The Amsterdam Red-Light District
Author: Burt Cotton
Probably you have heard about the Amsterdam Red-Light District
as this is a very famous section in the Netherlands. Much to
your surprise, what you may have heard is true! Here are some
facts about the Amsterdam Red-Light District, a place unlike
any place else.
The famous Amsterdam Red-Light District covers a large area in
the oldest part of the city. It has been servicing the personal
needs and desires of locals and visitors for five centuries, and
thanks to the old buildings leaning at odd angles overlooking
the tree-enshrouded canals that a certain charm tempts you to
linger longer in the area. In this district, music of every
genre can be heard along the streets from a dozen or more
places late at night. And, it is the classier restaurants,
redone streets, and revamped facades that transform what once
dark and dingy into one of the most attractive parts of town –
the Amsterdam Red-Light District.
Prostitution in the District
Did you know that prostitution is legal in the Netherlands?
Yes, it is! It is most concentrated in the Amsterdam Red-Light
District where it has enjoyed a long tradition of tolerance. It
has been reported that since October 2000, window prostitutes
have been allowed to legally ply their trade. Much to your
surprise, the prostitutes in the Netherlands are also
taxpayers. However, discrimination is still very much part and
parcel in this kind of trade as a number of the prostitutes
reported that some banks even refuse to grant mortgages for
instance.
Now, as a legal profession, the government ensures that all
prostitutes are able to access medical care and work in better
conditions by way of regulating and monitoring working
practices and standards. Also, it is worth noting that contrary
to the popular belief, the Amsterdam Red-Light District is
actually the safest area in the city as clusters of policemen
and private bodyguards employed by the girls themselves are
always on duty.
The Chinatown
The Amsterdam Red-Light District is one of the few places on
earthy where you can authentic and really tasty Chinese food.
The restaurants in this district are easy to find as cooked
Duck is typically hung in the front window. However, Chinatown
in itself is misleading as there are also dozens of Malaysian,
Indonesian and Thai restaurants and cafés scattered along the
beautiful canals. Besides the restaurants, there are other
Chinese businesses in the Amsterdam Red-Light District,
including a well stocked supermarket across from the Waag, near
the Nieuwemarkt.
The Red-Light District Today
Amsterdam now prides itself on its wholly liberal and tolerant
attitude. The city embraces, with the Amsterdam Red-Light
District, embraces the fact that people may be into
prostitution, pornography and soft drugs. So, instead of
criminalizing everything, Amsterdam wears its heart on its
sleeve. What you see is generally what you get. So, how do you
get to it? The answer basically lies on which Amsterdam
Red-Light District you are looking for. There are actually
three Red-Light Districts in the city: the main area is in the
Walletjes area, the Singel, and de Pijp.
About The Author: Burt Cotton http://www.visit-amsterdam.org
as this is a very famous section in the Netherlands. Much to
your surprise, what you may have heard is true! Here are some
facts about the Amsterdam Red-Light District, a place unlike
any place else.
The famous Amsterdam Red-Light District covers a large area in
the oldest part of the city. It has been servicing the personal
needs and desires of locals and visitors for five centuries, and
thanks to the old buildings leaning at odd angles overlooking
the tree-enshrouded canals that a certain charm tempts you to
linger longer in the area. In this district, music of every
genre can be heard along the streets from a dozen or more
places late at night. And, it is the classier restaurants,
redone streets, and revamped facades that transform what once
dark and dingy into one of the most attractive parts of town –
the Amsterdam Red-Light District.
Prostitution in the District
Did you know that prostitution is legal in the Netherlands?
Yes, it is! It is most concentrated in the Amsterdam Red-Light
District where it has enjoyed a long tradition of tolerance. It
has been reported that since October 2000, window prostitutes
have been allowed to legally ply their trade. Much to your
surprise, the prostitutes in the Netherlands are also
taxpayers. However, discrimination is still very much part and
parcel in this kind of trade as a number of the prostitutes
reported that some banks even refuse to grant mortgages for
instance.
Now, as a legal profession, the government ensures that all
prostitutes are able to access medical care and work in better
conditions by way of regulating and monitoring working
practices and standards. Also, it is worth noting that contrary
to the popular belief, the Amsterdam Red-Light District is
actually the safest area in the city as clusters of policemen
and private bodyguards employed by the girls themselves are
always on duty.
The Chinatown
The Amsterdam Red-Light District is one of the few places on
earthy where you can authentic and really tasty Chinese food.
The restaurants in this district are easy to find as cooked
Duck is typically hung in the front window. However, Chinatown
in itself is misleading as there are also dozens of Malaysian,
Indonesian and Thai restaurants and cafés scattered along the
beautiful canals. Besides the restaurants, there are other
Chinese businesses in the Amsterdam Red-Light District,
including a well stocked supermarket across from the Waag, near
the Nieuwemarkt.
The Red-Light District Today
Amsterdam now prides itself on its wholly liberal and tolerant
attitude. The city embraces, with the Amsterdam Red-Light
District, embraces the fact that people may be into
prostitution, pornography and soft drugs. So, instead of
criminalizing everything, Amsterdam wears its heart on its
sleeve. What you see is generally what you get. So, how do you
get to it? The answer basically lies on which Amsterdam
Red-Light District you are looking for. There are actually
three Red-Light Districts in the city: the main area is in the
Walletjes area, the Singel, and de Pijp.
About The Author: Burt Cotton http://www.visit-amsterdam.org
