|
Welcome to Amsterdam's Red
Light District!
Erotic fantasies
come to life in the Red Light District.
Forget the perception of a run-down area
frequented by dirty old men in trenchcoats.
In the Red Light District, you are more likely to trip over couples
or a grandmother than a creepy guy in search of a cheap thrill.
In a way, the openness of the Red Light District is refreshing. It's
all right there, in full view, for the eyes to behold. Sex shops proudly
show the latest vibrators in a display window as if they were the new
spring collection at Harrod's.
An
erotic museum boasts five floors of "enjoyment and arts." Doormen stand
in the street attempting to entice you into live sex shows. Lingerie-clad
women pose behind glass doors and solicit lust from not-so-innocent
passersby.
This is largely a pedestrian area with few bikes and only locals in
vehicles. The primary entry point is past the Grasshopper that
leads to the easily recognizable main street. The majority of the sex
shops, museums and live shows are located there.
Theater Casa Rosso (25 euros) has what many consider to be the
"best" sex show in town, if one could rate such things. It's just what
it advertises: Live sex on a stage. (Casa Rosa is distinguishable by
the marble penis fountain in front of the door. Need we say more?)
You can watch sex
here, or participate a few doors down.
The wildest such club has to be down the street at Banana Bar
where it says, "our scarcely dressed girls show their erotic tricks
on request (where) a special part is the banana."
Don't worry about finding the other live sex shows – they will
find you. Their not-so-subtle doormen talk up their place to all comers.
It costs 25 euros for one hour, which may seem a bit pricey to watch
other people do what many go to Amsterdam to find for themselves, but
it does include drinks. A few shows are available for less and price
adjustments can sometimes be negotiated.
If you believe sex to be a participation sport rather that a spectator
one, try window shopping Amsterdam-style. Nearly 100 girls are
lined up and laced up for your viewing (and more) pleasure.
For 50 euros, the
girl behind the window is all yours.
To find some of the most popular girls, turn down what has to be the
world's narrowest alley (Tromm Pett Str.) where you actually have to
turn sideways to allow another person to pass. A block down on the right
is an entrance to a building containing more female choices; dozens
more can be found up and down the adjacent streets.
The heartbeat of the Red Light District beats one canal over from this
area (Oude Zijds Acterburtwal). The majority of the girls are located
here, and they come in a variety sure to please anyone.
Interestingly enough, the girls tend to congregate by types, of which
there are many: large black women, ethnic girls, average-looking ladies
and young and beautiful lasses. The less attractive ones can be quite
aggressive, frequently rapping on the window to get your attention.
Sometimes this can be quite amusing (especially after a visit to
Coffee Shop 36); go down the little side street near the museum
Amstelkring, just down from the Oude Kerk church – yes, a church
– where girls ring a buzzer to unlock their door. Reasonably attractive
and clean-cut males are signaled with a chorus of buzzes that rattle
the senses.
Generally speaking, if a building has two stories of windows, the better
looking and higher-price girls are located on the upper level. Prices
for 15 minutes range from 25-100 euros depending on the service rendered
and the quality of the girl doing the rendering.
This is not McDonald's, and the quality of the experience can be as
varied as the girls themselves, so while some people may tell tales
of exquisite encounters, others are not as impressed.
Windows covered by a curtain are in use; go back a few minutes later
to see who's behind it. If interested in soliciting a girl's service,
walk up to her window/door. She will open the door allowing conversation.
Ask the price and the service(s) but don't argue – an unseen bodyguard
is watching every move.
If a deal is made she will open the door wider to let you in. Then
she will draw the curtains indicating that she is "on the job."
Sex is performed with a condom; the girls are licensed and must undergo
an annual AIDS test. Supposedly, there's some type of certificate on
the wall verifying this, but if you go in to look for it, perhaps you
should not be in Amsterdam in the first place.
Not surprisingly, Amsterdam is full of escort services and even houses
a few upscale brothels such as Yab Yum at Singel 295 (a cab can
drops you right at the door but tip the driver for taking you there).
The Red Light District is not all porno shops and window girls. There
are several coffeeshops and bars contained within its boundaries. The
best pubs are The Old Sailor and Cafe Zeevaart ("Sea Breeze"
in English). As one might expect, the clientele is largely male.
Break away for a
beer at the Old Sailor...
...or say high to
our friend Fritz at Cafe Zeevaart.
We like the Zeevaart, as it's owner/bartender Hans is quite a character.
On the main street, you will notice round metal structures located next
to canals. Occasionally, people disappear into them. These, believe
it or not, are public urinals.
The Local's Red Light District
Unknown and unseen by most tourists are two additional areas of prostitution.
There are not many windows here -- less than a dozen -- but because
the girls cater to the well-dressed Dutch businessmen they tend to be
among the most attractive in town.
Most tourists are
not aware of the sex opportunities outside
the main Red Light District.
Grungy types need not apply. One is easily within walking distance
from the main area. It is in a block or two radius of the corner of
Oude Nieuw Str. (interestingly translating to Old New Street) and Korte
Korsjespoort Str. near the Singel Canal. Several more windows are a
few blocks further down Korsjespoort at Langestraat. The other section
is several blocks south and east from the Rijksmuseum situated around
the intersection of Ruysdaelkade and Govert Flinckstraat.
A final note on the Red Light District: Taking pictures is frowned
upon by the police, not to mention the girls. We do not recommend attempting
to shoot photos in any Red Light District, especially the main district.
 Next
stop on the Party Bus: Pubs and Clubs
Coffeeshops
|