Red light district

Amsterdam is an amazing city where you can find and try everything your heart desires, and the most interesting thing is that even the hottest entertainment is completely legal! The Red Light District is an area that attracts millions of tourists to the capital of Holland every year. It looks somewhat boring and mundane in daylight, in order to sparkle with vicious lights under cover of night.

History

Historically, the fact is recorded that they began to fight the sale of love for money on the territory of Holland at the end of the 16th century.

The success of this event was dubious, already in the 19th century, brothels flourished on a completely legal basis. At the beginning of the 20th century, the organization of brothels for dating was again recognized as illegal. And in 1985, priestesses of love from various European countries held their first international congress in Amsterdam.

Under the indignant protests of various organizations defending the rights and dignity of the female population of the planet, in 1988 in the Netherlands, prostitution officially received the status of a profession! However, it was not until 2000 that this business acquired a state mandate.

This issue was taken seriously: a medical certificate and other permits are required from sex workers.

Description

De Wallen (Dutch. De Wallen) is the heart of the Red Light District in Amsterdam. In fact, this is not even a street or a quarter, but a whole city filled with red and purple non-new signs, glass showcases with female silhouettes, entertainment establishments, monuments and museums.

The total area of the quarter - 6500 m²... More than 900 female and bed workers are employed on its territory. Most of them sell their bodies directly, the rest work as security guards or as attendants.

On the north side, De Valen is bounded by Lange Niezel, in the east by a sea dam and the Nieuwmarkt in the east, in the south by Sint Jansstraat, in the west by Warmoesstraat. A total of about 20 streets are part of the Red Light District.

An interesting fact is that the oldest church in the capital, the 800-year-old "Old Church" (Dutch Oude Kerk), is located at one of the boundaries of the quarter.

the Forbidden fruit

In the late 2000s, the city government admitted that the decision to legalize "bed labor" was wrong. Since then, the area of the red-light district has been reduced by 30%, and the minimum age for priestesses of love has increased from 18 to 21. Therefore, while Holland has not managed to lose one of its forbidden apples, it is worth plunging into the alluring atmosphere of the kingdom of vice.

The main distinguishing feature of Holland is the so-called "window prostitution". Along the streets, lit with red lanterns, glass windows are lined up, in which half-naked bodies flicker 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

The entourage of these windows is the beauties dressed in bold bikinis and heels. If a young lady is vacant, then her window is open for review. At the same time, a girl can do quite ordinary things - to be invigorated with the help of coffee and cigarettes, or she can make eyes at passers-by.

The special relish of the "window gallery" is the variety of choices. You can see a girl of any age behind the glass (within the limits of the law, of course), skin color and physique. If the lady liked the gentleman, then he can open the glass door and agree on the cost of entertainment. If the transaction is successful, then the client is allowed inside, and the curtain on the window is pulled back.

Working hours

Some beauties go to work sutra, however, two thirds of the windows will be closed during daylight hours. Yes, and De Wallen himself looks less colorful in the daylight - just alleys of houses with shop windows, nestling against one of the city's canals.

By 11 o'clock in the evening, the quarter, like a Cinderella, from a simpleton turns into a shining beauty.

The dark water of the canals looks like a bottomless abyss, on the surface of which multi-colored neon lights are reflected. Ladies, dress up in outfits of a more revealing cut and predatory colors.

How much is a prostitute

A visit to the glass booth can cost a different amount, and it depends on the girl of which class the client has looked after.

Also, the price is determined by the time of day, the cost of rent and the choice of services. If you really average, then a half-hour visit to the "window" will cost 50 euros for half an hour. Although, statistics show that most of the guests do not stay longer than 15-20 minutes.

Brawling, downloading rights and taking pictures on the streets of De Wallen is a troublesome business, the guards react to the slightest call of the moths and sternly call the rebels to account.

By the way, the city of red light districts is ready to offer strawberries not only to heterosexuals. One of the glass alleys is a place of fishing for transvestites, but corrupt men work on a call rather than exhibiting behind glass. Female prostitution is somewhat cheaper due to the large supply.

 A tour of the Red Light District

If you want to know interesting facts about Amsterdam's famously liberal attitude toward drugs and prostitution, I recommend visiting a tour of the Red Light District. During a 2-hour fascinating walk with a local expert, you'll visit a coffee shop, stroll down the narrowest street in town, and have a lot of new experiences.

The tour is conducted in English, German, or Spanish.

Attractions

The city of the red light district is as much a landmark in Amsterdam as many historical sites. Most tourists come here to gaze at the spicy sight, and not everyone is ready to buy love for money.

Museum of Prostitution

The Museum of Prostitution in the Red Light District gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of the world's oldest profession and the atmosphere of their workplace. During your visit you will see and learn how respected and protected prostitutes are and how much they earn.

You'll be surprised at the level of comfort and glamour in their rooms, and you'll also learn how Amsterdam takes care of the safety of these ladies and ensures the legality of their work. I recommend it!

Casa Rosso Theater

Casa Rosso Theater ("Red House") specializing in erotic shows, striptease and other visually exciting things.

• Address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal, 106-108.
• Working hours: Sun-Thu from 19:00 to 02:00; Fri-Sat - from 19:00 to 03:00.
• Ticket price: 40 euros without alcohol; 50 euros - with bar services. Separate entry to the bar with entertainment program - 25 euros.
• Buying tickets online is cheaper.
• Official site: www.casarosso.nl.

Erotic Museum

Near the theater is Erotic Museum Amsterdam... In its depths, a sweet Danish woman will accompany visitors to galleries dedicated to the delights of BDSM culture, a hall filled with erotic exhibits and outright passionate and sexual curiosities.

• Address: Oudezijdsachterburgwal, 54.
• Working hours: daily from 23:00 to 01:00.
• Ticket price: 7 euros.
• Official site: www.erotisch-museum.nl.

Moulin Rouge Theater Amsterdam

Moulin Rouge Sex Theater Amsterdam - one of the iconic places of the entertainment district. The building, overlooking the canal, has been serving guests of Amsterdam for many years. In addition to the classic half-dance and striptease, visitors are offered a varied program: candlelight shows, tricks with bananas and vibrators, performances with ribbons and many other entertainments under the banner "XXX".

• Address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal, 5-7.
• Working hours: Mon-Wed: from 20:00 to 02:00, Thu-Sun: from 14:00 to 02:00.
• Official site: www.moulinrougeamsterdam.nl.

Video booths

For those who prefer privacy, peep shows and booths for watching porn are distributed along the streets of the red light districts. The cost of the visit is about 2 euros.

Bars and coffee shops

Numerous bars in which girls do not just perform a striptease, but turn it into a colorful show, involving visitors in the process. One of the examples of such establishments is Bananen Bar & Club.

• Address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal, 37.
• Working hours: Sun-Thu from 20:00 to 02:00; Fri-Sat from 20:00 to 03:00.
• Ticket prices: bar - 60 euros; club + 1 portion of alcohol - 25 euros.
• Official site: www.bananenbar.nl.

Coffee shops are scattered in abundance throughout the city of the red light district. You can find establishments from the most modest cafes to lawmakers, the caliber of The Bulldog.

Sex shops

Condomerie Store

She is also a landmark of De Wallen - condom shop Condomerie... And this is not just a dull pharmacy with a dozen varieties of rubber products, this is a whole kingdom of condoms! Having opened in 1987, this institution has expanded the range of products and services offered.

As of today, an intricately and humorously designed multi-level store offers: condoms of all textures, colors and sizes, lubricants for every taste, sexual hygiene products, various gifts and souvenirs decorated in the store's theme, all sorts of amusing contraceptives. Also, on the territory of the Condomerie, men will be taught how to correctly assess their size and choose a rubber "gadget" for themselves. The history of the origin of condoms and fun facts about them are also reflected in the walls of the miracle store.

• Address: Warmoesstraat, 141.
• Working hours: Mon-Sat from 11:00 to 21:00; Sun - from 13:00 to 06:00.
• Site: www.condomerie.com.

Monuments

On the street Oudekerksplein opposite the Old Church there is bronze monumentwith a playful name Belle... It is dedicated to all female sex workers. Another piece of modern culture - female breast monument, playfully wedged among the tiles of paving stones near the bronze beauty.

How to get

• By tram: No. 4,9,16 (stops Tram Westzijde, Centraal Station, Dam, Spui (Rokin), Muntplein)
• By bus: No. 18,21,22,48,170,172,174,248,272,755,757 (Centraal Station, Dam, Spui (Rokin))
• Metro: trains # 51,53,54 (station Nieuwmarkt)