Amsterdam Red Light District

[charmary]

Does anyone know what time things start happening in the Red Light District? I have tried to book the ship tour and am waitlisted so are thinking of doing it on our own. Ship leaves Port 11PM so we need to be back by 10PM. What time should we cab a ride to be back by 10PM?

[Ine]

It is very close to the cruise-terminal and city centre within 10 minutes cab drive.

Actually you can go there by day or night, during the day you might feel a little safer.

Sometimes cabdrivers are not very interested in making short drives, so take some extra time to get back.

Or take tram 25 in front of the cruise-terminal to Dam and walk a few minutes.

[Guest LetMeGo]

I was in Amsterdam just under a year ago, and didn't feel particularily intimated to walk outside in the red light district around eleven all by myself (even though I did get offered all sorts of drugs for the only time during my visit within five minutes of arriving to the centre :p ).

 

I don't think there was much difference between the happenings of the afternoon and night, but there seeemed to be a lot more tourists after dark... Which is understandable, since you can only see the actual red lights after the sunset.:D

[Shogun]

Hi There,

 

Red Light area never closes, after dark its quite a place with the lights etc, police are around so its safe as any city have never had any trouble have been a few times with wife not into the seedy places but there are plenty of adult fun places to go.

 

yours Shogun

[dbh62ark]

We didn't feel particularly safe walking with my 6'1" (buff) husband during the day, so it seems that if you go while it is dead (we were there in the morning), you make yourself more of a target. I was walking next to a petite lady from our ship, and a druggie just locked eyes on her bag. I just smiled because he had not seen my husband behind us, and many of the theives just change their mind about messing with us after they see my husband. Anyway, a police officer on a motorcycle swooped in between us and the would-be thief and then we saw him criss-crossing the streets the whole time we were in that area. He was keeping an eye out for us. Who knew we would have a police escort through that area? We still laugh about it.

 

Have a great trip,

Donna

[Guienevere_Arianette]

Having just got back from Amsterdam, I would agree with posts that advise not to go at 10 or 11 pm, but do go later in the evening. My BF and I went at 11 am :D (it is near Oude Kerk, so we thought, what the hell, let's go :p but alas, all of the working women were on break, I guess, because we saw two lone girls and that was it :)

[Globaliser]

During the day, it's very interesting to see some of them out and about doing domestic things: shopping, etc.

 

I don't think I've ever felt unsafe in the red light district proper. When you get away from the centre of it, it's easy to get into the drug-dealing parts but so long as you stay on the beaten path (not difficult to identify where all the tourists are!) it should be perfectly safe there. Not to mention interesting for other reasons.

[UK family]

We like Amsterdam very much and go pretty often. Have never felt unsafe etc. Lots of shows to be seen during the day as well as night. Whether you choose to participate is entirely an individual thing. We always find it a very friendly city.:p

[Judyumcer@aol.com]

My husband and I were in Amsterdam for 2 nights last week . Lots of rain! Anyway, it seems that there is one big Red Light District and there are also many short alleys and streets that now have the red lights with the girls in the windows. We never felt afraid or threatened. It is interesting and amazing to me how these girls can stand in the windows and let people stare at them. Some are right at street level. I kind of felt sorry for them. What a way to make a living. The coffee houses were also worth a visit; we had some fun while there. Took me back to my Woodstock days. Ha! Ha!