Red Light District, Amsterdam

Be careful walking alone in and around the red light district at night (stay with the crowd, I mean watch the people and stay with 'right' people), and don´t take pictures of the girls behind the windows!! (This picture is from the net!)

The area around the Red light distict is a favourite for pick pockets. You may be stopped on the Street and asked if you want to buy soft drugs. Poilitely decline and move briskly on. The city is fairly safe at night, but use common sense and avoid back alleys and dark side streets.

Obviously you will no doubt have heard of the Red Light District I do not find it particularly dangerous but from a female perspective its one of those situations where you want to look but are too embarrassed to look. I am not sure whether I am embarrassed for me or for the girls!! Still there are some shady characters there so be vigilant as you would be anywhere!!! - Keep safe!!!

Amsterdam has become famous for it's red light district and cafes - unfortunately many people visit the city for only this reason, I found it to be my least favourite part. To see young girls prostituting themselves behind windows, and together with all the other sights of trashy sex and drugs the district offers at night, really filled me with sadness. It was an eye-opening experience which I suppose is never a bad thing. I would LOVE to revisit Amsterdam but next time I will avoid this aspect.

The Red Light District is not for the faint hearted. Beware of pickpockets, prostitutes and drug pushers. Don't let it put you off though, if anything it is not as bad as other big cities! Walk around just for fun, there are always hoardes of tourists and you shouldn't feel intimidated, day or night.

First, viewing this picture,hope you have a good sense of humour.Better not to make such pictures as I've done.It is the rad lamp's street and video and photo is prohibited here,espesially at night.Be careful!

Walking along the canals in the evening can be hazardous to your health! Whether it be bad drivers along the barely-wide-enough pathways shared by pedestrians and vehicles, or more likely, drunk or smoked-up college students, you're bound to find yourself in the midst of a physical threat - 'mostly harmless', as the HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy might say, but like in any big city, you need to watch your back.
You are more likely to be bumped into & knocked down by a drunk accidently, than mugged, but always be aware.
Crowds gather in the red light district to 'window-shop' the ladies, and it's frowned upon to photograph them directly, but families and seniors will trawl side-by-side with fraternity brothers and priests (I just hope they were researching an essay on sins of the flesh!)

What else is legal? Prostitution. As a woman (and a human being), am opposed in human trade, but am happy to know the prostitutes are entitled to health care and birth control. The Red Light District is a little disturbing as we stumbled onto it one night going back to our hostel after dinner. One scene that will haunt me is the view of a group of American soldiers cheering as one after another of them went into patronize the same prostitute while his cohorts waited outside yelping.

The red light district of Amsterdam, this place really is smuggy by night, and makes you think twice about the city, but i guess its just like any other big city, it has its problems.