De Wallen
De Wallen, meaning the shores, is the biggest and most well known red light district of Amsterdam. This is the area you see on tv with its distinctive canals, cozy bars and red light windows. It’s a fantastic tourist attraction that you must have seen in the evening, if you truly want to be able to say that you have visited Amsterdam.
The red light district can be found around the old church called the Oude Kerk (which also means the old church). The red light district covers a wide range of canal streets and alleys around the old church all the way up to Nieuwmarkt (New Market Square). Especially in the alleys, where visitors aren’t as exposed to the public, you will find many girls trying to lure customers in from behind their windows. In this area you can find strip clubs, sex workers behind their windows, sex shops, an erotic museum and more alongside beautiful historical canals.
Unbeknownst to most tourists the red light district is also a residential area where lots of native people from Amsterdam live and many fun loving student societies are housed. Students love drinking, so in Amsterdam the area is notable for its many bars and cafes that are usually quite crowded. Add in the tourist hotels, walking tours, coffeeshops and sport bars located in the area and it’s one big chaotic area where all walks of life meet under the cover of the night and bright shining red lights.
As this is one of the older parts of Amsterdam the buildings have a very beautiful and charisteric Dutch architecture to them. Taking a stroll across the canals here at night gives you a true feel of the red light vibe of Amsterdam. The area has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. And the streets are surprisingly cozy and you can find plenty of bars in the area.
Despite that some curious tourists and locals walk here with their families, parental discretion is advised. In the red light district you will find many scantily clad women, sexually explicit images and objects in the store windows that are only meant for adults of 18 years and older.
If you are wondering where the Red Light District can be found, just head to the streets the ‘Oudezijds Voorburgwal’ and the ‘Oudezijds Achterburgwal’ in the evening, when everything comes alive, and explore the surrounding areas. The location of the red light district of Amsterdam called De Wallen can be found on the map below, where we have marked the area in red on the map.
If you want want to learn more about this historic district of Amsterdam, then you can always book a guided tour through the Amsterdam Red Light District.
FAQs
For those who enjoy exploring a city on foot, you'll be happy to know that the Red Light District is within walking distance from Amsterdam City Centre. The approximate distance between the two areas is around 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles).
What is the main street in the Red Light District Amsterdam? ›
What street is the red light district Amsterdam? Amsterdam has now three window prostitution zones. These are located in buildings along the Ruysdaelkade and Singel and in the area known as De Wallen (Amsterdam's main red light district). The name of the main street in de Wallen is called 'Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
What is the best Red Light District street in Amsterdam? ›
De Wallen (or De Walletjes, literally translated as 'the walls') is Amsterdam's largest and most famous red-light district and consists of a network of medieval alleys, along which there are about 300 'room-cabins', rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a glass door, usually lit with red ...
What is the purple light district in Amsterdam? ›
The Meaning of Purple Lights
Contrary to what some may think, the purple lights in Amsterdam have nothing to do with the infamous Red Light District. Instead, these purple lights are often used to indicate the presence of cannabis-related establishments known as “coffee shops.”
What time should I visit the Red Light District? ›
If you want to avoid the crowds, opt for a self-guided or guided tour between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., especially from Sunday–Thursday. Things really start to pick up around 10 p.m. — especially on Friday and Saturday nights — and slow down between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. as the neighborhood businesses start to close.
What time is best for Red Light District? ›
🕜 The best time to visit Amsterdam's Red Light District
So, you may find yourself walking through it without even noticing. De Wallen tends to be quite calm from around 7 PM until 9 PM, especially from Sunday through Thursday. This is a great time for a walking tour if you're trying to avoid the crowds.
What is a green light district? ›
noun. an area in which prostitution is officially tolerated. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Word origin.
What is the blue light in Amsterdam? ›
In De Wallen, female sex workers illuminate their windows with red lights, while transgender women sex workers use blue lights. This is to help customers differentiate between the two.
How much do you pay in Red Light District? ›
In the narrow alleys of the Red Light District, you will find all imaginable (and unimaginable) types of sexual services. The ladies usually charge between 50€ and 100€ for 20 minutes. In the next part, you'll learn where to find the red light district and get tips for the best strip clubs, sex shows and pubs.
What is a blue light district? ›
This blue light district is supposedly an area featuring only transgender sex workers, which could be identified by BLUE light (aka blacklight) in their windows instead of a red light.
Not the most romantic date tip, but if you are intrigued by the famous red-light district and have a leaning to spice up your relationship some of the women are open to couples if you go to them. Also, there is the famous Casa Rosso, an erotic theatre that has been running live sex shows for over 50 years.
What the Colour lights mean in Amsterdam? ›
The red lights indicate cis-gendered female sex workers, while those with blue lights indicate trans-women sex workers.
What time does Red Light District close? ›
Specific Opening and Closing Times
| Day of the Week | Opening Time | Closing Time |
|---|
| Monday – Thursday | 4 PM | 2 AM |
| Friday – Sunday | 2 PM | 3 AM |
Mar 7, 2024
It is an iconic part of the city, unique to Amsterdam and worth a visit for that reason. I've visted in the day (albeit 25 yrs ago) and night and the latter is much more what its about with the red lighting abd the girls in lot up doorways. The girls looked bored and uninterested, mostly on their phones.
Can you walk in the Red Light District in Amsterdam? ›
The best time to walk is in the early evening when the district is in full swing but avoid the area late night as things can get quite rowdy.
What time does Red Light District open? ›
Specific Opening and Closing Times
| Day of the Week | Opening Time | Closing Time |
|---|
| Monday – Thursday | 4 PM | 2 AM |
| Friday – Sunday | 2 PM | 3 AM |
Mar 7, 2024
The nearest light rail station to Red Light District in Amsterdam is Nieuwezijds Kolk. It's a 7 min walk away.
