sex workers how they experience these things. We basically came to the conclusion that even though Dutch people think that we are very open-mined. In reality, when it comes to sex work, we are not as open as we think.
Felicia: Not at all actually.
Mark: Yeah, we are pretty close-minded. I’ve started to see more openness about sex workers in other countries than in Holland, really interesting.
Felicia: Sometimes people ask me how he can let me do that. Then I’m like; he doesn’t own me!
Mark: A lot of people say; how can you let your girlfriend do this?! I don’t let my girlfriend do anything! I don’t own her or tell her what to do. Even if I would say like you can’t do this it’s not like I can really stop her from doing it. I respect her enough to make her own decisions. If I would demand from her to stop, then who is forcing who?
Felicia: After school I immediately got a job so I’ve always been an independent person. I always wanted to earn my own money. People always said; why don’t you get a rich boyfriend then you don’t have to work and you have a lot of money! I had that and did that, no thank you. I like to earn my own money. I don’t want to ask anybody for it. I like to fight for myself. That’s just who I am.
Dutch Authorities And Prostitution
How often are you checked by the authorities?
Felicia: I was checked a few months ago I believe, and before that one time four years ago. The people who came to see me were surprised that the last check was four years ago.
What kind of check was it?
Felicia: They checked my ID card and permits and asked me a few questions.
Mark: I also think the reason why she hasn’t been checked for so long is because she always starts working late. Usually the inspectors come early in the evening. Felicia starts her shift at 11 or 12 PM. So they usually miss her.
They check window prostitutes in Amsterdam about 2500 times a year. Thats really a lot because there are around 350 windows brothels in Amsterdam.
Prostitution And Taxes
Have you ever been checked by the Dutch tax authorities?
Felicia: Yes, they wanted to check my wallet and my bag. I didn’t let them because it’s private stuff. If you come with a notice in advance then it’s okay you can check everything that you want. But if you don’t do that you can just ask my bookkeeper. Thats why I pay him.
Mark: But they also just don’t have the right to go trough all your personal belongings.
Felicia: I heard from other window prostitutes that the authorities wanted to search their trashcans on the number of condoms they used.
Mark: It’s pointless to count the amount of condoms.
Felicia: But it’s good for them because it means they can do their job!
Safety In the Window Brothels of Amsterdam
Is it mandatory to have condoms in the window brothels? And do you have to buy them yourself?
Felicia: Yes it’s mandatory and you have to buy them yourself. Everything you need you have to buy yourself. Condoms, lube, sexy outfits, etc.
Do you wear a different outfit every night?
Felicia: No, before I bought so many costumes. I think I spent like 4000 euros on costumes. I kept trying everything. But in the end I had like four bags of costumes at home but I kept wearing one. For four years I’ve worked with the same one because I was making a lot of money in that outfit. When I put on something else I made less. These days I don’t buy anymore new outfits.
Mark: But it also depends because there are some other girls who, if they don’t have enough customers, change their outfit every two hours. The girls who constantly have work don’t change their outfit and it’s also a way to recognise them. It could actually be bad for business if you keep changing your outfit. Lets say a guy was looking around and he sees a nice girl with that costume and he comes back an hour later and doesn’t recognise her?
Felicia: I just see it as a waste of money.
What About Violence?
You’ve been doing this job for six years now, have you ever witnessed or experienced violence? A violent customer?
Felicia: No, not really. I can take care of myself. Of course I get into trouble sometimes but I always manage, I never need the police.
Mark: But nobody ever beat you or something?
Felicia: No! I always think like, I’m not going to wait till somebody hits me, I hit first! That seems to work haha.
Mark: I think that is the same for most of the girls. I talked the other day to one of the brothel owners and we always kind of talk about how the outside world perceives these women as very fragile. It’s like they have no idea who these women are. Seriously, if you knew these women you would know not to mess with them! You are going to be the one that gets beaten up! It’s not the other way around. There is one girl, you know who I’m talking about Felicia, and I think her boyfriend actually needs help not the other way around. In reality you don’t want to mess with these girls. The way they are portrayed in the media is just not how they are in real life.
Felicia: You learn to be tuff with this job. You learn to not let anyone walk over you. Sometimes people say I’m very mean or I’m very aggressive. If you are like that with me I will respond in the same way. If you treat me nice I will be really nice with you but if you start to mess with me then I can not be nice, but that is normal I think. When somebody starts talking shit about me I will respond in the same manner.
Mark: The other night out the blue these two tipsy Norwegian guys started talking to me about their experience with a window prostitute. One started to talk about the fact that one of the girls was squeezing his balls so hard that it started to hurt. I asked which girl he went to and he pointed at her! As soon as the girl saw that she was like; oh, Norway come here! And the guy was like noooo and started to run away! I think there are more times where the customers needs protection from the girls haha! Wasn’t there ia sign saying “don’t beat the customers” in your old workplace Felicia? Haha!
Felicia: haha yeah we had that one in the house rules because it happened a couple of times!
Me: And in your brothel window do you have something like a panic button?
Felicia: I have three actually. Haha! I have one next to my door, one next to my bed and I have an alarm close to my bed.
Have you ever used the panic buttons?
Felicia: No, I don’t really need it.
Window Prostitution and Politics in Amsterdam
If you were the mayor of Amsterdam what would you do to improve the Red Light District?
Felicia: Oh, thats a good question!
Felicia: There is far too little accessible information available on how to become a successful window prostitute in the Netherlands. If you look online you can not find any information. The City of Amsterdam has maybe just one dedicated page at the end of a twenty page sites. And, it’s only in Dutch! So good luck with that if you are from abroad like me.
How To Improve Prostitution in the Netherlands
So the first thing you would do is offer more information?
Felicia: Yes, more information and more help. For example, if a girl from another country comes to the Netherlands, she’d need at least 10.000 euros to be able to start. Before you start to work you need a house or an apartment. And before you can start to work you need to register.
It’s already really difficult when your working to find an apartment in Amsterdam. So when you don’t even have a job it’s even more difficult because companies require that you had a steady income for at least three months. But girls who’ve just arrived don’t have that because they want to start working. It’s really stupid.
I was earning around 300 euros a month and it took me a really long time to save up the 10.000 euros. And even I had it I’m here and then what? With other businesses you have employment agencies who can help you with moving from one country to the other and help you with housing. In this industry you have nothing, not even information.
Mark: And then the authorities are surprised that some people take advantage of people in this type of situation. Of course if you don’t offer even the basic help criminals will fill that void. Thats whats happening. The media portrays it as women being forced into prostitution against their will but that is simply not the case 9 out of 10 times. The girls want to do this job but they need help in getting here and getting set up and the government isn’t offering it.
Felicia: I while ago I actually met a girl when she walked in asking how to get started. She was already living in Amsterdam for 1,5 month, she came from another country, but she simply didn’t know where to go what to do or how to begin, anything. Until she found me and I helped her. I don’t want to say how many emails I get from Dutch girls who want to start who are in their own country and they don’t even know.
Mark: They spend three million Euros a year on an exit programs. It’s not like I’m saying they shouldn’t help these women, but there are like 341 women that they help each year of which 50 to 60% fall back into prostitution again. When you are spending that much money on an exit program maybe you should use a part of those funds to also help girls enter prostitution so you can prevent human trafficking before it happens.
Felicia: They will never do that. It is is never going to happen because most people will see that as the government promoting prostitution!
Mark: The only thing they are focusing on is prostitution itself which is already to late because then they are already among the criminals. It starts before that. They should close less windows so that less girls are forced to go into the underground. They closed down 40% of the legal businesses in the Netherlands so of course girls are going to work illegally. Thats only logical. They are closing down 300 windows in Utrecht, they are closing down 50 windows in Groningen and they are talking about closing windows in Den Haag and then they act surprised when illegal prostitution is becoming a big problem.
Felicia: You don’t need too much brains to understand that.
Mark: Haha!
Have you ever worked together in a window brothel?
One of our tour guides would like to know if you guys ever worked together?
Mark: Haha, a colleague of Felicia had a guy one time and he wanted to pay a lot of money just to watch people having sex. I said to Felicia, if you ever have a customer like that, call me! I would absolutely do it. The guy wanted to pay her like 3000 Euros for 10 minutes. But she couldn’t find a guy who wanted to basically fuck her for free. She was screaming outside on the street for somebody to come in and fuck her haha.
Real love is…
You talked about going back to Romania, Felicia. Would you consider going with her, Mark?
Mark: Yeah! I go where she goes!
Since May 2017, Mark also hosts our Red Light District tours.
Learn more about Amsterdam, Dutch culture and the Red Light District during our walking tours. Our local guides (including Mark) show you the most fascinating area in the Netherlands.
YES, I WANT A TOUR! >
ALSO READ:
Amsterdam Red Light District Prices
Dutch Political Positions On Prostitution
Posted on: September 7, 2016
10 Dutch Political Positions On Prostitution Explored
(Last updated on the 18th of August 2017)
Prostitution is still a hotly debated topic in the Netherlands though it may not appear that way from abroad. For this reason we’ve decided to sum up the Dutch political positions on prostitution of every major political party.
The Dutch Political System Explained
Before digging deeper into all the different viewpoints we thought it might be a good idea to give you some information about the Dutch political system. Holland is a parliamentary representative democracy. The Dutch Parliament consists of the lower house (congress) and upper house (senate). Both Houses debate proposed legislation and review all the actions of the cabinet. The lower house has the right to propose and alter bills. The lower house is considered the most important and has direct elections every four years. Because the Dutch system has proportional representation, it has a representative body that reflects the overal distribution of public support. This system insures representation for minority groups which explains the large number of different political parties and the variety in Dutch political positions on prostitution!
CDA (Christian Democratic Appeal)
Prostitution is seldom a free choice. To make prostitutes less vulnerable the age for prostitution should be raised to 21 years in the whole country. Prostitution is allowed in Holland and should be practiced at safe locations. Organisations that help women who want to get out of prostitution should get full support.
ChristenUnie (Christian Union)
Prostitution is always a dire situation. Crime, human trafficking and exploitation are the reality. Prostitutes are the real victims. ChristenUnie supported a new law whereby a visit to a prostitute who is clearly a victim of human trafficking is punishable. Fully supports so-called “get-out programs” that help women get out of prostitution. The ChristenUnie also wants:
- A ban on pimps.
- Effective information for young girls about the lover boy threat.
- A single hotline for notifying the authorities about illegal prostitution, human trafficking and child pornography.
- A hotline and application stop option for the chamber of commerce for applicant cases where they suspect women to be victims of coercion or human trafficking.
- Provide information to prostitutes on the abuses, risk of exploitation, psychological consequences of the job and that they will be given shelter and protection if they decide to go to the police.
- Priority should given towards human trafficking, child pornography and illegal prostitution even when police capacity is strained.
- Safe accommodation for victims of lover boys and pimps directly.
- So called “get-out” programs should become structural policy tools
- Maximum sentence for prostitution related human trafficking should be raised to 12 years.
- Human trafficking should be stopped at the source. There should be a prevention program for source countries like Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria. Expertise should be shared and shared safe care back to their home countries.
- Costumers should be punished when dealing with coerced prostitutes.
D66 (Democrats 66)
Support the nationwide license duty for prostitution companies. Prostitution companies should be required by law to have a business plan stipulating what measures with respect to hygiene, health, safety and the right of self-determination of prostitutes the company must take. This measure should lead to better position for prostitutes. The party is also in favour of an easy accessible complaint hotline.
Ariella Verheul, councilor for the Democrats 66 in Amsterdam, tweeted this in May 2016:
“Don’t do this @groenlinks ! Hold course and don’t support the proposal on criminalizing clients of prostitutes.”
D66 is the only party that opposes the rise in the minimum age for prostitutes from 18 to 21 years in the whole country. Compulsion and human trafficking should be dealt with harshly. A client can only be punished if he or she knows that the prostitute works under coercion.
GroenLinks (Green Left)
The party has observed that illegal prostitution continues to grow compared to the legal one. According to GroenLinks this is because enforcement is primarily focused on the legal side of the market. This forces companies into the non-licensed underground. Current legalisation is not the problem, it is unequal enforcement. Too little has been invested in the legal sector of the prostitution market.
Partij voor de Dieren (Party for the Animals)
Prostitutes should be given more resources: safer and cleaner workspaces and more protection against abuse. Forced prostitution, exploitation and human trafficking should de dealt with harshly. Future prostitution locations should be checked thoroughly and regularly to prevent injustice and unsafe situations.
PvdA (Labour Party)
A costumer who knows that the prostitute works under coercion should be punished. Prostitutes are often the victim of pimps and loverboys. The labour party wants anybody who profits from forced prostitution to be compliant with requests and that abuses are reported more often. All these points are to fight abuse in the prostitution sector, to prevent human trafficking and to improve the position of prostitutes.
PVV (Party For Freedom) *anti Islam
The minimum age for prostitution should be 21. Illegal prostitution should be dealt with forcefully.
Fleur Agema is a Dutch politician and a member of the Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid) she has been an MP since 2006. She focuses on matters of caregiving.
SGP (Reformed Political Party)
Sexuality is only fully appreciated within marriage. Its more than mere lust and satisfaction for money, sexuality is not something like a consumer good. Prostitution is the abuse of a woman and a form of slavery.
Kees van der Staaij – party leader of the Reformed Political Party – tweeted this in 2014:
The SGP works against prostitution wherever possible. If possible they would ban the practice today. The SGP has the most extreme view of all the Dutch political positions on prostitution.
SP (Socialist Party)
Supports the newly proposed law that punishes costumers if they visit a prostitute how is coerced into the trade. SP supported full legalisation. They are currently in favour of a better permit system to get a better view on the sector and more control. They point out that with changers in policy (raising minimum age) the government should always take into account that some activities move into the underground. Whoever credibly proves to be a victim of human trafficking or exploitation should get a residence permit. When the police find illegals they should always investigate if they are victims before deporting them. The SP is also in favour of more accommodation and care for the victims of pimps and lover boys leading to more charges of criminals.
VVD (People’s Party For Freedom and Democracy) *conservative-liberal
The VVD has the most libertarian stance of all the Dutch political positions on prostitution. Prostitution is a legal profession that needs little government interference except for licensing, enforcement and the fight against human trafficking. Municipalities are tasked with designating window brothel areas. The window brothels themselves, rent and utilisation should be left up to the market.
Source: Knowledge Center For Emancipation And Female History (Dutch report)
Human Trafficking in the Netherlands Trends and Recent Developments
Posted on: September 2, 2016
Eighteen Percent Reduction In Cases Of Human Trafficking In the Netherlands
The number of declarations on victims of human trafficking in the Netherlands has declined substantially last year in comparison with the prior year. In 2015 a total of 1.321 possible cases of human trafficking were reported to the police, compared with 1.561 cases the year before.
Concerning Development Within Human Trafficking in the Netherlands
According to the national rapporteur on human trafficking and sexual violence against children, Corinne Dettmeijer, this new development is “concerning”. According to Dettmeijer “there is no reason to assume that these numbers prove a low number of victims”. A possible reason for the reversion in the number, according to the national rapporteur, is a change in priorities at the military police and regular police force.
The military police has been shifting its attention from human trafficking towards people smugglers. An extensive reorganization of the regular police force could be a cause for a reduced attention into human trafficking in that branche. The largest reduction in the number of reported cases comes from the military police: 46 percent less declarations than the prior year. At the regular police there was a decline of 14 percent. A year before that the decline in declarations had already started with a decline in victim declarations of 36 percent in 2013 compared to 2012.
People Smuggling And Trafficking Both Deserve Full Police Attention
“Refugees, who arrive here with the help of people smugglers, are vulnerable to human trafficking, that is why people should be extra alert towards the signals of human trafficking. The focus should be on the action against people smugglers and security, simultaneously not maintaining our attention towards human trafficking in the Netherlands leads to a false sense of security. The new measures are at the expense of the victims of human trafficking” warns Dettmeijer. Dettmeijer wants the minister for justice and security to implement measures so that the signals of human trafficking can be recognised faster within the current migration- and refugee flows.
Migrant Flows Put Pressure On Police Recourses
A spokesperson for the ministry of justice and security stated that there has been a shift in attention towards, among other things, the recent migrant flows. Within these flows of migrants and refugees the police is still on the lookout for human trafficking. The ministry further stated that although a lot is still being done against human trafficking, they will have talks with the public prosecutor and the police to discuss the needs for keeping the attention towards human trafficking in the Netherlands at an acceptable level. Talks are currently in progress.
Amsterdam Cannabis Law Change
Posted on: September 1, 2016
Dutch Coffee Shop History – A Brief Introduction
In Holland, “coffee shops” are stores where the sale and use of cannabis for personal consumption is tolerated by the Dutch authorities. The first coffee shop – not be confused with cafes of coffee houses – in Amsterdam was founded in 1972 by Wernard Bruining in a squatted bakery shop. It was a logical follow-up of the friend to friend service that was going on in the place before that.
The first cannabis coffee shop of Amsterdam.
The group of friends extended swiftly, smoking cannabis, drinking coffee & tea and relaxing together. That gave them the idea to open a teahouse or a coffee shop, that was easy, since there was no permit required. They named their coffee shop Mellow Yellow which was inspired by the Donovan hit in those days.
Why Are Cannabis Shops in Holland Called Coffee Shops?
Classic picture of Coffeeshop Mellow Yellow in Amsterdam.
Wernard: “We called the place a teahouse, thinking that would indicate the sales of stuff, as we called cannabis those days. However, everybody knew it as coffee shop & they all knew what was offered there. The atmosphere in the beginning was superb and enlightning, friends who all gathered, to smoke, talk and play a game of table football.”
Number of Coffee Shops in Holland
Amsterdam, 1992. A woman looks at coffeeshop La Tertulia on the Prinsengracht.
In the mid 1990’s, Holland had more than 1.500 coffeeshops spread over the country. By the end of 2014, the number of coffeeshops have rapidly decreased to 591 coffeeshops spread over 103 municipalities in Holland. The decline in the number of coffee shops continues. In fact, in March 2015, there were 582 coffee shops left.
What Caused the Decrease in Coffee Shops in Holland?
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 2014. Coffeeshop Hunters in a time when they were still allowed to sell cannabis in this area.
The main reasons that coffee shops in Holland have disappeared in the last several years are Dutch municipalities enforcing a distance criterion, closure due to a negative “BIBOB” advice (BIBOB translated: Public Administration Probity Screening Act) and coffee shops violating the applicable tolerance criteria, leading them to be closed permanently.
Dutch Judge: New Amsterdam Cannabis Law Is Justified
Coffee shops located within a 250-meter radius of secondary education schools must be closed on workdays during the daytime because of a new Amsterdam cannabis law. The judge ruled that under the new Amsterdam cannabis law the municipality has the authority to close the coffee shops. The city of Amsterdam intends to discourage soft drug use under youngsters. The first coffee shops had to close their doors on the 1st of January 2014.
Coffee Shop Owners Disagree With New Amsterdam Cannabis Law
Fourteen owners appealed to the courts back in 2014. They argued that the new measure wouldn’t have its intended effect. Under existing laws they were already prohibited from selling drugs to minors. Furthermore they argued that they had little to no time to change their opening hours before the law came into effect.
The court of justice ruled that municipalities have a lot of authority when it comes to these types of issues because of the Dutch liberal drug policy. The drugs that the coffee shops sell are still officially illegal to sell according to Dutch law. The judge also stated that the coffee shops were informed well in advance about the so-called new “distance criteria”.
Twenty-Six Coffee Shops Set To Close
Based on the new ruling Amsterdam plans to close 26 shops. This will be implemented in four different fazes, starting off with more limited opening hours. Though the initial appeal by the coffee shop owners was only about the opening hours the judge has now ruled that municipalities can move forward with the eventual closing of the shops. Eleven coffee shops have been closed so far due to the new Amsterdam cannabis law.
Remaining shops can stay open until the 1st of January because the city of Amsterdam is waiting on a verdict from the supreme court concerning a countrywide implementation of the so called “weed pass” (people will have to get a special card to get cannabis if this gets implemented). This verdict will arrive in the coming months according to a spokesperson for Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan. The Hague, Utrecht and Rotterdam have already successfully implemented the new “distance criteria”.
Others who read this article also read 28 Coffeeshops in Amsterdam Need to Close Their Business & Research: 1.5 million Tourists Visit Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
Fun to do in Amsterdam: Over The Edge Swing
Posted on: August 22, 2016
New Over The Edge Swing Thrill Ride In Amsterdam
Amsterdam now boasts Europe’s highest over the edge swing. The over the edge swing let’s you swing over the edge (no surprise there) of the one hundred meter high Lookout! Observation Deck situated on top of the Amsterdam Tower. After strenuous testing the over the edge swing was finally accredited. It will start servicing adventurous minded people starting Friday the 26th of August, 2016.
Lookout! Observation Deck
To get to the over the edge swing you first have to go up to Adams Lookout! Observation Deck. “The Lookout!” alone is worth the trip because of its breathtaking 360 degrees view of Amsterdam. View Amsterdam’s historical centre, Red Light District and port from an angle that few people have! To complement the viewing experience an interactive exhibition about Amsterdam’s rich history and culture has been added.
History Of A’DAM Toren
Around 1965 the board of directors of Shell, the oil company, decided that the corporation needed a new main office building for the managing board and general services. Because Shell only owned a small plot of land Architect Arthur Staal designed a tall building.
The building was in use by Shell as recently as 2009. In 2014 it was reported that the building was acquired by a quartet of investors who all have roots in the Dutch dance scene. A’DAM stands for Amsterdam Dance And Music. A’dam toren is intended to be the homebase for internationally leading creative companies. However because of its long history most people in Amsterdam still call the building “the Shell tower”.
Ticket Prices Over The Edge Swing
To experience the swing you first have to buy a ticket for the Lookout! Observation Deck. The ticket price for adults is 13,50 euro per person. Per child a ticket costs 7,50 euro. An individual ride on the swing costs 5,- Euro per ride. Lookout is opened every day from 10:00 till 22:00 hours. Last admissions are at 21:00 hours so don’t be late ;).
How To Get To Amsterdam Tower
Getting to A’DAM Toren is relatively easy. There are several ferry docks located behind Amsterdan Central Station. The ferry you need to take is ferry Buiksloterwegveer, number 901. This ferry is in operation 24/7 and is at minimum available 5 times per hour. All ferries in Amsterdam are free to use.
Over The Edge Online Tickets
Get fast-lane entrance tickets for 15 euro, enjoy the most beautiful view of Amsterdam and the highest swing of Europe.
When you book a 20 minute time slot ticket we advise you to arrive at Lookout! at least 30 minutes before your swing time slot. The Lookout! Observation Deck can’t guarantee a new time slot if you are too late.
Amsterdam Pictures of the City
Posted on: August 17, 2016
10x Amsterdam in Pictures in 1951
As true history nerds we love old pics, especially when they were made in the city we love most – Amsterdam! We are fascinated in knowing how things were in the past and how they are nowadays. Some people say “in the past everything was better”, but is that really so? Maybe these Amsterdam in pictures will answer that question. Let’s have a look.
The picture at the top of this page shows two American soldiers on a tandem-bicycle 6 years after the end of WWII. It was taken on 6 September 1951 at Leidse Square – next to the city theatre. The front soldier had a single yellow chevron on his left sleeve, meaning he was a private first class (6th grade).
This Is What Amsterdam Looked Like In The Year 1951
Amsterdam in Pictures: Dam Square
Amsterdam, Dam Square, 10 September 1951.
This photo shows a man carrying a puppet show decor. In the back is the shopping mall The Bijenkorf and the Hotel KrasnaPolsky. Did you know that since 1893 there has been a puppet show on Dam Square; Every Sunday, there is a show – nowadays performed by Wim Kerkhove. The puppet show tells the story of a Dutch legend: Three centuries ago there was a man called Jan Klaassen, he was a trumpeter and the bodyguard of Prince Willem II. When he passed away Jan Klaassen lost his job and moved to Amsterdam. To earn some money he performed behind the puppet show, with himself and his wife – Katrijntje Pieters – as the main characters.
Puppet show on Amsterdam’s Dam Square. Every Sunday till October 2nd. Showtimes: 1, 2, 3, & 4 pm. Go check it out!
More info: https://www.facebook.com/PoppenkastopdeDam
Amsterdam in Pictures: Canals
Amsterdam, Leidsekade, November 1951.
This picture depicts a man on a ferry for pedestrians and bicycles on the Leidsekade. People had to pay a small amount to get to the other side;The Nassau-kade. Back in the day Amsterdam had fewer bridges than it does nowadays. Instead ferries where used. The man on the ferry pulled it forward by using the manual-mechanic which he had in his hand.
Amsterdam in Pictures: Streets
Amsterdam, 3 September 1951.
A few decades ago, Mobylettes were quite popular in the Netherlands. They were also known as Moby’s – a French moped manufactured by Motobecane. It was launched in 1949 and made until 1997 with peak production during the 1970’s. The Mobylettes displayed on the picture had a 2-stroke petrol engine. The City of Amsterdam recently decided that mopeds which are older than 2010, will be banned from 2018.
Amsterdam, Washing Day at the Lindenstraat, 2 Augustus 1951.
The photo above shows a boy who is being washed outside on the street, probably by his mother. The picture raises some questions: Did this little boy have to washed on the street because it washing day? Was he punished? Or maybe did they just have some fun on a hot summer day?
Amsterdam in Pictures: Jordaan
The Jordaan is a neighborhood in Holland’s capital. It is part of the borough of Amsterdam’s city centre. The area is bordered by the Lijnbaansgracht canal to the west, the Prinsengracht to the east, the Brouwersgracht to the north and the Leidsegracht to the south. The former canal Rozengracht (now filled in) is the main traffic artery through the district.
The picture above shows a little fair and Amsterdam’s beautiful houses in the background. When visiting Amsterdam, make sure you go to the Jordaan! You’ll love it.
Amsterdam in Pictures: Red Light District
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Winter of 1951.
The pic above shows a beautiful winter view of the Red Light District (a.k.a. “De Wallen”) in Amsterdam. Was the guy in the picture looking for some a warm window brothel perhaps?
Amsterdam in Pictures: Streets
Amsterdam, Tram Line 9, February 1951.
Some people waiting for the tram. Although it’s February, that little guy in the middle of the photo is wearing shorts, while the man on his left is wearing a long winter jacket.
Amsterdam, Prins Hendrikkade, 1951.
65 years ago there used to be a little beach on the Prins Hendrikkade, close to central station. Unfortunately, there is now no more beach at this location.
Amsterdam in Pictures: The Zoo
Amsterdam, Zoo Artis, 1951.
Oh nothing special… Just an ostrich reading his caretaker’s newspaper.
Others who read this article also read 20 Pictures of Amsterdam’s Red Light District and Amsterdam on May 7th 1945 – The Shooting
Pokemon in Amsterdam Cheats
Posted on: July 14, 2016
News: Pokemon in the Red Light District of Amsterdam
Some while ago we toured around in the old city centre and we spotted Pokemon in the Red Light District of Amsterdam! Matt – our local guide – found out there are some PokeStops (things where you can find Pokemon items) at infamous erotic theater Casa Rosso.
This sex show is 47 years old and really part of Amsterdam Red Light District – it offers sex on stage only inside of course. And this is not the only… The Red Light District is packed with Pokestops.
Pokemon Gyms in Amsterdam
Matt also noticed that there are 2 gyms (places where users can battle against each other to win Pokemons) in and around the Red Light District. One is at the oldest building of Amsterdam – a highlight during our tours – located in the heart of the Red Light District.
The other one is located on Dam Square – our meeting point location – where you’ll see many Pokemon Trainers catching new Pokemons. The other one is located in front of a 47-year old sex theatre (pink elephant logo). The spot of this Pokemon in the Red Light District is surrounded by window brothels, prostitutes, sex shops, bars and a strip club.
Smart Phone Use in Red Light District of Amsterdam
Good to know!
The prostitutes in the Red Light District don’t want to be photographed – it’s advised to use your mobile phone only here accompanied by a local experts. The ladies in the windows can get very angry when they think they are photographed. In the Red Light District it’s considered very impolite and disrespectful when someone takes pictures of sex workers.
Photographing prostitutes is not allowed
The narrow streets in Amsterdam’s Red Light District make it difficult to use a smart phone without a prostitute thinking she is being photographed. It has happened before that cameras and mobile phones were smashed on the street or into the canal by the sex workers. Pokemon users need to very careful here!
How to find Pokemon in the Red Light District
When our local expert Matt was walking in the Red Light District he noticed that there are a lot of Water-Type Pokemon. This is probably because of all the canals that the Red Light District has. All the PokeStops in the Red Light District are often sights we visit during our Red Light District Tours.
Pink Elephant
The Pink Elephant in the Red Light District is a PokeStop.
This place of this Pokemon in Amsterdam Red Light District can be recognized by the elephant logo. But it must be said that it can be quite challenging to find the right location as there several elephant logos in this area.
Pokemon and Canals in Amsterdam
Furthermore, the PokeStops are located next to one of the canals in Amsterdam. Pokemon fans are advised to be careful not to walk into the canal, because there are no railings next to these canals. Also, the water is quite dirty and cold – one can quickly be undercooled resulting in hypothermia.
ALSO DISCOVER:
8 Sex Dating Apps In Amsterdam
An Interview with a Brothel Madam in Amsterdam's Red Light District
Posted on: July 8, 2021
Window Brothel Owner in Amsterdam Tells Her Story
Retired window brothel owner Tonia Hermans (67) was interviewed by the Dutch regional newspaper De Gooi en Eemlander. What follows are some quotes and key takeaways from that interview to give you an impression of the life of a window brothel owner in the Amsterdam Red Light District.
A Window Brothel Owner Needs To Be Tuff
Although Tonia is a small lady, you don’t want to mess with her. Customers who didn’t pay were kicked out, no exceptions. Tonia tells the story of a customers who couldn’t finish in 30 minutes and therefor didn’t want to pay, but also didn’t want to leave. She gathered all his clothes and threw them on the streets and kicked him out the door naked.
It’s Not A Gold Mine
A lot of people believe that owning a window brothel is a goldmine, Hermans disagrees; “That’s what they all say, look around in my small apartment. No, it was hard work. Every day I had to collect the rent, no weekends off and definitely not together with my partner. There were weeks where I had to make ends meet with just a hundred Euros per week. I made the coffee, delivered sandwiches and cooked dinner for them. They were young girls back then, 18 years old. Today they have to be 21. Besides that I cleaned all the window brothel rooms twice a day, clean the sink, toilet, windows and bring al the bedding to the launderette. I had some dirty girls in my time but I always kicked them out after a single warning”.
Brothel Owners and Prostitutes Don’t Like To Be Photographed!
Tonia tells the story that one day she was wiping the windows of a brothel in her pajama (because she likes wearing them) and a tourist took a picture of her! Without hesitation she threw the bucket of soap and water onto the tourist. “Camera ruined, I’m not a portrait. Lot’s of whining and there came the police…”.
Red Light District Rules And Regulations
According to Tonia; “Amsterdam Red Light District is being destroyed by rules and regulations of the local government, cleaning suddenly had to be done with three different rags, a green one for the sink, a yellow one for the toilet and a blue one for the floor. The local authorities even started telling brothel owners which brand of detergent we had to use! I also had to start checking if the sex toys were clean. Never in my life! The ladies can check it themselves. Window brothel owners even had to start teaching sex workers that customers first had to wash their hands, that condoms had expiration dates and some could give you cancer. Crazy bureaucrats, if my former partner was still alive….”
ALSO DISCOVER:
10 Tips For The Amsterdam Gay Pride Parade 2016
Posted on: June 18, 2016
Amsterdam Gay Pride Parade 2016: Tips From A Local
From the 23rd of July till the 7th of August the Amsterdam Gay Pride Parade 2016 will once again display all the splendour of the Dutch (and international) gay scene in the heart of the old city. The Pride lasts for a total of 16 days. Most of the parties and the canal parade will take place during the last three days of the event (5–7 August). In this article we’ll give you some tips on navigating one of the busiest events in Amsterdam.
More Than Just Partying
The Pride is made up out of several different events. You can lose your mind in gay venues and parties as well as straight. But the Pride also offers you the option to enjoy filmfestivals or sporting events. For a detailed schedule you can check out the English Amsterdam gay pride 2016 website.
Source: https://twitter.com/amsterdampride
The Gay Pride Parade In Amsterdam 2016
The main event of all the Pride parties is without a doubt the canal parade and will take place on Saturday the sixth of August between 1:30 PM and 6:00 PM. Amsterdam is the only city in the world where a Pride parade passes by on boats. The parade navigates across the entire Prinsengracht so there are plenty of spots for people to get a good look at the eighty extravagantly decorated boats. What follows now are 10 tips that we’ve carefully selected for you.
Tip 1: Don’t Underestimate the Crappy Dutch weather
Even during the summertime Holland (21th of June till the 20th of September) is known for lots of rain. Bring a poncho, just in case even if it’s just a little cloudy! Here’s Holland’s most popular weather forecast site: www.buienradar.nl Keep a close eye on that website as it forecasts rain super accurate.
Tip 2: Plan Things Ahead
Because the city centre is extra crowded during the parade it’s possible that the phone network will temporally break down. Preplan a time and meeting point with your friends.
Tip 3: Bring your own booze!
And lot’s of it ;). Chances are high that there will not be street bars at most points next to the canals, the cafes and street bars that are open will have long waiting lines. Officially you are not allowed to drink alcohol on the streets in Holland but during these kind of events the police generally don’t mind/ tolerate it.
Tip 4: Some Good Spots For Viewing The Amsterdam Gay Pride Parade 2016
Eenhoornssluis:
A small gangway between de Haarlemmerstraat and the Haarlemmerdrijk. Close to the dancing crowd and really energetic because the boats have just left the starting point.
Stopera:
A long curved canal located at city hall. A populair place for viewing the Pride parade. Try to get a spot at Café Amstelhoek.
Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge):
Click on the picture to enlarge it.
The “Magere Brug” is definitely one of the best places to see Gay Parade! It’s our favorite spot… It’s recommended to go here early, let’s say around 10 am, then you can claim a good spot on the bridge or just next to it.
Café Sluyswacht:
Located at the end of the canal parade. Wave the boats goodbye from the terras.
If you decide to go your own way:
When picking a spot next to the canal try to make it one that is close to a hotel or bar, this gives you an option for when you have to go to the toilet.
Tip 5: Drink Enough Water
If it get’s really hot it’s best to also drink some water besides only alcoholic beverages.
Tip 6: Wear your craziest outfit
Source: https://twitter.com/amsterdampride
Plenty of people come to the canal parade wearing regular clothes so try and spice it up a little for them!
Tip 7: Don’t be late!
The tour starts at 1:30 PM so the further along the route the more time you have. People will generally turn up early to get the best spots along the parade route. Don’t underestimate how crowded Amsterdam will become and get there early for the best spots.
Tip 8: Don’t Swim In The Canals
It might sound like an awesome idea, but the canal water is actually pretty dirty. Best to skip that one.
Tip 9: Leave Your Valuables At Home
There will be pickpockets, best to have ease of mind when partying so only bring the vital stuff. We would also advice you to not wear a backpack, they can be really annoying for other people at the party who stand behind you. If you do bring one (with say, beer) just put it on the ground and form a small circle around it with your friends.
Tip 10: Book Early
The Gay Pride Parade In Amsterdam is well known internationally so chances are that all the good hotel rooms and Airbnb’s will be taken if your late.
We hope these simple tips will help you navigate through the fun madness that is the Amsterdam Gay Pride Parade 2016.
By the way, did you know that The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage? Learn more did-you-knows and fun facts during our tours with a local guide.
Others who read this also read An Interview With A Gay Prostitute in Amsterdam & 10 Tips For Using Drugs in Holland
Chris Brown Arrested By Police In Amsterdam Red light District
Posted on: June 11, 2016
World Famous Singer Arrested By Police In Amsterdam Red light District
Yesterday, police in the Red Light District arrested American R&B singer Chris Brown. He was driving a dirt bike without a license plate next to the canals and the window brothels.
Who is Chris Brown?
Chris Brown, born May 5, 1989, in Tappahannock, Virginia, is a renowned singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. Known for blending R&B, pop, and hip-hop, he soared to fame with his debut album in 2005 and hit “Run It!”. Despite commercial success, his career faced setbacks due to legal issues, notably a 2009 assault on Rihanna. He bounced back with albums like “F.A.M.E.,” winning a Grammy. Brown, influenced by Michael Jackson, is one of the best-selling music artists, with over 140 million records sold worldwide
Chris Brown Set To Perform in Amsterdam
Brown is set to perform in Amsterdam today in the Ziggo Dome, a 17.000 seat indoor arena. To kill some time he bought three bright yellow dirt bikes yesterday but didn’t realise that you need a license plate in Holland in order to take part in traffic. He posted a picture of his bikes on Instagram.
Amsterdam Police Were Alerted By A Bystander
According to a police spokesperson somebody pointed out that a person was driving a dirt bike in the Red Light District. At practically the same time Brown drove by on his striking bike. The police pointed out that he was driving without a license plate and he was taken to nearest police station. The police spokesperson stated that this all transpired in a calm manner.
Fine Time
At the police station Brown was told that he would get a fine. The total sum of the fine is not known at this time because the public prosecutor has yet to determine it.
Don’t Try This At Home Kids
Via a video on Instagram a very relaxed Brown tells his fan base that the Amsterdam police in the Red Light District treated him well. He even took some pictures with some of the police officers. Brown appears to appreciate the Dutch police way of handling things stating in the video that: “The police are really nice about it man. I actually like the police out here. Cool as shit, for real.”Chris Brown ends his video with a warning for his fans: “ don’t ever drive a motorcycle without a license plate”.
Enjoy this article? Others who read this also read Walter White Had His First Time in the Red Light District and Fake Drug Dealers in Amsterdam Swingle Tourists Aggressively
First Time in The Red Light District of Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Having Your First Time In Amsterdam Red Light District Is Breaking It Bad
In a distant past actor Bryan Craston, known for the character Walter White in the hit series Breaking Bad, had his first time in Amsterdam Red Light District. The actor came clean during an appearance on Bravo’s “Inside the Actor’s Studio”. During the interview Carston started talking about his one month Euro trip with some 20 other teenagers back when he was eighteen years old. “It cost us like seven or eight hundred dollars, if you don’t include the prostitutes,” he quipped.
That’s What Friends Are For
Arriving in Amsterdam he met up with a couple of friends he knew from Los Angeles. His friends wanted to go to the red light district. Craston stated that he told his friends to go on without him, but they insisted that he should join.“I didn’t want to tell them I was a virgin. I’m panicking,” he stated. “We go to this house with a red light, which I thought was very convenient and subtle advertising. I’m backing out. I’m nervous as hell.”
Inside The Window Brothel
Inside a brothel, his friends negotiated a deal and went off with a pair of prostitutes. At that point another prostitute came up up to him and asked how much he was willing to pay for her services. Carson stated that he protested at first but the woman was insistent.
“She takes [the money], grabs my hand and pulls me into a room,” he said, smirking. “It was awful… and wonderful.”
“And she and I have been married now for…” he joked, much to the audience’s roaring approval.
Carson added that he was basically “the man” once he reunited with his buddies and told them what happened.
“Of course when I got back to the other 20 guys with the group, all 16 to 18 years old, I was good,” he joked.
A Love Story
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Bryan Cranston had his first time, in the Red Light District.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/936241686
Enjoy this article? Others who read this also read this Interview With a Dutch Prostitute and FAQ
Prostitution in Utrecht Netherlands
Posted on: May 20, 2016
Utrecht Ends Prostitution At Hardebollenstraat Without Immediate Alternative For Sex Workers
Prostitution won’t return to the Hardebollenstraat if it’s up to the executive board of the municipality of Utrecht (Holland’s fourth largest city). The board of Utrecht Ends Prostitution at the Hardebollenstraat by buying up 5.9 million euros worth of real estate. Thus preventing sex workers from returning to their former work environment. What the municipality plans to do with its new real estate is unclear at this time. The upper floors of the buildings are still inhabited by regular tenants.
Utrecht Ends Prostitution: Hardebollenstraat during daytime.
Decision Postponed
Mayor Jan van Zanen communicated this long awaited decision to the board last Friday night on the 13th of May. The decision was originally set to be released on the 1st of April, but van Zanen kept postponing. According to the mayor a third party had presented new information that would possibly be important.
Disappointment Among Sex Workers
The postponement led to great disappointment at Freya. The company, owned by former prostitute Caja van Tolie, has been trying to get a permit since November 2013 from the local authorities to start its business. Freya met all the requirements. Van Zanen acknowledges that the executive board has tested the patience of Freya and its sex workers.
The Neighborhood
The neighborhood is strongly opposed to the return of window brothels because of the hindrance and trouble they brought, according to some locals. “What a great Friday the 13th” states the chairman of the neighbourhood campaign against the return of window prostitution.
A window brothel in Utrecht – the Netherlands.
All Window Brothels Are Going To The Nieuwe Zandpad
A majority in the executive board now wants to concentrate all prostitution at the Nieuwe Zandpad in Utrecht. The question is if the mayor can make this happen from a legal perspective.
Utrecht Ends Prostitution Three Years Ago
City of Utrecht Ends Prostitution at Hardebollenstraat
All the window brothels on the Hardebollenstraat and the Nieuwe Zandpad were closed three years ago because the operators of the windows didn’t act enough against human trafficking that was believed to be going on at that time.
Interview Caja van Tolie
In September 2015 we did a comprehensive interview with Caja van Tolie, former prostitute and prospective brothel owner in the Netherlands. We met each other in Amsterdam’s Red Light District and wanted to know more about her profession and experiences. Read it here:
The Things You Always Wanted to Know From A Dutch Sex Worker – An Exclusive Interview
20 Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Reviews
Posted on: May 17, 2018
Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Reviews
We take great pride in presenting some of our guest reviews to you. Most of our visiting guests state that our Amsterdam red light district tour added a lot to their experience of Amsterdam and their understanding of the city. Our team has a passion for Amsterdam and takes great pleasure in sharing its rich history, strange habits and unique perspective on life.
“You must take this tour to really understand the red light district” is what most guests state. What follows next is a selection of 20 Amsterdam red light district tour reviews from TripAdvisor.com with some comments from our team!
1 – Could Be The Best Part Of Your Trip in Amsterdam!
Amsterdam’s red light district (locally known as “De Wallen“) can a bit of culture shock, but we believe it’s an area you must see as it’s the oldest and most fascinating neighbourhood of the city. We’ll help you navigate trough the beautiful historic alleyways and show you the best, hidden places that people never see! People often tell us that the tour was the best part of their trip to Amsterdam.
2 – A Personal Tour, With Plenty Of Jokes
Tour guide Martijn (peace sign) with his Red Light District tour guests.
We try to make the tour as enjoyable as possible. So expect jokes, personal anecdotes, interesting facts and an unforgettable time!
3 – We Bring Depth And Nuance To Your Amsterdam Red Light District Experience!
This is the most narrow alley of Amsterdam – one our highlights.
By walking down the Red Light District on your own you probably only get 10% of the experience. Our local tour guides present the historical and cultural framework for you to understand this fascinating place!
4 – A Local Company With Real Love for Amsterdam
5 – We Fight The Stereotypes!
There are a lot of misconception out there about the district and the city as a whole. Amsterdam is A LOT more than just weed and sex.
6 – A Great Variety In Everything
Amsterdam offers a great variety in, well, everything. Including in the types of female sex workers surprising some of our guests:
7 – We Go The Extra Mile For Our Guests
Our company is all about having great experiences. If there is a special request or an unexpected problem we’ll do everything in our power to make our guests happy!
8 – History Runs Through Our Blood
We have some major history buffs here at Amsterdam Red Light District Tours. Via great stories and added digital media we will bring the district’s rich history to life!
9 – Not Just For Foreign Tourists
We often get locals from Amsterdam or other parts of the Netherlands who are amazed at how little they know about the Red Light District – the oldest part of town.
10 – 1.5 Hours Will Fly By
Our tour is a feast for the mind and eyes 😉 Probably the most pleasant educational experience you’ll ever get!
11 – Rain Or Sunshine, Our Experts Deliver!
Holland isn’t exactly known for its good weather, but you can be assured that our guides will give you the best tour experience under any weather condition.
12 – Quality For All Ages
We frequently cater to parents who bring their children with them.
13 – Our Guides Are A Highlight Of The Tour 😉
14 – Some Say Our Red Light District Tours Are “Mind Blowing”
If you take a tour with us chances are high that you’ll go home with a fuller understanding of Amsterdam and Dutch culture!
15 – Our Guides Are Really Involved With The Red Light District!
Our guides are deeply involved with the Red Light District! Several live their lives in the district and one is even engaged to an active sex worker in the district!
16 – “Fascinating And Informative”
17 – “An Amazing Way To See The Legendary Ladies”
You’ll see the ladies in a completely different light if you take one of our tours. Seeing them without the needed background information could give you a completely wrong impression of the Red Light District and Amsterdam.
18 – We Challenge Perceptions
19 – One Of The Best Of All The Available Tours In Town
20 – Just. Do. It.
Taking this tour is one thing you’ll certainly won’t regret from your visit to Amsterdam!
Within 1.5 hours you’ll really understand the Dutch culture and red light district area! We hope to have given you a good impression about our tour with these Amsterdam red light district tour reviews. If you want to read more reviews you can always check out our page at tripadvisor.com.
Also, Fox News & Yahoo listed our Red Light District Tours as one of the wackiest & weirdest tours around the world. Furthermore, we also have a tour with two twin sisters who’ve worked as prostitutes for 50 years! That’s right… for 50 years! They are Holland’s most famous former prostitutes and we are the only company in Amsterdam who have a tour with them. We are really proud of that!
Join us and let our local tour guide show you what Amsterdam’s most fascinating area is really all about!
Drug Facts Netherlands
Posted on: May 4, 2016
(This article was last updated on the 23rd of March, 2018.)
Dutch Drug Information And Monitoring System 2015 Results
Every year the Dutch Drug Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) releases a report about tested drugs in the Netherlands. The organisation has a countrywide network of test locations set up to give insights into the illegal Dutch drugs market. DIMS does research into the substances contained in illegal drugs, the health risks associated with them and analyses trends in the drug market.
Drugs Information Netherlands
There are a few legal drug test labs in the Netherlands where people can get their illegal drugs tested. Most of these labs are located in the major cities in the Netherlands. Amsterdam has a few. These legal businesses test the ingredients of illegal drugs (XTC, amphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, etc.) and it’s 100% legal. They share their expertise about drugs and alcohol, its quality, effects and risks. This is the Dutch approach on informing people about drugs – The government rather have someone using drugs safer by testing it than less safe without doing so. In Amsterdam there are two official drug test labs called GGD and Jellinek. These are mostly visited by locals because tourists don’t know this.
The 2015 Drug Results Netherlands
XTC/MDMA test in one of Amsterdam’s drug test labs.
The number of tested XTC samples has more than doubled since 2005. The average amount of MDMA per pill rose from 81 to a 150mg during that same time period. The second most turned in drugs for testing was cocaine, 13 percent of all samples were cocaine. Cocaine is often diluted with levamisole, which adds extra health risks. In 2015 cocaine powder samples contained on average 64% of pure cocaine.
Total Number of Drug Samples Increased Again
The Dutch Drug Information and Monitoring System notes that, surprisingly, in 2015 the total number of handed in samples increased again substantially. The number of 4-Fluoroamphetamine samples doubled since last year. After XTC/MDMA, cocaine and speed 4-FA is now the most handed in drug recorded by the Dutch Drug Information and Monitoring System.
How Does The Dutch Drug Information and Monitoring System Work?
Different types of organizations across the Netherlands are connected to the Dutch Drug Information and Monitoring System. They offer weekly consulting-hours. During consulting-hours drug users can present their drugs for testing. If the taken drugs sample corresponds with samples in the database the drug user will immediately be informed about the safety profile of the drugs. If the drug sample doesn’t appear in the database a sample will be sent to the test lab for further analysis. After a week the results will be relayed to the drug provider.
Sometimes a drug test leads to such alarming results that a national warning is issued, sometimes with help of the Dutch government. In 2015 this happened for instance because of very high doses of MDMA in XTC pills. During the Amsterdam Dance Event in 2015 there was a pill on the market with a MDMA dosis of 300 milligram.
The Collected Drug Samples And Their Risks:
The Dutch Drug Information and Monitoring System made an overview of the drug samples and accompenying risks.
XTC/ MDMA
- 57% of all samples that were handed in at DIMS contained more than 140 mg’s of MDMA. The strongest pill of 2015 contained a stagering 293 mg of MDMA.
- Risks: Overheating, exhaustion, brain damage.
Cocaine
- 13% of all samples were cocaine. Cocaine often gets cut up with levamisole, a medication used to treat parasitic worm infections.
- Risks: Paranoia, Strong dependence, ways heavy on the body, cardiovascular problems. Lung damage from smoking, abscess from needling, nasal mucosa infection from snorting cocaine.
- Cocaine cut up with levamisole can lead to: weakened immune system, fever, rash, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, disorder and dizziness.
Speed
- The amount of amphetamines in speed samples handed over to Dutch Drug Information and Monitoring System varies per year. In 2015 the average percentage was 46 percent. Nine percent of all the collected samples were speed related.
- Risks: Overheating, exhaustion, brain damage, paranoia, ways heavy on the body.
4-Fluoroamphetamine (4-FA)
- 4-FA is described subjectively as being between amphetamine and MDMA. It first showed up at DIMS back in 2017. Since then it’s the fastest growing sample test drug. In 2015 more 4-FA samples were tested than in all previous years combined.
- Risks: Exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, headache, disorder, dizziness, heart palpitations.
Ketamine
- Ketamine also gets tested a lot, in the last five years test samples have tripled at Dutch Drug Information and Monitoring System. In 2015 Ketamine samples had an average purity of 77 percent.
- Risks: Bad Trip, nausea, vomiting, respiration problems, muscle rigidity or muscle paralysis.
2C-B
- 2C-B is mostly found in pill form and occasionally in powder form. The effects of 2C-B are strongly dependent on the dose. 95% of all tested samples actually was 2C-B.
- Risks: Bad Trip, effects are stronger than expected/ overdose.
LSD
- Two percent of all tested samples were LSD but more than 25% of them were something completely different.
- Risks: Bad trip, Nausea, Flashbacks.
New Dutch Public Transport Tourist Pass Test Launch This Summer
Posted on: April 13, 2016
Dutch Public Transport Tourist Pass Test Starts This Summer
Prior to the definitive launch of a new national Dutch public transport tourist pass there will be a one-year test period. The testing period will probably begin before the summer of 2016.
Streamlining Tourist Transportation
This was penned in a letter to the parliament, written by state secretary Dijksma (infrastructure and environment). The letter further contained information about the progress in streamlining public transport for tourists. Earlier in the year Dijksma had already promised that the special tourist pass would be made available this year. Dutch political parties VVD (conservative/ liberal) and D66 (social-liberal/ progressive) insisted that there should be a tourist pass.
Two Tourist Pass Options
There will be two variants of the Dutch public transport tourist pass: a day pass valid from 09:00 in the morning and one that lasts all day. The all-day pass will cost 59,- euros. The pass from 09:00 will be priced at 39,- euros. With this pricing strategy the government hopes to spare the morning rush. Both passes will allow tourists to travel throughout Holland. All public transportation will be accessible: bus, subway, tram and train. The passes aren’t exclusively for tourists according to Dijksma. Other travelers can also use the new tourist pass system.
More Tourist Passes
A year after introduction sales, prices and ease of use will all be evaluated. The main goal of the evaluation will be to further develop the pass and possible corresponding products. According to the state secretary transporters are already looking into introducing regional products, thus expending the service.
Tourist Passes in Amsterdam
Here in Amsterdam we already have two passes specially developed for tourists: the travel ticket, consisting of a return ticket between the Schiphol and Amsterdam train stations and a day pass for the public transport within the municipality, and the Amsterdam and Region Travel Ticket. With the second pass tourists can travel by bus, tram and subway to the countryside, for example, the Zaanse Schans or Volendam.
ALSO DISCOVER:
8 Best Date Apps To Get An Unforgettable Night
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Drugs In Holland in 2025
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Drugs In Holland: EU Report Points To Holland As Largest Drug Trading Hub
According to the EU Drug Market Report, produced by the EMCDDA, Holland is the number one producer, processor and transit point for drugs in Europe. The drugs in Holland get imported from all over the globe and we return the favour with large exports. Get educated about Europe’s largest drug supplier and read these 10 things about the Dutch drug trade.
(Last updated: 19 April 2021)
1 | Europe’s Cocaine Arrives In Rotterdam
Around 25 to 50 percent of European cocaine goes through the port of Rotterdam – Europe’s largest seaport. The port handles around 11 million freight containers every year. Dutch port authorities can only check around 5000 containers.
2 | No Ingenious Smuggling Techniques
Drug smugglers in Holland have mostly ditched the old ways of hiding contraband in fluffed toys or fruit transports. Instead they have opted for enlisting corrupt port employees. Traffickers bribe port workers in both the exporting and importing ports to get illegal drugs in Holland.
3 | Cocaine in Holland Is Cheap
Thanks to the massive in-and outflows cocaine, by comparison to other European countries, is relatively cheap in Holland. Cocaine in cost around 55 euros per gram in the Netherlands. In other European countries, cocaine price vary between 70 to 120 euros. In Australia, 1 gram of cocaine cost approximately 150 to 200 euros.
4 | MDMA Is As Dutch As Dutch Stroopwafels
Around 8 % of Dutch people have used MDMA once in their live (830,000 persons). The European average for MDMA use is just 0,5 percent.
5 | MDMA Production in Holland
Red = amphetamine production. Blue = methamphetamine production. Pink = MDMA production.
Source: Europol, EU Drug Markets Report 2016.
According to the EMCDDA drug report, the production of MDMA in Holland is becoming ever more professional. Some production locations use selfmade reaction vessels of up to 750 liters. Automation has reached a level where almost no manual labour is necessary.
6 | MDMA Exports
According to Vice.com a quick glance at pillreports.net shows Dutch XTC pills designs like the pills with an orange lion, the Heineken logo and tulips can be found from India to Australia to Texas.
7 | Almost All The Hash In Holland Is Imported
Old trading routes from North Africa and the Middle East still play a vital role for the hash trade in Holland. Most of the hash arrives trough Spain from Morocco. Morocco is the major supplier of Dutch hash. This has led to many Moroccan criminal gangs in Holland. Most of these gangs are referred to as the “Mocro Maffia”.
Red: Afghan hash trade routes, Blue: Moroccan hash trade routes.
Source: Europol, EU Drug Markets Report, In-dept analyses, 2016.
8 | Cannabis Imports And Exports
Dutch cannabis exports and imports. Source: Europol, EU Drug Markets Report 2016.
A Dutch governmental report stated that between 30 and 90 percent of Dutch grown cannabis ends up abroad. Conclusion: they haven’t got a clue.
9 | This Dutch Province Produces Most Hard Drugs
Brabant has the dubious honour – in the Netherlands and abroad – of being one of Europe’s top criminal performers. The province, located in the south of Holland, is home to professional criminal organisations operating far beyond Dutch borders.
Brabant’s top economic sectors are: chemistry, agrifood, logistics and high tech. Just like these sectors, the drug industry mainly does export. And just like these sectors the drug industry innovates its growing techniques and its accompanying equipment. It operates with a circle of trusted suppliers and uses the strategic location of Brabant, and the presence of many logistics companies, for the export and transportation of drugs.
Discovered drug lab in Brabant.
Numerous international connections are also used to strengthen links with criminal networks elsewhere in Europe, giving way to even better export opportunities for the Brabant XTC pills, weed and raw materials for drugs. Brabant has in a sense achieved the role as the supermarket for foreign dealers where everything is for sale.
It is difficult to get an indication on how much money is spent in this clandestine industry. Yet there are indications that it has to be a huge number. The police and the justice department conclude, based on investigations and data from informants, that 60 hemp syndicates are active in the city of Tilburg alone and make around 800 million euros a year, or the entire city budget of Tilburg.
The drug industry has also been a job engine for the 2500 people who work in the underground ‘weed industry’ and who, with minimal efforts, make large annual salaries.
10 | The War On Drugs In Holland
Drug fact: producing cannabis for commercial purposes is illegal in the Netherlands.
A lot of people still believe growing marijuana in Holland is legal. Well that’s sort of the case. Every person in Holland is allowed to have five cannabis plants for personal use.
Industrial production however is strictly forbidden. The Netherlands has soft drug laws – especially when you’d compare them with countries like the United States, Australia, Indonesia or the Philippines. Sentences range between a fine and a couple of years in prison if you get caught producing or trafficking drugs. Compare that to the death penalty in Indonesia, or the Philippines.
Harm Reduction Model
Jellinek Amsterdam – where you can get your illegal drugs tested legally.
Drugs in Holland Fact: There are a few legal drug test labs in Holland. At these drug test locations people can get their illegal drugs tested legally. These companies (named GGD and Jellinek) test the ingredients and quality of the hard drugs (XTC, cocaine, MDMA, speed, etc.). It’s 100% legal.
These drug test locations share their knowledge about drugs and alcohol, its quality, effects and risks. The goal of these government sponsored companies is to educate people and to decrease the risks of it.
ALSO READ:
10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam According To Pro’s
Interview With CEO Sensi Seeds Ben Dronkers
Amsterdam Prostitutes Offer Huge Red Light District Discount
Posted on: April 1, 2016
Red Light District Discount As Activist Tool
In an effort to fight stigmatisation and to campaign for a new Dutch law that officially regulates prostitution in the Netherlands, a large group of sex workers, will be offering large discounts (50% off) to customers today. On this campaign day there will be a lot of red light window brothels offering red light district discount. This remarkable form of protest was designed to draw attention to these topics.
Red Light District Price List
Only today, sex workers will lower their their prices by 50 percent. For example, normally oral sex in the red light district of Amsterdam cost around 30 euro. With this unique discount applied, customers save 15 euro, or they can spend it on some extra services. Usually, a customer gets 15 to 20 minutes with a window prostitute.
-
Oral sex
Was: 30 euro
Now: 15 euro -
Oral + Penatration
Was: 50 euro
Now: 25 euro -
Threesome
Was: 100 euro
Now: 50 euro
Discount Voucher
Clients need to show them this free discount voucher below to get a 50% off on their servies. It needs to be printed and it must be handed over to a prostitute in the window. Only valid in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Campaigning For Better Regulation
This stunt was set up to draw attention to a new Dutch law for the regulation of prostitution. If it doesn’t pass, prostitution without a license will again become illegal. This has not happened in the Netherlands since the days of Napoleon. Besides this absurd fact, sex workers argue that these days local governments rarely grant new licenses. Just 40 percent of all municipalities now have prostitution businesses. According to Yvonne Loers – a cam girl – all home workers should have a license. This would include cam girls and prostitutes who work from their own home.
The Sex Worker Stigma
Dutch sex workers still need to fight old conceptions about prostitution. A lot of people still belief that the large majority of the sex workers in the Netherlands are forced into the industry against their will and abused. To fight these concepts, sex workers in Amsterdam will offer a remarkable red light district discount today on April 1st 2016. After all, prostitutes are officially entrepreneurs in the Netherlands so in the end it isn’t that strange that they offer discounts like any other business.
This article was written on April’s fools day.
Did you enjoy this article? Others who read this article also read Amsterdam’s Female Prostitutes Are Currently Outnumbered by Male Prostitutes and Naked Prostitutes Build Human Tower in Amsterdam
Long-Term Effects of Cannabis On The Brain
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Long Term Effect Of Cannabis Is Lower Dopamine Release In The Brain
Heavy and prolonged use of cannabis changes the release of dopamine in the striatum. This in turn has a negative impact on the cognitive functioning of the brain. Rubicon researcher Elsmarieke van de Giessen, who specialises in molecular psychiatry, has drawn this conclusion after a study on the long term effect of cannabis use. Lowered dopamine release was already proven with other addictive drugs, but not with cannabis use alone.
Dopamine And Drugs
During earlier studies the research only focused on subjects who were addicted to multiple substances, most of which are already known for influencing the release of dopamine. Substances like: cocaine, heroine, nicotine and alcohol. Dopamine is an organic chemical in the brain that functions as a neurotransmitter – a chemical released by neurons (nerve cells) to send signals to other nerve cells. PET scans showed that an addiction to hard drugs like cocaine or heroine influences to dopamine system in the brain. The same effect with only cannabis wasn’t demonstrated until now.
The Test Subjects
It was quite a challenge to find sufficient subjects for the study since other addictions weren’t allowed. By using a system of measurement that’s really sensitive to dopamine release the study, on eleven subjects, was statistically strong enough. The eleven test subjects were tested positive for marihuana and had to stay clean in the hospital for a weak to be certain that the researchers weren’t just registering the direct effects of marihuana use. The test group ranged in the ages between 22 and 38 years old. On average, they had been heavy marihuana users for seven years.
Method Used On The Test Subjects
Van de Giessen examined dopamine release in the striatum and surrounding areas in the brain by making PET scans with a tracer that binds to the dopamine receptors. The PET scans were made before and after a one-time amphetamine stimulation. The amphetamine stimulation has an immediate and accurately measurable effect on the dopamine system. It gives a good impression on the total dopamine release capacity of the brain.
The Long Term Effect Of Cannabis Use: The Conclusions
The study concludes that among the group of long term cannabis users less dopamine is released in the striatum than among the control group. A relation was also made between a reduced release of dopamine in the striatum and impulsivity and depressive characteristics. The long term effect of cannabis use among addicts was more impulsivity and depression in comparison to the control group. The more impulsive and depressed the test subject were, the lower their dopamine release.
Where Was The Study Held?
The study was done at Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute. Elsmarieke van Giessen received a Rubicon grant back in 2011 from NOW. The grant is meant to give young Dutch researchers experience abroad.
Cannabis Effects on Liver
Cannabis is a liver toxin. The active ingredient in cannabis, THC, is metabolized by the liver into other compounds. These metabolites are then excreted in the bile and can accumulate in the liver. This can lead to liver damage and liver disease. Cannabis also increases the risk of liver cancer. Cannabinoids are thought to cause liver damage by causing oxidative stress and by promoting inflammation. They may also damage the liver by interfering with liver enzymes that break down other drugs and toxins. In addition, cannabinoids can increase the levels of certain lipids in the blood, which can contribute to fatty liver disease. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the potential liver risks associated with cannabis use.
Cannabis capsules effects
THC pills are capsules that contain THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. THC pills offer a convenient and discrete way to consume cannabis, and they can be a useful alternative for people who cannot or do not want to smoke. THC pills typically take effect within 30 minutes to an hour, and the effects can last for several hours. The effects of THC pills can vary depending on the dosage, but they may include feelings of relaxation and euphoria, as well as increased appetite and impaired coordination. THC pills can also cause side effects, such as anxiety, paranoia, and dizziness. Therefore, it is important to start with a low dose and increase gradually as needed.
ALSO DISCOVER:
10 Tips for Using drugs in Amsterdam
10 Best Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
(First picture source: www.consciouslifenews.com)
Sex Education In Holland: Still Room For Improvement
Posted on: March 18, 2016
An Impression Of Sex Education In Holland
The Dutch are, in general, quite open about sexuality. Most countries around the world are conservative when it comes to open conversations about sex. This leads to a lot of our clients asking questions about sex education in Holland.
Three In Ten Children Aren’t Well Informed
Three in 10 children (30 percent) in the Netherlands between the ages of nine and twelve years old have never talked about sex at school, at home or with friends. Even subjects like sexual boundaries or bodily changes during puberty aren’t discussed.
The Data
The Dutch sexuality research institute Rutgers in cooperation with the NOS (Dutch state broadcasting service) did a study among over a thousand children between the ages of nine and twelve and their parents. The accumulated data made Rutgers conclude that children know too little about sexuality. 48 percent of the questioned children know what making love or sex is and six in ten children know where baby’s come from. The majority of the children indicate that they know what homosexuality is.
Parents And Their Children’s Sexuality
Parents know pretty well at what stage their child is when it comes to their sexual development. 71 percent of the parents indicate that they answer their children’s questions about sexuality. Their children however dispute this statement; only 52 percent of the children indicate that their parents answer their questions about sexuality.
New Instructions
To improve the sex education in Holland, Rutgers commands the schools in the Netherlands to give more attention to sexual education and to bring the material in a not too serious manner. They’d rather see that teachers use current events, stories that are in the news, or a coincidental remark to start a conversation about sexuality. Parents themselves could even “accidentally” leave an educational folder out in the open at home
.
Source: Gravify News
Sex Education In Holland Still One Of The Best In The World
According to PBS, Holland has garnered international attention because it boasts some of the beste outcomes when it comes to sexual health. Dutch children don’t have sex at a younger age than their fellow Europeans or children from the US. Among 12 to 25 year olds, most say they had wanted, and fun, first sexual experiences. In the US 66 percent of sexually active teens wished they had waited longer to have sex for the first time.
Dutch Teens Among Top Users Of Birth Control
According to the world bank Dutch teens are among the top users of the birth control pill. Holland’s teen pregnancy rate is, not surprisingly, one of the lowest teen pregnancies in the world. Rates of HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases are also low.
Why Did We Write This Article?
We published this article about sex education in Holland to give our readers an impression on how Dutch society deals with sexuality in general.
(First picture source: Dailygenius.com)
Amsterdammer Finds Drunk British Lad In His Own Bed
Posted on: March 12, 2016
Drunk British Lad: “I thought it was my hotel room”
An occupant of a flat on the “Oetgensstraat” in Amsterdam-East was quite surprised last night when he unexpectedly found an unknown man in his bed.
xThe man was a drunk British lad who had climbed through the open window of his first floor apartment. “At first I thought, what the hell did I do this time? Until I realised that I didn’t know this man at all “, says the resident to the local news channel AT5. “The British guy woke up and thought he was in a hotel room.”
Source: AT5.nl
Finally the resident decided to call the police. “Police officers have called several hotels, eventually they decided to just take him with them.
The drunk British lad stated that he visited Amsterdam with a group of colleagues, but he had lost his phone. He has tried contacting them via Facebook, but without succes. ”
Source: AT5
The police officers advised the resident – who lives on the first floor – to keep the windows closed from now on.
Did you enjoy this article? Others who read this article also read: Crystal Meth in Amsterdam protected by gators and Red Light District FAQ’s
Drug Dealers Selling Fake Drugs in Amsterdam
Posted on: March 8, 2016
The authorities are failing at squelching the problems with fake drug dealers in Amsterdam. In the center of town, dealers turn to ever more aggressive methods to swindle tourists.
Fake Drug Dealers Run Rampant in Amsterdam
Intimidation, threats, robbery and swindling’s. Fake drug dealers in Amsterdam and customer satisfaction don’t go hand in hand. They represent a serious problem for the municipality. In the last fifteen months alone a total of 1,208 street dealers were arrested for selling fake drugs. Together they were responsible for 4,857 incidents, of which 3,051 concerned the selling of fake drugs.
We spotted this prevention sign in a flower shop in the city centre – hanged by the owner to warn tourists.
Tourists Are The Targets
Most victims are men in the ages between twenty and forty years old. They predominately come from Germany and Great Britain looking for a weekend of the “the Amsterdam experience”.
A tab of XTC or lines of cocaine are a part of that. But those vital elements sometimes turn out to be something completely different. XTC/ MDMA turns out to be aspirin, a gram of cocaine: baking soda.
Non-Drug Using Tourists Are Victims Too
The fake drug-dealers don’t only double-cross those tourists who are looking for drugs. Especially in De Wallen & on Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein random tourists get accosted in an aggressive manner. Sometimes they even will be forced to buy drugs. It’s not out of the ordinary for such “deals” to end in a classic street-robbery.
Authorities: Stop Fake Drug Dealers In Amsterdam
The authorities want to end the troubles with fake drug-dealers. However, the call for harsher penalties bumps into legal objections. Dutch drug laws for instance, do not apply to the selling of fake drugs. The public prosecutor doesn’t believe a separate law against fake drugs is feasible. So far dealers usually get a couple hundred-dollar fine. A maximum prison sentence of six weeks is set for the most extreme cases.
Anti-drug campaign in 2014 from local government of Amsterdam.
Prevention Is The Solution
Because of the inadequate legal tools the authorities are implementing a preventative approach, both on the supply and demand side of the problem. Tourists will be warned against street-dealers via short movies and posters. In the same way the public was informed during the killer white heroin scare in 2014. Strategic communication must make the ‘tourist trap’ visible. Besides this, tourists will be encouraged to press charges. Something tourists mostly refuse to do because of fear of getting a fine themselves.
On the supply side the authorities will apply the “personal approach” to the predominately young fake drug dealers in Amsterdam. Young criminals will be monitored from an early stage to prevent them from ending up as a fake drug dealer.
Mystery Tourists in Amsterdam
The authorities are also considering the use of “mystery tourists”, officers who look and act like potential victims.
Did you enjoy this article? Others who read this article also read: FAQ – How do I book a tour with a local guide? and 10 Tips for Using Drugs in Amsterdam
Oscars For Playing Prostitutes And Mistresses
Posted on: March 1, 2016
12% Of the Oscars For Best Actress Went To The Role Of Whore Or Mistress
The Dutch newspaper NRC did a study on the total number of Oscars for playing prostitutes and mistresses that were awarded throughout it’s history. The Oscars are an American movie award spectacle held every year in Los Angeles. According to research by the BBC a total of 12 percent of the Oscars for best actress went to roles like a whore or a mistress. To find out if the BBC number is the correct one the NRC did their own count.
Is The Total Number Of Oscars For Playing Prostitutes And Mistresses Really 12 Percent?
In total the NRC counted 91 female lead Oscar winners. A total of five characters worked in prostitution. A large overrepresentation considering that there are only an estimated half a million prostitutes in the United States, 0.15 percent of the total population.
A young Jodie Foster plays a prostitute in Taxi Driver.
Oscars For Playing Prostitutes And Mistresses
Sixteen of the Oscar winning characters had a relationship with a married man: 17.5 percent. This number corresponds with reality. 15 percent of American women state that they have practiced adultery at some point in their life.
The Numbers Are In
The combined number for mistresses and prostitutes infers a staggering total of 23 percent. A much higher number than the original BBC source states. How is this possible? Possibly the BBC only counted characters who’s primary occupation was being a mistress: licentious female characters. That would be 7 percent. Prostitutes and licentious women combined make a total of 13 percent.
Why These High Numbers?
According to Helen O’Hara of the British film magazine Empire: “society still loves strong men and vulnerable female characters”. Film scholar Maryn Wilkinson argues that females have been cast for big dramatic lead roles in melodrama’s since the beginnings of film. This is the type of role that tends to win awards for women. Men dominate the action and thriller genres. “Melodrama’s are about struggling relationships, adultery, poverty and social mobility, so you easily end op with these types of roles. Women tend to have excessive emotions, men are stoic and powerful.”
Charlize Theron plays a prostitute in the movie monster. Source: Mirror.co.uk
Change Is Happening
Wilkinson does see a shift happening; strong female characters are making an appearance in Hollywood. Since 2007 there hasn’t been a prostitute lead role awarded with an Oscar. The last one was for the movie “Monster”, a biographical film about a prostitute called Aileen Wuornos, played by Charlize Theron. Not really your typical vulnerable woman: she killed seven of her costumers. There is good chance that the number of Oscars for playing prostitutes and Mistresses will decline in the coming decade.
Did you enjoy this news article? Others who read this article also read these articles about the History of Prostitution and Missing Window Prostitute Found After 55 years!
Crystal Meth in Amsterdam Safe House with Alligators
Posted on: February 26, 2016
The Amsterdam Police Almost Got A Bite From Crime
Synthetic drug dealers who sold crystal meth in Amsterdam used two alligators in an Amsterdam safe house to protect their illegally acquired earnings. The Amsterdam police announced that this bizarre “straight out of Hollywood” discovery was made last Tuesday. It seems like a scene of a Netflix-serie, but this drug-story is true and it took place in the East of Amsterdam.
Crystal Meth in Amsterdam Safe House
The police raided a total of six properties in Amsterdam and one in nearby Almere. The action was undertaken after a long-run investigation into the synthetic drugs trade. A total of eleven gang members were arrested, consisting of nine males and two female ranging in the ages between 25 and 55 years old. Half a million euros in crystal neth, several kilos of other synthetic drugs and 300 thousand euros in cash were confiscated. Several firearms were also found.
The money and crystal meth in Amsterdam were hidden in such a way that for people to get close, they had to get past the two alligators. The gators are still located in the raided safe house in Amsterdam. The owner of the building has the required permit to keep the animals according to the police spokesperson. The police had to call on a reptile expert to be able to get the past the mordacious animals.
Crocs To Stay Put
The two alligators that protected the crystal meth in Amsterdam will remain in the safe house for the time being. A permit is being sorted out and in the meantime someone will feed the animals on a regular basis. The police won’t mention where the animals are located because this may reveal the identity of one of the suspects.
Breaking: “Steve Irwin” of Amsterdam Implicated
Suspect “Steve Irwin” of Amsterdam during an alligator show. Source: AT5
According to local Amsterdam news agency AT5, the possible supplier of the alligators is none other than Ferry T. T. – who is locally known as the “Steve Irwin” of Amsterdam. Ferry T. normally uses his alligators and crocodiles for shows. T’s precise role in the crystal meth gang is not known at this point in time.
This is one of the first crystal meth cases in Holland. This hard drug is not popular at all – it’s mainly used in the gay scene. Cocaine & XTC/MDMA are the most used illegal drugs in Holland. In 2010, the estimated illegal trade in cocaine was 317 million euro and XTC was estimated on 103 million Euro. Source: CBS
Did you enjoy this news article? Others who read this article also read this article about an Amsterdam Coke-Killer Sentenced to Prison and this Interview with Amsterdam’s Drug Test Lab.
White Heroin Dealer from Amsterdam Sentenced To Prison
Posted on: February 25, 2016
White Heroin Dealer Behind Bars For One Year
The court of Amsterdam has ruled that the 43-year old man, who last year sold life threatening white heroin as cocaine in Amsterdam, is not guilty on most charges. The suspect, Flip S., reported himself to the authorities back in April 2014. According to the prosecution S. arrived in an overly emotional state, expressing that he couldn’t live with the thought that his actions led to the death of three British tourists. Since then S. has claimed that he never made that statement.
The judge sentenced S. to a one-year prison term for dealing in illegal drugs. However, S. will be released from jail shortly, because he has already been in jail since April last year.
The public prosecutor demanded a four year prison sentence for the sale of white heroin to three Danish tourists back in February last year, but the court found that there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence which proved that S. knew that he was selling white heroine as cocaine to the three tourists. This has been the counter-plea of the S. throughout the trial. The court did find that S., who knew that the so-called “killer-coke” was in circulation, should have tested his wares. And if he didn’t do it himself he should have at least told his costumers to test their drugs.
Acquittal White Heroin Dealer for the three British deaths
The public prosecutor had already asked for acquittal for the death of three British tourists back in 2014 because of a lack of proof. This led to an acquittal by the court.
Anti-drug campaign in 2014 from local government of Amsterdam.
Drug Unrest In Amsterdam Because Of White Heroin Dealer
The sale of the deadly drugs caused a lot of unrest in Holland’s capital at the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015. This led the police to organize a large information campaign to warn the public and tourists about the dangers of white-heroin in circulation. Besides the three dead British tourists a dozen more people were hospitalised.
Enjoy this article? Others who read this also read this article about 10 tips for using drugs in Amsterdam and A list of cannabis shops in Amsterdam
Brad Pitt Loses Amsterdam IJ-Bay Penthouse Bid!
Posted on: February 21, 2016
Big movie star Brad Pitt was keen on buying the biggest penthouse in Amsterdam but lost out in a bidding war against an Amsterdam hospitality tycoon. A Dutch entrepreneur outsmarted Pitt by making the bid and finishing the deal around the 2015 Christmas Holidays. All the other interested parties weren’t paying attention at that time.
Biggest Penthouse In Amsterdam Worth 16 Million Euros!
(Source: Christie’s International Real Estate)
The winning knock out bid is estimated to be a staggering 16 million euros (17.7 million USD) making it the most expensive penthouse in the Netherlands. Besides being the most expensive – it is also the biggest penthouse in the Netherlands with a total surface area of 1.440 square meters. According to Christie’s International Real Estate, broker of the deal, the total cost per square meter of the apartment averages around 11.000 euros (12.225 USD). These are high figures even compared to international hotspots like New York and London according to Christie’s. By comparison, presidential candidate Donald Trump’s Penthouse in New York is now on the market for 31.5 million euros (35 million USD).
This biggest house in Amsterdam will be finished in May 2018 on the “Pontsteiger” in the “Houthavens”.
And the new owner of the biggest penthouse in Amsterdam is…
The man who made the winning offer is Won Yip (46) one of Amsterdam’s wealthiest hospitality entrepreneurs. If you ever manage to get to Amsterdam chances are high that you end up drinking or eating in one of his many bars and restaurants. He owns almost all the cafes on and close to the Dam square, a popular tourist attraction in the centre of Amsterdam. This plushy position has earned him the nickname: “King of the Dam Square”.
On February 4th – during a Dutch talkshow – Won Yip said: “The challenge of this penthouse is to keep things manageable… There will be occasions where my wife will ask me: Where have you been today? To which I’ll reply: I was at home”
(Source: picture by Friso Keuris for Quote NL)
Won Yip’s life can best be described as the American dream, in Holland. Son of a Chinese immigrant who fled from China, Yip started out with a small café at the age of 19 years old. He was never much interested in school, but loved to work. Win Yip does’t have one diploma but through hard work, averaging eighteen hours a day, he has built his global hospitality empire stretching from Las Vegas to London in a mere three decades. What was and is his motto throughout creating all this? “Do as much as you can to make the guest feel important”.
Did you enjoy this news article? Others who read this article also read this article about Holland’s most famous prostitutes
Missing Former Prostitute Found After 55 years!
Posted on: February 19, 2016
Dutch Window Prostitute From Amsterdam Found in Canada
The Dutch police missing persons taskforce has found a missing dutch window prostitute who had been missing for over 55 years. Johanna, referred to as Jopie, de Haas went missing from Amsterdam back in 1960, leaving behind her then three-year-old daughter. It turns out that the woman was already deceased since 2010, resting in a Canadian graveyard.
Adoption in Amsterdam Cafe
Back in the 1950’s, Johanna de Haas made her living working as a Dutch window prostitute at the Amsterdam Red Light District. She gave her daughter, Rosa, up for adoption in a cafe just weeks after giving birth to her. Rosa’s stepmom was working behind the bar in that cafe. In 2009, Rosa called the Dutch television show “Vermist” (Missing) to help find her lost mother. Back then all the signs were pointing towards de Haas having migrated to North America. The television show Missing spent most of its time searching the United States yielding no results.
Cooperation with Canadian Police
The breakthrough in the case came back in December 2015. The Dutch missing persons taskforce found traces of Johanna de Haas online. Working jointly with the Royal Canadian mounted police, better known as the Mounties, they discovered that the Dutch window prostitute had been living in Canada under the name of Johanna Dehaas. Sadly, she died five years before anybody from the Netherlands could find her. She lays buried at a cemetery on Vancouver Island. Directly after finding out about her mother Rosa released the news to the public. Follow-up research of the grave has finally proven conclusively that the grave belongs to Johanna de Haas.
According to the Dutch authorities daughter Rosa has already visited Canada. There she found her younger half- brother and two sisters, all coming from Johanna’s marriage to a Canadian man.
ALSO READ:
The History of Prostitution in the Netherlands
10 Amazing Pictures of Amsterdam in 1916
Posted on: February 14, 2016
Amsterdam in 1916 – Hundred years ago
With his horse, Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) jumps over the rooftops of Amsterdam. His boat was captured by the British – including his bag with sweets and cookies. The British also arrested Zwarte Piet – his helper, so Saint Nicholas had to do all the gift deliveries on his own. He must hurry to be in time.
Amsterdam in 1916. An employee of the Dutch Electron Corporation demonstrates a vacuum-cleaner on the interior of a car (Ford T?) on the Overtoom street. Photographer: C.J. Hofker.
Amsterdam in 1916. Mussels-stall on a canal in Amsterdam. Photographer: Unknown.
Amsterdam in 1916. The street-comedian Maupie Steel tries to convince the people on Dam Square of an imaginary airship. A young magazine salesman is helping him. Photographer: Unkown.
Amsterdam in 1916. A house filled with refugees of the flooding in North-Holland. Click on the picture to enlarge it. How many persons do you count? Let us know in the comment section below.
Amsterdam in 1916. Houses with sidewalks and steps to the front so that people could sit outside. Sheets are hanging out of the windows and wood barrels are lying on the quays. In the past – also in these years – a lot of heavy transportation (like those barrels) was done by boat. Nowadays, it’s mostly done via trucks. Click on the picture if you want to zoom on those people. Photographer unknown.
Amsterdam in 1916. Miss A. Neeter helps a customer in her beauty salon with facial hair removal. She applies an American electric hair removal device – one of the newest inventions of that time. Mind the beautiful crystal decanters on the left.
Amsterdam in 1916. Protest against the closing of barber shops on Sundays. Look at the name of that store at number 35: The Gentlemen’s Toilet Club. Fancy name! Click on the picture to enlarge it.
Amsterdam in 1916. This picture was taken on the Oudekerksplein (Old Church Square) in the heart of the Red Light District. These crooked houses are one of the oldest ones in town and are still here this very day. The house left of that man is nowadays filled with a few window brothels. During our tours through the Red Light District we can show you these beautiful buildings. Amazing piece of architecture, this is! Photographer unknown.
Amsterdam in 1916. A small girl gives money to a beggar on Leidse Square, in front of the fashion store Hirsch. Photographer unknown.
Source: Geheugen van Nederland & Spaarnestad Photo
Did you like these old pictures? You might like these 10 Awesome Past and Present Pics of the Red Light District as well.
Amsterdam's Drug Consultancy Closed Its Doors Today - An Exclusive Interview
Posted on: January 1, 2024
Drugs Information Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a few places where people – locals & tourists – can get information about every kind of drugs. Including testing legal and illegal drugs. Professionals share their knowledge about alcohol and drugs, its effects and risks. Relatively speaking the Dutch are quite good informed when it comes down to alcohol and drugs. More open access to this information decreases the risks among users.
Amsterdam’s Foundation of Drug Consultancy
One of the most famous drug info place of Amsterdam was “Advies Buro Drugs” (translated: Foundation of Drug Consultancy). Unfortunately, after several decades this drug test lab closed it doors on this location. Since January 1, 2016 it stopped testing drugs.
Drug Test Lab in Amsterdam
We spoke with the founder of Foundation of Drugs Consultancy Amsterdam which was established in 1975. It aimed to increase knowledge and insight into everything related to the use of drugs. They want to make drug information available to the widest audience possible. People visited this drug test clinic, where various kinds of drugs – mostly illegal drugs like XTC, cocaine, MDMA, speed, etc – could be tested on its quality.
We wanted to know more about this place and interviewed the owner.
After 30 years the Foundation of Drug Consultancy stops testing drugs. From 1 January 2016 you can get your drugs tested at the Jellinek & GGD.
Could you tell us who you are and what kind of place this is?
My name is August de Loor. I am 67 years old and this is my office – my consultancy bureau of drugs. I give advice to the Dutch Ministry of Health and I give drug related advice to the City of Amsterdam, that’s my main task. I also do professional drug tests and inform those who want to know more about drugs.
Drug Policy in the Netherlands
Since when are you involved with the drug policy in the Netherlands?
I started in 1969 as a street corner worker and I saw the start of the modern drug use. The hippies started smoking cannabis and I was there. In the parks, in the center of Amsterdam and then a few years later when the explosion of heroin started, I was there too. So, my carrier started in the same period as the modern drug use started. Before that time – in the 1920’s – there was also drug use, but in the high class of society. In the 60’s, the drug use socialized. It was the revolution of a completely new world and also in the use of drugs.
An article of a famous Dutch new paper: “Monday morning is busiest“…. “Listen to uncle August”
How did you become so interested in drug use and the drug policy in the Netherlands?
I was curious because I have been young too. I saw all the changes. The first cannabis users in Holland were arrested by the police or they had to addiction clinic and it was only about smoking a bit of weed. So that was a real stupid policy in Holland. Back then, the government’s policy was about repression and they had a mindset of “you’re a patient”. My approach was different.
I said: You have to accept the use of drugs but minimize the risk of it.
In other words: Harm Reduction!
Promotional material for safer drug use: “If you use XTC, take a taxi”.
So what did you do to reduce the risks of drug use?
I gave first aid on big parties in the Netherlands. I also tested cannabis in that time because it was being sold on the streets – so it was polluted. I also tested cannabis of drug dealers. In the time that heroin was popular in Holland – I became a person where junkies could go to for advice. More importantly, I started the needle exchange program – where one could get new, clean needles. I’m not a social, but more an inventor. To minimize the healthy risks, I invented a lot of things that became normal nowadays.
Target Audience for Drugs Advice
What kind of customers do you get here at your Foundation of Drug Consultancy?
10 Safety Measures For Prostitutes in Amsterdam Red Light District
Posted on: January 1, 2025
Safety Measures For Prostitutes In Amsterdam
In order to ensure the safety of prostitutes in Amsterdam, the Dutch government has implemented several standardised laws throughout the years. With these prostitution rules the government believes that they make prostitution safer. For the prostitutes in Amsterdam Red Light District it comes down to the following 10 safety measures.
1 | Every prostitute has to be registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.
In the Netherlands, every prostitute who is not working for a company has to be registered at the Kamer van Koophandel (Dutch Chamber of Commerce) as an independent entrepreneur.
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, and every prostitute working independently must be registered with the Kamer van Koophandel, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. The KvK issues a business license and a tax number, and the prostitute is required to pay taxes on her earnings.
In addition, the KvK provides prostitutes with access to health insurance and other benefits.
Amsterdam escorts (sex workers) who work for a licensed escort agency or brothel are not required to register with the KvK, but they must obtain a work permit from the Dutch government. There are strict regulations governing the operation of escort agencies and brothels, and all businesses must be licensed by the government.
2 | Prostitutes are allowed to refuse customers (because they are self-employed)
As self-employed workers, prostitutes are allowed to refuse clients for any reason. In some cases, a client may be aggressive or they may not be willing to pay the agreed-upon fee.
In other cases, a client may simply not be somebody that the prostitute feels comfortable with. Whatever the reason, prostitutes have the right to refuse service. This ensures that they can provide a safe and enjoyable experience for both themselves and their clients.
3 | Daily shifts cannot be over 11 hours a day
Prostitutes in Amsterdam are subject to maximum working hours. They are not allowed to work more than 11 hours per day.
This limit is meant to protect their health and safety, as well as to prevent them from being exploited by their employers. Amsterdam’s prostitutes are some of the most well-regulated workers in the world, and they enjoy a high degree of protection from exploitation.
4 | The minimum age for prostitutes in Amsterdam Red Light District is 21
The minimum age for window prostitutes in the Amsterdam Red Light District is 21. This is not in line with the minimum age of other sex workers – like escorts – in the Netherlands, which is 18.
The Red Light District has a long history of catering to tourists and locals alike, and it has always been a popular destination for those looking for sexual services.
21 is now the legal age for all prostitutes in Amsterdam Red Light District, and this has helped to improve conditions in the Red Light District.
5 | Brothel operators have to contribute to the safety of the prostitute by being present at all times in case of emergencies.
It’s the responsibility of an operator of a brothel to contribute to the safety of the window prostitutes. This means providing security for them while they are working.
This includes CCTV, panic buttons, private security and being present in the Red Light District. It is also the operators responsibility to ensure that the windows are clean and well-lit, so that clients can see the prostitutes clearly.
This will help to deter clients from behaving in a violent or disorderly manner. Finally, the brothel operator should provide access to basic amenities, such as toilets and water, so that the prostitutes can take care of their basic needs.
By taking these measures, the window brothel operator can help to create a safe and pleasant working environment for the prostitutes in the window brothels.
6 | Sex workers have to show their registration at the Chamber of Commerce and a certificate of residence
As safety rules go, this one is fairly straightforward. Sex workers in the Netherlands are required to show their registration at the Chamber of Commerce and a certificate of residence to the brothel operator.
The rationale behind the rule is to help ensure that sex workers are who they say they are and that they are legally allowed to work in the Netherlands.
In addition, the law helps to protect sex workers from exploitation by ensuring that they are not being trafficked or forced to work against their will.
While the law may be inconvenient for some sex workers, it is an important safeguard that helps to protect their rights and safety.
7 | Brothel operators are regularly checked by the (local) government and police
In Amsterdam, sex work is legal and regulated by the government. Window brothel operators are required to obtain a license from the city, and they are subject to regular inspections by the police. This system is designed to protect sex workers from exploitation and sex crimes.
In addition, the government provides free health care and other services to sex workers. This system of regulation has been successful in reducing sex crimes and protecting the rights of sex workers.
8 | All window brothels have security systems like camera’s outside at the entrance & panic buttons inside
The safety of sex workers is of paramount importance. For this reason, all window brothels have security systems in place to protect the women working there.
These measures include cameras at the entrance to deter potential attackers and panic buttons inside the brothel in case of an emergency.
The women working in the window brothel also undergo safety training sometimes, so that they know what to do in the event of an attack.
As a result of these safety measures, window brothels are relatively safe places for sex workers to ply their trade.
9 | The police monitor the area 24/7 with dozens of camera’s and (undercover) officers on the streets
The police monitor Amsterdam Red Light District 24/7 with dozens of live cameras and (undercover) officers on the streets. By day, the area is bustling with tourists and locals alike.
The live cameras help the police to keep an eye on activities in the area, and the undercover officers help to deter crime. In addition to deterring crime, the police presence also helps to ensure that the area is safe for everyone.
The Red Light District is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Amsterdam, and the police work hard to make sure that it remains a safe and enjoyable place for all.
10 | The prostitutes are checked on income and tax.
Amsterdam’s Red Light District Is A Safe Area
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands and therefore the prostitutes have the right to be protected by the government. Although absolute safety is difficult to guarantee, the implementation of these safety measures for prostitutes demonstrate that Amsterdam Red Light District has become a relatively safe area.
Especially compared to other countries in the world. It’s not for nothing that Amsterdam has a lot of prostitutes from abroad.
Amsterdam’s most narrow alley – with 9 window brothels.
Although it is not mandatory, prostitutes make their own work environment more safe by doing regular health checks. Furthermore most prostitutes only do safe sex. They often get themselves tested for STD’s, which isn’t mandatory by the way.
The Dutch government supports these kind of safety measures for prostitutes by offering it for free.
There are actually three Amsterdam Red Light District areas: De Wallen, De Singel/Spuistraat and the Ruysdaelkade. All the districts are in residential areas surrounded by cafes, restaurants and stores. This results into a lot of social control, which is one of the safety measures for prostitutes.
De Wallen – a.k.a. the Red Light District – is the biggest area of its kind in the Netherlands. It currently contains 201 window brothels.
ALSO READ:
3D Printed Bridge In Amsterdam Red Light District
Posted on: June 21, 2021
3D Printed Bridge In Amsterdam Red Light District
The 3D printed bridge at the Stoofsteeg in Amsterdam Red Light District, which was actually expected at the beginning of 2019, will be installed in about a month. Local residents and entrepreneurs are happy with it, because the emergency bridge that was previously on that spot was already removed in November 2020.
As a result, it took about half a year to go around. “We are very happy,” says a local resident, who also works in a shop on Oudezijds Achterburgwal. “It took so long. We didn’t hear anything. We also didn’t get input from the municipality.”
Entrepreneurs’ association BIZ Burgwallen sent a complaint to the municipality last week. “In addition to the lack of a necessary bridge on our canal, communication about this to our neighbors (residents) and entrepreneurs in the neighbourhood, despite repeated requests to create clarity or at least to communicate about the state of affairs.”
A few days after the letter, the municipality announced that the quay wall will be repaired from 14 June to early July. About a week later, the bridge can be supplied and placed over the water. The festive opening of the 3D bridge is expected two weeks later.
A spokesperson for the Centrum district says that the 3D printed bridge was repeatedly postponed because the quay wall turned out to be in poor condition and excavation and diving research was needed on the quay wall. The company that made the bridge says that the renovation of the quay wall was an “incredibly complicated project with all kinds of setbacks” for the municipality. The bridge has been ‘printed’ with special techniques and has been finished for a few years. Placing takes no longer than a few days in July.
The 3D-printed bridge is also a temporary bridge, which will remain in place for up to two years. After that, the original bridge is placed again. It is currently being renovated.
Several residents of the Red Light District are happy with this. “The old model fits a little better in the neighborhood.”
Interview with a Male Sex Worker in Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2025
The Things You Always Wanted to Know From A Male Sex Worker in Amsterdam
In September 2015, we met with Lyle Muns, who is a male sex worker in Holland’s capital. We met each other at De Koffieschenkerij in Amsterdam Red Light District. Lyle is 21 years old and does sex work part-time. The rest of the week he’s busy studying Political Science. It was really interesting to hear his stories and experiences to gain a better understanding of prostitution in the Netherlands. Here’s what we asked him:
1 | When did you start working as a sex worker?
Three years ago. Now I’m 21 so I started when I was 18.
2 | Where did you live back then?
I was born in Maastricht, in the South of the Netherlands. When I started working as a sex worker, I lived in a small village in Belgium and was going to school at the same time so that’s pretty contrary. I worked for a couple of months as a prostitute to save some money and alternated with traveling in South-America. Since one year now, I live, study and work in Amsterdam.
3 | What is the difference between being a male sex worker in Belgium and the Netherlands?
There’s a big difference! In Belgium, there are no rules for prostitution. It’s legal, but there’s no prostitute legislation. The Netherlands has very stringent rules. You have to be registered at the Chamber of Commerce for example. There’s a lot more discussion on the subject in the Netherlands compared to Belgium. So there’s also a difference in political landscape.
Besides that, I noticed a difference between the city and the countryside. In the small village in Belgium I had a lot of clients who were married or were not open about their homosexuality. They visited me because that was the only way for them to have sex with a man. In the Netherlands my clients are mostly wealthy gay men who already came out of the closet. They visit me for their own convenience and not because it’s their only option.
4 | Do you work in Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
No, unfortunately there are only spots for transsexuals or transgenders. They usually stand behind the windows with blue lights in the Red Light District. I’m a male sex worker who works as a gay escort and I visit my clients at home – which is also legal.
Lyle Muns on the main street of the Red Light District.
5 | Why aren’t there any gay male sex workers in Amsterdam Red Light District?
A lot of people ask me this question. Homosexuality used to be unaccepted back in the days, so I think that the visibility of homosexuality has always been a difficult issue. Amsterdam Red Light District started as a place where sailors arrived after long periods at sea. They craved for sexual gratification with women and that’s how the Red Light District arose and evolved. Male prostitutes were not a part of this.
I have no idea why transgenders nowadays are on the Red Light District and male gays are not. But I think prostitution worldwide has always been mostly concentrated around streets and parks. Also the internet is being used as a market place nowadays, instead of brothels.
6 | Why don’t you rent a window brothel to break the taboo?
Personally I prefer being an escort instead of a window prostitute because it costs a lot of money to rent a window. Currently I’m a student so I don’t have that much time to earn enough money to pay the rent of a window brothel. Furthermore I don’t prefer sitting behind a window all day and ending up with having only 3 clients. I guess sometimes you have to wait for a long time, so I think I would get bored. Usually I get a call from my clients and then they hire me for one hour. The rest of the day I can do whatever I want.
7 | Are your clients allowed to call you anytime?
My clients can call me anytime during the day but if I’m not available I don’t answer the phone. I’m a student in politics and I engage in political activities in my spare time. Usually I make appointments with my clients, but if I’m not busy and a client wants to have sex at that moment I’m very flexible.
8 | Why did you start working as a male sex worker?
I discovered I was gay when I lived in Belgium’s countryside. I didn’t know any other homosexuals in my neighbourhood, so I searched the internet to meet other gays when I was 16. I was a member of a shady chatbox and sometimes older gay men offered me money to have sex with them. At that time, I thought those men were gross, so I blocked them. But my opinion changed when I started to engage in political activities. I didn’t have enough time to do a part time job. Moreover, I hated my job in the supermarket and became sexually active.
I remembered the sexual offers I got when I was younger and started to reconsider it. I was very scared of the emotional and the physical risks but my curiosity won out. I entered the chatbox again and that’s how I got my first customers. After all I felt really comfortable with being a prostitute.
9 | How was your first experience as a male sex worker?
I was very nervous that something bad would happen, because of the negative rumours on prostitution and its customers. Surprisingly, I noticed the client was even more nervous than me which calmed me down. I discovered a client is also a very vulnerable person who has its own sexual needs instead of a dirty person who’s aiming to hurt me.
10 | How do you experience a session with a client?
It’s very exciting! Of course I’m not always attracted to my clients but I always find the atmosphere exciting. I’m very focused on the character of my clients instead of their looks and age. Usually I start a conversation with my clients at the beginning of each session which never lasts shorter than one hour. My trademark is to really get to know my clients. I try to find the beauty in someone’s character and get excited without always being physically attracted. So I’m always able to get excited but sometimes it’s caused by thoughts of other sexual experiences or by focusing on my own bodily arousal. I’m lucky to have this ability. Of course, sometimes it’s hard for me to find beauty in a person but I’m always professional and give someone a great time.
Lyle Muns in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
11 | What are the pros of being a male sex worker?
There are several pros. For me it’s important to feel useful. This need wasn’t met when I worked in a supermarket several years ago. Also, I get in touch with many people and get a lot of appreciation. I get along with my clients in a respective and personal matter. Besides that, I earn a lot of money in a short amount of time. For me that is a big pro because I have a lot of other activities and don’t have the time for a part time job. And the rent and tuition fees should be paid I also love to travel so these things together cost a lot of money. Next, I love the freedom the job offers. I decide my own rates, working hours, conditions and I’m able to pick my own clients. I am very independent. Also, I acquire a lot of knowledge of human nature. I get access to a part of the society lots of people don’t know about. It may sound weird, but as a politician it’s very interesting to discover about the hidden parts of peoples sexuality and their well-being. Everyone deals with their sexuality in a different manner and a lot of people struggle with their own sexual identity. We find ourselves very open minded and transparent about these subjects but actually a lot of civilians find it hard to express themselves. Those are the people I meet and for me this is an important education. I think that’s the biggest pro of my job. I learn to deal with different kinds of situations.
12 | And what are the cons of being a male sex worker?
It’s not an option that is possible for everyone. You have to have sex with people that you didn’t choose. Of course I have my own conditions like sexual boundaries and safety precautions which I tell my clients beforehand. For example, I ask my clients to tell if they have a STD (sexually transmittable diseases) so we can deal with it in an appropriate manner. So in that way I can be selective. But that doesn’t mean that I can personally select all my clients as sex partners. So sometimes I have sex with men I’m not attracted to or who are annoying. Therefore it’s really important to be assertive. Most of my clients have good intentions so for me the prejudice that all clients have bad intentions is not true. A lot of my colleagues agree with this. But still there’s a minority of the clients wo you need to pay close attention to and define your boundaries. They may not even have real bad intentions but try to cross your boundaries. So, if you can’t handle these kinds of people the job can be risky. You have to be very transparent in your do’s and don’ts. It helps a lot to communicate and make agreements beforehand. Another con is that the weekly income fluctuates a lot. Besides that, it offers a lot of flexibility because clients also call me the moment they are horny and want to have sex immediately. Like I said, I also attend a lot of other activities so I’m not always available. But sometimes I have to compromise because not every client prefers to plan an appointment beforehand.
Prostitution in Amsterdam
13 | What kind of clients do you get?
My clients are only men. They are very diverse in age, education, culture, marital status, physical well-being…. Some people are very upfront about that they pay for sex, others aren’t. Some are married to a woman, some to men, so I meet a lot of totally different men and that’s what I love about my job. Everybody has his own story. My boyfriend loves those stories and said he could write a book about them.
14 | So your boyfriend supports your profession?
Yes, he does! He can’t imagine doing the job himself because he has other thoughts about sexuality. But he is totally fine with me being a sex worker.
15 | Do you also use the dating app Grindr to get clients?
Almost never. It only happens when someone else approaches me on Grindr. I strictly use this dating app for my own sexual needs. I never ask people if they want to become my client. I think they have to approach me because it intervenes with your personal life. I don’t want to force anything, it’s up to them.
16 | How do you get new clients?
I have a profile on one of the many escort websites in The Netherlands, like www.boys4u.nl. I have a profile with pictures, services, my rating and conditions. Men can contact me if they’re interested. I also have a profile on planetromeo.com, a gay dating website. It’s a website for gays to meet each other with the possibility for an escort service. I did a lot of interviews about my profession last year so nowadays I also get approached on Facebook by men who saw me on television or read about me and want to plan a visit.
17 | Do you always have sex with your clients?
No. Sometimes my customer book me to go out for dinner, to stay the night or it may happen that a planned sex session turns out differently. I always take the time to get to know my clients and to let someone feel comfortable because a lot of clients are nervous. Of course it depends on the client’s preferences, but most of the times we don’t have sex immediately. And most of them want to have a conversation as well.
I guess it’s a big difference with clients at Amsterdam Red Light District. Those clients pay per 15 minutes so they need quick sexual gratification. An escort is a broadened package which also includes taking time for each other and providing company.
18 | What is your rate if clients book you for a couple of hours?
I ask 100 euros an hour. But sometimes I give some discount if a client books me for a whole night, because otherwise I would get rich while just sleeping (laughs). In that case I ask around 300 euros for example. Sometime clients try to bargain because they are low in cash. I don’t meet those requests and find it annoying because I want to control my own rate. If people don’t agree with my rate, that’s totally fine but that means there is no deal.
Want to get the female perspective on sex work? Read this interview: Interview With A Dutch Red Light District Prostitute.
19 | What is your monthly income?
It depends but I guess around 1000-1500 euros.
20 | Do you pay tax?
Yes! I’m registered at the Chamber of Commerce so I pay tax like any other entrepreneur. I am not registered as a sex worker like it used to be. There have been a lot of demonstrations of protests against because the registration at the Chamber of Commerce can publicly be seen. A lot of sex workers are operating in secret so currently our branche is registred as personal hospitality instead of sex woker.
21 | Some people find it hard to imagine that prostitutes are doing their job because they want to. What do you think of this?
Quote male sex worker in Amsterdam:
People relate prostitution to themselves to form an opinion. They criticise prostitution because they wouldn’t want to dit themselves. They can’t imagine that someone else would like the job.
First it’s because it’s a taboe subject. Sexuality has always been seen as an activity which only should take place in a marriage. Nowadays the ideas are more open minded because having sex before marriage and even among gays is been increasingly accepted. But still some issues are not accepted, like prostitution and it will still take a while before it will be fully accepted.
Second, people relate prostitution to themselves to form an opinion. They criticise prostitution because they wouldn’t want to do it themselves. They can’t imagine that someone else would like the job. I personally think sexuality is very personal and differs among people. So I do understand why people wouldn’t want to be a prostitute but that doesn’t mean there are others who do enjoy the job, like me. People project their own sexual believes on others and that’s a reason for the misunderstanding.
22 | How many percent of the prostitutes in the Netherlands are victims of human trafficking?
I have no idea how many people are forced into prostitution. Research shows a big range of numbers with percentages from 5 to 95. It provides opportunities to cherry pick because the supporters of prostitution will tell a percentage of 5 is forced and the opponents use the percentage of 95 percent is forced into it. It’s very much a grey area and still a taboo.
Furthermore, it’s hard to conduct valid research. Also, there’s not one definition of human trafficking. So there are lots of complications in investigating the true number of forced prostitutes which makes it hard to even estimate a percentage. I don’t know people who are forced by others to prostitute themselves out but I do know people who only do the job because they have problems, like a drug addiction or financial problems. They need the money that the job offers but actually hate the work itself.
23 | Do you think prostitution should be legalised all over the world?
Yes, for several reasons… Everyone should have the right to choose what happens to his or her own body. It should be someone’s free choice to be a prostitute. Neither feminists nor politicians have the right to tell you otherwise. There’s a need for a government which facilitates a safe environment for prostitutes. Besides that, not legalising prostitution increases the chances of human trafficking. In that case prostitution becomes a branch in which the prostitutes and/or its clients are criminalised and the government will of cours fail in controlling it. In this situation, victims of human trafficking are left alone. So I think legalisation of prostitution will give the government the opportunity to better control the whole situation, which will increase prostitutes’ well-being.
24 | What should be changed about the prostitution regulation in the Netherlands?
Last year prostitution has been downsized by the local government and all over the country prostitution licenses were withdrawn. The brothel owners at the Red Light District are an easy target for the local government to close down brothels. On the other hand, escort services on the internet are being ignored by the government while it’s a booming business. For me it’s very strange that the small visual part of prostitution is being downsized and the big hidden part on the internet is being ignored. That should be changed.
I think it’s a good thing that brothel owners are checked to avoid criminal activities but the active downsizing of prostitution while it’s legalised at the same time seems contradictory to me. To give you an example: The mayor of Amsterdam complains about the high window rates for the prostitutes but that’s a result of the strict regulation. That is why prices increase because the brothel owners also have to make some money. The local government itself created scarcity by closing down window brothels which led to higher rents, that’s what happens in markets. So the regulation is very contradictory. A solution would be for sex workers to get involved in making a policy.
25 | Are you involved in any commissions?
Yes, I’m involved in several projects. This month the first professional journal for sex workers “The Sex Worker” will be launched. I was part of the advisory council of the editorial staff. I am also involved in the law making proces for a self-exploitation project for sex workers called “Eigen Raam” (“Own Window”). Besides that, I’m involved in a gay health organisation called “Night Nurse” which tries to make sexual gratification better accessible for the elderly.
26 | How often do you test yourself for sexually transmitted diseases (STD)?
Every 3 months at the Health Center of Amsterdam. It’s free for prostitutes to get tested In my professional life I’m not afraid to get a STD or AIDS because I take a lot of preventative measures. But in my personal life it’s definitely an issue because I don’t use a condom consistently. But currently I have a boyfriend so when we don’t use condoms it’s not a big problem.
27 | How do you clients deal with safe sex?
I notice that older clients test for STD’s less often than younger clients. I wouldn’t exactly know why but maybe it’s because they don’t have sex that often or some still aren’t aware of the risks. On the other hand, some clients are very afraid of STD’s and ask for my test results or only want to have or get a blowjob because the risks of transmitting a sexual disease are much lower. But the risk still exists…
28 | Do you have orgasms during your sessions with your clients?
Yes, almost always. Except when the client is not interested in my orgasm but it’s very important to most of the clients. And for me it’s no problem of course.
29 | How many of your clients are married or have a relationship?
In Belgium the percentage was higher than in Amsterdam. I guess 50 percent in the Netherlands have a relationship? It’s just a guess really. Most of the times my clients tell me when they’re married, especially when they are regular customers. I don’t specifically ask but it’s mentioned often while we have a conversation during a session.
30 | What is the weirdest request you ever got?
One of my clients has a nose-picking fetish. For him it’s essential for his sexual experience that he picks my nose during a session. I had to get used to this request but after all I didn’t have objections. So I allowed him to pick my nose. This is an extreme example but after all everyone have their own sexual fantasies which you can call fetishes.
31 | What kind of advice would you give to those who want to become a male sex worker?
They have to think about it wisely because it could have a big impact on their lives. Some experiences could be hard to deal with. If you have a vulnerable personality it can be dangerous. Also, you have to be confident and well informed about STD’s. Furthermore, you should be very upfront about your conditions. I would advise everyone to let clients pay in advance. And call your clients before you plan a session to make sure you both have the same expectations.
32 | What kind of sexual requests do you refuse?
I don’t like SM or pee/poo sex. But I don’t make a list with my don’ts beforehand because there are a lot of different sexual activities. I tell my clients in advance that I don’t do extreme sex but most of the requests are made during the session. But after all, most of the clients want to have a conversation and tenderness. Some of them like anal sex, like I do. But in general I don’t get lots of extreme requests.
33 | What would you like to tell the world about prostitution, as a male sex worker?
I would ask the world to be open minded about prostitution. What I love about the new magazine “The Sex Worker” is that it reveals both positive and negative stories about prostitution. It shows the true diversity of the whole branch instead of having an extremely positive or negative viewpoint. I think a lot of tourists also have a very preconceived opinion about sex workers. I would advise them to talk with several sex workers to form an opinion.
Male Sex Worker in Amsterdam Audio Tour
Lyle Muns is one of the 22 experts in our app Amsterdam Audio Tours. It’s an audio book in which 22 specialists share their knowledge about things related to the Red Light District, which can be listened to in Amsterdam or from home.
Download here!
Here’s a little preview of Lyle’s story in the app:
“…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.”
34 | Do you think your work as a male sex worker will counteract with your political ambitions in the future?
I really don’t know how that will work out. I do think that I took a big risk by being open about what I do. But I think that was the better choice over keeping my profession a secret with the risk that everything would come out later. Additionally, I’m proud of my profession and I don’t want to have any secrets. If I become a politician I want to be very transparent as well and express myself the way I am. If people don’t like me, they shouldn’t vote for me. This is who I am so take it or leave it. I took a big risk by telling the world I’m a prostitute but it was a conscious made decision. It may have closed some doors but it definitely will open others. My story might have inspired some people and gave them a feeling of commitment. And fortunately it helps that my political party is very open minded.
ALSO DISCOVER:
10x Amsterdam Red Light District Facts
Interview With Dutch Prostitute In Amsterdam
This article has last been updated on 13 October 2020.
Things you Always Wanted to Know From a Dutch prostitute
We spoke with Caja van Tolie – a sex worker who works in the Netherlands. We met each other at the Koffie Schenkerij in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Caja has been working as a prostitute for 16 years. We were looking forward to meeting her because we really wanted to know more about her profession and experiences. This is what we asked her:
When did you start working as a Dutch prostitute?
A few of the the 288 window brothels in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Since 1999. I started at the Red Light District of Amsterdam. I also worked in Groningen for a while but decided to go back to Amsterdam. When I worked in Amsterdam’s Red Light District again, the mayor of Amsterdam decided to introduce more stringent regulations which women have to meet when working as a prostitute. That’s one of the reasons I decided to work in Utrecht instead of Amsterdam. Looking back, after a while the rules in Utrecht became more strict than those in Amsterdam, which led to a forced end of my job as a Dutch prostitute.
Are you planning to work again as a Dutch prostitute in Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
No, not at all. The Red Light District of Amsterdam has changed over the last 15 years. I prefer the Red Light District the way it used to be.
It’s not your cup of tea anymore?
A lot of people walk by, but there’s a small percentage who really visit a prostitute here. That’s why the prostitutes are experiencing difficulties in earning the rent for the windows. I personally think the earnings are too low. But everyone has their own opinion.
This is one of the streets we’ll show you during our red light district tours.
Why did you become a Dutch prostitute?
I had to take care of myself at a young age. I still had to learn how to take some responsibilities. I went over my marks and was looking for a way to pay off my debts in a short amount of time. It would give me the opportunity to continue with my my education. That’s when prostitution came in.
I payed of my debts in one day and actually liked the atmosphere in the Red Light District. In the nineties, the Red Light District was like a small village where everybody was very friendly. Everybody was just having a blast! I told myself that I would quit working as a Dutch prostitute when I felt like it. Well, I quit recently but that was because the windows in Utrecht were closed down. I still liked the job, but it had to be done.
Caja in the former Red Light District of Utrecht. “Abusievelijk gesloten” (English: Mistakenly closed)
What are the pro’s of being a Dutch prostitute?
There are a lot of pro’s! The job offers a feeling of freedom. You’re able to plan your own shifts. The high income is another pro of course. Also, I like the entertainment part of the job. Im always very happy during my shifts and have a lot of pleasant experiences. I can’t imagine that someone wouldn’t like to earn money in this way!
And what are the cons?
The con is that prostitution is being stigmatized. People think that prostitutes are aimlessy victims of human trafficking. This metaphor is totally inappropriate.
Do you tell everybody that you’re a prostitute, for example when you’re visiting a birthday party?
Nowadays I do. This is also because I have been on television a couple of times so a lot of people already know me.
Did you tell people about it when you just started as a Dutch prostitute?
In the very beginning I kept it as a secret but my mother sensed something was going on… Like only mothers can. At a certain point she asked if I was working in prostitution. That was the moment I told her. Afterwards, I told some other family members about my little secret as well. But not the whole family so not everybody knew. But like I said, nowadays everybody knows.
Let our local expert guides show you around Amsterdam’s Red Light District. They’ll tell you the stories and show you the places that you’d miss out on when you visit this unique area just by yourself. Click on the link below to see the selection of tours that we offer.
BOOK A TOUR >Did you like your job?
Yes, I have always thought this is the most wonderful profession of all.
What was it about it that you liked the most?
That’s hard to explain. I just experience an enjoyable feeling when I’m working. It feels like I’m onstage and that creates excitement. And I always have enjoyable conversations with both regular clients and strangers. So I always have fun during my shifts as a Dutch prostitute.
Do you always have sex with your clients?
No, not always. Some clients prefer to go out for dinner or to a hotel and others like to go to the beach. There are so many clients with different desires.
Some people find it hard to imagine that prostitutes are doing their job because they want to. What do you think is the reason for this thought?
It’s because they don’t know much about the sector. Actually, I had the same thought about prostitutes before I started working as one. People can’t imagine that you decide for yourself that you want to work as a prostitute because it’s not necessary to make a living. In fact, people who are out of work are paid benefits in The Netherlands. So why would you become a prostitute when it’s not necessary? But when I started to work as a prostitute I noticed the feeling of freedom that this job offers. I can’t think of another job which offers the same amount of freedom.
What is the difference between the Red Light District in Amsterdam and the prostitution area in Utrecht?
To work at the Red Light District is all about entertainment and is the most fun when you’re around an age of 18. Everybody is having a blast and that causes a lot of drunk and singing people in the streets. People walk a lot before going to a prostitute because the area is very large and beautiful. Also, because the visitors are mostly tourists a lot of them don’t even go to a prostitute. When I just started as a prostitute this didn’t bother me. But when getting older I desired a workplace that offered more serious clients. In Utrecht, the area consisted of boats lying in a line which served as brothels. Men picked the prostitute of their preference when driving by in their car. The workplace in Utrecht attracted mostly Dutch businessmen who often stayed a couple of hours instead of only 15 minutes. Also, contrary to the Red Light District, in Utrecht we had our own bath, toilet and kitchen. So the clients and the way of working is totally different in Utrecht. And that really meets my current preferences.
Did you also have tourists as your clients in Utrecht’s Red Light District?
Sometimes my clients were from Germany, Belgium and sometimes the United Kingdom but most of them were from the Netherlands.
How much did you pay to rent a brothel in Utrecht?
The rent is € 650 for 7 days and 12 hours a day in Utrecht. I worked part time because the earnings where very high. I was already able to pay the rent for the brothel after 1 or 2 days max. The rest of the week I had the freedom to decide whatever I wanted to do. One week I worked 3 days and the other week 4 days. I really loved the freedom this offered.
This is what a brothel in Utrecht’s Red Light District looks like.
Do you think prostitution has to be legalised all over the world? And if yes, why?
I think that prostitution should be a legal option for women. When women are having a difficult time because of a divorce for example, in most cases they have to take care of their children by themselves. They should have the right to decide to work as a prostitute while keeping their independence. In this way women can earn their own living.
How many women work in the prostitution area in Utrecht?
In total there were 162 windows with 2 shifts for each window. So there were around 330 women working there.
How many prostitutes in the Netherlands work for a pimp?
In Utrecht the women work pretty independently. In the Red Light District they work mostly with 3 women in a brothel, but they have their own room. I think there are some pimps in Amsterdam but I have hardly seen one in Utrecht. The brothel owners are also pretty strict in banning pimps. But, unfortunately, human trafficking does still exist and I think it will never be banned completely. As a brothel owner you can do your best to cooperate with the local government but you’re never totally sure if a prostitute is working for a pimp or not.
Do you have, or ever had a pimp?
No, I never had one. But during my career I’ve seen a lot of women who had a pimp and actually really wanted to work for him themselves. And sometimes people think the boyfriend of a Dutch prostitute is their pimp as well. So people have their own definition of a pimp. For me, a pimp is someone who takes your money, who abuses you and forces you to prostitute yourself. I think a partner of a prostitute who is totally ok with her profession and has his own profession is not a pimp. But like I said, some people think he is in that case.
How many percent of the prostitutes in the Netherlands is victim of human trafficking do you think?
According to the most recent research on this subject it’s less than 2 %. I think this corresponds with what I notice around me. I do agree that human trafficking does occur but it’s definitely not the case that every Dutch prostitute is a victim. The local government publishes higher numbers of human trafficking because they have their own interest in tidying up the Red Light District because the houses are worth a lot of money. Apart from the local government, religious people also publicise negative information about the Red Light District because of their religious objections.
What do you think needs has to change about the current rules?
The most ideal situation would be that there are no more special rules for prostitution but that prostitutes are treated the same as other entrepreneurs. If we’re talking about rules for forced prostitution, it has to be forbidden to threaten or abuse women. A lot of serious crime is already covered under the current rules so I think there’s no need for specific prostitution legislation.
Do you also pay taxes like any other entrepreneur?
Yes, I’m also registered at the Chamber of Commerce.
Do you do your own tax returns or do you have an accountant?
I have an accountant who does that.
Have you ever been checked by the public authorities, like the department of taxation?
Yes, sometimes they come along to check the book-keeping so we have to store it at our working place. They even check your wallet for cash money to make sure you’re not lying about your daily income!
What kind of safety measures were applied in the brothels that you worked in?
It has changed through the years. There were no rules when I started as a Dutch prostitute in 1999. To rent a window all you needed was a name so you didn’t need to show your passport. Shortly before the closedown of the boats in Utrecht every woman had to be registered as a prostitute at the Chamber of Commerce, the local government and the police. So through the years the rules became stricter.
Is it true that prostitutes in the Netherlands are not allowed to get a mortgage or some insurances?
Yes, unfortunately that is the case. As a Dutch prostitute, the ING is the only bank in Holland which provides me with a private bank account. It’s impossible to get a business account. Getting a mortgage is also out of the question. We are told that being a prostitute is an insecure profession because it’s hard to tell what a prostitute will earn 5 years later. But I think this situation is exactly the same for a baker for example, who ís able to get a mortgage or insurance. Some banks are not ashamed of this kind of discrimination at all and are very transparent in the fact that they don’t want prostitutes as their customers.
What are your plans for the future?
My main goal is to become a brothel owner of some windows in the city centre of Utrecht. Together with a former colleague I applied for an authorization of those brothels and it looks like we can start in a couple of months. I’ll be responsible for a whole street of windows so I won’t work as a prostitute anymore. I’ll have to conform to all the rules and regulations which will take a lot of time because like I said, the local government is very strict in Utrecht. If it were to become clear that only one prostitute is a victim of human trafficking, the whole street would be closed down. 50 Dutch prostitute in total will work there so I will have a big responsibility. I would love to continue as a prostitute but I’ll won’t have the time for it.
What do you think of women who are passing by the windows because of curiosity?
I don’t have any problems with them as long as they behave normally. Some women are pointing, laughing or have comments and that can be disturbing. But after all, we are very used to people who are passing by, both women and men. As long as their behaving appropriately there’s no problem.
What does a client pay for a visit?
The minimum rate is 50 euro’s for 15 minutes. This rate is the same in Amsterdam and Utrecht.
Do you accept payments with credit or debit cards? Why (not)?
No, I only accept cash because otherwise I need to have my own machine which is inconvenient, because I don’t have s business bank account. Also, clients don’t want to have a bank record of a visit to a prostitute.
How often do you test for sexually transmitted diseases (STD)? And is it mandatory?
I test on a regular basis. It is not mandatory for a Dutch prostitute but it’s wise to do so. Prostitutes don’t have to pay for a test, but clients do.
What do you do if a client smells or looks dirty?
Before I have sex with any client, I ask if they could wash themselves. In Utrecht we used to have a bath so it was part of the game to take a bath before the action started.
Do you ever get an orgasm during sex with your clients? If yes, how many times does it happen?
Yes, it happens sometimes. But not on a regular basis. I would say monthly, so not that often.
What is the oddest request you ever got from a client?
Overall, my clients are pretty normal but sometimes I get requests I don’t expect. For example going to the beach and getting paid for it.
Do you have any advice for women who want to work as a Dutch prostitute?
My advice is to think about it carefully! And, you should take a look at a brothel first to form an opinion before you start. You have to be well prepared!
ALSO READ:
Amsterdam Red Light District Prices
Amsterdam Starts City Brothel
Posted on: September 1, 2015
A buyer has been found for Amsterdam’s City Brothel
A real estate buyer has been found by the City of Amsterdam for the so called City brothel: 5 buildings with a total of 19 windows in the Red Light District. Here, so the plan reads, sex workers would be able to work as entrepreneurs in their own businesses/brothels. “The buyer is a party of impeccable reputation” says Amsterdam’s Mayor Van Der Laan. Still, as yet there are not enough hookers to take on the challenge.
A local television station in Amsterdam – AT5 – had an interview with the Mayor of Amsterdam, but Van der Laan did not reveal the name of the buyer. He said: “It is a social institution of high integrity and has a big wallet.” Until the sale is finalized definitively, Van Der Laan doesn’t want to say anything more specific about who is buying the City Brothel. In early 2015 it became clear that the City had begun looking into methods for how to begin its own brothel in order to fight abuse in the sex workers industry.
The idea of a City Brothel in Amsterdam
“The idea is to have hookers begin their own company in their own premises thus preventing a lot of the bad working conditions and trafficking. Now, they are often dangling on the rope of people who exploit them” says the Mayor. “Both the City and the Council are in favor of beginning experiments in this field”.
One of the conditions is HVO-Querido helping the prostitutes in setting up their business and finding a ‘clean’ owner of the premises is another one.
Not enough interested prostitutes as of yet
That party will lease windows to the workers, enabling them to perform their activities there. “Some prostitutes are very enthusiastic about this new approach, but have never done anything close to being independent entrepreneur” says Van der Laan. Therefore the project’s kick off date will probably be January 1, 2016. Until then a lot of construction work will be required in the accommodation, so that the disabled can also be welcomed as clients.
“As soon as the City Brothel is a reality, the city will at arm’s length excercise supervision on the whole experiment”, Van Der Laan emphasizes.
Officially the city has no stake in the brothel.
Bungee Jumping Amsterdam
Posted on: July 28, 2015
Fun To Do: Bungee Jump in Amsterdam
Next to the very popular canal cruises and walking tours, Amsterdam offers a brand new activity for you to view the beautiful city from a different angle: Bungee jumping! This is the first bungee jump in Amsterdam and currently the only bungee jump which is offered in the Netherlands. It’s located in the north of Amsterdam at the NDSM – a former industrial harbour. This bungee jump is even more special because you can jump off an old wharf crane!
A Little History
The crane was built in the 1950’s and has been a landmark of the shipyard in the NDSM wharf for decades. When the docks were closed in 1984 due to financial ruin, the crane was coming apart from rust. On the ground a creative and industrious vibe arose with warehouses and art galleries springing up amongst the harbour remains.
This is what the area looks like from the ground. It’s a super cool, industrial site.
The Most Unique and Sensational Hotel of Europe
In 2013, a new creative direction for the crane was found. Nowadays it consists of a broadcasting TV station and 3 luxurious hotel suites, one of which is located in the old engine room. That’s right, this harbor crane is now an exclusive hotel! On the roof of the crane is an outdoor jacuzzi, where the stunning view of Amsterdam and the river IJ can be taken in whilst relaxing in the hot water. This new and extravagant hotel is rated with a 8.5/10 on Booking.com and cost approximately 470 euro per room per night.
To realize this project, the derelict crane had to be dismantled and brought to another place for rennovation to meet the high hotel safety requirements. A funny fact is that the crane keeps spinning slowly in the wind to reduce its maximal wind load!
This is what is looks like to hang 50 meters above the ground.
Bungee Jumping Amsterdam Details
The bungee jump is the newest project of the crane and the only jump offered in Amsterdam. The jump is 50 meters (164 feet) high. You’ll have a free fall of at least 35 meters (115 feet)! before and during your jump you will have a breathtaking view of the IJ river with the beautiful old city behind it. The price of this bungee jump is 87.5 euros per per person.
- Jump height: 50 meters (164 feet)
- Jump type: Crane Bungee Jump
- Free fall: 35 meters
- Available: Saturday
- Between: 11.45 am – 2 pm
- Price: 87.5 Euro
Conditions Bungee Jumping Amsterdam
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Minimum length: 1.60 meters
- Minimum weight: 60 kg
- Maximum weight: 110 kg
- Maximum wind speed: 5
Book a Bungee Jump in Amsterdam
Take this exhilarating 164ft bungee jump with the majestic backdrop of Amsterdam’s skyline behind you! Experience the awesome rush of the free fall as you plummet towards the ground at the former harbour in Amsterdam. An awesome memory!
BOOK HERE!
Shoot Out On Amsterdam Dam Square on May 7th 1945
Posted on: May 1, 2024
Holland in WW2: Dam Square Shooting on May 7th 1945
263 people shot on Amsterdam Dam Square. Read here what happened on May 7th 1945, just after WWII, on the same day that Nazi Germany surrendered.
What Happened on Amsterdam Dam Square on 7 May 1945?
On May 7th, 1945, a tragic event occurred in Dam Square, Amsterdam, known as the Dam Square shooting. This happened just two days after the official end of World War II in Europe, in the brief interim period before Allied forces had fully secured control of the Netherlands.
German soldiers, who were still stationed at a building on the square, unexpectedly opened fire on a large crowd of Dutch civilians who were celebrating the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation. The sudden shooting resulted in the deaths of 22 people, and many others were wounded. The reason behind the shooting remains unclear, but it is often attributed to tension and confusion in the chaotic final days of the war in Europe. The shooting stands out as a somber reminder of the violence of the war, even as it was coming to an end.
1 | Second World War
Amsterdam, Prins Hendrikkade, May 1940. Nazis cycle through occupied Amsterdam.
The Dutch tried to remain neutral during the Second World War like they did in World War One. But in May 1940, Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands.
The advancing Nazis leveled much of central Rotterdam in a raid designed to force the Dutch to surrender. They obliged.
The Dutch Queen Wilhelmina escaped with her whole family to the United Kingdom. The monarch, who had been key in maintaining Dutch neutrality during the first World War, now found herself in a completely different position & made encouraging announcements to subjects back home via Radio Orange and the BBC.
Amsterdam, Muntplein, May 1945. A german soldier with a prostitute. (source)
2 | 1944 – 1945: The Hunger Winter
The Hunger Winter in 1944 – 1945 was a desperate time in Holland. With the failure of the British-led Operation Market Garden the Allies abandoned all efforts to liberate the western parts of the Netherlands.
The Allies had already conquered South Limburg, the normal delivery of coal from there completely stopped. At the request of the Dutch government in London the railways were also on strike. This lead to the closure of the gas- and the power plants at the start of October.
Amsterdam became cold and dark. The Nazis also stripped the whole country of its food and resources, and mass hunger ensued. Many Dutch had to eat tulip bulbs to survive.
In the Netherlands as a whole around 20,000 people died because of the hunger winter. Canadian soldiers finally liberated the Netherlands in May 1945.
When was Amsterdam liberated?
Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, was liberated from Nazi German occupation on May 5, 1945, towards the end of World War II. The liberation of Amsterdam was part of the larger liberation of the Netherlands by the Allied forces, which began with the southern provinces of the country in September 1944 and progressed northward towards Amsterdam. The city was liberated by Canadian and British troops, and May 5th is now celebrated as Liberation Day in the Netherlands.
3 | May 7th 1945: Nazi Germany Surrender
On May 7th 1945 – the very same day Germany surrendered to the Allied Forces under Eisenhower, Churchill and Montgomery – German Forces in Amsterdam started firing into the celebrating crowd of Dutch citizens at the Dam Square.
Amsterdam, Dam Square, 5 May 1945. People watch the allies during the liberation of the Netherlands.
4 | Nazis Shot 263 Amsterdammers On 7th Of May 1945
The brutal act on May 7th 1945, took the lives of 32 innocent civilians. 231 others were wounded. Amsterdammers tried to hide in long narrow rows behind lantern posts and behind a street organ, showing the complete vulnerability of the unarmed people in the street.
Amsterdam, Dam Square, May 7th 1945. Civilians duck for German bullets.
The picture above shows people hiding in slashes and one little girl that did not hide behind the lantern posts. Read the story of this little girl who did not hide here below:
The Little Girl Who Went For Ice Cream
‘My name is Tiny van der Hoek. I was 2.5 years old and I was standing at the ice cream cart on the corner of the Nieuwendijk street and Dam Square where I had just got an ice cream.
Immediately the ice cream fell on the ground to my great disappointment… People ran or stood behind something. I saw that from the ‘Groote Club’ (Grand Club). At the time this was the place where German flags were hanging and German soldiers were sitting. They were to blame for not having ice cream anymore so I went there. My mother was left with the ice cream cart.
Walking on Dam Square, towards the Groote Club, between running people, but exactly against the direction that they went, I was already on my way when I was suddenly picked up by a gentleman. He took me in his arms, put his jacket around me, and ran towards Nieuwendijk where I lived at the time.
Two adults trying to safe the little girl on Dam Square.
My mother came back but nowhere there was shelter inside, everything was full and we were refused. That gentleman saw that there was still room under the billiards in that shop. He kicked in a window, my mother crawled inside and took me in and we had shelter under the billiards. That gentleman disappeared towards Dam Square. Was he going to provide more help or find shelter himself? I do not know.
In my memory was always “slashes”. Later, in an amateur video recording made by Bert Haanstra, I understood that those “slash people” behind the lampposts were looking for cover behind each other. During my “mission”, complaining about having no more ice cream, I was so focused on the corner window of the “Groote Club”.
It’s the window I still look at when I am in Amsterdam, that in my memory people on the street were resting. I didn’t realize then that I was walking past injured or dead people, so mesmerised I was to tell those evil people how mean I found them. Fortunately I was picked up and brought to safety. This event on May 7th 1945 is still on my mind and of course it was only later that I understood what was really going on.’ (source)
May 7th 1945 Amsterdam
People running and trying to find a safe place to hide.
Now, it’s May 7th 1945. The sun is shining, no wind and the temperature is maybe around 20 degrees Celsius. Thousands of Dutch fell into each others arms that day. Amsterdam was feasting, singing, yelling.
The street organ played. Liberation! Freedom! The party on Dam Square was being monitored by German Marines from the roof of The Grand Club in the corner of Dam Square. From here one the generally accepted explanation goes as follows:
German marines were stationed in The Grand Club (Groote Club) on the right. (Source)
It is claimed that a Nazi soldier stood outside The Grand Club and resisted against a member of the Dutch Interior Armed Forces (BS) who wanted to disarm him. This action of the BS went against the general orders of the Allies, who had ruled that the BS should remain aloof. The Allies themselves would disarm every German occupation soldier.
Another source claims that at one point two German soldiers were being detained by members of the BS on the corner of Paleisstraat and Spuistraat. They were summoned to hand over their weapons, to which one of them refused. He was shot dead, after which the Nazis started shooting from De Groote Club in the direction of the BS’ers who shot the German.
From the Rokin and the Nieuwendijk other members of the BS started shooting at the Germans, after which they shot back with all kinds of weapons. The crowd on the Dam fled in panic, with a number of them entering the field of fire or being overrun.
People hide behind anything they could find. Source: W.F. Leijns / nfa, coll. Nederlands Fotomuseum.
People Hid Behind Street Organ
Street Organ “Het Snotneusje” (translated: the little snot nose) was brought to Dam Square for the festivities. The organ men brought it in the hopes to make a bit of money.
“People were incredibly happy that day; there was an exuberant mood. During the shooting, people ducked behind that organ. Het Snotneusje received bullets and thus saved people’s lives. The organ has become an iconic image in Amsterdam. There is a huge contrast between that cheerfully playing barrel organ and the misery and chaos of that last shooting.”
‘Het Snotneusje’ before being restored. Source.
5 | No Germans Prosecuted
Not one of the German marines was arrested or tried after the shooting took place. Apparently no one wished that this incident on May 7th 1945 was remembered. Maybe it had to do with the fact that the Dutch Interior Armed Forces shouldn’t have tried to disarm German troops in the first place.
6 | The Netherlands After World War II
After the Second World War, the Netherlands was shattered both economically and spiritually. War trials ensued in which 66,000 were convicted of cooperating with the Nazis and about 900 got the death penalty.
Unfortunately, the number of collaborators was much higher and some – like those who disclosed the whereabouts of Anne Frank and her family – never saw justice.
7 | Deceased Victims: 32
Amsterdam, Dam Square, 7 May 1945. Photographer: Jacobus Wicher Hofman.
The 32 deceased victims have been published on the website of the Foundation Memorial for Amsterdam Dam Square Victims May 7th 1945. The names, ages and backgrounds of these victims are briefly explained. Additional video and photo material of this day can be viewed on this website.
8 | War Memorial on Amsterdam Dam Square
On the 7th of May 2016, a new war monument was installed for all the victims of the shootout. The victims, ordinary Amsterdammers who were killed on that day, which should have been a liberation day. All the names of the victims are engraved into separate stones that were placed into the street on Dam Square.
The new memorial on Dam square. Created by Studio Moniker.
ALSO SEE:
Naked Prostitutes Build Human Tower in Amsterdam
Posted on: April 1, 2015
Naked Prostitutes in Amsterdam Red Light District
Remarkable news today which came from a union of sex workers in the Netherlands.
New record: First human tower of naked bodies
Prostitutes from all over the world are going to build the first human tower of naked bodies in Amsterdam. They do this to protest against the stigma around prostitution. Most sex workers find it difficult if not impossible to get a mortgage or insurance. Banks and insurance companies are not willing to provide their services to sex workers, as a consequence of the bad image of their profession.
The prostitutes in Amsterdam hope that this protest will help to get rid of the current image problem. Most of the sex workers consider their profession as just another job; “Sex work = work”, they say. Last week, the Dutch bank Triodos refused to open a bank account for the Dutch Union for Sex Workers, called PROUD.
Naked prostitutes protest in Red Light District of Amsterdam
The Old Church in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
The tower of prostitutes will equal the height of the Amsterdam Old Church, that stands over 67 meters (73 yards) tall. It will be erected on the Old Church Square, which is situated in the heart of the Red Light District. The human tower of naked prostitutes will be built on April 1st at 8 pm. The sex workers invite everyone to come see the protest in Amsterdam. The event will be free. “This is your only chance to see naked prostitutes without paying for it”, said one of them.
A Naked Protest Against Stigma
Sex workers from all over the world will be in Amsterdam to support this act. Sunny Lane, Ashley Alexandra Dupré, Kristin M. Davis and Ayumu Kas will be joining the protest. 80 female and 20 male prostitutes will join the protest in the Red Light District. “I think this is a great initiative and I’m so glad that I can be part of it. It’s ridiculous that sex workers in the Netherlands and elsewhere are being refused at certain banks. Why do banks refuse sex workers?”, said Sunny Lane.
Famous Fokkens Twins on top
Amsterdam, Martine & Louise Fokkens. Holland’s oldest prostitutes.
Many Dutch sex workers will join in as well, including the most famous ones. The best known prostitutes in the Netherlands are Martine & Louise Fokkens. These twin sisters have worked in Amsterdam’s Red Light District for 50 years. The twins are not only (former) prostitutes with many publications in the media, but also the oldest prostitutes in the Netherlands (77 years of age). Martine & Louise Fokkens confirm – according to plan – they will be the last to climb over all other women to hold the top.
Guinness Book of Records Amsterdam Red Light District
If the naked prostitutes manage to build a human tower of 67 meters, a world record will be set. They will be the first to build a human tower of naked prostitutes. The Guinness Book of Records will be there to monitor the event. “A naked human tower of sex workers has never been attempted in history.”, said a Guiness Book of Records inspector.
(This article was written on April Fools Day, 2015)
ALSO READ:
35 Fun Things To Do in Amsterdam
Street Art in Amsterdam – 15 pictures
Posted on: February 9, 2015
Street Art in Amsterdam: Colorful, Vibrant & Unique
Amsterdam sure has a lot of beautiful street art in town. We think it’s great that there are some artists out there who try to make the streets less boring. See for yourself. We hope you like it!
1. Street Art in Amsterdam: Red Light District, “The Syndics, Rembrandt (1662) by Focuz.”
“The syndics” is the work of urban artist Focuz. This painting and two others from the same project currently hang on the Warmoes street in the Red Light District. During our tours we’ll pass by this beautiful piece of art. The Old Masters by New Masters project links old Dutch master (like Rembrandt) with street art. The painting above was made with spray paint, acrylic paint and paint markers in 2014.
2. Street Art in Amsterdam: Flower Market, 2015. “Tags, Coats of Arms and Angels.” (artists unknown)
We shot this picture at Amsterdam’s Flower Market. There are a lot of these coats of arms of Amsterdam stickers in town. It’s pretty cool, right?
Did you know that the Flower Market is a place where locals never go? Amsterdammers never buy their flowers here. The main reason for that is because it’s overpriced. Locals go markets like the Albert Cuyp Market, Dapper Market, Noorder Market, Waterloo Square Market, but not this one.
3. Street Art in Amsterdam: Red Light District, 2014. “Erotic Mouse in photo frame”. (artist unknown)
Recently, this mouse was added to the Red Light District. The artist drew an hammer in it. And if you look closely you’ll see that there’s actually pieces of glass on the frame work. It looks like the erotic mouse broke the glass! Isn’t that brilliant?
4. Street Art in Amsterdam: Red Light District, 2014. “Hand on Chest” (artist unknown)
This is definitely one of the best art works in the Red Light District. The story behind this piece of art is really cool. It adds an extra charm to the area. Wanna get to know the whole story behind this street art in Amsterdam? During our Red Light District Tour we’ll tell you all about it!
5. Street Art in Amsterdam: City center, 2014. “Mini-car painted blue.”
Mini-cars like these are very popular in Amsterdam. Why you ask? Because you can park them wherever you like. It has a maximum speed limit of 45 km/h and you don’t need a drivers-licence to ride it. Two persons can fit in this mini-car.
6. Street Art in Amsterdam: Nes Street, 2014. “Amai, das Goe!” Artist: Dribbel.
7. Street Art in Amsterdam: Red Light District, 2014. Art work by Fafi & @little__madi.
This piece of art is awesome! It has been added to the Red Light District in the autumn of 2014 onto the walls of Maria’s Dolls Museum. We love the bright colors it has. It was made by two female artists. Make sure you follow them on Instagram. Thanks Fafi!
Street Art in Amsterdam: Rokin Street, 2014. “Big City Bad Boys by Senatoti.”
Amsterdam, Rokin Street, 2014. “Big City Bad Boys by Senatoti.”
This street art in Amsterdam was painted on a wooden door, which is here for reconstruction purposes. It used be a plain wooden door. We find this art work a great (temporarily) solution for the eye.
Amsterdam, city center, 2015. “Inflatable doll & Ottograph’s art work”
Most likely this was being used during a bachelor party in Amsterdam. We found in laying around in Amsterdam’s city centre. Just next to the great art work of Ottograph.
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 2014. (artist unknown)
We’re not a huge fan of tags which are being spray painted in the city. We prefer to see something which is a bit more challenging than just a couple of letters. Like the characters above. Great colors!
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 2014. “Prostitutes open their curtains”. (artist unknown)
This street art in Amsterdam can be found in one of the narrow alleys of the Red Light District. It has been around for quite some while now. Unfortunately we don’t know who’ve made it.
Amsterdam, Nes street, 2014. “Canal Houses”. (artist unknown)
Ah yes.. Amsterdam’s canal houses sure are beautiful to see. Many artist have painted them. And so did this (unknown) artist.
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 2014. “Car with big wheels”. (artist unknown)
Amsterdam, Red Light District, 2014. “Temporarily art”. (artist unknown)
Our local guides shot this picture on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal street in the Red Light District, just next to restaurant Mata Hari. When they took this photo, the houses on the left were being renovated and some wood was placed in front of it. Someone was probably keen of having more street art in Amsterdam and created this piece of art.
Related posts
Sex Operators Will Be Rewarded By Amsterdam Mayor
Posted on: December 24, 2014
Lower Penalties For Sex Operators in Amsterdam
Sex operators in Amsterdam get milder punishments after 3 years of good behaviour.
Sex operators in Amsterdam’s Red Light District that properly abide the rules will be rewarded. The rules will become more flexible, just like the rules for catering entrepreneurs, said the Mayor of Amsterdam.
Brothel owners will no longer get a sanction like a fine, in case of minor infringements. This is what Amsterdam’s Mayor Van der Laan wrote in the “Enforcement Strategy of Prostitution Companies”.
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
If the council agrees, a leniency scheme will apply from next year on. This milder approach fits into the new policy of the municipality of Amsterdam to reward entrepreneurs with good behavior. In April 2014, Van der Laan said: ‘I’ve noticed that we as a city are much better in thinking what shouldn’t be allowed, than in promoting what is desired. I want to change that!”
Sex operators will not immediately be punished
Amsterdam, Red Light District, Sint Annenstraat.
In Amsterdam’s Red Light District it’s mainly about limiting punishments. Sex operators who haven’t been caught in incidents during the past three years, won’t be punished for a future minor offence.
Currently, sex operators are responsible for the hygiene in a brothel. A brothel owner can be fined when the hygiene is not in order. From next year on, entrepreneurs who’ve been warned before, will receive a “recovery period” within which he or she have to make sure that everything goes by the book. However, all incidents will be registered by the municipality of Amsterdam.
The scheme does not apply to serious offenses. In case of suspected human trafficking, authorities will immediately intervene.
ALSO READ:
20 Pictures of Rembrandt in Amsterdam
Posted on: October 27, 2014
Rembrandt Van Rijn – The Inventor Of The Selfie!
Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the best painters in history. Known for many paintings that he made during his lifetime. Most people are familiar with his masterpiece, the “Night Watch”. Some people know him as the “master of light & shadow”. But only a few people know him as the inventor of the selfie. Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) grew up as a miller’s son in Leiden.
By his early 20’s he was already a talented artist. In the year 1631, Rembrandt van Rijn came to Holland’s capital to run the painting studio of rich art-dealer Hendrick van Uylenburgh. Portraits were the studio’s main source of income and Rembrandt and his staff churned out loads of them, including portraits of groups such as The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp. There are many pictures of the Dutch painter, he created almost 100 self-portraits throughout his life. This makes up around 10% of his entire oeuvre.
20 Recent Selfie Pictures
Fun fact: Rembrandt etched the self portrait pictured below in 1628. Most likely this is the first selfie ever made.
Rembrandt’s very first selfie, made in 1628.
Rembrandt visited the Red Light District in Amsterdam and stumbled upon this hidden piece of art.
Rembrandt took a selfie at the Prinsengracht, with its lovely house boats and beautiful trees.
Did you know that Rembrandt van Rijn was a very hard worker? He made a total of 350 oil-paintings!
The equally famous dutch painter Johannes Vermeer made only 37 paintings throughout his lifetime. Johannes Vermeer is known for his work “The MilkMaid” and “Girl with the Pearl Earring”. In the old times painters made their colours themselves. This was a very time-consuming job. In the Rembrandt Museum it can be seen how these colours were made in those days.
Amsterdam, Museumplein, Iamsterdam logo.
The Dutch painter at a bar with his name.
Fun To Do in Amsterdam
Apart from the 350 oil-paintings, Rembrandt made many etches. He was a man who really liked to draw. Like many masters this was his starting point. Later he went into the more elaborate craft of painter and etcher. Etchings are very difficult to make, they requires several stages of work.
Go see the Rembrandt House in Amsterdam’s Jodenbreestraat, where the process is shown by staff of the house! A real etching press at the first floor completes your knowledge of etching.
He saw all these key locks (also known as love locks) on a bridge in the centre of Amsterdam.
The Dutch painter got himself a delicious Dutch treat. Two herrings with some pickles and onions!
Paintings
One of the main reasons why the Dutch master of art is such a top-artist, is the way he depicts people. Rembrandt was a true master of this style. Even today, when you look at them, you see they are truly living persons with their own character and the mood they were in. When you look at his painting, the depicted person could be your neighbour, mother or friend!
What’s that?
Amsterdam canal.
Selfie at an Amsterdam Dance Event sign.
Amsterdam, Rembrandt Square.
Amsterdam Red Light District.
Master In Painting Light
Rembrandt van Rijn was truly a master of light. The Italian painter, Caravaggio, was his fore bearer, but the Dutch painter succeeded to take that quality to a complete new level.
Street art on the Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
He saw this modern piece of street art in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
This is Rembrandt van Rijn having another Dutch treat. A sausage of the HEMA.
The Dutch painter with a stroopwafel.
DJ’s perform in Red Light District during ADE
Posted on: October 13, 2014
Legendary DJ’s play a two hour dance set in Amsterdam Red Light District
Dutch festivals, DJs and clubs are worldwide known: the work of pioneers and visionaries. A tribute to the history of the Dutch club culture is being brought during Red Bull Studios PLAY ROOMS. Eight legendary DJs representing four iconic clubs: the mothership RoXy, the kinky iT, the decadent Speedfreax and steaming OWAP.
Club iT was a club that gained international fame with extravagant parties.
This unique event aims to experience the old school sound and atmosphere with a number of Dutch and international heroes from the dance scene. And this will be done in a very special way!
The DJ’s are going to perform a live set behind the windows brothels. Windows surrounded by red lights, that is. The DJ’s will be playing a two hour set in Amsterdam Red Light District. There will be four windows available in the Red Light District for the DJ’s.
So, this Thursday, the brothels in Red Light District will not just be filled with prostitutes.
In collaboration with Amsterdam Dance Event and “Meubel Stukken“, Red Bull Studios presents PLAY ROOMS on Thursday 16 October 2014 in Holland’s capital. François K and Joost van Bellen represent Club Roxy. Benny Rodrigues and Gomes will dedicate their set to Speedfreax. Todd Terry and Risk Soundsystem will perform on behalf OWAP and iT is illustrated by Roog and DJ Jean.
The Roxy was an infamous club in Amsterdam between 1987 to 1999, which enjoyed an international reputation for his theatrical and glamorous look.
PLAY ROOMS is sold out, but the two-hour sets of the DJ’s will be filmed by multiple cameras. This event in the Red Light District will be live broadcasted. You can easily switch from one to the other room and follow everything that happens in the play rooms.
The live stream can be followed on redbullstudios.com/playrooms on Thursday, October 16th, 2014. From 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. during the Amsterdam Dance Event. It will be hosted by Miss Bunty and Confettiman.
This event is gonna be legendary, so make sure you don’t miss these DJ’s. Tune in via de link above or visit the Red Light District in Amsterdam on Thursday. Another good reason to check out the Red Light District!
ALSO DISCOVER:
15 Fun Things To Do in Amsterdam Red Light District
20 Amazing Pictures of Amsterdam’s Red Light District
Posted on: August 28, 2014
These 20 pictures of Amsterdam’s Red Light District will blow your mind
Do you ever wonder if you should be visiting the Red Light District in Amsterdam? The 20 pictures below will help you with that decision. We’ve selected some of the best ones. Be surprised by these awesome pictures of Amsterdam’s Red Light District!
1) Amsterdam’s beautiful canals, houses and boats:
The Red Light District is the oldest part of Amsterdam and therefor there are lots of beautiful, old houses in the area. Like the ones above. Typical Dutch architecture that may not be missed during your visit to Holland’s capital.
2) Red Light District Street Art & Some Window Shoppers:
The Red Light has a lot of street art making the area prettier than it already was. The street art above goes well with the area, don’t you think? This can be found in one of the many narrow alleys. We can show it during our tours if you want.
3) Some boats sailing towards the Sea Dike in Amsterdam:
This view in the Red Light District is considered as the most beautiful view of Amsterdam. Some of these lovely houses are actually residential. It’s truly a must-see!
4) The biggest traditional Chinese temple of Europe:
The Red Light District has quite a few religious institutes, like the one above – A Chinese Buddhistic temple. It’s surrounded by window brothels, Asian restaurants and Dutch pubs.
5) A statue of the famous Major Bosshardt:
Right in the heart of the Red Light District you can find the home of the Salvation Army. This is a statue of the most famous soldier in Holland – Major Bosshardt. All here life she worked in the Red Light District and helped lots of people, including many prostitutes.
Would you like to see this statue and know more about it? Join one of our tours and ask our tour guides.
6) Amsterdam’s Old Church and some window brothels:
As said before – The Red Light District has quite a few religious institutes – well here’s another one: this church is still in service and is surrounded by window brothels too! This is one of the highlights during our tours.
7) Cool cars riding on the streets of the Red Light District
Occasionally, you can spot the most awesome rides here in the Red Light District. Like this one! We aren’t sure which brand and model it is, but we know that it’s one heck of a car!!
8) Hidden Art At The Old Church in the Red Light District:
This is definitely the most beautiful piece of art in the district! It’s hidden and surrounded by cobblestones. The story behind this art work is really amazing. Wanna know what makes this story so special? Join our Red Light District Tour and our local guide will tell you.
9) Beautiful architecture, canals and swans:
10) The New Market Square and The Waag:
11) People enjoying the wonderful Sea Dyke street in Amsterdam:
One of the most vibrant streets in town is the Sea Dyke street – located in the Red Light District. It’s one of the oldest streets in Amsterdam and it’s filled with good restaurants, nice bars, stores and coffee shops. During our tours we’ll can you show the best places out there. In other words; some nice tips from a local.
12) An American muscle car in front of the Old Church:
Here it is again – the beautiful Old Church – this time with a funky American muscle car in front of it.
13) A peaceful terrace hidden in Amsterdam’s Red Light District:
This is one of the best hidden terraces in the area. It’s located away from the crowd and all the busyness. Only available in summers though.
14) An old bike standing on a bridge:
Learn why Amsterdam has so many old bikes during one of our tours in the Red Light District.
15) The Waag on the New Market Square in Amsterdam:
16) Lovely canal houses in Amsterdam’s Old City Center:
17) The home of the Salvation Army:
18) A Segway Tour in the middle of the Red Light District:
19) The view from Amsterdam’s Sea Dike :
20) Amsterdam’s Schreiers Tower:
De Schreierstoren and Central Station on the background.
If you wanna see more pictures of Amsterdam’s Red Light District then check out our pics on Instagram. Would you like to see these awesome things yourself? Join us during our Red Light District Tour and let a local guide show you around in the most fascinating part of Amsterdam.
Or CLICK HERE to see 10 do’s and don’ts for Amsterdam’s Red Light District
The Old Church Tower in Amsterdam
Posted on: August 24, 2014
Fun to do in Amsterdam:
Go climb The Old Church Tower in the Red Light District
One of the special things that Amsterdam’s Red Light District has to offer, is the beautiful Old Church. It stands in the heart of the Red Light District and is surrounded by window brothels, bars restaurants and shops. What makes it extra special, is that this is the oldest building of Amsterdam. The Old Church was build in the 13th century. In this area of Amsterdam, bars and prostitution has always been around. So, The Old Church witnessed the Red Light District from the start and whole the way what it’s right now.
Amsterdam’s Old Church is surrounded by brothels, cafes and restaurants
Having such an amazing old church, right in the middle of Amsterdam’s Red Light District, is something you won’t find anywhere else in the world. This is where religion and prostitution are literally facing each other. So, I hear you thinking.. “That Old Church is most likely not in service any longer”. Well, actually it is!
It’s open for public, seven days in the week. And the Old Church is still being used for religious purposes.
Fun to do in the Red Light District
What lot of people don’t know is that the Old Church has two entrances which are both open for public. One for entering the Old Church and one for visiting the Old Church Tower. That’s right, The Old Church Tower! Most likely, that is something which isn’t described in your city guide… Mark this as a “to do in Amsterdam”, because visiting the Old Church Tower is freaking awesome!
The entrance of it, lies on the side of the Warmoesstraat. For 7,50 Euros you can buy yourself a ticket to enter, plus a guided tour for 30 minutes. During the tour, a local guide from the church will tell you some interesting stuff about it. Did you know that the Old Church use to had several guards on it? They were serving as a guard of Amsterdam. One of their tasks were to alert the city, when an enemy (boat) would approach Amsterdam. The guards could see them from miles away and would alarm the others.
Also, you will be seeing the enormous bells it has. The biggest bell of the Old Church weighs 3700 kilos. That’s 8157 Pounds. Or 130513 Ounces!
The Bells of The Old Church Tower
The 1st bell of The Old Church, was made by Francois Hemony.
But the main reason for visiting the Old Church Tower, is the stunning view it has to offer when you’re all the way at the top. Rewarding you a with panorama view of Amsterdam after climbing 164 steps to the top, is the best price you could imagine. Really!
9 Pictures from The Old Church Tower in Amsterdam:
Amsterdam from above: Central Station and the Sint Nicolaas Church
Amsterdam from above: A lovely view on the South-East of Amsterdam, including the Zuiderkerk.
Amsterdam from above: The Old Church, The Red Light District, and the North-East of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam from above: De Beurs van Berlage and the western part of the city in the back.
Amsterdam from above: The Old Church Square in the middle of the Red Light District.
Amsterdam from above: The view from The Old Church Tower into the city center and beyond.
Amsterdam from above: The Warmoesstraat in the Red Light District
Amsterdam from above: The Red Light District, the city center and the southern part of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam from above: An amazing view from the top of the Old Church into the East.
Would you like to visit The Old Church Tower, The Zuiderkerk or The Wester Tower?
Click here to visit their website
10x To Do in Amsterdam this Weekend
Posted on: July 16, 2014
How To Spend The Summer In Amsterdam
What are the best things to do during the summers in Holland’s capital? These are 10 great tips during a hot summer in Amsterdam.
Why Go?
Holland’s capital works its fairy-tale magic in many ways: via the gabled Golden Age buildings, the glinting boat-filled canals, friendly people, liberalism and especially the cosy, centuries-old brown bars, where candles burn low and beers froth high. Art lovers will be hard-pressed to stare at . a more masterpiece-packed city, thanks to the unique collections at the Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Willet-Holthuysen Museum and Hermitage Museum.
Music fans can tune into typical Dutch festivals like; PinkPop, LowLands, Dekmantel, Awakenings, Zwarte Cross, Solar Weekend, Mysteryland, Into the Woods, Pleinvrees, Voltt, etc. Didn’t get a ticket? Then we’d recommend to check out the Dutch site TicketSwap. It’s truly the best and safest way to buy tickets for parties in the Netherlands. The site itself makes sure that all tickets are legit and therefor it guarantees the purchase.
And pleasure-seekers? Amsterdam has it all! From escorts or the sex workers in the Red Light District windows to “coffeeshops” that offer cannabis and more than 1.500 cafes with cold (Dutch) drinks 🙂
Hot Town, Summer In The City
The best period to visit Amsterdam is usually between April and September. In general, July and August are the hottest months in the Netherlands. The average temperature in July and August in Amsterdam is 21 degrees Celsius but during these months the temperature often reaches 26 degrees Celsius (or higher). And when it’s hot like this, you wanna know where to find the oases. So, here we go!
10 Tips For A Summer in Amsterdam
-
Vondelpark
The biggest park of the capital is definitely one of the best parks in town to enjoy a lovely summer in Amsterdam. It attracts around 10 million visitors a year, it’s 470.000 square meters in total and 2 km long. The atmosphere in the Vondelpark is really relaxed. People enjoying beers, wines, football, weed, the sun, the shade, the water and whatnot. Amsterdam’s Vondelpark is much more relaxed than for example New York’s Central Park – a park with lots of unnecessary rules like “alcohol is prohibited”, “smoking is not allowed”, etc. Luckily, pretty much anything is allowed in the Vondelpark!
Definitely go to the Vondelpark, experience the Dutch liberalism, Amsterdam’s nature and freedom!
Also, the Vondelpark offers some cafes, restaurants and a teahouse. Yes, that’s correct a teahouse. It’s called The Blue Teahouse and it was build in 1937. The best thing to do, when visiting this place is to go sit upstairs. On the second floor, you’ll have the best view. It’s an oasis in the heart of Amsterdam’s Vondelpark!
Another cool cafe in the Vondelpark is The Vondel Garden, which is located in the south of the park. Most of time, this place doesn’t attract much tourists, as it takes somewhat of a walk to get there. But it’s absolutely worth a visit! Amsterdam doesn’t have much beer gardens, but this is one of the rare ones out there.
Spend A Cheap Day in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam
Go to supermarket Albert Heijn Overtoom street, which is next to Vondelpark. Buy some drinks, food and one or two ready-to-use disposable grill(s) and find a nice spot in the park. The Vondelpark is located in the city centre, just next to Leidse Square, making it really easy to get here. Click here for directions.
-
Amsterdam By Boat
Cool off on Amsterdam’s canals.Canal Cruise
There are several ways to get yourself on a boat. One of the easiest ways is by taking a canal cruise, preferably an open boat. Like this one: Hop-on Hop-off Canal Cruise.
By taking such a cruise, you’ll see Amsterdam from a whole other perspective. And, with the wind going through your hair, a drink in your hand, things couldn’t be better. Make sure you buy yourself some drinks before getting on board though. Most of the time, the canal companies don’t offer drinks on these cruises.
Prices: Between 10 and 25 euros.
-
Pllek in Amsterdam North – NDSM Wharf
Pllek in Amsterdam has lots of (beach) sand too!Pllek is a creative hang-out at the NDSM wharf with a phenomenal view over the IJ-river in Amsterdam. Pllek is made up of raw industrial materials with old shipping containers as the main building blocks. You can find Pllek at the shipyard in the northern part of Amsterdam, next to the Feralda Crane Hotel, on the IJ-river. Take the free ferry from Central Station and you are within a 2 minute walk from Pllek.
-
Hanneke’s Boom in City Center of Amsterdam
This is a restaurant with a large terrace on a port; Hanneke is the new cultural hotspot of Amsterdam. It offers a delightful picnic in its park or your boat. The view at Hanneke’s Boom is really great. You can see the Science Center Nemo, The National Maritime Museum and lots of boats sailing by… And if you’re really getting hot, you could just dive into the water.Hanneke’s Boom attracts mostly locals, because it’s not a mainstream location.
You can find Hanneke’s Boom on the left of Central Station, that is standing with your back towards Amsterdam’s Central Station. It’s a 12 minute walk. We strongly recommend visiting Hanneke’s Boom, it’s an awesome oasis in Amsterdam. Click here for directions.
-
Amstelhaven
Restaurant Amstelhaven has the biggest patio deck of Amsterdam. It’s a unique place which catches lots of sun.
Amstelhaven is located just next to the famous and luxurious Amstel Hotel. Also, this place attracts mostly locals, because it’s kind of hidden. The food at Amstelhaven isn’t that special, but the drinks are always cold served in an instant. Cool place to check out. -
De Ceuvel
This is one of the newest hotspots in the city! An eco-friendly place, build around old houseboats, is cool place to chill during the summer in Amsterdam. It opened on 21th of June 2014 and it’s located in the North of Amsterdam. As De Ceuvel just opened, it isn’t that popular yet. Might be just the reason, to go here and to avoid the city razzle-dazzle.
The latest rumors out there, is that Amsterdam-North is going be the new area for the cool cats. With places like De Ceuvel, Pllek, Eye Museum, the skatepark on the NDSM wharf, The Floating Hotel, The IJ-Kantine, The Feralda NDSM Warf Hotel, it looks like the rumours are true. The best way to get at De Ceuvel is by bike and the free ferry. You might want to rent one during your stay in Amsterdam. It makes your transportation that much easier. From Central Station to De Ceuvel is around 15 minutes by bicycle and 30 minutes by foot. Click here for directions.
-
Brewery ‘t IJ
This is a very unique place! It’s one of Amsterdam’s local breweries, which offers a great variety of tasteful beers. Much better than the beers from Heineken or Amstel. One of the breweries of ‘t IJ (and the most beautiful one) is located just next to a Dutch windmill. So while you’re cooling off and having one of those tasteful beers, you can enjoy the awesome view of the windmill.
We wouldn’t recommend to go Brewery ‘t IJ by foot, as it’s a 30 minute walk from Amsterdam’s Central Station. But if you don’t mind spending some time for a city hike, it’s doable. Otherwise, take the bicycle and it will take approximately 15 minutes. Or, you could just take bus 22 and get out at stop Oostenburgergracht.
Go visit Brewery ‘t IJ, you wouldn’t regret it. Here are the directions.
Cheers! -
Canal Picnicking
Another perfect way to spend a hot summer in Amsterdam, is by taking a picnic next to the canals. Buy yourself some beers, wines, fruit, salad and sandwiches and find a peaceful spot next to the water. We’d recommend staking out on the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht or Herengracht. You’ll be amazed by all the things you see around you.
If you’d like to do some swimming, it’s better to search for place next to the Amstel-river. Which is definitely cleaner than Amsterdam’s canal water.
Make sure you take everything with you after finishing the canal picnic. Please throw your garbage into the bin and not into the water.
-
Miranda Bad
If you really want to cool off in an outdoor swimming pool, then go to De Miranda Bad. Okay, it takes some effort to get here, but it’s really nice and not touristic at all. De Miranda Bad has the biggest outdoor swimming pool of Amsterdam, which is 50 meters long. The entrance price is about 5 Euro for a whole day. It’s located in the South of Amsterdam – next to the Martin Luther King Park – and it would take you approximately 35 minutes by tram or bus. The best thing to do is to take tram 4 and exit at the Waalstraat.
Click here for directions. -
Cafe Aen ‘t Water
The terrace of Cafe Aen ‘t Water.Don’t want to leave Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
For those who don’t want to leave the Red Light District and would rather chill on a nice terrace. Here’s our tip: Cafe Aen ‘t Water is the place to be! It’s a real oasis in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. We think it has the best terrace in the RLD! The terrace of Cafe Aen ‘t Water offers both shade and sun. More importantly; it has an amazing view on the oldest canal in town. And next to that; you can enjoy the boats sailing by through the beautiful old canals. It’s peacefully hidden on a corner in the Red Light District.
Always Fun To Do In Amsterdam
We would definitely recommend taking an Amsterdam Red Light District Tour. Let one of our local guides show you around through this beautiful area. During our walking tour you’ll learn everything about the Dutch culture, Amsterdam’s history, legal drugs, sex work, local laws, how things work here and much more. It’s super interesting, much fun and very healthy too!
BOOK A TOUR >
Also See: 15x Fun Things To Do In Amsterdam Red Light District and 12 Free Things To See In Amsterdam
10 Do's and Don'ts For The Red Light District of Amsterdam
Posted on: January 1, 2024
Top 10 Amsterdam Red Light District Do’s & Don’ts
If you’re going to visit Holland’s capital then you should not miss the Red Light District. It’s the most interesting part in town and it represents the liberal & openminded Dutch culture.
Nowhere else in the world one can find window brothels in opposite of a church, sex workers just behind a Buddhistic temple or a store where they display all kinds of condoms in the window.
Before you go to ‘De Wallen‘ you don’t want to breach Amsterdam social etiquette. If you want to blend in like a local when exploring the capital, keep these 10 Amsterdam Red Light District Do’s and Don’ts in mind.
This is the most narrow alley in Amsterdam.
10 Do’s in Amsterdam Red Light District
1 | Download this Amsterdam app, listen to real stories of 22 experts and become a Red Light District connoisseur.
2 | Be respectful towards the sex workers.
3 | When visiting a prostitute; make clear agreements upfront and pay in advance.
4 | Do experience the Museum of Prostitution. It’s fun and interesting!
5 | Do check out world’s first specialised condom shop: The Condomerie. Founded in 1987.
Cafe Aen ‘t Water in the Red Light District of Amsterdam.
6 | Do have a drink in Cafe In ‘t Aepjen, Cafe Aen ‘t Water or Mata Hari – traditional Dutch bars where you can meet locals.
7 | Do check out Chinatown in the Red Light District.
8 | Do enter the oldest building of Amsterdam, The Old Church.
9 | Do see the Nieuwmarkt and The Waag.
10 | Do experience one of the sex shows in Amsterdam
The Old Church Square with ‘De Oude Kerk‘ left and window brothels right.
10 Don’ts in Amsterdam Red Light District
1 | Do not take pictures of sex workers! Sure you may photograph the streets or canals but do not takes pictures of the prostitutes in Amsterdam. They all want to stay anonymous because most of them have not told their family or friends about their profession. Please respect that.
2 | Don’t stare at sex workers. That’s rude! Rather smile politely.
3 | Don’t cause noise disturbance (after 11 pm). Think of the residents in the Red Light District. More than 4000 people live here.
4 | Don’t stand too long in front of the window brothels. Especially if you don’t want to go inside. It’s rude to block the business of the sex workers and they might get annoyed if you do so.
5 | Don’t throw rubbish on the streets or into the canals. It’s disrespectful, bad for the environment and you will be fined. Please check Amsterdam Red Light District Laws for further information.
The Oudezijds Achterburgwal attracts most of the visitors.
6 | Don’t combine magic truffles with alcohol or marijuana.
7 | Don’t drink alcohol on the street. A fine will cost you 95 euros.
8 | Don’t buy drugs from street dealers. They (mostly) sell fake-drugs. Moreover, it’s illegal!
9 | Don’t use the streets as a public toilet. You’ll be fined. Rather go to Sexy Loo – a toilet that look like regular red light window brothels.
10 | Don’t have unprotected sex with prostitutes. Sex workers in Amsterdam Red Light District do not even allow this. For them safety is more important than money. So do not even think of asking this.
The same goes for Amsterdam escorts. In general, they do not allow sex without contraceptives.
One of the many alleys with window brothels in Amsterdam.
Do you still have unanswered questions about the Red Light District in Amsterdam? Please discover the FAQ page.
ALSO READ:
10 Amsterdam Red Light District Hotels
13 Amsterdam Red Light District Laws
Laughing Gas in Amsterdam
Posted on: June 26, 2014
(This article was last updated on the 18th of December, 2018.)
Partygoers Are Massively Using Laughing Gas in Amsterdam
While only 3% used laughing gas in 2008 in Amsterdam, in 2013 that figure had risen to 33%. Across the board, clubbers and alternative party visitors use more laughing gas in Amsterdam than before. This is evident from the annual survey by the University of Amsterdam and Jellinek at the trends in alcohol, tobacco and drug use, which are being presented today.
More than half of the surveyed clubbers admitted to having used an XTC pill last month. Which is more than double compared to five years ago. Also, amphetamines are making a comeback, the use of GHB has doubled and laughing gas has become a real craze.
Laughing Gas Is Popular At Special Events in Amsterdam
There is a large laughing gas trade, whereby suppliers walk around in Amsterdam with cartridges and balloons; mostly during festivals and major events like King’s Day and the Canal Parade. These events attracts a lot of people. Most of them are just drinking alcohol and not using drugs. But still a large number of people do alcohol and drugs on parties in Amsterdam. At some parties, bars can be found where laughing gas is the only thing on offer. There are also delivery services where you can buy laughing gas online, with the guaranty it will be delivered the same evening.
Laughing gas is not forbidden, but it is forbidden to sell it with the aim to use it as a drug. Someone who uses laughing gas in the Netherlands cannot be prosecuted.
Source: http://www.jellinek.nl/promotion/resultaten-antenne-onderzoek-2013/
Smart Shops in Amsterdam
Fun fact: Did you know that magic truffles are allowed to be sold and used in the Netherlands? They’re are offered in so called “Smart Shops”. You’ve probably heard a lot of bad stories about magic mushrooms. Thing is though, when you know how to take them, the trip can be actually really good. A lot of people use them wrongly by combining them with cannabis or alcohol. First rule of magic mushrooms is: Don’t combine them with cannabis or alcohol! When you’d take them the way they should be taken, you’ll experience colors more intense, feel a bit light, laugh a lot, etc. The effects can be compared with cannabis, but a bit more intense.
More Useful Information About Drugs in the Netherlands
CLICK HERE to read 10 tips for using drugs in Amsterdam. Did you know that magic mushrooms are not addictive? Also, having magic mushrooms legal in the Netherlands doesn’t mean everybody takes them. 95% of the people who we know have never tried them, ever!
There are a bunch of smart shops in the Red Light District. CLICK HERE to see how they look like.
If you’d like to know more about the Dutch drug culture, regulations and fun facts then we’d recommend joining our tours. You’ll be amazed how your vision on the Dutch drug culture is different as the reality 🙂
BOOK A RED LIGHT DISTRICT TOUR
28 Coffeeshops in Amsterdam Are Too Close To A School
Posted on: May 15, 2014
28 Coffeeshops in Amsterdam Too Close To Schools
Recently, the local government of Amsterdam decided that 28 coffeeshops in Amsterdam need to close their doors, because their business is too close to a school.
The first coffeeshops that need to stop their business are The Grasshopper and coffeeshop Homegrown Fantasy. First, the government of Amsterdam decided to close one of the oldest coffeeshop in Amsterdam. We’re talking about the famous coffeeshop The Bulldog at Leidse Square. This coffeeshop was founded in 1985. The local government thought that a school was located within 250 meters and therefore The Bulldog had to close in 2016. Fortunately, they miscalculated the distance. So now, coffeeshop The Bulldog at Leidse Square is allowed to stay…
The following coffeeshops in Amsterdam will lose their tolerance statement on 1st of July 2014: Gouden Boon, Ocean, Betty Boop, De Kade, The Power, Ben, Magic and The Wauw Shop. As of January 1, 2015 these coffeeshops are forced to close their business too: Coffeeshop Abraxas, Anyday, The Energy Shop and Biba. These coffeeshops are located within 150 meters of a school.
Then there is a larger group of coffeeshops in Amsterdam which are located between 150 and 250 meters of a school. They are only allowed to sell weed up untill the 1st of January 2016. Like the other coffeeshops (mentioned above), also these have to close their doors then: De Kroon Drie, Space Mountain, High Time, Resin, Lucifera, Mediterranee, Utopia, De Graal, Mellow Yellow, Today, De Kroon Twee, De Kuil, El Guapo and Little.
All these 28 coffeeshops in Amsterdam which are located near schools already have been restricted to certain opening hours. During the weekdays these coffeeshops are only allowed to be open between 6 PM and 1 AM. This restriction does not apply in the weekend and during holidays.
ALSO READ:
10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
Interview With A Male Prostitute In Amsterdam
Posted on: January 2, 2024
An Interesting Interview With A Male Prostitute
Mark, your first job here in Amsterdam was as an erotic performer in the famous erotic theatre Casa Rosso in the Red Light District. Is that correct?
Yes, it started as an adventure during my holiday here in Amsterdam. My boss was really satisfied with my performance, so he offered me a contract for a year.
Sex theatre Casa Rosso in Amsterdam Red Light District.
So what did you do in Casa Rosso?
I did live sex shows on stage with my girlfriend.
Did you enjoy it?
I love it, I really do… It’s very exciting to perform. It gives me an adrenaline-rush, especially when the visitors are enjoying themselves too.
What is your occupation at the moment?
I mainly work as a male prostitute in Amsterdam. This is how I get most of my income. And, I still work as a performer for erotic shows, not in Casa Rosso though.
When you work as a male prostitute, how would you describe your clients?
My clients are mostly men. Older men, above the age of 50.
Men? So, you’re bi-sexual?
No, no… I’m straight. I have no problem to work with men. Perhaps it’s because I did a lot of sex shows in Casa Rosso. I’m able to just switch my mind. To be honest, I don’t think about everything that’s happening with my clients.
This is Sex Palace Peep Show in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
Mark’s girlfriend decided to end their relationship after being together for 9 years. They were making lots of money in the erotic theatre Casa Rosso, but Mark decided to leave Casa Rosso after having a big fight with his girlfriend. He was used of having a lot of money, so decided to stay in the sex business. Working as a male prostitute in Amsterdam is one of the best ways for a guy to make a lot of money in the sex industry.
Most women are not interested in a male prostitute, as they are less likely to pay for sex. Men on the other hand are willing to pay for sex. Especially gays and/or older men are willing to pay for a good time.
What kind of things do your clients ask for in the sex club?
Mark: What I’m mostly doing is erotic massages, having a chat with my clients, I play with their body, sometimes we watch porn together. Nothing really special, to be honest.
I also get customers who’d like do SM and those who want to be chained.
Do your colleagues know that you’re straight?
Yeah, they know. And some of my clients know it too. It turns them on that I’m straight, because I’m that guy that they can’t get in normal life, so to say.
Do your clients often ask you to penetrate them or if they can penetrate you?
Yes, they do. But this is more difficult for me, so most of time I tell them that this isn’t possible.
But you did do it sometimes?
Yeah, I did it a few times. But I had to take Viagra, because I can’t get a hard one from a guy.
How was it for you to have sex with men and what are you thinking about while having sex?
I imagine that he is a woman. I close my eyes and think about all the erotic things which I’ve done with girls in the past. I don’t think about the guy which I’m having sex with, only when I open my eyes. And I must say during those moments when my eyes are open, I find it pretty difficult.
Do you enjoy being penetrated by another man?
Yeah, sometimes I like it. Sometimes. It feels like a prostate massage and I really enjoy that sometimes.
Do you kiss your clients?
No, never… I never do this! I don’t like it. When kissing a women, it’s so much better, it’s softer. I just cannot do this with guys.
Why aren’t you working with girls? Like an escort…
Yeah, I try to get more clients who are female, but it’s pretty difficult to get a job as a male prostitute and only having female customers.
Not many people can do this kind of job for a long time. It’s a tough job. What’s your secret in staying in the sex business for such a long time?
I have to delete everything I do during my work as a male prostitute. So when I go to a private room with a client, I just do my work, delete it, next customer. I’m very tough from the inside. Many people have hurt me in my life, so perhaps that’s why I’ve become so tough. Especially, when I’ve lost my job. I got a big fight with my ex-girlfriend and with my boss. And on one day, I did not only lost my job, but also my apartment and my girlfriend. Since then, I’ve decided to only think about myself. I don’t think much during my work. It’s just work you know.
You don’t really care about what people think of you?
Yeah, that’s correct. And that’s why I’m doing this interview. If someone can’t accept what I’m doing, that is fine. It’s their problem, not mine.
Lots of people think that prostitution is something bad, but it isn’t. Actually, I’m helping a lot of people in the community. I have a lot of customers who feel lonely and just want to talk with someone. I make them feel comfortable and give them a good time. So yeah, I think I’m doing a good thing here. It’s not just about sex, you know.
What would you like to say to the visitors of Amsterdam Red Light District?
I would say, be respectful to all the sex workers, which includes the male prostitutes. Whether they are erotic performers, prostitutes, escorts… Do not laugh at them. Just treat them with respect.
Don’t take pictures of the prostitutes who stand behind the windows. It’s difficult enough to stand behind these windows brothels and to be stared at by people who’re walking by. Just enjoy this unique neighbourhood of Amsterdam. Don’t be rude and be respectful!
ALSO READ:
20 Amsterdam Red Light District Rules
Amsterdam’s Female Prostitutes Are Currently Outnumbered By Male Prostitutes
Posted on: April 1, 2014
Female Window Prostitutes in Amsterdam Outnumbered By Men
Shocking news today, which came from an official study done by the municipality of Amsterdam. This is the first time in the history of Amsterdam, that more male prostitutes are active in the red light district than female prostitutes. During our tours we’ve already noticed the increased number of male prostitutes, but we never thought the number of male prostitutes were growing so quickly.
Research On Male Prostitutes
Looking at the data of the research, currently 75% of the windows in the red light district are filled with male prostitutes, 5% are transgender and only 20% are female prostitutes. Previous research done in 2012 by the local government of Amsterdam showed that the red light district had just 5% male prostitutes and 93% were female. The same 2012 research indicated that human trafficking is involved in the red light district. The municipality of Amsterdam concluded that the percentage of human trafficking lies somewhere between the 8% and 90%.
Project 1012 In The Red Light District
It’s unclear what caused the complete turnaround in male and female prostitution. This will be investigated in the next research commissioned by the city of Amsterdam. It could be that the astonishing turnaround in male prostitution is caused by project 1012 (named after the zipcode of the Red Light District area). This project is focussed reducing crime in the district. To reduce the crime, the government of Amsterdam decided to buy out entrepreneurs and brothel/ window owners. This option was chosen because Amsterdam officials couldn’t proof whether the entrepreneurs were running a legal or illegal business.
Window Brothel Owners in Amsterdam
Charles Geerts, one of Amsterdam’s biggest brothel owners received 25 million Euros from the municipality of Amsterdam. In total he sold 17 properties. The properties were appraised for approximately 12 million Euros. Since the acquisition by the government, most of the brothels went empty and had closed curtains behind the windows. Now, all those windows are filled with male prostitutes. It is very likely that the females prostitutes have left the business because of the disastrous policies by the government, caused by project 1012.
Closure of Coffeeshops
Not only did Amsterdam buyout entrepreneurs in red light district. They’ve also decided withdraw the permits of coffeeshops owners, which therefor needed to close their business. It is plausible that the closing of these coffeeshops and brothels decreased the number of male visitors. An anonymous person who works as an official for the government of Amsterdam stated that the male prostitutes are being subsidised by the municipality. In addition to the salary which they earn via their customers, male prostitutes also receive 1250 Euro per month. He also stated that around 350 male prostitutes will continue to receive this subsidy for the next three years.
This article was published on April 1st 2014 – April fools day 😉
Did you enjoy this article? Others who read this article also read Naked Prostitutes in Amsterdam Build Human Tower As Protest and Activist Prostitutes in Amsterdam Offer Huge Red Light District Discount.
Want to know more about (male) prostitution in Amsterdam? Join us during an awesome Red Light District Tour and get shown around by a local.
Coffeeshops In Amsterdam For Tourists
Posted on: February 9, 2014
1.5 million tourists visit coffeeshops in Amsterdam
Every year 6 million tourists come to Holland’s capital, they come for the canals, the red light district, the master pieces of art, etc. But a quarter of those visitors also come for the coffeeshops in Amsterdam. Where coffee is served and marijuana is on the menu.
Cannabis in the Netherlands
Producing cannabis is still illegal here in the Netherlands. Yes, you read that correctly – it’s illegal! Police won’t prosecute you for smoking or selling a small amount of marijuana, because that is legal. And the idea is that this way marijuana won’t be sold alongside harder drugs like heroin and cocaine, but in the safe and regulated environment of the coffeeshop.
Michael Veiling owns the “420 coffeeshop” in Amsterdam. We met him here with Derek Burke, the spokesperson for the Dutch Cannabis Association. Michael Veiling: “I’m convinced that in another 10 years, people will look back say: How did we ever got that crazy idea to criminalise cannabis?”
Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
But there are restrictions; one can buy a maximum of five grams of cannabis and coffeeshop owners are only allowed only keep up to 500 grams of cannabis in stock. Coffeeshops in Amsterdam (and the Netherlands) may not sell alcohol or any other drugs. The sale of cannabis to anyone under the age of 18 is illegal.
In fact, marijuana use is significantly lower in the Netherlands. According to recent studies, roughly 52% in the US have tried marijuana in their lifetime. Compare that to just 25% in the Netherlands.
Border towns like Maastricht have closed coffeeshops and are now barring tourists from buying cannabis, fearing that some visitors are only coming here to buy, so they can go back home to sell marijuana.
How do coffeeshops in Amsterdam get their cannabis?
Advocates like Derek Burke say the answer is to fully regulate both the production and sale of cannabis, as in Colorado, to cut out criminal networks.
Derek Burke: “There is one hole in the policy (in the Netherlands), which is the production side. How do coffeeshop owners in Amsterdam get their cannabis? The regulators haven’t solved this issue. Now we can see in Colorado and also in Uruguay that it’s working. It’s not rocket science, you can have regulations for production of cannabis in a safe way.”
In practice, this means that coffeeshops in Amsterdam have their own connections to get their cannabis.
Most famous advocate for the legalization of cannabis
American John Sinclair has been advocating for legalization since 1964. He spent more than two years in prision for lighting two joints in the nineteen sixties. Defiant act made famous by John Lennon’s song – John Sinclair. He’s now a resident poet at the 420 coffeeshop, but even his Dutch friends are jealous Colorado’s new laws. For John Sinclair and many others, legal marijuana is inevitable. An idea whose time has finally come.
ALSO READ:
10 Tips For Using Drugs in Amsterdam
9 Laws For Amsterdam Coffeeshops
10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam According To Frequent Visitors
An Interview With Former Prostitute Metje Blaak
Posted on: December 17, 2021
The Sex Industry in the Netherlands
Learn more about the life of a prostitute by reading this interview. 13 questions for an ex sex worker in the Netherlands.
1 | Since when do more prostitutes want to work independently?
Women always wanted to work autonomously, but there is an ongoing witch hunt for prostitutes. Whether you had to be aware of pimps, or the local or tax authorities were close on your heels. Something that is bothering the girls terribly at the moment is “handhaving”. They come into the rooms of the prostitutes. When the sex workers are standing in their lingerie, they feel really vulnerable.
So yes, many women want to remain completely in control and rent their own flat or work with a couple of women together, form a kind of partnership together without any one interfering. Of course, they pay their taxes, but it is wrong that everyone can walk in. The tax authorities can walk in and say: “Can I see what’s inside your wallet?”. That’s too absurd for words.
2 | Has the control on sex workers increased since the 1980’s?
Prostitution wasn’t an official job back then, it was tolerated though. Sex workers did not have as much trouble as they have now. They didn’t pay taxes, because it was not an official job. Sometimes, as I did when I worked as a prostitute back then, I whitewashed my money by starting different little companies. Being a prostitute was a “side-job”. There was always a solution for the money that came in.
3 | Are the problems in the Dutch prostitution sector?
Stigma is what is worst. Women who want to quit prostitution, who want to do something else, find it hard to do so.
I have seen that children had to leave the daycare-center because their mother was a prostitute. I have mediated to let these children back in, but the relationship was damaged too much and the women would seek out another daycare-center. And then I haven’t even talked about the bullying on the internet, where men can offend these women deeply, because it’s all anonymous.
A man looks at a woman in window brothel in Amsterdam’s Red Light District – 3 April 1984.
4 | Has the stigma of prostitution reduced since the 80’s?
No, I think it is becoming worse. In the past, being a prostitute wasn’t very accepted either, but now with the internet anyone can say anything. Now, you get to know what people really think and do. Someone in his attic can just bully as much as he or she likes.
5 | Although the stigma on prostitutes is getting bigger, is the customer getting better accepted?
Yes, customers are more open about prostitution than before.
I know that men amongst each other can talk about it, but only if there is a certain form of trust. Being a prostitute visitor is still taboo.
6 | Which rights are missing since the legalization of prostitution?
The government want to introduce registration, to list women as being a prostitute. I think that women should have the right to refuse registration, because of the social stigma. A couple of months ago, there was a disturbance here in Amsterdam about the mayor Van der Laan, who stated that every prostitute should register herself to the Chamber of Commerce as a prostitute. Otherwise, the prostitutes weren’t allow to work anymore. I was told that this was something that the Chamber of Commerce wanted. So I decided to call the Chamber of Commerce. They told me that they did not know anything about that.
Amsterdam’s Mayor Van der Laan wanted to have this, because he wanted it to be mapped. Some prostitutes already registered, because they were afraid to lose their jobs. Unfortunately, have the prostitutes been chased by their customers. Everyone could just type “prostitute” in the register of the Chamber of Commerce and all names and addresses would appear.
I think that sex workers should have the right to say: “No, I don’t want that”… A regular customer does not say where he has been all the time. That part of prostitution should remain a bit mystical. For men as well as for women.
7 | What are the consequences of registration of prostitutes?
When the government is coming through with this obligation to register, all “free” sex workers will go underground. And the forced women will be registered.
I know many students who work in prostitution, but they do not want to be registered. What if they want to become a lawyer? They don’t know where they will be registered. And on the internet you can find pretty much everything. So that registration will haunt them down for the rest of their life. It just simply doest not work.
8 | Did the working conditions for the prostitutes get worse?
Yes, it went downhill. In the beginning we all thought: “Hurray, prostitution is an official occupation and that should mean that we have rights. But we didn’t get more rights, we only received duties. Politicians might have had good intentions, but after a while other interests started to emerge.
9 | What obligations do sex workers have?
Prostitutes who work autonomously, those who have been working in this business for years and know how much money they’ll be having (because of their regular customers) find it hard to get mortgage. The women are being refused by banks.
There are similar problems in healthcare. When a prostitute would like to insure herself, the insurance premium for that is incredibly high. The insurance companies think that these prostitutes have all the deceases of the world.
10 | Do you think that Dutch policymakers need to adapt other prostitution policies?
The government should actually be educated on prostitution.
They should follow a course on how prostitution is working exactly. Furthermore, they should be more in contact with ex-prostitutes, brothel owners and perhaps pimps as well.
11 | What is the role of drugs in the sex industry?
There are three groups of sex workers. The first one consists out of prostitutes who have mental problems and are addicted, the second group are girls who are forced into this business and the third group consists of prostitutes who have chosen to work as an independent prostitute. A prostitute who works for herself sees it as an ordinary job, supports her family and build a life with.
12 | How big is the group of women that work only because of their addiction to drugs?
I don’t know how.
13 | Can you also find addicted prostitutes behind the windows in Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
I do not think that there are addicted prostitutes behind the windows, because most window owners would not allow that.
ALSO READ:
Amsterdam Escorts: Everything You Need To Know
Amsterdam Red Light District Questions & Answers
Criminalising Prostitution Is Not A Solution
Posted on: June 1, 2013
Why Criminalising Prostitution Does Not Work
Young girls who are brought to the Netherlands under false conditions, women who are being exploited for years by pimps, minors who are forced by pimps in prostitution… These abuses in the sex industry should be combated. Though, the question is how. Not by criminalising prostitution, but by improving the implementation of current policies.
Preventing Exploitation
In the discussion on possible measures to prevent exploitation, people don’t make enough distiction between prostitution and trafficking. The proposed measures, such as the criminalisation of clients according to the Swedish model or compulsory registration of prostitutes, are detrimental to the welfare of forced and voluntary prostitutes.
‘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.’ Mariska Majoor – sex work expert – about the Swedish prostitution model.
Dutch Prostitution Laws
The current Dutch sex work legislation already provides sufficient tools to exploitation. The prostitution law on trafficking is clearly defined. It’s the embodiment which needs more investigation! An integrated approach between the police, justice-department, healthcare and social care is the solution.
Criminalising Prostitution Consequences
The mandatory registration and the criminalisation of prostitution increases crime. The demand for paid sex will always exist. Prostitutes will not be registered for fear of losing their anonymity, with the result that they are working illegally.
If prostitutes are no longer able to work in a legal context, they are vulnerable to exploitation and violence from clients and pimps. In countries where prostitution is prohibited, sexual violence takes more space. Furthermore the prevalence of STDs and HIV is higher.
ALSO READ:
Sex Work Expert Shares Truth About Prostitution
Prostitution expert: “Most Prostitutes Work Without Coercion”
Posted on: January 12, 2021
Dutch Prostitution Expert: Forget Sweden!
‘Most prostitutes work voluntarily’
According to prostitution expert Hendrik Wagenaar does the overemphasis on human trafficking obstructs a good approach to solve the problems in prostitution.
The professor did research on prostitution in different countries and concluded that the policy does not work if the subject is constantly being magnified.
(Last updated: 17 April 2021)
“Terms like human trafficking push the women into a victim role, which does not do justice to all the moments when the women make their own decisions.” According to him, the vast majority of prostitutes do their work without coercion. If there is initially a question of coercion, they often manage to escape it.
Hendrik Wagenaar
Wagenaar has been researching prostitution policy for more than a decade. He recently completed studies in the Netherlands, Austria (two countries where prostitution is legal), Sweden (where prostitution is prohibited and clients are punished) and New Zealand (where prostitution is legal and sex workers have a major influence on policy and implementation.
Hendrik Wagenaar has a BA and MA in Psychology, and PhD in Urban Studies. He published dozens of articles, research reports and two books about prostitution. Wagenaar’s full resume can be found on his website.
‘The observation that prostitution policy is morality politics has various effects on the design and implementation of prostitution policy. Part of the emphasis on crime and trafficking stems from this, but in general, the moral nature of prostitution policy makes it difficult to design and sustain a policy that, as is the goal of the Dutch 2000 law, takes the rights of sex workers and the quality of life in cities as its major objectives.’ Source: Final Report of the International Comparative study of Prostitution Policy.
Prostitution Books
Hendrik Wagenaar published the following book (among others) together with Helga Amesberger and Sietse Altink. Designing Prostitution Policy: Intention and Reality In Regulating The Sex Trade.
“A splendid, evidence-based analysis of policies related to sexual commerce and labor migration in Europe. Scholars and policy makers will find the book’s findings of tremendous value as they weigh alternative proposals for regulating commercial sex.”— Ronald Weitzer, George Washington University
Prostitution expert Wagenaar also published this book: Assessing European Prostitution Policies.
Sex Work Without Coercion
Wagenaar emphasizes that most prostitutes work without coercion exercised. If there is coercion, these prostitutes often know to emerge.
Prostitution expert mr. Wagenaar also notes that sex work is one of the many entry-level occupations of migrant workers. In addition to cleaning, working in construction, horticulture, catering, etc.
Swedish Prostitution Model
Sweden, where prostitution is prohibited, is definitely not a good example, according to expert Hendrik Wagenaar. “In Sweden, prostitution and trafficking did certainly not disappear!”
This piece was translated from this Dutch source.
ALSO READ:
Amsterdam Is World’s 2nd Best City To Visit
Posted on: October 21, 2012
Lonely Planet loves Amsterdam
“Lots of birthday cake,” writes the leading travel guide Lonely Planet in its recommendation for next year to visit Amsterdam. Number two on the list of favourite destinations in 2013, behind San Francisco (USA). Here’s why Amsterdam is world’s second best city to visit.
World’s Second Best City To Visit
The four hundred year old canals, the fortieth anniversary of the Van Gogh Museum, the “Concertgebouw Orchestra” which will celebrate its 125th anniversary, Artis that blows out 175 of candles and the Rijksmuseum that well re-open its doors. ‘The party ramps up big-time, “summarizes the editors of Lonely Planet Amsterdam Jubilee year.
Weedpass
In a brief explanation of the election, the main attractions are being described: the Red Light District, the Anne Frank House, the canals. But Lonely Planet also retraces the introduction of the weedpass for coffeeshops. ‘Amsterdammers were against. They said the new rules will only make thing more worse. The illegal dealing will increase by introducing this pass.
Update: Eventually, the weedpass was never introduced in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Food Tips
Lonely Planet would advice all tourists the following: Try the salted meat, or buy a “broodje halfom“. “For the winter months, a bowl of pea soup is recommended or croquettes from Van Dobben: “They rule the town. And they are a must after a night of party in the city”.
Amsterdam Marketing agency responded this morning and welcomed the election:”It’s great to see that our efforts to bring our jubilee to international attention, resulted to this.
ALSO READ:
20 Amsterdam Red Light District Rules You Should Never Break
