Red Light District, Amsterdam

I don't know what you (wanna-be) visitors are thinging, but I was shocked to find out that a group of Contiki tourists from the States, Canada and Oz, thought we Dutch went to see a sex shows like you might go to the theater. I was hanging myself laughing and these poor tourists were all of a sudden not too happy that they bought tickets for a live sex show that night. They thought they we're acting the like the locals....poor people.

So: sex shows are for tourists and stag parties mainly, it's not our way of spending a Saturday night!

Even the liberal city that I live in does not compare to Amsterdam when it comes to drugs and prostitution. In Amsterdam, prostitution is legal. The prostitutes undergo regular medical checkups and pay taxes.

Even if you’re not into this scene, a walk through the Red Light District is a must. The scantily clad ladies rent storefronts where they put themselves on display to attract their customers.

A particular one is Excalibur, in the red light district. It's the only one I found in which you can listen heavy metal and hard rock. The last table in the corner has the 'real' Excalibur inside (in the photo).

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It's a piece of art; don't follow this example or you end up in an Amsterdam canal.

Location: South of the Old Church at the RLD.

No trip is complete without a tour of the infamous Red Light District. The best time to really appreciate is part of the city is at night. Beware, you may be lured in by one of the lovely ladies.