Discover Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light District on an exciting and entertaining tour with a German-speaking guide. Learn all about the lives of sex workers: from average earnings and working conditions to their daily routines.
Gain insights into the history of Amsterdam’s coffee shops and marijuana, and learn why they are now considered both an asset and a challenge for the city.
The tour begins at the National Monument on Dam Square, home to the famous Madame Tussauds. From there, we head to Warmoesstraat, one of Amsterdam’s most famous LGBTQ+ streets. Next, we’ll pass by the Condomerie, a unique speciality shop for condoms, where you’ll learn all about the history of contraception in the city.
Discover Amsterdam’s oldest church, the Oude Kerk, and learn more about its fascinating—if contradictory—role in the development of the red-light district. You’ll also learn how the Golden Age of trade fostered much more than just art and creativity in Amsterdam. Artists such as Rembrandt, whose works can be seen today at the Rijksmuseum, and Van Gogh, to whom the Van Gogh Museum is dedicated, benefited from the prosperity of the trading era—even if their recognition often came only later. The famous Heineken brewery also expanded significantly during this economic boom and is now an important part of the city with the Heineken Experience. However, business in the red-light district gained particular significance during this period.
Learn more about how interactions between clients and sex workers are organised—from pricing and costs to room rentals and taxes, as well as safety and protection measures.
Discover the origins of the red-light district and visit the historic harbour area, which played a key role in its development. Stop to take photos of the iconic “dancing houses,” one of the city’s most picturesque sights.
Explore the evolution of Amsterdam’s coffeeshop culture—how it originated, the challenges it faces today, and what its future might hold. Please note that this tour does not include a visit to a coffeeshop—but you’re welcome to explore them on your own afterwards.
At the end of the tour, your German-speaking guide will provide you with personalised recommendations and tips for further exploring the red-light district.
The tour ends at Nieuwmarkt, on the edge of the red-light district and the Jewish quarter. Anne Frank also lived in this area before she and her family went into hiding in her father’s office building—now known as the Anne Frank House.
