The Red Light District is Amsterdam's prostitution district, named after the many red lights used in the prostitution windows. Some tips for activities and best shows to explore the district:
Amsterdam's Red Light District (‘De Wallen’ in Dutch) is the prostitution district of Amsterdam, with over 300 spots for window prostitution. The name is derived from the many red lights in these windows. The district also features plenty of sex shops, coffeeshops, sex shows, and a cannabis museum. The Amsterdam Red Light District has become one of the main tourist attractions in Amsterdam.
Recommended: During this special evening tour, you explore the Red Light District under the guidance of an experienced guide. Discover the unique stories behind this neighborhood filled with prostitution and numerous coffeeshops. The tour not only provides useful tips, but also offers a surprising political insight into Amsterdam.
The Red Light Museum, also known as the Museum of Prostitution, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Light District. Housed in a 17th-century canal house, the museum tells you everything about this notorious area, the world’s oldest profession, and the secrets of the women who worked here. It is the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to sex work.
The Oude Kerk is the oldest building in Amsterdam and forms the historic heart of the Red Light District. Originally built in the 13th century as a wooden chapel, it grew into an impressive Gothic monument. Inside, you will find beautiful stained-glass windows and the grave of Saskia van Uylenburgh, Rembrandt’s wife. Today, the church also functions as a cultural exhibition space.
The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum highlights the history and uses of cannabis and hemp. Visitors learn about medicinal use, industrial applications, and the role of hemp in Dutch trade. The museum provides context for the Netherlands’ liberal drug policy and is one of the most visited museums in the Red Light District.
Our Lord in the Attic is a hidden church built in the 17th century, when Catholic services were forbidden. From the outside it looks like an ordinary canal house, but inside you will discover a complete church with an altar, organ, and pews. The museum offers a unique insight into religious tolerance and daily life during the Dutch Golden Age, right in the heart of the Red Light District.
Casa Rosso is a well-known erotic theatre in the Red Light District. The shows range from striptease and soft SM to live sex and the famous banana show. Book your tickets in advance for this unique and popular night out.
A pub crawl through the bars of the Red Light District? Join a tour that visits four bars and a club in this notorious neighborhood. The guides take you on an unforgettable night to discover the nightlife of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.
De Waag is an impressive medieval building on Nieuwmarkt and one of the oldest non-religious buildings in Amsterdam. Originally it served as a city gate, later as a weigh house and guild hall. Autopsies were once performed inside, famously depicted in Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson. The square around De Waag is lively and a popular meeting place with cafés and markets.
The Red Light District, also known as De Wallen, is one of the most famous and frequently visited neighborhoods in Amsterdam. Located in the oldest part of the city, near Dam Square and the Oude Kerk (Old Church), the area is internationally known for its red-lit windows where sex workers offer their services. The history of the Red Light District dates back to the Middle Ages, when Amsterdam was already a busy trading hub and prostitution was tolerated. The district is much more than just sex work. It offers a unique mix of culture, history, and nightlife. In addition to the windows, you’ll find museums, art galleries, cafés, sex shops, and historic buildings. The Oude Kerk, Amsterdam’s oldest building, stands in the heart of the district.
In recent years, the city of Amsterdam has implemented various measures to make the area safer and more livable, including the “1012 project,” which combats illegal practices and attracts new types of businesses. Tourists, however, continue to flock to the Red Light District—often out of curiosity or because of the open and tolerant atmosphere that is characteristic of Amsterdam. Though controversial, De Wallen remains an iconic and intriguing part of the city.
