A red light district is a neighborhood where prostitution and other businesses in the sex industry flourish. The term “red light district” was first recorded in the United States in 1894, in an article in The Sentinel, a newspaper in Milwaukee. Other mentions from the 1890s are numerous, and located all over the United States. The famous Red light district of Amsterdam is called “De Wallen”.

Tourist Attraction

De Wallen is the largest and best-known red light district in Amsterdam and a major tourist attraction. It is located in the heart of the oldest part of Amsterdam, covering several blocks south of the church Oude Kerk and crossed by several canals. The red light district is a network of alleys containing a little less than three hundred tiny one-room cabins rented by female prostitutes who offer their services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights. The area also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops that sell marijuana.

Origin of the red light district

The red light district has existed since the 14th century and formerly contained many distilleries, mainly catering to sailors. The name Wallen (walls) refers to the medieval retaining dam walls in the old center of Amsterdam.

Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, with the exception of streetwalking. However, only EU citizens can work legally in the industry, since no working permits are given for prostitution.

While health and social services are readily available, sex workers are not required to undergo regular health checks. A study conducted before 2006 found that about 7 percent of all Dutch prostitutes (including street prostitutes) have HIV/AIDS. Brothel owners and room operators often require health certificates before employing or leasing rooms

Latest legislation

In September 2007, the city council of Amsterdam at the behest of mayor Job Cohen, concerned about trafficking and pimping in the area, forced the owner Charlie Geerts to close 51 prostitution windows, reducing the total number of windows in De Wallen by a third. Amsterdam authorities bought 18 properties from Geerts, with the aim of developing the area with fashion designers and other up scale businesses.

Mariska Majoor of the Prostitution Information Centre and representatives of the sex worker rights group De Rode Draad have decried the decision, claiming it would not reduce crime but would only lead to higher rent and more competition for the remaining windows.

In January 2008 the city council announced plans to close the Casa Rosso live sex theatre and the Banana bar strip club in the area. Local business owners have formed the group “Platform 1012″ (named after the zipcode of the area) to oppose the efforts of the Amsterdam government.

Wanna walk through

In my previous post I recommended some tours in Amsterdam which will take you to pass through the Red Light District.

There are a lot of tour operators who offer Amsterdam Tours. But which one is better than his competitor? How do you choose between all these operators. The Amsterdam Tours can be divided in area of interests. Do you like a walking tours, bike tours, canal cruises or museums. I’ll give you a selection of some great Amsterdam Tours.

Walking Tours in Amsterdam

Personally, I prefer walking, before cycling. But hey, that’s just me. But if you are just a bit like me, take a walking tour across Amsterdam. You’ll see lots of great things and in a slow tempo. And if you’re a bit adventurous take the Night Walking Tour of Amsterdam! A tour through Dark Amsterdam can be rather illuminating because of the visit to the famous Red Light District. Which is probably the most interesting part of the tour. If you’re thinking that this is slightly dangerous, I can assure you: it’s not. You’re accompanied by a very trustworthy guide.

Duration: approximately 2 hours

Bike Tours in Amsterdam

If you’re more fond of cycling then I would like to recommend the Orange Bike & Boat Tour. This tour combines all three highlights of Amsterdam, buildings, canals and art, in one package! Your tour starts with a self guided bike tour through the Jordaan, Amsterdam canal cruise and Van Gogh Museum. Get ready to get on your bicycle all day and take a lovely tour through Amsterdam. By the way: your ticket to the Van Gogh museum can also be used on another day of your stay.

Duration: all day from 09:00 till 18:00.

Oh yeah, you don’t need to bring your own bike. They’ve got one you can loan, but you’ll have to return it before 18.00h.

Floating Dinner Tours in Amsterdam

A nice way of exploring Amsterdam by night is a dinner cruise. It’s lovely to sail through the illuminated canals of Amsterdam, while drinks are served aboard. And after an hour or so, you’ll board near a good restaurant, for a starter. Then you’ll set off to sail again, to see more of Amsterdam. Later on you’ll board again for the main course. Then off to sail again, and to have desert aboard. When you return it’s time to see Amsterdam’s famous nightlife. Maybe go to the Red Light District, which you remember from your night walking tour, the night before!

Duration: approximately 3 hours

Amsterdam Museum Tours

Well as I mentioned before, there are a lot of museums in Amsterdam, so take your pick. If you want to go the most popular museums, take a peak a Amsterdam museum tour. If the low profile museums attract to you, read my post: 10 Museums in Amsterdam others forget to tell you about.

Duration: as long as you like.

The most popular Amsterdam Tour Operators:

• Tours and Tickets
• Amsterdamcitytours.com
• Amsterdamtours.nl

You can’t have a website about Amsterdam without writing about AFC Ajax Amsterdam. The soccer club was founded on March 18, 1900. and is one of the largest and most storied clubs in European football. Ajax won their first National Championship in 1918. From that point on Ajax could always be found at or near the top of the Dutch table. Nowadays Ajax is still the biggest club in the Netherlands and is known for their excellent youth academy. With manager Marco van Basten Ajax is still in the race for the Dutch championship as they continue their pursuit of AZ Alkmaar.

Trophies and league titles

The historic win of 1918 was the first of what currently stands at an astonishing 29 league titles for the Amsterdam club. Ajax started their European campaign in 1961. They were the first Dutch participant of an European competition. Starting with the magical victory in 1971 Ajax went on to win three consecutive European Champions Cups. In 1972, led by the world famous Johan Cruijff had one of the best seasons ever by a professional soccer team winning the National Championship, the Dutch Cup, the European Champions Cup and the World Cup. These times of success were very hard to continue or even to match in the 80’s. In 1995 Ajax Amsterdam had succes again: winning the European Cup and World Cup. You can find a overview of all their trophies here.

From ‘De Meer’ to the ‘Amsterdam Arena’

Nowadays Ajax plays their home games in the Amsterdam Arena. Before they moved to their current stadium they called ‘De Meer’ stadium their home. It was there that Ajax would call home fore over 60 years and be the place that the club would come to dominate Dutch soccer and grow into a power across Europe. “De Meer” was also the place where Ajax would develop it’s world famous youth training program and develop some of the worlds best football players, a philosophy that is even more important to their success today.
The Amsterdam Arena isn’t for being the home of success, in Holland it’s known for the worst playground in the Dutch league. They have replaced the grass over a dozen times, but it still isn’t any good. But it is a great stadium in which Ajax exploits the commercial goals of soccer.

Youth Academy in Amsterdam

As said, Ajax is known for their excellent youth academy. Every generation brings forth some superb players. Famous players from the latest generation are Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, John Heitinga and Nigel de Jong. Other world renown players that come from the Ajax Academy are Edwin van der Sar, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Frank Rijkaard and Patrick Kluivert. The last ones were all part of the success team of 1995. In Ajax’ current selection are a lot of youth products, who may have a great future ahead of them are Maarten Stekelenburg, Kenneth Vermeer, Urby Emanuelson, Gregory van der Wiel and Siem de Jong. Maarten Stekelenburg is also the current number one goalkeeper of the Dutch National team.

Learn more about Ajax on their official website.

A new post in the Quarter Special category. This time our spotlight quarter is Osdorp. In Holland Osdorp is known for the band Osdorp Posse, the first Dutch hiphop band. We also know Osdorp because there is a weather station located there. Furthermore in March of 2007 the quarter was named as ‘Probleemwijk’ (= Dutch for bad neighborhood) by the recently dismissed Secretary of Integration and Housing: Ella Vogelaar.

The history of Osdorp

The first signs of what would later be Osdorp date from around 1100. In 1529 the village was sold to Amsterdam by ‘Heer van Brederode’. It remained independant though. Since 1816 Osdorp was made part of the municipality Sloten. In 1921 Osdorp was officially an Amsterdam quarter.

Osdorp became one of the two first city parts of the municipality of Amsterdam per December 1st 1981; the other one was Amsterdam-Noord (North of Amsterdam).

In 2001 the goverment decided to upgrade Osdorp. A lot of houses were demolished and replaced. This caused a loss of originality in Osdorp.

What should you do in Osdorp

You should definitely go to the market ‘Markt Tussen Meer’ on Tuesdays. Every Tuesday from 09.00 p.m till 05.00 p.m. you can buy everything you need. From licorice to fruit, from fish to window curtains, you can buy it at here.
You can reach the market via:

• tram line 1 en 17
• bus line 19, 63 en 192
• and by train: train station Lelylaan

Let me know what you think of it.

In a lot of western countries people celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus. What a lot of people don’t know is that this famous happy guy from the North pole is based on the tale of Sinterklaas, a tradition from The Netherlands.

According to the tale Sinterklaas is a guy from Spain that comes to the Netherlands accompanied by his Black Pete’s (Zwarte Pieten) late November, to celebrate his birthday on 5^th December by giving presents to the kids. Sinterklaas rides a big white horse and brings the presents by riding that horse on the roofs and dropping the presents in the chimneys or putting them in the kid’s shoes.

And he’s back in my favorite city, Amsterdam! I found this site that has pictures of his arrival with his boat on the Amstel river, his parade through the streets of Amsterdam, pictures of Sinterklaas and his Pieten. I hope he comes by my house as well!  

I’ve decided to add a new series of articles to this weblog about Amsterdam. There are several characteristic quarters in Amsterdam and they all tell a unique piece of history about Amsterdam.

The Jordaan

The Jordaan is definitely the quarter which is the most romantic. There are all kind of songs and poems inspired by this romantic quarter of Amsterdam. The story of the origin of it’s name is a really nice one.

What’s in a name?

When the quarter was newly built, they gave it the name ‘Het Nieuwe Werck’ (ancient Dutch for ‘The New Work’). But in 1718 a poet called Robert Hennebo refers to the Prinsengracht as the Jordaan. Later on people referred to the quarter as the area next to the Jordaan. Eventually this became the Jordaan.

Another explanation is that the word is derived from the French ‘jardin’ (garden). The French immigrants in the 17th century named the district Jardin, because most streets in the Jordaan are named after flowers.

But a historian called Kannegieter said that the name comes from the French river Jordanne in the Auvergne. The historian explains that the French compared this polluted river with the Prinsengracht, which even for that time was filthy.

Where is it located in Amsterdam

The Jordaan is the area west of the canals. The district is bounded by the Lijnbaansgracht, Brouwersgracht, Prinsengracht and the Passeerdersgracht. It’s walking distance from Central Station, Dam Square or the Leidseplein. It is also easily accessible by public transport. The car isn’t recommended as transportation vehicle. This is because of the lack of places to park.

Transportation in the Jordaan

There is a bus which services the whole district. It is called the Opstapper. The bus doesn’t have any regular stops, but can be stopped to board anywhere along the route. You can use the bus on Monday till Saturday from 7:30 am till 6:30 pm. The bus starts his route every 15 minutes.

On the whole it’s a really nice district with a great story behind it. When your in Amsterdam, why not take a look in the Jordaan?

When your staying in Amsterdam, you’ll need to have dinner (or lunch). Here you can find five cool restaurants, where you don’t go just to grab a bite, but also have a great dining experience. French, Indonesian, African, historical;  it’s all present in Amsterdam!

La Marais: Trendy French dinner experience
In the Jodenbreestraat is Le Marais, named after the trendy Jewish quarter of Paris. A perfect name chosen because of the combination of the classic French cuisine with contemporary interiors. You can begin to enjoy an aperitif in the lounge or immediately sit down in the spacious restaurant. It’s interior is sleek and stylish. But for the French, the food (and wine) is what it’s all about. On the menu are simple dishes with pure flavors, also suitable for small wallets. You’d better try this!

Restaurant Merkelbach: Natural and authentic
In one of the last places outside of the 17th century, in the middle of the park Frankendael in Amsterdam, is Restaurant Merkelbach situated. This mansion is really beautiful restored. In the old coach-house is Merkelbach. The interior is a rather strange blend of natural and authentic, with great use of materials like wood and stone. It’s really a nice setting to have a romantic dinner. De chef uses season vegetables with a French/Mediterranean influence. I really recommend the sea bass. So try it when you have the chance. Don’t miss this great opportunity to have the best sea bass in your life.

Lunch room with class: De Compagnon
The small Burgundian sister of the Compagnon restaurant is coated down the Regulierdwarsstraat. The charming building, where the awning of the previous owner still hangs on the wall, has three floors and a wine cellar which is also available for private dining, for a meeting or a family dinner for your grandmothers birthday. On the inside no plush red, copper or mirrors as you expect in a classic brasserie, but muted light, cream-Baroque wallpaper, black benches and tables. The trendy bar doesn’t benefit the classic French style. On the other hand, the food couldn’t be more classic: lobster, oysters, foie gras, onion soup, entrecote béarnaise, sludge tongue and steak tartare.

Dining African Style
Fenan Klein Africa (little Africa) looks like the most Ethiopian restaurants, nice, cozy and messy. The interior is a mix of dark wood (the bar, floor and the panels on the wall) and African colors (the paintings, the motifs painted on the table and of course the animal skins). Brown pub meets jungle, so to speak. But Fenan Klein Afrika is a more distinguished Ethiopian restaurant than the many others? The cook is making just a little more effort to do everything à la minute, freshly prepared with the best ingredients. The traditional Ethiopian pancake, the injera, is just a ventilated and slightly richer spiced. The flavors are a bit more subtle and less bulky than other restaurants. Africa in Amsterdam, isn’t it great?

Indonesian restaurant Blauw (or Red?)
Tight red walls, modern red chairs and red mini-lights on the menu (know you’re not in the Red Light District )- that is a remarkable choice if your restaurant is called Blauw (=blue). Blauw is also synonymous with Indonesian, as in The Blue Diamonds. And it really is an Indian cuisine where they pamper you. No fusion, but authentic flavors with a subtle twist. Just the right trace of ginger, lemongrass or curry give the restaurant greater depth than in most other Indonesian restaurants. An example of their excellent care for food: for the saté Kambing is experimented with four butchers in the first months, before the perfect goat meat was found. And that care and effort you really taste.

If you intend to travel to Amsterdam, you’ll need a place to stay. The nature of your stay will affect the kind of accommodation you’ll stay in. If your going to Amsterdam on business, you’ll probably stay in a hotel in Amsterdam. But if your going to enjoy a holiday in Amsterdam you may choose for a more relaxing place to sleep. Or why not sleep in a houseboat? How cool is that?

Spend your nights on a houseboat!
Want to do something completely different? Spend your nights on a houseboat!
There are authentic houseboats near or in the centre of Amsterdam and
some houseboats in a more quiet environment. I bet you never slept in a boat on the canals before.

Coming to Amsterdam with a group of people?

Why not stay in a hostel in Amsterdam. For example: the Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark is one of the largest hostels in Amsterdam and it’s right in the Vondelpark. Near all the great shopping streets, museums and all of the great discotheques. The hostel’s facilities are excellent and each room has its own shower and toilet.

Why not enjoy your holiday at a camping site?

Camping Vliegenbos is situated in a forest area, at a 10-minute drive from Amsterdam centre, near the Waterland area and the fishing villages of Monnickendam, Volendam, Edam and Marken. Real nice historical places. The campsite has a restaurant, a shop and a launderette, as well as new sanitary buildings.

Going to Amsterdam for business?

A hotel is your best way to stay in Amsterdam. A Golden Tulip Hotel Amsterdam is a really great way to stay in Amsterdam. The Golden Tulip hotels in Amsterdam are loaded with luxury. Every Golden Tulip hotel in Amsterdam has a unique character and atmosphere. And you don’t have to travel far to reach your business appointment. These hotels are situated near city centers, airports, local and major access routes and business districts.

Or you could just find a cheap hotel in Amsterdam.

Going to Amsterdam to work or study?

Maybe your coming to Amsterdam for your study or work, which will require a longer stay in this wonderful city. So why not just rent a place? Direct Living offers a wide range of apartments in Amsterdam in different price ranges. They have studios especially for foreign students or apartments that are completely furnished for expats.

Last Sunday we had a car free day in Amsterdam. This all under the motto “Move healthy in a clean City”. People could not by car or engine of the ring A10 to the area within the ring A10 between 10.00 and 17.00. And there where over 100 activities on the streets of Amsterdam.

See these pictures for a short impression of the Amsterdam Car Free day 2008!

If you ever watched the Dutch soccer team play or visited Amsterdam during Queens day, you might wonder why we all dress in Orange. Especially because the colours of our flag are red, white and blue. Why not dress up in those colours right?

Well, Orange is the colour of our Royal Family, who are called ‘Oranje-Nassau’, and the Dutch word ‘Oranje’ means ‘Orange’. They have played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands since William I of Orange (“William the Silent”) organized the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after the Eighty Years’ War led to an independent Dutch state.

More specifically, our Queen is called “Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau and Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld”. That’s a mouth full

The colour Orange has come to symbolise the country and our national pride. That is why lot’s of people dress up in Orange when our national sports teams play or when we celebrate Queens day at the 30th of April.

Dutch soccer fans during European Championship 2008

Dutch people wearing Orange at Queens day