In sum, Amsterdam Exposed takes readers deep into the district on a journey never before possible, forever reshaping their understanding of one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world, and the women who work there. Excerpt from the Book:. Just like many New Yorkers have never visited the Statue of Liberty, and many Angelinos have never checked out Griffith Observatory, many Dutch have never toured the red light district.
As Oliver followed me down Warmoesstraat, he was on edge. I was too. We made a left on Wijde Kerksteeg and found ourselves standing in front of the Oude Kerk.
It was there that my journey into the district would officially begin. The district is sprawling, covering roughly a square mile. Once inside, the rest of the world melts away. One enters a new reality. One need not venture far to find it.
The old church looms large over the district like a guardian or spiritual anchor. That night it had an imposing presence, but a comforting one as well. Prostitution has existed in Amsterdam since the sixteenth century. It was legalized in The change was based on understanding criminalization does more harm than good. As women in windows were considered self-employed, their activities fell within the law.
All forms of exploitation, such as brothels, remained illegal for another years. Once that changed, the same health and safety protections afforded women in the windows were extended to those in the brothels as well.
