Street map of the Red Light District of Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s most famous attraction is the red light district. The red light district is known for its sex workers that sit seductively behind the windows under a red light, as they try to lure customers in with seductive gestures. Every day thousands of tourists, students and even whole families ask the locals in Amsterdam where they can find the red light district. In a twist of irony a controversial zone known for prostitution has turned into an attraction tourist destination for people from across the world. On this page you can find more information about the Amsterdam red light district, the history behind it, what you will find there and where the red light districts of Amsterdam are located. We also made a street map of the red light district of Amsterdam, so you will always be able to find your way.
A guide to the Red Light District of Amsterdam
The history of the Red Light District of Amsterdam
Amsterdam is well known for its red light district. The red light district of Amsterdam is not necessarily a product of modern policies, as it has a longer history than the country itself. With its location near the port of Amsterdam it has always been an interesting location for girls who wished to provide special services to sailors, soldiers and migrants who landed there. Policies of toleration followed by suppression are known to have alternated each other since the middle ages.
Where to find the red light district of Amsterdam
Amsterdam has three red light districts: the most famous one is called De Wallen, a smaller one is located at the Oude Nieuwstraat and a minor one at Ruysdaelkade. On our map at the bottom of this page you can find the location of the biggest two red light districts, as these are the only ones located in the city center.
Is it safe to visit the red light district?
Prostitution is legal and well regulated in the Netherlands. Additionally the city of Amsterdam takes a very pro-active stance to ensure the safety in the area for both visitors and working girls. Despite that the current legal age is 18, owners of the windows at the red light usually only rent out rooms to girls who have reached the age of 21, so they are more mature and less easily influenced. They have to make sure they are doing it out of their own free will. And the rooms always have an alarm button. The industry also takes active measures to ensure girls can get out of the industry if they want. This is all to make sure that everyone who works there also truly wants to be there.
As such it is very safe for a tourist to visit the red light district. And throughout the evening you can find tourists, locals and police walking in the area. It’s no problem to just get a drink at a bar in the area. Due to the nature of red light districts the areas mostly come alive late in the evening, so those are the best times to come and visit them. As when visiting any place abroad you should always watch out for pickpockets and street dealers.
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.
Oude Nieuwstraat
The second red light district in the city center is located at the Oude Nieuwstraat and the two streets parallel to it, which are the Singel and the Spuistraat. But there is also some activity at the Korte Kolksteeg, Korte Korsjespoortsteeg and Bergstraat.
You can expect to find windows with enthusiastic ladies at this smaller red light district, but this district is less focussed on tourism. This area around the Oude Nieuwstraat is also less crowded than the famous red light district at De Wallen. What you will find here is more low-key, aimed at offering a more discrete environment.
On the map below, of the red light districts of Amsterdam, this area is marked in blue.
