Amsterdam Red Light District Tour Preview

Instructions

What you need to knowStarting point: Prins Hendrikkade 93, Amsterdam.Location: In opposite of Central Station.Pictures: Click to enlarge & swipe to see more.

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1. Weepers Tower

It began in AmsterdamWelcome on the Prins Hendrikkade, the Northern border of the Red Light District.Sophie, our local guide will introduce herself. Afterwards, we start off with a bit of history and we'll talk with local police officer Patrick.

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2. The ‘Wallen’

Oldest part of townMove along the small canal and stop on the bridge. The street is called the Zeedijk.Learn more about Amsterdam's history during a meeting with Jerzy Gawronski, the archaeologist of the city of Amsterdam.

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3. St. Olofspoort

The old sailors’ quarterLet's follow this street towards Central Station, our next stop is at the second alley on the left. It’s at the end of this street. The alley is called Sint Olofspoort.Imagine a city gate...

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4. De Warmoesstraat

First encounters of the trippy kindEnter the Warmoesstraat through the "gate", and keep walking 50 meters straight until you see a yellow building on your right-hand side. The shop with all the flowers…Dutch drug policies, and a conversation with Veronique Verschueren, owner of magic truffle shop Kokopelli.

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5. Drug Policies

Somewhere in the middleLet’s move to the next alley, the Oudezijds Armsteeg, it’s on your left-hand side. I want you to meet a friend of mine.Learn more about drugs in the Netherlands during a conversation with August de Loor, a drug consultant who started working in the sixties.

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6. Facade Richness

Keep your head upAlright, let’s continue into the Oudezijds Armsteeg on the left. Our next stop; the first burgwal, the Oudezijds Voorburgwal.Let's sit, and have a look, with architectural historian Walther Schoonenberg. He'll explain Dutch architecture.

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7. Dutch Tolerance

A beautiful viewLet’s continue and cross the bridge, the Armbrug, towards the other side of the Oudezijds Voorburgwal. Stop there.Learn more about Dutch tolerance during a meeting with American author & historian Russell Shorto.

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8. Our Lord in the Attic

A hidden gemMove on, and follow the canal, the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, south towards the next bridge. We’ll make a quick stop half way.Learn more about the last hidden church of Amsterdam from Birgit Büchner, the director of Our Lord in the Attic, explains.

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9. Dutch Cuisine

Cheese heads and their Dutch "automatieken"Let’s meet on the next bridge, the Korte Niezel-brug.Learn more about typical Dutch food during a conversation with Dennis - the CEO of the FEBO: a famous Dutch fast-food chain with it roots in Amsterdam.

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10. Spanish Corner

Side by sideCross the bridge, and follow the Oudezijds Voorburgwal until you reach the corner next to the Old Church (Dutch: "Oude Kerk").Learn more about one of world's oldest professions during a call with Dr. Kate Lister. She is a university lecturer that researches the history of sexuality at Leeds Trinity University. She also owns the popular Twitter account Whores of Yore.

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11. Red Light Radio

Window to the undergroundLet's make our way around the church counter clockwise… Head into the alleyway and stop in front of Red Light Radio (on your right-hand side).Hugo, the founder of underground digital radio station Red Light Radio, explains.

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12. The Old Church Square

Respect all sex workersKeep moving counter clockwise around the church towards the benches underneath the trees on Old Church Square.Famous Dutch sociologist & author Herman Vuijsje tells about the oldest building of Amsterdam; The Old Church. Afterwards Mariska Majoor, the founder of the Prostitution Information Center, talks about sex work.

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13. Hidden Art

In the name of loveLet’s start walking further around the church. Halfway the statue and the canal there’s a hidden piece of art. It is located on the ground. Can you find it???Learn more about a piece of art called 'Chestplate' (or Borstplaat in Dutch) during a meeting with Elard, tour guide from Amsterdam Red Light District Tours.

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14. The ‘Krullen’

Ready to go!?Let's move towards the corner, on this side of the Oudezijds Voorburgwal.Perhaps a good time for a short pit stop at this curl. Unfortunately it's for men only.

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15. Heart of the RLD

VibranceAlright, let’s walk down the canal towards to the first “hidden” alley on the right, it is called the Trompettersteeg. Above it hangs a big blue traffic sign with a man and a child on it.Let's enter!

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16. Towards Lighter Things

Picture thisPlease check out the map to make sure you follow the right path. We'll meet on the corner of Sint Annenstraat and the Sint Annendwarsstraat.A quick look back onto one of Amsterdam's most beautiful views.

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17. Condomerie

Time to go Double Dutch!Move out of this alley towards the Amsterdam Exchange Experience on the Warmoesstraat, that’s the opposite direction from the canal. When you hit the street, turn left, and keep moving until you hit the first corner, the Papenbrugsteeg.Learn more about sexual education in the Netherlands during an interview with Theodoor van Boven - the founder of the first condom shop in the world.

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18. St. Jansstraat

Sex WorksKeep following the Warmoesstraat towards Dam Square, I have a special meeting planned in the first alley on your left, the Sint Jansstraat...How do prostitutes start working in the Red Light District? What is it like to be a prostitute? Kasia - a real prostitute - has the answers.

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19. Crossing the Bridge

For your ears onlyWalk to the end of the Sint Jansstraat, and I’ll let you in on a secret when we are on the bridge, the Sint Jansbrug.We've managed to record some secret conversations with customers at Kasia's window brothel, hear this.

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20. Old School

Chit-chatTurn left across the bridge, and follow the Oudezijds Voorburgwal North towards the Old Church. Stop in front of the building with number 97 on it.This used to be a brothel... If there was only someone to teach us more about prostitution..

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21. Center of the RLD

Showtime!Turn right on the next corner, into the Oudekennissteeg, and then right again when you hit the next canal, the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. Our next stop is in front of Red Light Secrets, the museum of prostitution.Spectacular sight, right?

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22. The Last Peep Show

Live versus DigitalLet's go to the ‘Sex Palace Peep Show’, it’s down the Oudezijds Achterburgwal on your right-hand side.An conversation with Mr. Wallen himself, Jan Otten.

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23. To the Other Side

Something elseKeep walking a little bit further along the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, I’ll meet you on the first bridge on your left, across the Stoofsteeg.A great view of the Red Light District, and information about what comes next.

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24. Red & blue window brothels

Different flavorsLet’s walk over the bridge to the other side of the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, and turn left. We’ll stop at corner of the Bloedstraat, that’s the first street before the Red Light Bar.A meeting with local politician & male sex worker, Lyle Muns.

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25. The Waag

The Eastern Gateway into the Red Light District.The Waag is located at the square at the end of the Bloedstraat. So follow this street and have a good look at the blue-lit windows on your left and right.Another meeting with Jerzy Gawronski, the city archaeologist. This time on the New Market or Nieuwmarkt in Dutch.

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26. The Jolly Joker

Gedogen: A Funny SystemKeep the Bloedstaat at your back, and move to the left. There’s a coffeeshop on the corner of the Monnikenstraat and the Zeedijk, across De Waag. It is called the Jolly Joker…Some words of wisdom about a funny Dutch system.

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27. The Zeedijk

Dark decadesLet's walk into the Zeedijk, I want to introduce someone it in front of the Chinese Restaurant Hoi Tin. You can’t miss it.Learn how the Red Light District used to be like during a meeting with Piet Middelkoop, an ex-cop in the 1980's, one of the good guys.

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28. The Majoor Bosshardtbrug

Salvation in the RLDTake this first alley, the Molensteeg, back into the heart RLD. It will take us to the Majoor Bosshardt bridge.The Salvation Army is very important for the Red Light District. A conversation with Henny Tinga about the front-woman of the Salvation Army: Majoor Bosshardt.

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29. Bet van Beerenbrug

A Final LookLet’s walk North along the Oudezijds Achterburgwal to the next bridge. The Bet van Beerenbrug.A final look at the red lights.

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30. Cafe 't Mandje

Fun and respect!Let’s walk towards the Zeedijk again and turn left. I want you to learn more Café ‘t Mandje (meaning cafe "little basket"). It is located on number 63.A great story about this oldest gay friendly pub by owner Diana van Laar. Café 't Mandje was founded in the year 1927 by Bet van Beeren. Eldest daughter of a family of 14, born in 1902 in Amsterdam's Jordaan area, lesbian Bet was a pioneer in human rights and she openly welcomed gays, lesbians etc. in times when homosexuality was illegal, to mingle with the sailors, neighbours, artists and intellectuals who also frequented the little bar. Inside still remains the enormous collection of souvenirs: cut-off men's ties, underwear and lots and lots of photo's.

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31. One Last Tip

Get Lost!Keep walking towards the end of the Zeedijk, a point we've been before.This is where we say goodbye...

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