| 1600s |
Public executions were held at Nieuwmarkt during the Spanish inquisition. The blood used to run down a small street nearby. That street we know today as Bloedstraat (blood street). |
| 1649 |
The map below shows Amsterdam in 1649 mid way through the building of the famous cobweb of canals. The streets around the red light district are almost identical to how we know them now. |
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The above two maps were taken from the internet. Both are listed as 'in the public domain' and re-use is permitted. All other
photos
on this website are Copyright © George 2011. |
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| 1700s |
Wealthy men would meet working girls at gambling houses on De Gelderskade and Zeedijk. The girls would then take the men back to the brothels where they came from. However these were often squalored and unappealing to a gentleman of means. A solution to this problem was for the gambling houses to provide boarding for the girls. This suited everyone including the authorities.
The gambling houses made the most of it by investing in luxury furnishings and gradually they became upmarket brothels employing up to 30 girls.
Famous brothels included De Pijl in Pijlstraat, De Fonteyn in Nieuwmarkt and Madame Therese on the Prinsengracht. For those who could not afford these expensive places there were still girls to be found around Oudekerk. |
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| 1811 |
The ban on prostitution was finally lifted. A system of regulation was brought in and there were compulsory health checks. This was largely to protect soldiers from VD. They were given a red card which was essentially a permit to work. If they were found to be infected the card was taken until they could prove they were disease free again.
Today in Amsterdam it is thought that a lot of the Eastern European girls are forced to work against their will. In the nineteenth century a similar situation was going on with French girls. France had occupied Holland and the big brothels lured the girls with promises of good jobs in Amsterdam. Upon arrival though they were sent directly to the brothels. Their papers and even clothes were taken and they were told they owed money for the service of bringing them to Amsterdam for which they must work off. |
| 1879 |
The 'Dutch Association against Prostitution' was founded by Reverend Pierson. |
| 1911 |
Numerous campaigns conducted by the association resulted in the moral law which once again bans brothels, trafficking and pimping. The law defined trafficking as " Any recruiting or mediating a woman to work as a prostitute, no matter how voluntary or involuntary". Prostitution itself was not banned though. Once again it was driven underground and tolerated as long it did not cause a disturbance.
With the closure of many brothels some girls moved to De Pijp. |
| 1920- |
In the 20s and 30s it was accepted there was no way to stop prostitution and the authorities pretty much gave up trying to regulate it. |
| 1935- |
In this year it was estimated that there were around 150 disguised brothels. Fronts included massage, pedicure, manicure, and beauty treatments. Prostitutes continued to work around the Oudekerk (Oudekerksplein). Instead of being visible as they are today they would stand behind closed curtains and peer through a small crack looking for customers. If they stood in the doorway they would get arrested.
It was also estimated that there were 500 girls working on the streets. |
| 1946- |
After the second world war prostitution was forced out of De Pijp apart from Ruysdaelkade. |
| 1950- |
Things became more relaxed and women sat in elegant dresses in windows that resembled living rooms.
On 15th Jan a fire rips through Oudezijds Achterburgwal 114.
In the 50s and 60s there were a number of working girl murders. The most famous of which was Johanna Machelia Scheide-Oudes ( Magere Jossie) on 11th August 1957. Joop her husband and pimp was arrested and convicted though later released. Others included Barbara van der Eng, Chinese Annie, Finse Henni, Zwarte Judith, Blonde Jackie and Zwarte Jeanne.
The deaths were an eye opener to the general Dutch public. For the first time everyone became aware of what was really going on in the RLD. Up until then only the locals knew about the gangland criminals and dodgy businesses that thrived in the area.
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| 1960s- |
In 1963 it was estimated that there were 300 women working in windows and another 190 in private houses or brothels. Women were predominantly Dutch, German, French or Belgian and most lived in the neighbourhood with their pimps. Every girl was registered and had to obey certain codes of decency. Dressing provocatively was forbidden.
The first adult shop opened around 1965 and in 1969 Zwarte Jopie (real name Maurits De Vries ) opened Casa Rosso. Jopie has been described as the first king of the RLD. Despite Jopie's connections with gangland criminals he insured his own area of Amsterdam remained free from (other) drug dealers and petty criminals. This area was a number of buildings between Oudezijds Achterburgwal 84 to 104 and Oudezijds Voorburgwal 107 to 115. Eventually it would included gambling houses, fitness, sauna, living quarters as well as Casa Rosso.
The Dutch language video below shows the red light district in the 60s. There are interviews with working girls, police and residents. It focuses mainly on crime in the area at the time. |
| 1970s- |
Surinam had been part of the Dutch colony and when it was announced that in 1975 they would be granted independence a lot of Surinese moved to Holland. This is because they were fearful of what would come with independence. Many Surinese girls started working in the RLD.
In the 70s Dutch men often took holidays to countries like Thailand and the Philippines for the cheap and plentiful working girls. 'Operators' brought some back to work in Amsterdam's RLD.
Zwarte Jopie opened an adult museum in 1970 on Oudezijds Voorburgwal which later became the adult Club26 where Amsterdam society and mobsters gathered. It was then turned into a casino.
Zeedijk became run down and controlled by drug addicts. It remained a virtual no-go area into the 80s.
Trompettersteeg is the well known narrow red light alley running from Oudezijds Voorburgwal to Sint Annendwarsstraat. Previously though there were a few other similar alleys albeit with far less windows. Between Sint Jansstraat and Sint Annenstraat and running parallel to them are Leidekkerssteeg, Gooijersteeg, Blaauwlakensteeg and Zwartlakensteeg. At least three of these had red light windows which were closed in the 70s. Today these alleys are blocked by locked gates and there is little evidence of what once went on there. Zwartlakenstraat however does still have the remnants of three windows. Thanks to Derek for this information. I took the photos below in August 2011. |
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Gooijersteeg
The narrowest of the closed alleys. No sign of the windows remain in Gooijersteeg today. |
Leidekkerssteeg
A view looking through the bars of the gate blocking off this former red light alley.
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Zwartlakensteeg
Three windows still visible in this alley. |
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| 1975 |
On the 17th December The Bulldog on Oudezijds Voorburgwal opens. This is Amsterdam's first ever coffee shop. Although technically illegal drug sales were tolerated at such places. |
| 1983 |
In the 80s girls arrived from Latin America and Africa.
On the 16th December 1983 a fire at Casa Rosso ( plus here and here ) destroying addresses Oudezijds Achterburgwal 92-100 kills 13 people. Joseph Lan an ex employee spread petrol around and ignited it with a gun. Firemen are hampered by parked cars and crowds. Joseph was arrested that night and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
After the fire Zwarte Jopie wanted to leave Amsterdam but the authorities were afraid the area would become like parts of the Zeedijk where drug dealers called the shots. Zwarte Jopie felt it would be wrong to re-open Casa Rosso at the same location so plans were made to rebuild it 50m further South where it stands today. |
| 1984 |
Pictures of the ruined buildings in January 1984 here and here.
Five months after the fire Casa Rosso re-opens at it's current location of Oudezijds Achterburgwal 106-108. Details of shows and prices can be found here.
Later flats are built at the site of the old Casa Rosso and a memorial now marks the place where the club once stood. |
The memorial marking Casa Rosso's old location |
Casa Rosso in June 2011 |
| 1986 |
A very important event occurs on 6th June. My first visit! However I didn't even find the RLD until my next visit in 1992. Ironically I never had a decent map. If you are reading this anywhere other than amsterdam-red-light-district-maps.com then this page has been copied and not even checked.
On 13th July Zwarte Jopie died from a cerebral haemorrhage and Casa Rosso was sold to Brouwersgracht BV.
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| 1991- |
After the break up of The Soviet Union the first girls from Eastern Europe start working in Amsterdam.
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| 1993 |
Parts of Sint Annenstraat and Sint Annendwarsstraat are demolished. From this photo and date I assume the windows in Goldbergersteeg did not exist before this time. |
| 1995 |
The PIC organise a project whereby men can work behind the windows. After a few hours the four windows had to shut because there was so much commotion.
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| 1996 |
Brouwersgracht BV sells Casa Rosso to a company owned by Charles Geerts. |
| 1997 |
In early 1997 Charles Geerts sells Casa Rosso to his friend Jan Otten. However Jan did not have enough money and Charles gave him financial help. This was seen as suspicious by the authorities. There had been a kidnapping some years earlier and it was thought the money may be related to it. Investigations took place and Jan Otten was not as transparent about his dealings as the authorities would have liked. This ultimately lead to the BIBOB law coming into effect in later years.
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A few windows running from the corner of Stoofsteeg and Oudezijds Achterburgwal along Stoofsteeg are converted into part of Cafe Bar de Stoof. The raised area in OA 114 now becomes window seats in the bar where customers can look out across the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. |
OA 114 in 1995 Work in progress in 1997 The bar in June 2011
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Late
90s |
Sometime towards the end of the Nineties another narrow red light alley closed. Slapersteeg runs parallel to Lange Niezel and just North West of Oudekerksplein. I recall around four windows in this alley. Each window had a mirror so the girls could see anyone approaching. As with the alleys closed in the 70s it now has a locked gate blocking it's entrance. Luckily when I took this photo though it was actually open.You can just about make out the old windows on the right hand side half way down. |
| 2000 |
The ban on brothels is lifted on 1st October. This is so authorities can monitor them better and introduce official regulations. Prostitution is now considered a legal profession (self-employed entrepreneurs) and the girls become liable for tax. However for humanitarian reasons prostitutes do not have to pay since the tax administration deemed them to be essentially victims of human trafficking who were already being exploited by their pimps. |
| 2003 |
On 1st June the BIBOB act became effective. This act forces business operators to disclose detailed accounting records in order to have their licenses / permits renewed. The legalisation is used to combat organised crime and money laundering which occurs within the RLD. Suspicion alone is now enough to get 'dodgy' businesses shut down. Although on the surface it seems harsh, everyone in the district has known about these illegal activities for years. Girls told me stories back in the nineties about the organised crime that was rife. Previously it had been impossible to stamp it out since the criminals had been cunning and clever. 'Cleaning up the red light district' is a headline that would be repeated the world over in coming years.
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| 2004 |
A Thai prostitute is murdered in Barndestraat. Her throat was cut.
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| 2006 |
According to reports there were 477 licence red light windows in Amsterdam.
The city used the 2003 BIBOB act to try and close one third of all windows within the RLD because owners were unable to comply. However Amsterdam's District Court blocked the closures while brothel owners fought the decision. They argued that financial screening is unfair, because banks and reputable accountants are often unwilling to work with them, making it difficult to keep correct books.
The peep show on Sint Annendwarsstraat is converted into just another adult shop. Only one peep show remains in Amsterdam on Oudezijds Achterburgwal.
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| 2007 |
At the beginning of the year Bulgaria and Romania join the EU. Girls from these counties can now legally work in Amsterdam. Within a year or two Bulgarians easily out number Dutch girls in the red light district.
In March a bronze statue named Belle is placed in Oudekerksplein with the inscription- "Respect sex workers all over the world".
In September owner Charles Geerts is forced to close 51 windows. Amsterdam authorities purchased 18 properties for 25 million Euros (depending on what report you read). Many of the windows are initially used for 'house art installations' and 'designers fashion creations'. I can personally confirm closures included the following buildings-
Oudezijds Achterburgwal 13, 17, 19, 27, 40, 60, 64, 66, 80, 82, 121, Boomsteeg 1, Trompettersteeg 5, Oudekennissteeg 5,
Sint Annenstraat 20, 22, Stoofsteeg 1, 6, Oudekerksplein 4, 22, 24, 26, 30
Several windows on Singelgebied were also closed.
After the closures there are a total of 403 red light windows left in Amsterdam ( I made an error when previously stating there were 400 ).
Main red light district- 291,
Singlebied- 67,
De Pijp- 45.
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 'Belle' |
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In December Dutch authorities announced a major crackdown on organized crime in the RLD and launched what they called the 'Coalition Project 1012' (after the postal zone). Both tax inspectors and the police would investigate what has long been seen as a major problem. The district is considered a magnet for petty criminals, human traffickers as well as druglords and mobsters who use the situation to launder money.
The 10 year Coalition Project 1012 plans closures around the Oudekerk as well as parts of Singelgebied and all of De Pijp. Alderman Lodewijk Asscher (Dutch politician and acting Mayor of Amsterdam between 12th March 2010 and 7th July 2010) stated "Large-scale and drastic change in function of the entrance to the capital city. We are going to reconquer the heart of the city, and give it back to the Amsterdammers. The idea is not to completely abolish prostitution in Amsterdam, but regulate it more, and thus try to fight abuse of women (such as forced prostitution)". The project will also focus on areas outside the red light district like Damrak because, and I quote "The street is dominated by cheap hotels and restaurants, tourist shops, and other 'low quality' businesses".
According to Elisabeth Iping (chair person of Amsterdam’s Centre City borough) window prostitution will be allowed only in the direct vicinity of the Oude Nieuwstraat and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, and then only under strict new rules. |
| 2008 |
In January the city council announced plans to close the Bananen Bar and Casa Rosso. However eventually it was decided that they could remain open.
In May it is announced that two gambling halls in the RLD will not have their licenses renewed. They are Buddy Buddy at Oudezijds Achterburgwal 30 and one on Molensteeg. This is because owner Marcel Kaatee is alleged to be the 'financial man' behind Willem Holleeder who for years extorted money from real estate tycoon Willem Endstra. Although exonerated he was still thought to have been involved in some way and the gambling halls used for money laundering. Under the BIBOB legalisation suspicion is enough.
Towards the end of the year Job Cohen (Mayor of Amsterdam 2001–2010) announced plans to close up to half of the city's 400 windows, 70 coffee shops and adult clubs.
Over the coming years more announcements are made though numbers and details seem inconsistent.
In December Magic Mushrooms are officially banned. Shops are allowed to sell out their supplies but soon they are only available under the counter or not at all. The decision was made when a French girl died after jumping from a bridge high on mushrooms. This was one of many cases of inexperienced tourists in Amsterdam taking mushrooms without knowing the full effects and getting themselves into trouble.
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| 2009 |
A law is proposed that would make it illegal for a working girl to be under 21 (currently it is 18). It is thought that girls below this age are more easily forced or coerced to work. In addition it prevents the girls rushing into a job they may later regret.
Under the 'final version' of Coalition Project 1012 it is confirmed that 26 coffee shops in and around the red light district must close within three to six years.
Later in the year the council suggests the coffee shops can stay in business if they are allowed to move. Exact details seem vague.
A law is proposed to prevent tourists from buying drugs in coffee shops. Shops will be forced to introduce a members only pass system which only locals will be allowed to have. Soft drugs are tolerated though not legal in Holland and it is considered wrong that 'outsiders' should visit the country to buy and use them.
After the city approached DSP Groep in 2008,
Paul Hulshof sets up an unofficial panel of prostitute customers. This is a way that the city can gain opinions directly from the people who visit the girls. As a member of this group I was asked several questions about my knowledge of trafficking, abuse and opinions on minimum ages and restrictions on working hours.
19 year old Hungarian prostitute Bertie is stabbed to death on 20th February in Oudezijds Achterburgwal 38. She is the 13th to be killed since 1990. A 46 year old man was arrested a short time afterwards. |
| 2010 |
Six windows in Molensteeg close temporarily ( 7-1, 7-2, 9-1, 9-2, 11-1, 11-2 ). This coincides with arrests in both Holland and Hungary connected with trafficking of women in Amsterdam.
The vote scheduled for June on the minimum working age of a girl is postponed while both sides examine it more closely. |
| 2011 |
In January the girls are told they must now start paying tax. Previously they had been exempt for humanitarian reasons but after 10 years and efforts to clean up the RLD it is now considered appropriate. Most girls avoid paying full tax though by declaring only a fraction of earnings.
Also in January 'Red Light Radio' opens at former red light window Oudekerksplein 22. Currently they only broadcast online.
Another former window at Oudezijds Achterburgwal 64 becomes an Ice Cream shop.
In March a two year modernisation project gets under way on Oudezijds Achterburgwal between Stoofbrug (or possibly as far as the Paulusbroedersluis on Oude Hoogstraat) and Molensteegbrug. The work starts with the removal of canal side trees and lamp posts. The famous Stoofbrug (Stoof bridge) is also removed for the duration of the work. Heavy machinery is then brought in to build a temporary steel barrier where water can be drained from parts of the canal. Surprisingly the area remains largely open to the public. Windows mostly stay open as well unless work is being carried out in close proximity.
In May the six closed windows in Molensteeg ( 7-1, 7-2, 9-1, 9-2, 11-1, 11-2 ) re-open. |
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Oudezijds Achterburgwal
(14th June 2011) |
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Oudezijds Achterburgwal 66 & 64
Summer 2011 an ice cream shop opened at former red light building 64.
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Oudekerksplein 22
In January 2011 'Red Light Radio' started broadcasting from these former red light windows.
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Oudezijds Achterburgwal 121
Fashion displays remain in some of the windows though many are now empty. |
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Mid
2011 |
A temporary bridge is put where Stoofbridge used to be.
Sexy Land adult shop closes for good. This is the beginning of the end for the area aptly known as the Sexy Land area |
| 2012 |
Romanian working girl is stabbed in room on Oudezijds Achterburgwal at 8.30am 1st Jan. Seriously hurt but survives. Man arrested
Planned closures for 15 rooms confirmed. Due to happen in mid 2012.
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