Seein' Red!

We've all heard about Amsterdam's Red Light District, but to see it with one's own eyes puts a whole new spin on it. Legalized prostitution.



Prostitution has been more or less accepted at various times throughout history in the Netherlands, but prostitution and brothels were not fully legalized until the year 2000. It was at that time they entered into a world of regulations and taxes.

With more than 75% of Dutch citizens recognizing prostitution to be a job no different than any other profession, the government got on board with the attitude and decided that if it's going to happen anyways, as it has been for centuries, why not make it legal?! At least this way the government can implement some regulations in an attempt to keep it a safer and more profitable industry.





For example, the licensed workers must undergo std testing, pay taxes, produce their license when the authorities come knocking and along with being asked to show their license they are also asked if they are there of their own free will and if all is well. There are also age restrictions; the workers must be at least 18 and the clients at least 16.



As Dan and I walked the beautiful canals of the RLD, we noticed the waters lined with swans and the first and second floors of the buildings filled with half naked women peering out of their windows, lit with, of course, red lights! Sometimes the curtains to a ladies room were drawn and we could only assume why that was. But, if the curtain wasn't closed, then there would be a woman standing there.

It's a strange feeling walking by these windows, just a few feet away from these women, face to face, eyeball to eyeball! I found making eye contact for longer than 1 second to be uncomfortable and intimidating. I smiled at them as I walked by. They didn't much care to smile back most times. But then again, I usually averted my eyes before they could likely have a chance to smile back.

The faces of these women are a mix of emotions. Some look like they could care less about being there. Slumped over on their stool, in an unflattering position, texting a friend, or playing a game on their cell, (who knows!?) Those ones kinda glanced up once in a while, taking a drag off their smoke and then looking back at their phone. Those ones looked a little sad, bored, tired or something.

There were others who stood, or sat, there laughing while talking to the girl next to them, or while talking on the phone. They'd be talking up a storm, just like how I would have been chatting it up with a co worker when I worked at Finning or Shoppers Drug Mart! As we walked along the canals, looking at the women I'd say to Dan "I wonder what they're talking about?" or "I wonder what she is thinking about right now..."

Many of them tap on the windows, like crazy, as the men passed by. The girls would smile, blow kisses and wave the men in with their hand or index fingers. You could hear the sound of something metal tapping on their glass doors all throughout the canals. Sometimes there were propositions being made, most times it was just a little window shopping. And, boy were there window shoppers, by the dozens. The amount of men vs women walking around that street was seriously disproportionate. I'd say 6 men to 1 woman and that might be an understatement.

Dan and I saw a couple exiting the woman's room, smiling. "Quick!! Let's follow them and hear what they're saying!" I said to Dan. So we did. They were speaking German as they both lit a cigarette.

One of the working ladies threw a glass of water in a man's face as she said "There!!! Maybe now you leave!!" But, he didn't. He stood there for quite a while.

I know that it is frowned upon to take any pictures along this district so I didn't really... but I did take two picture from afar, just to show the set up of the scene. The pictures are blurry, because I was scared I would get tossed into the canal if I got caught, sorry!





These were just a few of my observations of the red light district.