Turn Out the Red Light?

As someone who has family members residing in the Netherlands I frequently make the point of asking someone whether they have been to the Netherlands, or if they have been to Amsterdam, as the two give very different traveling experiences. There is, among certain people, an opinion that Amsterdam is almost its own country, with its own rules and culture. It is my opinion that a capital city should be the epitome of the country, not the exception to it. And as sad as it is to see the RLD in Amsterdam go, it will most likely help tourism, and really there are plenty of RLD in other large cities through-out the Netherlands.

As someone who has family members residing in the Netherlands I frequently make the point of asking someone whether they have been to the Netherlands, or if they have been to Amsterdam, as the two give very different traveling experiences. There is, among certain people, an opinion that Amsterdam is almost its own country, with its own rules and culture. It is my opinion that a capital city should be the epitome of the country, not the exception to it. And as sad as it is to see the RLD in Amsterdam go, it will most likely help tourism, and really there are plenty of RLD in other large cities through-out the Netherlands.

I have also been to the red light district ad believe it is one of Amsterdam's major tourist attractions. It is not only the tulips but also other things that keep people coming back to visit. Yes prostitution has been around for so long it is time we face it and learn to live with it. It will be there in front or behind the windows and doors of society.

I've been there (Amsterdam) also a number of times in my military career, and I believe that "watchingairplanes" is out of touch! There are Red Light districts in every country in the world, even in Muslim countries. I've also been in the "Red Light" districts in Amsterdam, and Rotterdam, and though they're very revieiing, I mean, VERY reveiling, it's no different than some areas in Paris, Berlin, and or even Nuevo Laredo, in south Texas . "watchingairplanes" must be a Babtist preacher in some little backwater berg in upper New York. Spare us, preacher. . . this has worked well for thousands of years and will continue for thousands more. Keep your marality in your closet.

To think that the main draw to Amsterdam is the red light district, is selling Amsterdam short. Amsterdam is a beautiful city with a lot of culture. I was in Amsterdam three times within the last five years and it was NOT the red light district that had initially drawn me there or made me want to go back.

On my second trip I did take a tour through the red light district and the guide was an ex-prostitute who now provides safe haven to women who want to leave the business. My overall view of the red light district was depressing. I felt sad for both the prostitutes and their customers. I remember seeing all the sad faces in the windows trying to put on a smile to make a sale. And being male, I thought boy, that guy must really have no sense of self worth. Depressing................

Don't sell Amsterdam short, It is a city like no other and personally, I think removing the red light district would attract more people.

Andy in PS

I was there three times... To see the district. One pimp thretened to kill me if i did not give him my camera because I took a picture. It ruined my night there. he had his hand in his pocket and I felt like i was being robbed. It was seedy and mny of the girls were from former Soviet Union. I cannot help but think they were human sex slaves who were promised a better life. There were seedy people but I had to see it.

I was there three times... To see the district. One pimp thretened to kill me if i did not give him my camera because I took a picture. It ruined my night there. he had his hand in his pocket and I felt like i was being robbed. It was seedy and mny of the girls were from former Soviet Union. I cannot help but think they were human sex slaves who were promised a better life

I agree the girls will be forced to walk the streets is this not more dangerous and I presume it will be illegal .......Have they been asked how they feel about this ..............posted by Ca

we all love to bang, girls are tested its organised (with the current set up) all that will happen is that they will create a bigger market for the pimps as the girls will now be forced to use pimps as they walk up and down the streets touting for business with no secure place to have sex.Ultimately leaving them in danger!

How exactly is it "dignified" to work in a red light district anyway? The Netherlands is almost incomparible to the UAE. Don't give "pimps" the opportunity to work in your country and they will leave. You can't pardon behavior saying it will inevitably happen. The culture either deems it acceptable or not. A step in the right direction is to deem it unacceptable.

I meant, leaving tourists with the impression that they want to return.

A big high five to the mayor. He will make Amsterdam less raunchy and seedy turning it into a livable, safer, exciting place that will not leave tourists with the impression that they actually want to return. Set your standards high and the right people will visit :). The despicable man running the shops in the red light district ought to be gang raped.

I live in the UAE. There is no "red light distrct" here or anywhere else in the middle-east. However, there is massive prostitution, sex slavery, human trafficking, exploitation of women from impoverished countries - in short a multibillion dollar industry.. In fact it would be better if there were officially mandated "red light districts". At least the women would get health care and not get killed and dumped in the sea and dumpsters if they got pregnant or cross with their agents. Which country has eradicated prostitrution and exploitation of women? Until men stop craving for sex, let's get the poor women at least some dignity. Amsterdam's dismantling of the red light district is nothing but hypocritical.

I too have been to Amsterdam.In fact I stayed in a hotle right on the edge of the red light district.That was in the mid 90's when crime was suposed to be really "bad'.The red light distrct in Amsterdam positvely quaint compared to the Times Square of the 1970' and 80's.In fact the more serious street crime problems in Amsterdam are OUTSIDE the red light district.A friend of mine had his passport stolen in a public park.But in the red light district this New Yorker felt pefectly safe.What's really happening here is gentrification,pure and simple.A funky,colorful neighborhood will be culturally flattened by yuppie ethics.Once it's gone Amsterdamers will notice how boring their city has become.Just like New York.They will regret it too.Just like this New Yorker.

I've been to Amsterdam several times, but never cared to enter the Red Light District. However, the central railway station is bad enough. You always have to watch over your shoulder for pickpockets. I take a dim view of so-called coffee shops too because sleazy characters tend to hang out there. I'm glad they Red Light district is going. Amsterdam really has a lot of other things to offer: quaint neigborhoods that invite exploring not to mention fantastic museums. I will not miss the Red Light district at all.

Yeah, I hate it when someone tries to make a quick buck (in reference to the alleged "gentrification" of the district), because that's not what is occuring already with the delivery of sexual services. You want to talk about executing someone, how about the organized crime syndicates that abduct pre-teen and teenage girls from impoverished countries and force them to become sex slaves. Anywhere else in the western world, and they WOULD be executed.

Besides, if Amsterdam's reputation were in fact built solely on their red light district, then maybe it needed to be destroyed.

As a final thought, has anyone else that has posted on here actually been to the Netherlands, much less outside of the country? The last thing the red light district could possibly be is sexy.