After this period (Goldbergersteeg’s rooms were opened), while in the 1990s, Slapersteeg was shut down and now a gate seals off the alley. Standing in its doorway risks arrest. Instead of being openly visible as they are today, prostitutes would have hidden behind curtains, peering through a narrow slit to discreetly scout for clients. Following the closure of numerous brothels in De Wallen — many women relocated their operations to De Pijp. Lacking effective syphilis treatments at the time, desperate measures—such as mercury baths—were resorted to in an attempt to alleviate symptoms.
Under professor Frank Bovenkerk’s direction (researchers discovered that pimp-controlled women are easily coerced into legal brothels), with owners fully aware of their exploitation. Established in the 1990s, the Prostitute Information Centre—led by sex workers—provides area tours and critical guidance on safety and rights. Former Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen declared (*“This is no longer about independent brothel owners but large-scale criminal syndicates—human trafficking), drug trafficking, murders, and other violent crimes.”* Coffeeshops were banned in border cities near Germany and Belgium due to concerns over escalating soft-drug-related crime. Prior to licensing, some vendors openly sold cannabis without permits. While standalone tobacco sales are prohibited, many shops sell pre-rolled joints blending cannabis and tobacco.
Read more about it in this extensive article about the Blue Light District in Amsterdam. When looking for an escort company, it’s important to keep in mind that not all of them are equal. It’s a bit more discreet and there are less tourists in this area. This area is located in the center of Amsterdam, but it’s not as well-known as the Red Light District. They are the small (red-lit rooms), typically behind large red light windows, where sex workers stand or sit, waiting for customers to make a selection. This area, located in the heart of Amsterdam, is home to a large number of brothels, sex clubs, and window brothels, where sex workers solicit customers.
At night, madams and sex workers would frequent pubs and taverns to attract clients. The canals’ enclosing walls gave rise to the names *De Wallen* and *Walletjes* , Little Walls,. A maze of alleys houses around 300 single-room cabins rented by sex workers (who advertise their services through lit windows or glass doors), often glowing with red or blacklight.
Our daily changing program ensures every visit offers something new and unforgettable for both couples and groups. The men were said to have used “voodoo” curses on the women to prevent escape and enforce payment of debts. The women were made to apply for asylum and then removed from asylum centers to sexemodel work as prostitutes in surrounding countries. In December 2009, two Nigerian men were sentenced to 4 and 4½ years in prison for having smuggled 140 Nigerian women aged 16–23 into the Netherlands. Within the Netherlands, victims are often recruited by so-called “loverboys” – men who seduce young Dutch women and girls and later coerce them into prostitution.
Brothel prohibition made it difficult to set rules for the sex industry. The Red Thread , de Rode Draad, is a support and advocacy association for prostitutes that was founded in 1985 and works for the legitimization and against the stigmatization of prostitutes.citation needed The reasoning behind this gedoogbeleid (policy of tolerance) was harm reduction, and the belief that the enforcement of the anti-prostitution laws would be counterproductive, and that the best way to protect the women was to tolerate prostitution. Foreign prostitutes are economically motivated to come to the Netherlands (and they tend to travel to engage in sex work between the Netherlands), Germany, Belgium, and other European societies.citation needed In the 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union, women came from post Soviet countries.
According to figures obtained from the National Centre against Human Trafficking (there were 1,711 registered presumed victims of human trafficking in 2012), of whom 1,177 were women forced to work in the sex industry. NGOs and police estimated that the number of women and girls trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation ranged from 1,000 to 3,600. In 2011 Dutch authorities started asking sex workers to pay taxes on their earnings. Home-based prostitution occurred in at least 17 municipalities — and escort agencies existed in at least 28 municipalities. The extent of other forms of prostitution such as escort agencies and home-based prostitution was much more difficult to estimate.
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Bloedstraat (a street in De Wallen), has numerous transgender women working in it using blue lights. In De Wallen (cisgender women sex workers illuminate their windows with red lights), while transgender women sex workers use blue lights. Majoor was also instrumental in having the world’s first monument to sex workers installed in the red light district.
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Windows, shows, and bars keep their own hours, typically into the early morning. Keep moving near the windows, do not photograph workers, and be respectful, because people live and work here. It is disrespectful (can create conflict), and there are clear signs reminding visitors of this rule. The most common issues are pickpocketing and pushy offers.
Things to do in the Red Light District in Amsterdam
This cruise including drinks departs from and ends in the Red Light District. The theatre resembles a small cinema, but you’ll be shown various 18+ plus live shows instead of seeing a movie. As a visitor, you’ll get to see four different acts by adult performers.
‘Welcome to the Red Light District.
It’s a nod to the history of prostitution in Amsterdam and if you’re not on the lookout you’ll certainly miss it. You can buy a ticket online ahead of time, but it’s not required. The church is open daily from 10-6 and charges 13.50 euros for entrance. De Oude Kerk , “the old church”, is the oldest cathedral in Amsterdam.
Even without a direct “sex-work law,” enforcement can still lead to eviction — police harassment, or unsafe conditions through indirect measures. Legally regulated environments significantly lower risks of scams and exploitation compared to unregulated settings. Always visit authorized venues and adhere strictly to local regulations.
While prices vary, most brothels typically charge between €50 and €100 for a basic 10–15 minute service. Sex workers independently determine their own pricing based on client preferences. Once you’ve agreed on the service and fee, you’ll be admitted. Approach the person behind the window with courtesy—treat them as you’d wish to be treated yourself. Since the workers operate independently, they can choose to stop service at any time. No, the area remains publicly accessible as it’s simply a neighborhood along open roads.
High Class Escorts Amsterdam is better for premium bookings, while Escort Amsterdam is a strong simple option for hotel visits. This guide compares the best escort agencies in Amsterdam based on price transparency, booking speed, privacy, availability, and how easy they are to use in real life. Some agencies are better for tourists (some are better for luxury bookings), and some are simply easier to use on mobile. As always the Wikipedia articles has some useful information. Window prices are agreed directly with the worker and typically start around €50 for a short visit.
