So many visitors are curious about the Red Light District in Amsterdam. A former resident of Amsterdam, I have quite a bit to say about the Red Light District known as de Wallen , which is one of the most debated neighborhoods in Amsterdam.
De Wallen is one of the oldest parts of Amsterdam. The Damrak area is said to had prostitutes selling their services since the 13th century. At this time, the canals were walled off to prevent the Amstel river from flooding the city, so the neighborhood was named for the walls De Wallen. In medieval times, married men and priests were not allowed to enter the area, but the trade was never fully illegal.
Only after the Protestant Revolution did fornication become illegal in Amsterdam. Prostitution still persisted, but it went underground. During this time, the Netherlands had created an empire with countless ships, which only fed the Red Light District. Only in the 18th century did large-scale brothels become more common in Amsterdam. Finally, under the rule of Napoleon did prostitution become legal with the condition that prostitutes were checked regularly for health.
A red card would be given after a clean exam. Although attempts at banning prostitution all together have been attempted over the years, it has survived the test of time.
That said, there are more regulations today than in the past regarding regular health checks as well as increasing the legal age for sex work to De Wallen has survived although with the decriminalization of marijuana in the s and the incredibly successful iAmsterdam campaign, the Red Light District only gained more infamy as it became a hub for rowdy partiyng tourists.
