Red Light District
(De Wallen)

De Wallen, also known as Walletjes or Rosse Buurt, is the largest and best-known red-light district in Amsterdam, as much a tourist attraction as the Rijksmuseum or the Stedelijk Museum. It is a network of alleys containing several hundred tiny one-room apartments rented by female prostitutes (and some ladyboys) who offer their services from behind a window.

It also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops offering various cannabis products. There are plenty of live sex shows and the most notorious of these go on at the theatre Casa Rosso (Oudezijds Achterburgwal) and the infamous Moulin Rouge (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 5-7). For the merely curious, there are numerous peep shows that may come with video booths. But of course, for the more adventurous among us, there are more interactive shows, for example at de Bananenbar (Oudezijds Achterburgwal 37).

During the day, the district is less lively and even less attractive as the more sordid aspects reveal themselves in natural daylight. Although there are women forever tapping on the windows even during the light hours, most of the action takes place around 11pm, when the district is swarming with crowds and the red neon lights illuminate the inky canals. The atmosphere pretty much thrives until around 2 or 3am when the crowds die down and businesses shut up shop.

Old neighborhood

The Rossebuurt (Dutch for 'pink' or 'red' neighbourhood) is in fact one of the oldest and most beautiful parts of the city with its long winding narrow, cobbled streets and utterly charming 14th century architecture, such as the gothic Oude Kerk, or Old Church. The red light district has existed since the 14th century and formerly contained many distilleries, mainly catering to sailors.

How to get there?

De Wallen is located in the heart of the oldest part of Amsterdam, covering several blocks south of the church Oude Kerk and crossed by several canals. The name Wallen refers to the names of the two canals in the area, the Oudezijds Achterburgwal and the Oudezijds Voorburgwal.

More impressions

De Wallen

Tip: Do not take photos of the occupied windows - this is strictly prohibited and any attempt will be quickly (and roughly) corrected.

nearby Attractions

Chinatown
Convent of Bethany cloister from 1462
De Waag mediaeval city gate
East India House former headquarters of the Dutch VOC
Nieuwmarkt square dominated by a mediaeval citychurch
Oude Kerk Amsterdam's oldest parish church
Museum Our Lord in the Attic hidden Catholic church

Amsterdam Neighborhoods Explained

Amsterdam is broken up into districts or boroughs (stadsdelen), which are further divided into neighborhoods. Read more