The
Amsterdam Red-Light District
Probably you have heard about the
Amsterdam Red-Light District as this is a very famous section in the
Netherlands. Much to your surprise, what you may have heard is
true! Here are some facts about the Amsterdam Red-Light District, a
place unlike any place else.
The famous Amsterdam Red-Light
District covers a large area in the oldest part of the city. It has
been servicing the personal needs and desires of locals and visitors
for five centuries, and thanks to the old buildings leaning at odd
angles overlooking the tree-enshrouded canals that a certain charm
tempts you to linger longer in the area. In this district, music of
every genre can be heard along the streets from a dozen or more
places late at night. And, it is the classier restaurants, redone
streets, and revamped facades that transform what once dark and
dingy into one of the most attractive parts of town – the Amsterdam
Red-Light District.
Prostitution in the District
Did you know that prostitution is
legal in the Netherlands? Yes, it is! It is most concentrated in
the Amsterdam Red-Light District where it has enjoyed a long
tradition of tolerance. It has been reported that since October
2000, window prostitutes have been allowed to legally ply their
trade. Much to your surprise, the prostitutes in the Netherlands
are also taxpayers. However, discrimination is still very much part
and parcel in this kind of trade as a number of the prostitutes
reported that some banks even refuse to grant mortgages for
instance.
Now, as a legal profession, the
government ensures that all prostitutes are able to access medical
care and work in better conditions by way of regulating and
monitoring working practices and standards. Also, it is worth
noting that contrary to the popular belief, the Amsterdam Red-Light
District is actually the safest area in the city as clusters of
policemen and private bodyguards employed by the girls themselves
are always on duty.
The Chinatown
The Amsterdam Red-Light District is
one of the few places on earthy where you can authentic and really
tasty Chinese food. The restaurants in this district are easy to
find as cooked Duck is typically hung in the front window. However,
Chinatown in itself is misleading as there are also dozens of
Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai restaurants and cafés scattered along
the beautiful canals. Besides the restaurants, there are other
Chinese businesses in the Amsterdam Red-Light District, including a
well stocked supermarket across from the Waag, near the Nieuwemarkt.
The Red-Light District Today
Amsterdam now prides itself on its
wholly liberal and tolerant attitude. The city embraces, with the
Amsterdam Red-Light District, embraces the fact that people may be
into prostitution, pornography and soft drugs. So, instead of
criminalizing everything, Amsterdam wears its heart on its sleeve.
What you see is generally what you get. So, how do you get to it?
The answer basically lies on which Amsterdam Red-Light District you
are looking for. There are actually three Red-Light Districts in
the city: the main area is in the Walletjes area, the
Singel, and de Pijp.
Back to
Amsterdam
