Thats how Rick Steves describes Amsterdam’s Red Light District. We went to this vice-filled part of the city when we last visited, and now we headed back to take in this interesting experience!
For reasons unknown (or known), our last visit was something of a blur. This time we started our exploration at Amsterdam’s Old Church. This huge building and its tall spire provide a convenient anchor point from which to explore the area; if you get lost just head back towards that church (and civilization). If I was trying to write like a guidebook, I might talk about the differences between Amsterdam’s “New” Church and “Old” Church, and how they are actually only about 100 years apart and both very old at this point. I might also mention that the spire of the Old church inspired architectural design in Amsterdam throughout its Renaissance golden age…. but I’m not writing a tour guide, so go buy your own!
In typical Amsterdam juxtaposition; this beautiful old church is nestled amongst rows and rows of legal prostitutes selling their wares… “nuff said”. In addition to the sex stuff, the red light district also houses the Bulldog, the original Amsterdam ‘coffeeshop’, as well as plenty of gambling, and of course lot’s of eten en drinken!
Really though, the first thing that hits you about the red light district in Amsterdam is the sheer amount of people crowded into the narrow alleyways and canal streets. Noelle and I were there in the evening after dinner, and it was a little insane the amount of people all wandering around – a little less seedy and more Disney that I expected. Of course she walked a little too fast to really take in all the sights and sounds, but I made us walk the canal twice – just to make sure we got the full experience!
In the midst of this cacophony of prostitutes and lights and weed and awkward sex shops selling awkward stuff, by far the weirdest thing we saw all night was a dude dressed as a green dragon pushing his way through the crowd with a small, half dressed, slippered woman in tow – that’s Amsterdam’s red light district for you!
We went back a couple days later during to day to find Our Lord in the Attic, a “hidden” Catholic church. While it stopped being a secret back in the 1700’s, it still took us a while to find it. I’m glad we did though, because this church has been turned into a museum of sorts, and is also a decent example of a preserved canal house from the 17th and 18th century.
The gist is that the owner of the house was a successful businessman who happened to be a Catholic during the Reformation – Amsterdam’s leaders had outlawed public practice of Catholicism, so he built this church within the top three floors of his (and his neighbors’) house. It was really interesting and cool. The place had just undergone an extensive restoration; the woodwork and furnishings had all been brought back to their original colors and condition – sweet!
Amsterdam’s red light district is definitely a unique and exciting place – it’s got a crazy, almost anything goes attitude at night, and has a lot of restaurants, shops, and sights during the day. We had a great time exploring this part of the city, and I’m looking forward to more!
Drew, did you get propositioned by basement dwellers? Hope you guys are having fun, love the pictures.
Thanks Judy, we are having a blast! My looks must have gone downhill since we were last here because I didn’t get propositioned by any of them this time haha.