It's not for everyone. The Red Light District in Amsterdam is awash with blazes of neon and almost endless vice. Most importantly, remember that there's more to the Red Light District than its salaciousness β and much more to this multifaceted city than the Red Light District. But sex work wasn't legal until , and brothels weren't legalised until Changes continue: since , city officials have taken measures to clean up the district by reducing the number of red-light windows in an effort to eliminate pimps, human traffickers and money launderers all of which are illegal.
Project , named for the area's postal code, encourages fashion studios, art galleries, cafes and other creative enterprises to set up here. It's a measure designed to combat overtourism, but sex workers have come out against the plan.
Ground-zero for red-light windows is, ironically enough, Amsterdam's oldest building, the 14th-century Oude Kerk Old Church. Near its entrance, look down to see the 'golden torso' pavement plaque of a hand groping a breast. On the Oudekerksplein is Belle, a bronze statue of a sex worker with the inscription 'Respect sex workers all over the world'.
Just nearby, the Prostitution Information Centre is a fount of information for both sex workers and visitors, and runs informative 90 minute Red Light District walking tours twice a week. Need to know: Don't photograph or film sex workers in the windows β out of respect, and to avoid having your camera flung in a canal by their enforcers.
On the De Pijp neighbourhood's western border along Ruysdaelkade, there's a second, smaller district with a strip of red-light windows minus the stag parties and drunken crowds. The statement 'Respect sex workers all over the world' is inscribed on the bronze statue of Belle. You can check out bondage exhibits and other eyebrow-raising displays at the Red Light District's Erotic Museum or, for more raunchy exhibits, head northwest to the Sexmuseum Amsterdam , between Centraal Station and Dam square.
