How do Dutch people REALLY feel about the Red Light District?

Question

Are Dutch people in general REALLY ok with the Red Light District being such a World Famous tourist attraction? Would you have no problem telling tourists how to get there if your sister, mother or girlfriend worked there? Just wondering ;)

Thanks for answering everybody! I'm not going to pic a best answer because they're all equally interesting... If anyone wants to discuss it or hear what my opinion is, please check out my 360 profile... Thanks again for answering!

Really great answers! :) I wish I could give them all a star :)

It says; "You can't answer your own question." so this is not just a cheap way to lure you to my 360 profile, well, not just anyway ;)

I gave everyone a thumbs up :)

hmmm, ok, well, maybe there is one I like best...

Answer 1

I cannot speak for other Dutch people, but I don't really like it - just don't like the way women are exploited.

The fact that it's legal does have a few positive things such as more openness, tax and there will probably be less attacks / rapes on the streets - at least that is what some studies showed.

Above writer is right: Dutch are tolerant and wouldn't judge women who work in this industry. But although there are a lot of women who work there because they like it and they like the money, there are lots of women that work there under force. They came to Holland under the pretext they were going to work in hospitality or as an au pair but had their passports stolen by a pimp as soon as they arrived at the airport. This is not just one story - it happens a lot. A lot of them are also under age.... it's extremely sad.

As a person with a bit of moral this is a problem you cannot look away from and I think a lot of Dutch people see this as a problem.

Answer 2

Very simple... Do NOT take photographs!! I cant stress this enough. They have bouncers that will throw you and/or your camera into the river. Also many people see a sex show... thats your choice, i saw one but personally i didnt get it... I thought it was a waste, its just people having sex, but not like passionate sex, just unemotion continuous sex and the stage rotates and its different people having sex... interesting.. but kinda a waste for the prices Besides for this... just use common sense that you would whenever traveling. There are plenty of beautiful women (many of which are very young) its kinda sad... I wouldnt recommend using the prostitutes although they are much cleaner than anywhere else (they are forced into regular STD checks) ... Still they have sex a lot... and you know who knows if they contracted an STD that night from a guy just before you. Again though thats common sense If you decide to smoke or do drugs (which is not advised) please be careful, only purchase from the coffee shops (not from side vendors)... Don't piss on the street (because this is illegal, and you could get a rather large ticket) Thats all I can think of now... remember like anywhere when you travel use common sense and you should be okay... This sounds simple, but with all the guilty pleasures in amsterdam, its easy to get taken advantage of when your stoned out of your mind or so drunk you cant walk. It makes you an easy target for pickpockets and all the other stuff That said, have fun, be safe! Holland is a wonderful place, with wonderful people. Its a shame that most people only see amsterdam. If you have time, take a train around and check out all the other little places in netherlands... You can probably do it in a day because the country is so small... I'd buy a round trip ticket from Amsterdam to Maastricht, and get out on all the little stops along the way... trains run by often so its easy to catch the last one.. The only place i didnt like was Den Haag (The Hague), the only place in all of europe people were excessively rude and nasty! I lived in Maastricht for a while, and really really like it, its a wonderful city and the oldest cities in netherlands Have fun!

Answer 3

I`m dutch - and i don`t really care about the red light district, IF the women there (and in some cases even men) work of their own free will there.

Since i have no relatives working there, that point is irrelevant, and i can`t give you an honest answer because i don`t know.

As it being a tourist attraction - i`ve seen it, and i`m not impressed. If that is all Holland has to offer, it`s a sad state we`re in.

But then, it would seem american tourists only come for weed and the red light district anyways.

Answer 4

The Dutch are actually a conservative people but very tolerant. Some Dutch however do seem embarrassed. Recently there have been steps in the Dutch Parliament to put more controls on the liberal scene. At the end of the day the Red Light will always be there. Lots of tax revenue. Their official english language website mentions it as a tourist attraction.

www.iamamsterdam.nl

Answer 5

Most Dutch are not proud of the red light district. They are somewhat proud of being liberal, but this is one of the not so good results of taking a liberal view.

Of course some think it is okay. And prostitution is not illegal. That was supposed to be a practical way to regulate the sector and fight against women-trade. I think this does not work very good, but better than without regulation.

But when a Dutch politician was exposed as a visitor of whores, he had to step down. The city does not except Aldermen who admit to visit the red light district. This shows that the red light district is not accepted by the majority of the Dutch. Do not tell them a girl friend or sister works there.

Answer 6

I don't like speaking for other people, but I'm Dutch and I am glad it's legal. I think it's ridiculous the one politician had to step down after it came out he'd been going there; after all it *is* legal, so it's none of anyone's business what he does in his free time. Now if he'd been going there in work time or put the girls on his expense account, okay, but I thought it was very sad that he had to go because of such a 'scandal' which really shouldn't be a scandal at all!

Answer 7

First of all, aren't you Dutch? :-P

Anyway, I am ok with it. I wouldn't say I'm proud of the Red Light District but I think it's better for the women working there. Otherwise you see they will work alongside the highway. Hookers are everywhere and prostitution will probably happen anyway. I think I would have a problem if my sister or mom would work there, but if it's my girlfriend I would probably be ok with it...because if I weren't, I wouldn't even consider a relationship with her ;-)

Answer 8

Many Dutch people don't like it but are used to it. It's like how many Americans feel about big, evil Wal-mart. It's there, it brings in revenue and many tourists in America feel the compulsion to see it because they (mistakenly) feel that it is an embodiment of America, something they "can't miss" when really... they could. Same with the Rosse Buurt. If you spent a month and Holland, and never saw it, you wouldn't be missing anything.
It's not a happy fun sexland. It's a sad place.

Answer 9

I think it's very healthy. In so many countries these things happen in hidden places and situations. This way it canalises people with needs.

The question should in fact be : if your mother or sister was a prostitute, would you prefer her to work in an illegal, unsafe, unhealthy, unstable, hidden place, or in protected legality ?

Or perhaps, do you want your mother and sister to live in a country where there might be a high number of men becoming peeping toms or frustrates... or in the Netherlands ?

Prostitution is said to be the worlds oldest profession and I think the Netherlands dealt superbly with it.

Answer 10

i am ok with it, i don't see my mom sitting there or my sister, if i had a friend who was really enjoying it, ppfffff why not and hell yeah i would tell people to go to her, so she will have some extra bussiness hahahaha
nah but for real, why would we have a problem with it, i don't see nothing wrong with it at all, but sometimes it does anoy me that some tourist can only think of holland as being legal weed and Ho's, holland is amsterdam to them , wrong, there are other great places to go see.
ones you say you from holland, first thing they ask is " you from amsterdam???" so ignorant, like all americans are from NY??? all brits are from London??? all french from Paris??? hahahahahahahaha