The Red Light District is one of Amsterdam's main attractions. In this neighbourhood, right in the oldest part of town, open prostitution is legal. There are many sex shops, and a few sex theaters.
The scale and the openness is unique in the world, attracting thousands of visitors from over the world to come and see for themselves.

In the Red Light District there are many pubs and bars to cater for all the tourists that visit this area.
Even though the atmosphere in the neighbourhood is sometimes raunchy, the neighbourhood has managed to retain part of its residential character. While many windows on the ground level are occupied by the erotic sector, on the upper floors there are Amsterdammers who live there.

In recent years, the City of Amsterdam has tried to reduce the number of brothels. They do this i.a. by buying up properties and trying to stimulate other types of business in the area. Up to now this has not been too successful, although the number of prostitution windows has come down.
One of the effects of this policy is probably the increase of Chinese massage parlours. Nowadays, you find these all over the places and it is very likely that prostitution is going on there too. This is illegal and the police tries to round them up (they have special measuring devices to find sperm....).

Please note: the ladies in the windows do not like to be photographed. Please respect this wish.