Branded the Disney for adults, my first trip to Amsterdam consisted of walking curiously up and down the Red Light district and visiting coffee shops. I think a lot of people go to Amsterdam for these reasons, but what else does it have to offer?
On my second trip I tried to find out…
Before I start, I’m sorry if this post like I’m being a party pooper, and deviates from the cheekiness you might expect on a post about Amsterdam. I admit that Amsterdam provides a hell of a good time, but how many of us stop and think about the effects of its most famous area – the Red Light District?
With its openly liberal attitude to drugs and sex, and its cultural affair with Van Gogh and scenic bike routes it is no surprise why Amsterdam attracts a wide range of people. Though foolishly, it was not until my second visit that I realised the city had so much more to offer than just the Red Light District and the coffee shops where a novice smoker can buy pre-made joints and space cakes.
When you’re out for a good time it’s difficult not to embrace the seedy side of Amsterdam, the side you wouldn’t wish your own city to have, but you’ll quite happily explore it when it’s not on your own doorstep. But now my opinion has changed somewhat… prior to my second visit (and as ridiculous this sounds) I thought the ‘working’ women had an element of empowerment – partly due to their body confidence and their blatant hunt for sex. But in reality these women aren’t hunting for sexual gratification they’re hunting for money (I’m always astounded when people believe prostitutes are in it for any other reason).
Even more worryingly, many sex workers are victims of human trafficking because the Netherlands do not issue work visas for prostitution. To understand the error of perception, watch this effective campaign:
Watching this campaign was an eye-opener for me and has really made me think twice about what I’m really looking at – are these women prostitute off their own accord or are they caught in the web of human trafficking?
So what else does Amsterdam offer?
It’s a shame that many people don’t stray away from the Red Light District, because if they did they would come face to face with the brush strokes of Van Gogh, the etchings of Rembrant, the chess pieces in Max Euweplein Square and the lovely greenery of Vondelpark.
Similar to Venice, but swapping gondolas for boats, the canals are a great way to travel around, and provide you with a different perspective of the city.
The Van Gogh Museum is a true delight for every visitor to Amsterdam, you don’t even have to be a big art lover to appreciate walking amongst the work of one history’s most recognisable artists.
4 Responses
What a city – despite the prostitution, drugs and stag-dos, it is so romantic and must have been close to getting on your top 5 romantic cities in Europe list!
I agree, Amsterdam has so many facets which makes it one of the most exciting and romantic cities in Europe – it was definitely a contender… maybe if I had written my Top 5 today, then it would be in there!
I have to disagree with you here – precisely because the women are in it for the money it’s a form of female empowerment: they’re using their sex and gender, which has discriminatingly held them back for centuries, to achieve the means to rise above poverty and dependence on others.
While human trafficking is indeed an issue it’s not nearly as large of a problem as this campaign and pretty much all conservative government-fed info would have you believe. I know a ‘lady of the night’ from Amsterdam and while one person does not equate a system, she has had very little experiences with women being forced ‘into the trade’, and most of the women you’ll see in the Red Light District are not there by force.
That the Dutch government does not issue work visas to prostitutes does not mean they aren’t fighting human trafficking either – they often enter premises for random searches (most often merely greatly hindering the prostitute of free will in the process) and victims of human trafficking have access to an extensive program of getting them out and getting them a passport.
You could even argue that the simple fact that the Red Light District is one of the safest areas of Amsterdam, even at night, makes prostitution in Amsterdam the most easy-going to any other world city.
“While human trafficking is indeed an issue it’s not nearly as large of a problem as this campaign and pretty much all conservative government-fed info would have you believe.”
Im curious as to where you’re getting your information/ stats from that human trafficking is “not as large of a problem?? I work with an organization that helps individuals worldwide who has been traffic or in harms way of being trafficked… And I beg to differ! HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A VERY ENORMOUS ISSUE.