Where it is
The main red light district, De Wallen, is in the oldest part of Amsterdam, a few minutes' walk from Centraal Station. It is a small network of canals and narrow alleys around the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal, with the Oude Kerk, the city's oldest church, in the middle. Two smaller window areas are Singelgebied and Ruysdaelkade.
By day it is a quiet, pretty neighbourhood with cafes and homes; it gets busy from early evening, especially at weekends.
How the windows work
Sex work has been legal and regulated in the Netherlands since 2000. Workers rent a window room, are self-employed and set their own prices and services. If you are interested, talk to her politely at the door and agree the service, time and price before you go in; payment is made up front.
The windows and the workers are not a tourist attraction. Do not shout, gawp in groups or make comments, and take no for an answer.
Rules visitors break
Never photograph or film the windows or the people in them. It is forbidden, and workers and security will stop you. Guided group tours past the windows have been banned since 2020.
The city has tightened the rules to cut nuisance: smoking cannabis in the street in the district is banned, alcohol cannot be drunk in the street, and bars and window hours close earlier at weekends than they used to. Fines are issued on the spot, so check the latest rules before you go.
What else to see
Several places explain the area's history properly. Red Light Secrets, the museum of prostitution, is set in a former window brothel and shows the work from the workers' side. The Sexmuseum near the station is lighter and fun, and Casa Rosso runs its famous erotic theatre shows nightly.
For everything else in the city, see our Amsterdam guide.
Visiting respectfully
Go in a small group or as a couple, keep your voice down in residential streets and use the public toilets rather than the canals. If you see something that looks like exploitation or someone in distress, report it to the police on 112 or anonymously to Meld Misdaad Anoniem. Back home, our guide to what is legal in the UK explains how British law differs.
Your questions, answered
Is the red light district in Amsterdam safe?
Yes, it is busy, well lit and patrolled, but watch out for pickpockets and street dealers, and stick to the rules on photos, drinking and smoking.
Can you take photos in the red light district?
Not of the windows or the people in them. It is banned and workers and security will stop you. Photos of the canals and buildings away from the windows are fine.
When is the red light district open?
Windows open from late morning until the early hours. It is busiest from early evening, and closing times at weekends were brought forward in 2023.
