Highlights
- Explore the Red Light District’s history and enduring traditions
- Discover how a medieval dam at Dam Square gave birth to Amsterdam
- Visit the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam's oldest church with Red Light District ties
- Explore vibrant Chinatown and Zeedijk, Amsterdam’s sailors’ quarter
- Admire historic canals, scenic façades, bridges, and waterside houseboats
Description
Discover the darker side of Amsterdam on this immersive walking tour exploring the history of the world-famous Red Light District. Journey through the streets surrounding the district as your expert guide reveals how prostitution, organised crime, smuggling, vice, and coffee shop culture became intertwined with the city’s rise as one of Europe’s greatest trading ports.
Uncover the realities behind Amsterdam’s reputation for tolerance, from the lives of medieval sex workers and the arrival of thousands of sailors to the evolution of legal prostitution, cannabis policy, and the city’s unique approach to regulating both the sex industry and coffee shops. Learn how criminal organisations, drug trafficking, and the heroin epidemic of the 1970s and 1980s transformed the neighbourhood before ambitious regeneration reshaped it once again.
Along the way, visit historic landmarks including the Oude Kerk, Chinatown, the East India House, and Dam Square while hearing the stories of brothel keepers, merchants, police, reformers, coffee shops, and the people who lived and worked in Amsterdam’s most infamous district.
Includes
Semi-private walking tour
Semi-private” means the group size is never more than 12 guests
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back
Expert local guide
Duration: 2 hours
Tour runs rain or shine
Excludes
Gratuities (optional)
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup or drop-off (we recommend Uber or taxi)
Luggage or coat storage
Tour is not suitable for guests with walking disabilities or wheelchair users
Important Information
- Please note that the city of Amsterdam limits Red Light District tours to its periphery. You can find the specific area concerned by following this link and under the section titled 'Exemption and prohibition areas': https://www.amsterdam.nl/en/business/rules-permit-tours/
Amsterdam's Red Light District (De Wallen) requires visitors to respect residents and sex workers. Strictly no photography or video of workers in windows is allowed, with risks of device confiscation
The tour may enter religious buildings; appropriate dress is required
Entry to churches may not be possible due to unannounced closures
The tour route may be affected by national celebrations; in such cases, an alternative route will be provided while ensuring all highlights are still covered
Refunds or discounts cannot be provided in these situations
Due to increased security measures, some sites may not be accessible for interior visits
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
