De Wallen

Of course, while visiting Amsterdam for the 1st time (10/04/2023-10/07/2023) a visit to the Red Light District (RLD) was on our itinerary as a must-do/see. For those who don't know, both prostitution and marijuana are legal in Amsterdam and the Red Light District is most known for being the area that the sex workers are at BUT surprisingly the RLD had so much more to see than the ladies in each of their windows. Since I'm such a kind human ;), here are a few helpful tidbits about the Red Light District - -- Great location to visit during the day and at night time. During the day there are a few erotic shops and museums (Red Light Secrets Museum) to visit in the area and great to just walk around the area, which is so beautiful w/ the canals and the architecture of all the buildings. The area is very clean (see pics included in this review) and felt very safe both during the day and at night. You will see the very beautiful ladies in their windows while walking through the RLD but please be courteous and respectful and NOT take any pics or gawk at them. At night the area lights up in red lights everywhere, giving the "red light" effect (see pic included in this review) and it is really cool to see. -- Public Restrooms : There are public restrooms (called toilets by those in Amsterdam) but most charge a fee to use them ($1-$3) and you can pay using ApplePay. There is a public toilet called the "Sexy Loo" located in RLD that was very interesting to use w/ sexy videos on the doors in the ladies toilets (see videos included in this review) & I actually didn't mind paying the $3 fee to use these toilets because they are very clean & I just loved getting to look at the "eye candy" while using the loo ;)). To sum it up, I definitely recommend a visit to the Red Light District to explore and sightsee & yes, you might see a few xxx-rated things but just remember.."what happens in Amsterdam, stays in Amsterdam"! ;) Thank you Amsterdam for showing us a dam good time! Till next time, Rebecca

Just a delightful and fascinating area to visit. Besides the famous red light district, there were many other attractions as the "coffee shops" which aren't exactly serving coffee as I peaked in lol. Amazing bars that serve Heineken from tap! And ferries you can take to explore its history and vast canals. Area is very safe and clean. Lots of couple of all ages and backgrounds visiting this place.

Reviewing the Red Light District felt odd at first, but this area is such a large part of Amsterdam. I feel like the red light district and Amsterdam are synonymous. You have not seen all of Amsterdam unless you see the bad with the good. Many women solicit prostitution in brightly red windows. It is hard not to walk through here because it is an intersection to many other destinations. During the day there may be some women in the windows but at night the red light goes as far as the eye can see. It is hard to ignore especially because the women bang on the glass to get your attention. Even if you try to avoid the bulk of it, there are some random windows placed away from the main street that you might run into. The area also has live sex shows and sex stores, so in all fullness, I would not recommend this area at night with kids or people sensitive to this environment. There is a red light museum in this area that I hear is very informative of the life and history of the district. I gave it four stars because I am not sure how to rate it since I am just a passerby but it is very much part of Amsterdam. I was permitted to take a photo of this empty room. Important: Do not take pictures of windows with women or there will be a lot of aggression. This is due to women's anonymity and the dangerous pasts they may be fleeing.

How exactly do you give a rating for the Red Light District? As soon as we made our way towards De Wallen, you could tell there was a difference. The streets started to become dirtier and more filled with trash. As we got even closer to the Red Light District, there were droves of people. It was packed! They have security guiding people to enter the area from one direction to control traffic. The reality is that there's a curiosity in what exactly this place will look like. The concept of legal prostitution is such a foreign one. I read that many of the women actually don't love how touristy seeing them has become because it takes away from legitimate business. There are all sorts of rules and regulations in place to keep the women safe. There were people trying to pedal street drugs, which is ironic with so much legalization of substances in Amsterdam. They warn tourists not to engage in buying anything from the streets as it can of course be very dangerous to consume. It was definitely a culture shock to walk through this area of Amsterdam after exploring the cute and quaint areas of the city, but there's a history that exists behind the red lit windows!

We had to walk around the red light district. I saw red lights on & attractive young women in the windows. There were porn shops, strip clubs, coffee shops & signs to keep the noise down as people live here. There was a prostitution museum & an erotic museum.

Yelp Review 2023 #251: No trip to Amsterdam would be complete without visiting the Red Light District. It's an interesting place without being in your face. This is where you'll find bars, sex shops, dispensaries, Hemp Museum, and peep shows. There's a noticeable difference between pre-COVID and post-lockdown. It's more quiet now. And the curtains seem to be more drawn. Pre-COVID, you'll see semi-naked girls dancing from the windows. Drawing the curtains when somebody's holding a camera/ phone. Photography/ taking videos of the girls is not allowed. Pre-COVID, you'll get contact high from a lot of people smoking weed freely. Now, you can't smoke weed in public except at coffee shops. You'll get fined for smoking in public. A few steps away is a church. Red Light District with Dutch charm thanks to the brick houses/ shops, canals and bike paths. There are little bakeries and souvenir shops sprinkled around this area. It's not a big place. If you're just strolling around, you could finish your stroll in under an hour. If you're interested in visiting the shops and take your time, you'll be here for half a day...or the whole evening. I felt safe walking around here. Of course, it's calmer during the day. It gets busy and crowded late at night to the wee hours of the morning. Businesses close as crowds die down around 2am.

I had a couple of hours to do a walk about in the city center of Amsterdam. A local mapped out a walking route that included the Palace, Rembrandt square, Leidse square, the canals and a walk through De Wallen back to Amsterdam Central Station. Maybe I am a prude but this was the least fun part of the tour. It was early evening when I went there and it was packed with tourists including families with young kids. I can see the fascination to this spot for young adults but for everyone else, it's not worth it. There's so much more to see in Amsterdam.

Very rich history. Far more informative than I thought. It is a place with families and elderly people. Then there are college students. Very diverse with lots of people and nationalities. Off course you get to see brothels, sex shops, and pot shops.

I know this is a crazy thing to review, but let's face it.... everyone should come and check it out! It's kind of mind-blowing. Pictures aren't allowed, and I respect that! It's blocks of ladies in windows selling.... themselves! It's not typical for the USA, so it's a must-see. Be respectful! This is their career and NOT a joke! Smile. Respect. And then go away.

Walking through Amsterdams Red Light District is high on every must-do list when in this city. Of course so did we. We went in daytime, knowing there is less "action" than in nighttime. But it was during Covid-19, so it was a lot less busy anyways and we didn't really need to see all the party folks at night. There are lots of these windows, where the sex-workers are presenting themselves. During Corona a lot windows were empty. Lots with stickers: "For Rent". Since it wasn't our goal to stare at these ladies (and some gentlemen) that was fine for us. But it just gives you a glimpse, how many of them there were (or will be again). It's interesting to see, but once would be really enough. Next time in Amsterdam there's no reason to check out these windows. At least be respectful and don't make any pics of them. There are signs clearly stating that, but that won't stop many tourists. Besides that this District is nice for a walk. The two bigger canals (Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal) are worth a look and make for some nice pics and a good stroll. It's the Amsterdam you know from all the pics and promotions. Of course it's a hugely touristy area, but it was nice to see and there are some interesting buildings in the area to check out. Some cafés, restaurants and lots of shops around. Like I said, surely a must-do. But Amsterdam offers a lot more. Check this district out, but probably only on your first visit. So you can focus on other sights the next times.

I live in Las Vegas, and I am far from a prude. I'm a-ok with sex workers (as long as they aren't being abused and are consenting adults who are working in the profession because they want to, NOT because they are forced to). That being said, I have never been quite as disappointed in such an over-hyped "attraction" than I was with Amsterdam's Red Light District. It wasn't at all like I expected, and I am not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Hubby and I went down around 11:30 pm, hoping that was a good time to catch the most hubbub (not too early, not too late). It was. The District was hopping and the eerie glow of red light bulbs emanated from glass-walled rooms. As we walked closer, two things became clear: 1. the streets were clogged with gawking tourists and 2. staring at the women in the windows wasn't as interesting as you'd think. The women all looked the same, and it was weird because almost all of them had on Buddy Holly style glasses. I guess they think it makes them look smart? Who knows. All were clad in lingerie in various states of undress, while college bros and Japanese tourists giggled and laughed and pointed with mouths agape. Yes, I was staring too: but I also tried to treat the women with as much respect as I could afford, considering I was a voyeur outside of the fishbowl. Hubby got super uncomfortable as the women would openly flirt with all the guys outside her window, with one even making contact with him while rubbing her privates. They tend to taunt the shy guys the most, which is amusing in itself. He kept looking sheepishly at the ground until I practically held his eyes open and his head up and screamed "we came all this way so you need to look at this or you will regret it!!!" Remember guys: these women are willingly putting themselves on display, so you don't have to feel like a gross pervert for taking a gander at what they're selling. Doesn't mean you have to partake, but at least get your eyes full. I know I did. I'm the naturally curious type, so I really enjoyed this aspect of the Red Light District. Even more curious was seeing the customers coming out of the rooms. It was just...weird. The craziest thing I saw was when a young dude came sprinting out in nothing but his boxers (no shoes), frantically running with his ATM card to the nearest cash machine! I'll likely be chuckling about that for years to come. What I really didn't like about this part of Amsterdam is the general vibe of the area. It felt like a skeevy adult Disneyland that exudes a greasy, dirty, and gritty Ron Jeremy aura, except with tons of pot shops and trash everywhere. Pickpocketing is rampant here and is a huge problem, so hold onto your valuables. Better yet, leave them back in the hotel safe. The entire area stunk of stale urine, and the shop keepers in many of the stores were super creepy and just stood outside on their stoops and stared inappropriately (especially at women). I'm a pretty strong feminist, but I was very happy I had a guy with me and I would have felt even more unsafe alone or with a group of my female friends. Do take the time to window shop or even go inside to browse at the sex toy shops. The condom varieties alone are more than I have seen in my entire lifetime. Some of the shops sold some merchandise that made our eyes pop super duper far out of our heads (like the full size realistic hermaphrodite sex dolls -- yeah, dolls with both boobs and wieners)! Now THAT'S something you certainly don't see every day.

So the long awaited hyped Red Light District, yet I drop a big two star dud? I will get to the point immediately, it is exactly what one would expect, bars, coffee shops, and small cafes for smoking pot and enjoying coffee. Of course there is also the main attraction, the windowed sex workers, which was very uncomfortable for me to see, but worth it to experience the culture and history of the city. While during the day it is not as busy and safe, that flips on a dime at night time, when the area comes alive with its iconic red lights emitting and shady characters staring you down. There are a few restaurants, but honestly they did not look too appetizing. So while I did visit it, I just did not really enjoy it and only spent one night with about an hours worth of a stroll before I headed back to downtown for some grub and a drink. Obviously the experience will vary for everyone, but for me it is a hard pass if I were to visit again.

Just come here once to get the experience. its legal and window sex workers are new to watch which I am not sure any other city offers. It's near to central station, narrow streets led to many shops-bars- strip clubs, sex toy stores, and hyped sex workers red windows. I felt like I am visiting some kind of fair, have seen there many families with kids, couples enjoying, folks roaming with booze in hand. It was totally like some kind of small county fair scene. Marijuana smell is everywhere. It gets crowded at night and Police are there to control. 95 % of crowd - they are just scrolling through like me. I had read that photos are not allowed and I did not take any risk. There is even one-way street in this district to accommodate the crowd. Funny. Different experience. Had fun with friends.

A part of the city center focused on adult entertainment and tourism. Walking through this area is one of the standard tourist activities when visiting Amsterdam. Red light windows, sex toy shops, strip clubs, bars, restaurants, coffeeshops (soft drug cafes), souvenir shops. There are lots of narrow streets and back alleys to explore, and you can imagine what you will find there. It's safe enough. There are maybe some obnoxious drunk people, but no real issues. There are supposedly some pop-up bathrooms here at night, though I didn't see any.

If you can visit Sunday though Thursday. Amsterdam is long a way for most Americans, but its a quick and cheap weekend getaway for most Europeans. Fridays and Saturdays are ridiculously crowded AF, and its the worst crowd: British Douchebags, Russian Douchebags, Italian Douchebags, French Douchebags, Spanish Douchebags, German Douchebags, Eastern European Douchebags, Arab Douchebags, Asian Douchebags(me), and the American Douchebags(also me). There some regular tourists too, and a few bachelorette parties too(only gawd knows why). The smell of cigarettes, weed, body odor, and piss fill the air. The weekend crowds are huge, drunk, annoying, rambunctious, and horny...avoid if possible! Otherwise De Wallen is a crazy culture shock. Gorgeous women offering their services. Ugly women offering their services. And some of the most beautiful trannies & lady boys that could almost make me switch teams...on that note, if the light is blue instead of red, its a tranny! I learned that the hard way...just kidding! ;) There's also strip clubs(of course), sex clubs, bars, "coffee" shops, questionable restaurants, a couple of nice looking churches, and even an elementary school...WOW!

The red light district is great for people watching! Love to visit and talk with people from all over the world.

Gotta at least see it. I don't want to ruin the surprise for anyone, but I will share some details in case you're thinking about visiting. First off, it's exactly what you think it is. They are prostitutes, and they are out there to solicit business. That means that they will stare at you, they will wink at you, they will try to call you in, so if that is something you will not like then do not walk down the streets. But if it is something you are curious about and just want to see how other cultures handle prostitution, it's a very interesting experience and I highly recommend it just to open up your eyes to a different way of doing things. The entire area is themed with different sex shows, strip clubs, and of course the actual booths that have the prostitutes themselves. It gets very busy and very touristy at night. So be prepared. It's still pretty cool so I would recommend visiting and honestly it's one of those iconic parts of the city. So walk down the streets with an open mind and enjoy.

As for a play on words, what's the big F'in deal? OK its the oldest profession in the world, here its legalized and hopefully safer because they have healthcare. Who knows, it was no big deal. Women standing in the window selling their wares and goods. Some of them looking as if this is something that they choose others look as though they are making a sale I under duress. The history behind the creation of the red light district is fascinating it actually makes sense. I can only conclude that this display remains as it is an attraction for tourists. I would just think in this day and age it would just be more lucrative to run your own business. Either through a PayPal account or Apple Pay etc. Work in a location that offers security or where you can add security. But whatever, if they like it I'm sure the man who makes a purchase loves it. There was nothing unusual about the women they were all basically the same, there was one that was a little older but not different. If men are looking for a variety I guess they would have to go somewhere else. Go into a local bar and buy a chick a drink you might save some money and a headache. But for tourists I guess this is interesting. The windows are clean I can't say that much for a girls because I don't know. But I guess you make a purchase at your own risk!

My favourite spot to hang out in Amsterdam has got to be the red light. Besides all the naked ladies in the windows there's a lot of great bars and places to hang out. Once night hits the atmosphere changes drastically, all the party people come out. You'll notice many bachelor or bachelorette parties and lots of Guy groups just there to get wasted and have a good time. I've been here 3 times now and I've never had any issues, you'll get lots of some what homeless guys telling you their story about how they came to Amsterdam and lost their way and that they need money. They're friendly not viscous so no need to worry. Each bar is different some close at 2-3-4 or 7, you don't need to call an uber all the bars are super close to each other. I suggest doing a boat tour as it's the best way to see all the gorgeous buildings.

We were in the area for 4 nights and we went to the red light district every day or night .. it's very different in the day .. but there are still some prostitutes in the windows .. not as many. It didn't feel like an unsafe area even at night. They keep the area clean up of trash. In the time we were there we didn't see any fights or violence. I think everyone is so high on pot they are pretty peaceful. Never smelled so much pot or cigarettes which was rough on my asthma. some very odd museums .. like prostitution museum and sex museum . one about Pot .. too .. wow this puts Vegas to shame.

The area was definitely more 'hyped up' than what we encountered when my girlfriend and I walked thru it for the 1st time. Prior to my arrival in Amsterdam, my expectation was that it was not the safest area and that prostitutes would be walking around trying to solicit men to come with them, but it was nothng like that. On the contrary, the area was pretty clean, safe, laid back and made for some interesting photo opportunities. To give readers the REAL rundown on what goes on in the Red Light District, in terms of the prostitution, basically prostitutes rent single-room 'cabins', which have windows/doors. As people walk thru the Red Light District, especially thru the alleys, there will be red lights lit up by the doors and the prostitutes will just stand by the door (on the inside) and stare at passerbys, hoping to catch the eye of men who are willing to pay for their services. Actually, it was kind of creepy with the women staring back and not making much movements. They almost looked like mannequins --- with really big boobs and lots of makeup. We got a chance to visit the district a few times and although it was much more lively during the evening hours, there were still prostitutes who were working in the single-room cabins during the day. If anything, our opinions were that it was quite entertaining and humorous watching the prostitutes standing on the inside of windows and gawking at passerbys, hoping to catch their attentions. Besides the prostitutes, there was a sex museum, theaters, peep shows and numerous sex shops. It was really nothing but harmless entertainment and a good time!

We came here since its the thing to do in Amsterdam. It was way more touristy than I imagined. I don't recommend coming here with any kids in the evening time. The area becomes crowded and people are smoking left and right. We left about 10 minutes of wandering around the canals and different neighborhood. Surprisingly, there is this like Chinatown area nearby where you can get a lot of Chinese food. I think everything is tastefully hidden where you won't see women just selling themselves out at the window display. We saw a few glimpses here and there but they aren't boldly just selling "entertainment" blatantly, which I appreciated. If its legal and these women are doing this by their free will, who am I to judge them? If you're going to come here/judge and feel disgusted, don't come here. It isn't the place for you. I just think its interesting because its so honest. Its just right there in public whereas in many societies, its all hidden/black market style. I appreciate that the Dutch at least is regulating this industry where "workers" have their rights and there are regulations to control diseases. I was mildly entertained when an American man walked into a brothel and said, so what do you do here? um... lol. what a ridiculous question.

Great place to walk and burn calories cause all you're gonna do is walk and walk Haha there are plenty of girls in the windows trying to lure you in. They have beds right behind them and close the curtain if you decide to go with them. Going rate is is 50 euros for a 10 minute blow job. 100 euros for 20 minutes sex one position lol and 150 euros for 30 minutes clothes off and multiple positions. I walked the entire place and asked every girl what their going rate was and they all charge the same price. You have to negotiate beforehand what you get for that money. Negotiate specifics like clothes off on how many positions etc. Most of the girls are from Eastern Europe. Croatia, Romania, Slovania. All sorts of different kinds of girls. Fat ones, skinny, fake tits and ass or natural. Even saw a couple Asians and black girls. I kind of feel bad for these girls. Every tourist is walking by laughing at them all night. I didn't really wanna do it since I'm really spoiled by Mexico but I figured gotta try it since I'm here already. Overall it was alright. You won't get any girlfriend experience here. Just business and churn and burn as quickly as possible. The girl I got was nice and friendly. We talked for a bit after and I got to know her. We smoked a joint together and she recommended some of her favorite pot coffee shops to me. We'll meet up when she comes to visit California. As far as red light district, my expectations were high for this place, but I was a little disappointed. Mexico red light in Tijuana is much better as far as being able to enjoy more time and drink with the girls and get the girlfriend experience. The thing I enjoyed about this red light, that Mexico don't have, is the being able to smoke weed everywhere without having to worry about getting in trouble. I smoke weed in Mexico too but I gotta worry about the cops. It's worth visiting just to check it out, smoke weed freely, and people watch. Weed in california is still cheaper and better haha No photos allowed the chicks will get pissed and the cops will make you delete them if they see you taking pics. Will I go back? Only if I'm in the area again but not to go out of my way to come back for the Red light district. I'll stay in the Mexico red light district haha

Came here a few months ago, but I thought I'd finish my review before I forget how memorable the Red Light District was. And I'd say, once you've been in the Red Light District, that's just about it. You've been there! In other words, I walked and walked and walked and was totally excited at first, saw lots of interesting things to see. Did some window shopping, but never purchased. Chilled at a cafe or two and met a few nice tourists, and locals. Then after a while, overall I just didn't care for it. I was too busy thinking about the next restaurant I'm gonna yelp about lol! Other than seeing the Red Lights, here's a few highlights: ~ The number of places to eat! Man o'man, there's so many restaurants that have yet to be reviewed. I'd yelp a place and be like, "Sweet, another FTR candidate. Yippee!" ~ Frites stands! Long lines for them too. I had it once, but didn't think it was anything special. I guess it's that mayo stuff they put on it. Plus I've eaten way too many fries in my days. ~ Hemp shops around every corner that sell everything from seeds, to blooms, vape stuff, edibles, etc. Talk about stoner heaven! But here's what's even worse, and my weakness... ~ Being here for the first time, I didn't know Amsterdam was known for CHEESE SHOPS!!! OMG!!! Like the hemp cafes on every corner, so were the cheese shops. I swore I probably stopped into every store! My eyes exploded, my hands grabbed every sample. I was growing whiskers and my fingers turned yellow. If anything, I was more worried about closing up my luggage with all the cheese I bought lol. ~ Bakery and candy shops. Eh, there were enough of those too. ~ Strolling through each alley, then alley after alley was just like HEY yay another alley. Some were interesting, some boring. The window shopping was like WOW, just like in the movies! So what was said about this place was true! I even witnessed one dirty old man leave one prostitute's room, opened up the next door, and into another girl's room. I'm just laughing and thinking... "What an old gross sick f---!" Here's a 'dislike' about the RLD: ~ I know I'm forever going to be a tourist here, but seeing the hoards of tourists in large groups was just ridiculous. Now I'm talkin' groups of like 30-60 (I'll just say) foreign people. With stupid tour guides holding megaphones and their group sign. They'd sardine the alleys even on a very late Sunday night. Mind you, the alleys are fairly narrow too. And being so late, why would you even think about bring kids? So freakin' irritating! I actually sympathized for the women in the windows, as they too seem very irritated seeing the flood of tourists. They went from smiles to frowns in seconds. Oh well, at least I can say that, I came and I saw! Amsterdam in general is a beautiful city! And with it being quite active, there's really no fear in cruising through here. Plenty of activities, and plenty to keep yourself visually and physically entertained. Or should I have said "stimulated" lol. The RLD is fun, but belive me there's more to discover outside of it. I'll be back! But more over to gather cheese wedges if anything!

No matter it's a weekday or a weekend, this area is packed at night. Even if you aren't interested in banging a hooker, it's still great to wander around and see what this is all about! They're famous for their display windows framed with red neon lights for their legalized prostitutes. For the sake of respect, no photography and video should be taken. It actually was less extensive as I thought. There were only about 3 alleys as far as I knew. One alley was all black women, the other blonde and the other that I couldn't quite categorize. It's quite funny seeing a guy coming out from the building with a smile on his face haha. At least he had a good time! Besides the prostitution, it's also a lively place full of music and noise coming from bars, restaurants and just the crowd on the streets. There's definitely a lot going on and you won't be bored here at night. The last tram leaves some time between midnight and 00:30 from central station (check schedule again, might have changed since this review was written.) Otherwise Uber and taxi are always options.

This place is where the prostitutes come out at night. During the day, it seems pretty quiet and there are some businesses in the area that are kid friendly so it's a bit weird to see the combination. At night, the place is packed and you can't get pass people without seeing others oogle the prostitutes in the window. The window closed with curtains, the prostitutes are busy. For the most part, what they're wearing is pretty tame, it's usually bikini-looking lingerie. Even though prostitution is legal here, I just don't understand why anyone would pay. If you're desperate enough, just go to a bar, wait awhile and lower your expectation, you'll more than likely get free sex later, especially in Amsterdam, but that's just my opinion.

Before I go on, I would like to inform you when I was here, I was 18 and 19, and a large party animal. Parts of this review may be inappropriate- but what happened, happened- and I am here to share the experience(s). I assure you though, no animals were harmed in the writing of this review... The time I stayed at the Hotel in Dam Square (NH Grand Krasnapolosky), I knew I was in for a treat- all I had to do was take a u-turn from the front door of the hotel and I was in the Red Light District. For someone who used to party 24/7, this was a dream come true. For more reasons than one. First of all, it is actually pleasing to the eye. A large church at one end (looks great with the canal), and then shops and homes lining up both sides of the canals on the other side. So 5 stars, you wonder? I think I can single handedly blame my chemical imbalances on this "sacred land". I leave the hotel in search for breakfast, not even 50 feet into entering De Wallen, I have people coming up to me in droves asking if I need cocaine or ecstasy (i'll take a bag of each ;)). Too bad that wasn't on my breakfast menu- but space cakes were! It made me reminisce of old days on rough streets in NYC... After that, where else can you go window shopping for prostitutes? They open up "shop" shortly after lunch, in their windows, looking hot (or not)- ready for business. Pick what you like, talk to her for a minute, pay, and enjoy the ride! At the time, it was around 50Euro for a sucknf*ck- how would I know? I asked... And partook. I will never forget the look of shame/shit eating grin I had when I was done... On a different note, I was expecting a bunch of Dutch women in the windows, but it ended up being women from all over the world- I thought that was cool. So all in all, there are plenty of options. Also, make sure you do not take pictures, your camera will get f'ed up, or ganked. You do not want to piss off one the prostitutes (again, not from first hand experience!). The shops in the district range from coffeeshops to sex shops to magic mushroom shops. You can get high for days and not even leave the block. Yea!!! I also remember seeing the most epic street brawl ever- it was after a soccer game, a World Cup pre-qual, where the Dutch Beat the Irish. Well, let's just say the Irish got pissed and it turned into a 25 on 3 fight. I have never in my life seen 3 guys get bloodied up with broken bottles, and 2 of them getting tossed in the canal! Not even kidding! An hour later in the same block, I saw 2 cops rip a guy out of his bar seat, and pull a bag of coke out of his rear, they did this on the street! That was real intense, as I was about 5 feet away!!! do NOT piss off a Dutch cop! And last but not least, I also saw the LONGEST strand of firecrackers, ever- it was as long as the canal, I shit you not. This was for new years. I just remember that thing popped for at least 40 minutes. I bet cleaning that up was a pain! So, what does this all have to do with whatever? As a crazy young'en, I did and saw some of the wildest stuff I could only dream of, all within a square mile of eachother. This is like heaven on earth. No wonder why they are going to make the changes they are! I might have to relive this, as I have vacation coming up in July and October... This is a must see for anyone looking for a interesting time!!!

You can't miss the Red Light District when in Amsterdam! It is THE entertaining area to be at all night! You can stroll through the narrow roadways, admire the city scenes, canals and just simply enjoy this community that is so different from the rest of the world!

It's a must see when you come to Amsterdam. The prices start at 50 euros at least and can go up to 200 for the full experience. A bit pricey especially if your on a budget. I had fun for a couple of days with the girls and I can say that some were fantastic and I had some great sex and convos with them. Others did not provide the best services for what I was paying for. A lot of Eastern Europeans and a few from different parts of the world. It's also pretty active at night around the 10pm and goes on until 5:00 am.the girls here are hot and are clean. I learned a lot about myself, the country of Netherlands, and about sex. 5

It was everything I expected the RLD to be. Fun, exciting, dirty, scary, sad and too crowded! It's such an iconic place to be. Lots of "windows", shops and restaurants. At night, lots of obnoxious drunks! So scary almost.

Blocks on blocks of adult entertainment. Literally, the district is full of pubs for drinking, pubs for smoking your favorite strand of Mary Jane, adult female entertainment where $50 euro's can get you about 10 minutes with an array of woman "I'm sure you can guess what for" stores for your sexual entertainment and other souvenirs shops. There are also several restaurants in the area which serve as bars as well. The canals in this section of town are all lit up in red, along with several of stores, bars and restaurants as it goes with the theme. Best way to get around is walking, you get to see the entire section of the city. Like in every city you need to be aware of your surroundings. There are people everywhere, galore! Yes several people who are intoxicated or under the influence of Mary Jane but every seemed to be happy, no fighting, arguing, everyone was just minding their business and having a good time. The smoking from what I saw is pretty common, but I didn't see anyone smoking to get to that comatose level. No, they puffed and passed and pretty much went along their way. It seems as if they have a few puffs like some people have a couple of cocktails after dinner. Enough to get you nice but not trashed or do something you might regret. Sure I saw a few people you can tell were not locals walking around with eyes redder than the #3 red ball on a pool table but that wasn't the norm. Keep in mind marijuana is pretty much available anywhere here in this district at bars coffeeshops or certain stores. The prostitution is pretty common as well. You can window shop and negotiate your "rate" with whoever is available that you like. I was told the rate was about 50 Euro's for about 10 minutes. There are also live sex shows, strip cubs and plenty and I mean plenty of stores for you to buy sexual toys, clothes, food etc. The food in the district isn't out of this world. No big name restaurants so it's general bar food. I enjoyed the district, made for great people watching and cool photos of the scenery at night.

-The alleyway was clean, no disorderly conduct, but maybe if we stayed an extra hr., wouldn't be surprised by the night scene that would've changed. -IMO some of the women were pretty, but not in a real way and kind of plastic/fake from afar, probably something a 16 yr. imagine's a woman looks like & what's going on their mind. We didn't do what we're supposed to do & engage in their services, which are expensive as expected. I def. wouldn't be opposed to having the dudes display their goods for diversity besides just women half nakedly dressed, some were more interested in their phones (def. don't blame them for that). -There was a pair of swans in the canal that was more appealing to me and a bunch others compared to this place when judging on the outside; it's def. an interesting place that's unique and can be fun to visit!

Such a cool experience!! I was quite excited to see this area. The canals, and the bars...the windows, etc. It does get crazy...duh.It's not going to be like a fancy opera show where everyone is dressed in formal attire and speaking professionally. Plenty of bars to have a few drinks. I personally didn't think it was that expensive, but then again, I'm from San Francisco, so to me, EVERYTHING is cheaper. I did notice that a lot of the girls would just be staring at their cell phones (clearly bored), even though there are plenty of "perhaps clients" walking by. There are about 420 windows in the area. It smelled like walking into about 80 bars...by the time I got to my hotel...my clothes wreaked!!! And I hadn't even been in a bar!!! Bleh!!!

It's MUST visit place when you are visiting Amsterdam... just have to see it for yourself to see what all the fuss is about. The area is crowded with tourists but everyone seems to be peaceful. There are many restaurants, bars, coffee shops, gift stores of all kinds. It is pretty closed to Chinatown... so if you are craving for Peking ducks, you find it here. There's also a catholic church and a Buddhist temple nearby if you feel spiritual after visiting RLD! There is red light neon and red curtain window everywhere... when the curtain is up, the lady is available. There are not so much of show I would expect. The women in their bikini, some waving at you, some pretending on the phone and some putting on their make-up! They seem a bit tame comparing to Las Vegas or New Orleans! Overall, it is a fun place to visit. We were there until midnight and did not feel unsafe. I was told not to take pictures of the ladies...

Passed by here on a walking tour during the day time. I've heard about this place from the movie "Deuce Bigelow European Gigolo" (Yes, I'm a Rob Schneider fan!). Obviously it's not a place to take children if you're on a family vacation. Seriously don't even pass by because it will be hard to monitor what your children will see ha ha The women are not exactly what you would picture and so different from what they describe in documentaries or in movies. They're just your average ordinary people. The tour guide was saying that the women do not like to be photographed because they work everyday regular jobs. Sometimes if they see you taking a pic they'll dump a bucket of pee on you-is what we were told. I wouldn't try it out. The place smells terrible as well, it reeks of weed and whatever else you can image would rise into the air in the Red Light District. I mean, yeah I get it, this is part of the Amsterdam bucket list but I would just make a quick pass just to say you've been here.

The architecture on the buildings is breathtaking and the history behind the area is interesting. There are many shops that sell amazing desserts and pastries. However, I'm not sure I would go back because it's out of my comfort zone. Definitely NOT appropriate for kids.

The place is open, safe and people know to celebrate life without hurting others! No double standards here. Everybody is well accepted for what they are and no one judges anyone! Well, it's located in the center of Amsterdam and is a small area, to be covered on feet in a couple of hours. Along with the windowed sex workers, there are amazing pubs and restaurants, coffee shops (where you can find weed) and night clubs. You would find Kindergartens, churches and sex-shops next to each other. We took a walking tour, which we booked online, it was bit overpriced but it was good 30-40 mins walk and good to know a lot of their history, facts, and myths. We really enjoyed the nights there. It's something unique, you won't find anywhere in the world.

It's more touristy than I thought that it would be. I wonder how many people visit out of curiosity and just "window shopping".

(I hope my Pastor ain't following me on Yelp) Now, I'm gonna have to give Red Light District a solid four stars, because I didn't buy anything, I only came to window shop. The first night I arrived in Amsterdam, I was beat. I traveled almost all day, and by the time I arrived and checked into my hotel, it was after 9pm. But I couldn't just let this day be a waste, I showered, and headed back to the train to see The Red Light District (the only thing I knew about Amsterdam at the moment). It took a while to find (don't expect to see any signs guiding you through), it's actually behind a huge church. Anyway, I get there, see a bunch of folks, walking and standing around. First, I notice a bunch of weed spots, live sex show theaters etc. And all of a sudden, there they are! Women in lingerie standing and sitting in red windows. I walk pass, some flirt with me, give me the eye contact and follow me visually as I pass, and a few kept giving me the "come on in" motion with their index fingers or hands. But I kept it moving, I didn't want to catch something "Irish Spring" could not wash away! About those women, I envisioned them to be a bunch of European looking blondes before I came. But surprisingly, many were very attractive women that appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent. I ain't gon' lie, some looked like they should have been home watching their grandkids, but they were in the minority. The cons: Some of the women looked very bored. They didn't even look out the window, they just sat there playing on their phones. How you gon' make money when you're on Facebook???

Wowza! The two things Amsterdam is best know for is sex and pot, and this neighborhood combines both those vices/ tourist curiosities / revenue professions in one place, making for a neat package. Btw, did find it funny that Chinatown is located right next door so if you are hungry after a visit to a red door or just experiencing a bad bout of munchies, succor is right next door, so very well played indeed to the Dutch urban planners!! I loved walking thru, even though walking by the lighted red windows did feel a bit weird/ awkward - and bumping into men who were exiting from the red windows was even more excruciating and happened a number of times...! But there is a vibe to the streets here, that is undeniably exciting and vibrant and the graffiti was either mostly about sex or a variation on the topic thereof. Def go visit and have fun wandering thru the streets in this district.

Aaah yes, the famous Red Light District. Bars, coffeeshops, museum of prostitution, sex workers, porn shops, strip clubs, heavy smells of marijuana and some restaurants in between. Firstly, you're not supposed to take any photos in this area but I still managed to get a few shots here and there. I shouldn't have, but I did. I've heard stories of sex workers pimps coming out of the woodworks to confiscate your phone or making you erase what you captured etc. At one point, I was taking a photo, NOT of any of the girls, but I did want one of myself with the red lights in the background. A sex worker got really pissed at me and started banging on her window. At that I point, I just got the hell out of the area. Confrontation with a pimp? Hell no. No thanks! It gets rowdy at night with all the men hooting at the women in the windows. I find it rather immature. I even got one my feet trampled on when I was casually walking down the street . One of the girls did a little tease move and the guys got a bit too excited. So if you see a bunch of buffoons hollering while walking thru Red Light staring at the girls, try to walk fully around them. It's like c'mon guys. Get a grip. I do find it amusing though when a sex worker can tell a shy guy and bangs on her window really hard purposefully. Poor shy guys put that extra pep in that step with their head down and run on by. You see all kinds of people here even families walking with children which I found kind of odd. I definitely would not be walking my kids through here when the red lights come on at night. It's like coffeeshop, porn shop, red window w/sex worker, and restaurant with nice family eating with their kids. I know it's normal here in Amsterdam, but still. Surprisingly, the women were very attractive. I mean I don't know what I was expecting. I guess I was thinking HBO hookers at the point . Lol. Has anyone ever watched those documentaries back in the day? Hahaha Well, nobody looked like Cindy or the SchoolTeacher here I'll tell you that. Some looked real bored tho just scrolling through their phones not even looking up which was also quite amusing to me, and some put a little extra work in trying to tease the men. Overall, the Red Light District is what it is, and I actually hung out in this area a lot while in Amsterdam considering my hotel was very close. It's not dangerous like some people have said. You still have the pretty scenes of the canals. I've enjoyed some nice cappuccinos at Ivy & Bros during the day. I've come at night just to walk around, visit a few coffeeshops, have a bite to eat.. etc. You're not supposed to smoke cannabis in the streets , but I have.. only in the Red Light District though where they're obviously more lenient. Well, that's a lie actually. I've actually smoked cannabis in other areas, but usually I'd be standing in front of a coffeeshop or if I was walking through the side streets. Oh, and when I was waiting at the bus stop going back to the airport and.. .... ok, well I'll scratch the only in the Red Light District part lol I think I actually lit up pretty much everywhere now that I think about it. As long as you're not standing near children and being respectful, no one will say anything. Just use good judgement.

I had an amazing time in Amsterdam, but I really enjoyed the Red Light District. I had a scheduled group tour that showed us the many nooks and crannies along with the risky and scandalous history of this neighborhood. I will leave the rest to your imagination, however I did find out that there are 4 parts: Euro/Silicon Valley beauty, Caribbean ladies, Transgender and....can't remember the 4th... There are tons of sex shops, bars/pubs, sex shows, etc. You MUST visit for yourself!

We all came out to Amsterdam On the Canals shoreline To make memories to last a lifetime But we didn't have much time Babes in the windows Red fire in the sky Smoke on the water A fire in the sky... ...What do you mean I cannot take pictures??? I always take pictures of my food... .... ...Well, that was quick...

It's my 200th review, and what a statistic! So now a review of my hood, the Red Light District!! "Coffee Shops", drunks and hookers, DON'T TOUCH! Small side note, it's called 'De Wallen', in Dutch :) Stag and hen groups, this review you can pass You'll be pissed-off belligerent, probably showing too much ass. But aside from the red light girls, waiting and loose I love this neighborhood, hence, to you I will introduce! Oudezijds Voorburgwal, at where I reside In some of the alleys, are gems bonafide Looking for spirits, try Wynand Fokkink Homebrewed beer you say? to De Prael in a blink! Oudezijds Achterburgwal, The Sailor?.... what a crime... Skip that - walk to the end, for Mata Hari's a good time! For instagramic shots of a romantic canal Head south along the water, you'll see my rationale! As last parting words, I would like people to know There is more to De Wallen, if you know where to go And I hate to be so sour, but there is one more thing... DON'T WALK ON THE STREETS OR WE WILL RING RING RING!!!

De Wallen is basically the Red Light District in Amsterdam or the literal "meat market". It may sound seedy, but it's just part of day to day life as its legal in Netherlands with unions and proper legal protections. Just a business transaction nothing more. Even if you aren't looking to be a client of the meat market (Personally, getting high at a coffee shop gives more bang for your €), it's worth a stroll through for first time visitors to the city as travellers should always get familiar with their city. Not to mention there's a nice dim sum restaurant in the area. Just watch your valuables and pockets here (and don't take pictures, unless the subject matter is general scenery!).

HOOKERS --- YAHOO!!! When I was a youth this was one of my favorite places in the world. I didn't smoke pot - so when I went to Amsterdam it was all about Riz Taffel, Dart Bars, and walking The Red Light District to watch the action. And there is always action here, with women standing in windows at street level moving seductively to lure you as you walk by. I had a long conversation with a lovely 32 year old blond prostitute on one occasion. I expected some lurid tale of perversion, and abuse. But instead she explained that she was married and had two kids and that by being a red light district window girl she could support her family in style and they were all well cared for by the state through health care and constant check ups and monitoring of all the surrounding entities.. It made me embarrassed to think of how the prostitutes in America are usually drug addicts and slaves - beaten, abused, and diseased. Go Amsterdam ! --- GO De WALLEN !!!!

The last time I visited the Red Light District, I was with work collegues. One of them really know his way around in terms of what areas charged what, specific services performed, and "quality" of the merchandise. Way too much information! At the beginning this was kind of entertaining. However, after about an hour, I begged off to go back to the Hotel. And everyone else except Karl decided to go back with me.

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2017: If I could offer you only one tip for the future, it would be don't go to to the Red Light District on a Wednesday afternoon. The long term horrors of doing so have been proved by many sets of burning eyes, Whereas the rest of my review has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will write this review now: Two trips to Amsterdam and I finally remembered to write a review for the Red Light District. I'm sure you've heard tales and myths about the RLD, but here's the thing - they're probably all outdated. The RLD isn't a cesspool of illegal activity and dangerous thieves, and hasn't been for about a decade. The girls are no longer Asian immigrants, and skew more Eastern European now. The RLD provides them with a safe way to make money and is great for tourism. And they've really cleaned up the RLD, and it's very centralized and easy to avoid if you're with your family or other easily offended people (just look for the... red lights). But yes, there will still be people on the street offering to sell your cocaine or ketamine. That was a no from me. Anyway, with this tamer version of the RLD comes more touristy attractions, and people trying to get you to go to their clubs with supposed drink specials. Don't fall for that. It'll get very expensive. I suppose maybe I'm just jaded since I've been to Amsterdam twice, so I suppose everything I listed above can seem like a shock to the senses if you're from, let's say, Sheboygan. But I would say Times Square in the 80s was far worse than what the RLD has become.

The Red Light District is pretty anti-climactic. The girls in the windows is pretty unique and interesting but that's about it. The "sex shows" are just plain silly, I can think of much better ways to blow 25 Euros.