The Red Light District (Rosse Buurt)

From brothels to sex shops and museums, the Red Light District leaves nothing to the imagination. You’ll probably have heard about this part of the city before, and we have to admit that most of what you’ve heard is probably true. You’ll have to visit the area yourself to quench your curiosity. The Red Light District, or “Rosse Buurt” as it is popularly known, is an area that will no doubt stimulate your imagination like no other place can.

The Red Light District is clearly the place everyone is talking about: women of all ethnicities parade around sensually and seductively from behind their red-tinted windows and many of them are willing to show you much more, in privacy, than you would see at most naughty peep-shows. Other, all too familiar sights include groups of younger or older men, lovers holding hands, giggling women on a bachelor party and, of course, busloads of Japanese tourists trying to capture absolutely everything on camera (except for the seductive women behind the windows! That is an absolute no-go!). Surely this is proof enough that you shouldn’t miss out on a visit to the Red Light District.

Few people realize that the Rosse Buurt (the word ‘rosse’ means ‘pink’ or ‘red’) is in fact home to one of the oldest and most beautiful parts of Amsterdam. There are long, winding cobble-stone alleys with characteristic 14th century architecture like the Gothic Oudekerk or the Oude Kerk. The Red Light District is so charming that few people are able to resist the majestic allure of the old, inclining buildings and the tree-lined canals. In the high season, especially, the city is filled with music inviting you to keep wandering around just a little bit longer. While exploring the streets you might come across numerous classic or modern restaurants that contribute to the city’s wonderful atmosphere. Recently renovated streets and facades and the arrival of trendy stores have slowly but surely turned this area into a magical part of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam exudes pride with its free and tolerant attitude. It acknowledges the fact that people need sex, drugs and rock&roll and knows that this is human. Rather than banning these things, this modern city wears its heart on its sleeve, and everything you find in this city is one hundred percent real. Enjoy its honesty as you won’t find it anywhere else. Which brings us to directions: they depend on the Red Light District you’d like to visit; Amsterdam has not one but three of them. The most famous of the three is ‘De Walletjes’ (between the Central Station and the Nieuwenmarkt). The other two are ‘Singel’ (between the Raadhuisstraat and the Central Station) and the Pijp (behind the Rijksmuseum).

Prostitution in Amsterdam

In Holland, prostitution is legal. In Amsterdam most prostitution takes place in the Red Light District which has prided itself on its tolerance for years. Since October 2000, prostitutes are allowed to practice their trade from behind their windows legally. Nowadays prostitutes in Holland also pay taxes, but unfortunately they are still frequently discriminated against, making it difficult to get loans from banks. However, since the profession is legal, the Dutch government is trying to ensure that all prostitutes have access to health care and are able to work in safe environments. The ladies are supported by the Prostitution Information Center. Finally, you might feel better knowing that the Red Light District is one of Amsterdam’s safest areas because police and personal security are ever present.

Condom shop Het Gulden Vlies

This shop is the holy grail of condoms. They come in all colors, shapes, flavors and sizes. Some of the rubbers have even been hand-painted and are meant for decoration only. You’ll also find a surprising amount of information and books about our rubber friend. There’s even a small condom museum!

Did you know that...

Window prostitution is quintessentially Dutch. Until recently there was also a solicitation area customers could drive through. Utrecht (30 minutes east of Amsterdam) has its own Red Light District located on its canals; Rotterdam has a number of sex shops and private residences and smaller cities like Groningen and Alkmaar have also established their own Red Light Districts. So where do you go? If curiosity gets the better of you, visit the Red Light Districts at night as this is when they really come to life. During the day they are not nearly as exciting. Although the ladies will tap their windows all day long, exciting activities usually don’t take place before 11 p.m. Around that time there is usually a comfortable amount of people present in the area and everything is lit up by the familiar red neon light that reflects beautifully in the water of the canals. This atmosphere will slowly dissipate around 2 or 3 a.m. when people slowly disappear and shops close their doors.

Whether you want to do some window-shopping or actually buy something, there is no doubt that you’ll find a place, a window or even two that will meet your demands. For whose looking for a little extra excitement, there are plenty of live sex shows to admire. Some of the most infamous are found at the theaters of Casa Rosa (OZ Achterburgwal) and the notorious Moulin Rouge (Oudezijds Voorburgwal 5-7). Visitors who merely want to satisfy their curiosity may want to try one of the many peep shows where customers are seated in a video booth. For the adventurers out there, there are many interactive shows, like the Bananabar (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 37). What goes on inside is for you to find out, should you be interested.

If you’d like to do some shopping there is a wide range of videos, magazines, sex aids and toys available. Many gay bars and theaters are found in this area, especially in the Warmoesstraat. If the Red Light District is not your cup of tea, there are numerous brothels and private residences offering a more traditional form of prostitution.

You won’t have to go far to find culture, because the picturesque Zeedijk in the Jewish neighborhood Waterlooplein and Nieuwmarktplein are located at a short distance. The Red Light District is also home to a number of eccentric shops and cafes that you shouldn’t miss. And what about restaurants? Try the stylish Mediterranean kitchen of the Blauw aan de Wal (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 99), the French lunchroom Café Roux (Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197) or visit Chinatown.

Tips

To make sure you can fully appreciate the Red Light District and to keep your visit from turning into a negative experience, we recommend the following:

Do not take pictures of occupied red windows. This is strictly prohibited and every attempt to do it anyway will be thwarted (please be very careful).

Keep in mind that there are pick-pockets active in the District. It is a crowded area!

Try to visit the District in a group or, at the very least, with one other person, to keep from attracting any unwanted attention.

Do not buy anything from dealers – drugs, bikes or anything else. You might be breaking the law. Also try not to visit the Red Light District first, since this might give you a wrong impression of Amsterdam and Dutch people in general. Save it for later and enjoy it, because a walk through the Red Light District is sure to create some lasting memories.

Hotels in the Red Light District of Amsterdam

Although the Red Light District looks like a rough neighborhood, it’s really not very dangerous at all. In fact, it is very safe, probably because there is a lot of police present. It’s the heart of Amsterdam’s nightlife. Visitors often prefer hotels in the Red Light District. This allows them to walk out the door and straight into the excitement and adventure of the nightlife in Amsterdam. If you’d prefer a calmer area, there are many hotels located at a walking distance.

Amsterdam Red Light District Tours

Without a doubt, the Red Light District is Amsterdam’s most popular tourist attraction. There are a number of tourist agencies and independent guides who offer tours. They can give you interesting information and tell you fascinating stories about the oldest profession in the world.