Planning a Walking Tour of Amsterdam’s Red Light District

Amsterdam’s Red Light District is one of the oldest parts of the city, and so much more than just prostitution and marijuana. This surprising area is filled with twisting alleyways, intriguing characters and just enough to keep your head turning at every instant. It’s no surprise it’s become a must-visit for tourists. Luckily, this district is easy to navigate and small enough to see during a packed travel itinerary.

Start out in Dam Square, a historic spot featuring the Royal Palace and all the 17th-century charm you could want. Walking away from the Royal Palace, take Dam Damstraat over one canal before turning left onto Oudezijds Achterburgwal, right when you get to the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum. If it catches your fancy, stop in.

Otherwise, keep going for two other museums you may want to visit — the Museum of Prostitution and the Erotic Museum.

At the next alleyway, take a left, cross the canal and head back up Oudezijds Voorburgwal. See The Oude Church, the oldest city building. You can go to the top for just a few euros, and get excellent views of the surrounding canals and streets.

Several alleys branch off from the circle around the church, but you can bypass it and keep going straight to find some of the most popular cannabis cafés in the city, The Bulldog the First and The Bulldog Mack. If you’re coming from the church toward The Bulldog the First, directly in front of the Bulldog is an alleyway known as Trompettersteeg, claustrophobically narrow, but also known for being a highly concentrated spot for brothels.

However, when you’re walking around the area, it’s not difficult to spot these ladies at work. Bright, neon red lights adorn the tops of floor-to-ceiling glass windows scattered here and there throughout the neighborhood, with scantily clad women lounging inside, waiting for an interested passerby. If the curtain is closed on the window, they’re either busy or not open for business.

Of course, how much activity you see with these sorts of transactions depends upon the time you visit the area. While foot traffic is heaviest late at night, crime is also highest during these hours. For a mix of museum-going, historic sightseeing and the more carnal side of the city, go in the early evening.

If you weave your way in and out of the various alleyways, getting back to Dam Square is easy, as long as you stick near the area. Just keep The Oude Church in your sights. If you head away from it, past the Bulldog and take a right onto Damstraat, you’ll end up right where you started.