Exploring the Red Light District in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

There are few neighbourhoods in the world quite as famous—or infamous—as Amsterdam’s Red Light District, known locally as De Wallen. Close to the historic city center, the Red Light District is a place that challenges expectations, sparks conversation, and leaves a lasting impression on nearly everyone who visits.

Amsterdam’s Red Light District didn’t spring up overnight. Its roots go back hundreds of years, shaped by the city’s identity as a bustling port town. As early as the 14th century, the area now known as De Wallen—the name referring to the canal walls and embankments that crisscross the neighbourhood—was a hub for sailors, merchants, and travellers arriving from across Europe and beyond. With the influx of transient men came a demand for entertainment, and prostitution naturally found its place.

Rather than trying to eliminate the practice, the Dutch, who are famously pragmatic, chose to regulate it. By the 1600s, during Amsterdam’s Golden Age, prostitution was tolerated as long as it remained discreet. The city’s growing wealth and tolerance created a unique social environment in which sex work, while not fully embraced, was accepted as part of urban life. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).