Dam Square can overwhelm a first-time visitor — crowds, trams, street acts, and little to tell you what actually matters. Get it wrong and you snap one photo and leave. This local guide gives you the history, the landmarks worth your time, the events worth planning around, and an honest take on what to skip, so the heart of Amsterdam is genuinely worth the stop.

Dam Square at a Glance

• Where: the historic centre of Amsterdam (Amsterdam-Centrum), on the Damrak axis
• From Centraal: a 5–10 minute walk straight down Damrak
• Main sights: Royal Palace, National Monument, Nieuwe Kerk, Madame Tussauds
• Time needed: 30–60 minutes for the square itself; longer with a museum
• Cost: free to visit (paid attractions are extra)

Book Dam Square Attraction Tickets

The square is free, but its big attractions sell out and queue up — book skip-the-line tickets online before you go:

History: How a Dam Became Amsterdam

Dam Square exists because Amsterdam needed to control water. Around 1270, settlers built a dam across the Amstel river to hold back the sea, and the city literally took its name from it — Amstel + dam = Amsterdam (Wikipedia). A marketplace grew around the dam, and as the city got rich on trade in the Golden Age, the grandest buildings rose here.

Unlike many grand European squares, Dam Square grew gradually rather than to a single plan, which is why its buildings don’t all match. Today the Damrak still splits the square in two, roughly where the Amstel once flowed.

Where Dam Square Is & How to Get There

Dam Square sits in the historic centre between Amsterdam Central Station and the inner canal ring. The simplest route is to walk straight out of Centraal down Damrak — about 5 to 10 minutes. Trams and the metro also stop nearby, and the Damrak and Rokin canal cruise docks are a two-minute walk away.

From Schiphol Airport, take a direct train to Centraal (about 15–20 minutes), then walk down Damrak.

The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis)

The Royal Palace dominates the western side of the square. The giveaway to Amsterdam’s old power: this 17th-century building was built not as a palace but as the city hall — a “town office” grand enough to look royal. It’s still used for state occasions, and you can book fast-track Royal Palace tickets to go inside and see the marble halls and Golden Age detail. Even from outside, the scale and symmetry are worth a slow look.

It’s one of the best things to see in Amsterdam, and an easy add-on to the nearby Rijksmuseum if you love Dutch history.

The National Monument

The tall white pillar on the eastern side is the National Monument, unveiled in 1956 (architect J.J.P. Oud) to remember those who died in the Second World War. Its figures — a man, a woman, children and two men with dogs — represent war, peace and resistance, flanked by two stone lions.

It’s a daily meeting spot, but also where the country pauses: on 4 May, the King leads the national Remembrance ceremony here with two minutes of silence, followed by Liberation Day on 5 May. If you’re here then, keep your voice down and follow the crowd’s lead.

Madame Tussauds, De Bijenkorf & the Nieuwe Kerk

Madame Tussauds (open since 1970) is the wax museum on the square, with Dutch icons — King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Doutzen Kroes — alongside global stars. It’s about fun photos rather than deep history, and it’s a handy indoor stop in bad weather, especially with teens. You can book Madame Tussauds tickets online to skip the line.

Next door, De Bijenkorf is Amsterdam’s grand department store (founded 1914), and the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) hosts major art exhibitions and royal occasions right beside the Palace. On or just off the square you’ll also find Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and Body Worlds for rainy-day fun.

Events at Dam Square Through the Year

The square is Amsterdam’s stage, so timing your visit around an event is half the fun:

• National Tulip Day (mid-January): growers fill the square with a pop-up garden of hundreds of thousands of tulips you can pick for free.
• King’s Day (27 April): the city turns orange; Dam Square is packed with music and crowds.
• Remembrance & Liberation Day (4–5 May): the solemn national ceremony, then a free festival mood.
• Christmas & New Year: a giant tree, a funfair with a Ferris wheel, and big New Year’s Eve crowds.
• Year-round: street performers, occasional concerts, and the odd demonstration.

Shopping Around Dam Square

Dam Square sits at the top of Kalverstraat, one of the busiest shopping streets in the Netherlands, and beside Magna Plaza, a mall set inside a striking 19th-century former post office. For something more local, the city’s street markets are a short walk away. Tip: the crowds (and prices) drop fast a few streets off the main drag.

Best Time to Visit & Staying Safe

For photos and calm, come before 10am. Midday (roughly 12:00–14:00) is the busiest, with tour groups and street acts. Evenings look great with the buildings lit, but get livelier as nearby nightlife spills in.

Dam Square is generally safe, but it’s a prime pickpocket spot in crowds. Keep your phone and wallet out of back pockets, use a bag you can keep in front, and stay aware around dense gatherings and street performances.

Where to Stay Near Dam Square

Staying on or near the square puts landmarks, shopping and transport on your doorstep — at the cost of noise and tourist pricing. For a quieter night that’s still walkable, pick a spot a canal or two back. See our pick of hotels in central Amsterdam.

Is Dam Square Worth It? An Honest Take

Honestly? Dam Square is a hub, not a destination. It’s free, historic, and the natural place to get your bearings and people-watch — but it’s touristy, and the food and shops right on the square trade on location. Our advice: see the Palace and Monument, then eat and shop a few streets away.

Treat it as a starting point. From here it’s a 5-minute walk to the Red Light District and the canals, and it anchors almost any one-day Amsterdam itinerary. For more ideas, see the best things to do in Amsterdam.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dam Square Amsterdam

Also read: 16x What to See in Amsterdam · One Day in Amsterdam Itinerary · Red Light District Guide

The post Dam Square Amsterdam: Ultimate Guide in 2026 appeared first on Tours in Amsterdam.

Cocaine, heroin and opium: it’s hard to imagine now, but these drugs were completely legal in Amsterdam at the beginning of the 20th-century. It was even produced here! Learn everything about drugs in Amsterdam here below.

Dutch Cocaine Factory in Amsterdam

On the corner of the Eerste Schinkelstraat / Schinkelkade in Amsterdam stood the Dutch Cocaine factory, where cocaine was made from Indian coca leaves. Completely legal from 1900 to the early 1960s. Intended for medicinal use, but it is not hard to imagine that it was soon abused.

Definition of Cocaine

Cocaine is a white crystalline alkaloid derived from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca). It is used primarily as an illicit stimulant drug.

Cocaine Factory in The Netherlands

People could even invest in the Dutch Cocaine Factory by buying stocks.

But far before the Dutch Cocaine Factory, cocaine in Amsterdam was already a widely used medicine for all kinds of ailments. Already in 1870, a man named José Alvarez owned his own drug lab on Zeedijk 16 (a street in Amsterdam Red Light District) where he produced cocaine and sold it in pill form in his shop. Completely legal! The pills were a great success.

Designer Drugs

The coolest Amsterdammers, however, were not using cocaine pills. At the end of the 19th century, the young writers and poets of the Eighties-renewing literary movement took advantage of a now-unknown substance known as ‘Broomkali’, a strong tranquilizer.

It ensured that Dutch poet Willem Kloos became completely paranoid and tried to kill his colleague Pet Tideman in a fit of madness. They lived together with co-editor Hein Boeken in what is nowadays known as the Witsenhuis, Oosterpark 82 – in the east of Amsterdam. Their downstairs neighbor was painter Isaac Israëls who went crazy because of the gentlemen’s nocturnal drinking and drug sessions.

Eventually Willem Kloos ended up in the madhouse where he was helped by electroshocks from alcohol and drugs. That was at the expense of his writing, because after that Willem Kloos didn’t write much.

Alcoholism in Amsterdam

Nonetheless, also in in that time, alcohol was the intoxication that was used most and caused most nuisance too. Figures from the Dutch police from 1915 show that 20% of all trials were verbally related to public drunkenness.

Government campaigns of the time were aimed at combating alcohol abuse, and there were several associations that advocated total abstention. Of these, ‘De Blauwe Knoop’ was the best known. The expression ‘being a member of the blue knot’ has been a character for years for someone who does not drink alcohol.

It is not strange that alcohol was a problem back then: Amsterdam has a long history with alcohol. From the earliest beginnings of the city – from the 13th-century -, beer has been the most drunk beverage for centuries. The locals drunk alcohol from the early mornings until late in the evening. Back then, there was no clean drinking water and tea & coffee were not yet known.

Alcohol fact:

Dutch people drank 300 liters of beer per year, nowadays it is 70 liters.

Although the beer back then was on the slack side – alcohol content around 3% – it must have been noticeable that the entire city from young to old was in a permanent, slightly misted state.

And everyone walked around smelling of alcohol all day long, on top of the smell of unpolished rotten teeth. In addition, people smoked a lot of tobacco in that time. The tobacco was very heavy back then and the effect was comparable to cannabis.

Alcohol Use Among Elderly

On the basis of the most recent data in the Netherlands, it can be concluded that the number of clients who primarily seek help for alcohol in addiction care is almost as high as the number for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, ecstasy (XTC), amphetamine, GHB and other drugs combined. (Source: Trimbos)

Alcohol Statistics Netherlands

Fact: 8 out of 10 Dutch people over the age of 18 sometimes drink alcohol. 1 in 12 (8.2%) adult Dutch drink excessive (figures 2018). That is, they drink more than 14 (women) or 21 (men) glasses of alcohol per week.

Cannabis use in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, coffeeshops are businesses where the sale of cannabis for personal consumption by the public (>18 years) is tolerated by the Dutch authorities.

Cannabis made its appearance in the 1960s. In 1972, this led to the founding of the first coffeeshop in Amsterdam, Mellow Yellow on the Weesperzijde. During the last day of 2017, the first coffeeshop in Amsterdam had to close its doors because it was too closely located to a hairdressing academy.

The government implemented a new law and decided that coffeeshops are not allowed to be closer than 250 meters to schools anymore. That meant for Mellow Yellow – founded in 1972 – that it had to close down their business for some students – mostly adults – who want to become hairdressers.

Drugs Facts

Fun fact: 7.2% of the Dutch adults used cannabis last month and 1% uses cannabis daily. (Source: Trimbos).

Fun fact: Did you know that in Amsterdam’s Red Light District it is not allowed to drink alcohol in the streets, but one can use cannabis on the streets?

Read these interesting 10 laws in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

Cannabis Laws in the Netherlands

Because soft drugs are less harmful to the health than hard drugs, other rules sometimes apply in the Netherlands. Coffeeshops may sell cannabis under strict conditions. They are not prosecuted for this. This is the essence of the tolerance policy (or gedogen-beleid in Dutch).

People will not be prosecuted in the Netherlands if they have 5 gram (or less) of cannabis.

Amsterdam Coffeeshop Laws

For the sale of hash & weed, coffeeshops in the Netherlands must adhere to rules (the tolerance criteria). A coffeeshop must meet the following conditions which are stated in Dutch laws:

• No more than 5 grams of cannabis may be sold per person per day.
• Hard drugs (like cocaine, XTC, etc.) may not be sold.
• It’s illegal to sell cannabis to people under the age of 18.
• Minors may not be admitted to a coffeeshop.
• It’s not allowed to serve alcohol.
• Coffeeshops may not advertise its drugs nor its store.
• No nuisance may be caused to the neighborhood.
• The cannabis stock of coffeeshops may not be more than 500 grams.

Coffeeshops are allowed to create their own product and service assortiment. As long as all national & local drugs laws are adhered. Clothing, food, drinks, weed grinders, mugs and other weed accessoires are frequently offered by coffeeshops in The Netherlands.

Number of Amsterdam Coffeeshops

The number of coffeeshops in Amsterdam has drastically decreased. In 1993 there were more than 400 coffeeshops. This decreased from 283 coffeeshops in the year 2000 to 174 at the end of 2015 (a decrease of 39%). Nowadays there are 164 coffeeshops in Amsterdam. (Source: Parool)

Read this article for 10 free tips for cannabis use in Amsterdam.

Heroin in Amsterdam

While (soft) drugs – like cannabis – were initially fun and harmless, the 1970s caused hardening due to the arrival of heroin. The heroin trade landed in Amsterdam and concentrated on the Zeedijk, a street in the Red Light District – just next to Central Station. The Zeedijk street was filled with street dealers, drug addicts and the corruption among police officers was quite high.

Definition of Heroin

Heroin is an opiate derived from morphine that has been chemically modified. It is used for its analgesic properties.

The Chinese mafia from Hong Kong and Singapore brought very cheap heroin to the Dutch market. At the time, heroin was even cheaper than hash, speed and opium. Because of this, very many people became addicted in a very short time. In 1980, Amsterdam had more than 10.000 heroin addicts. (Source: Jellinek)

The Zeedijk street was a no-go area for many years. But therefore also attractive for people that you would not immediately expect.

Chet Baker

Chet Baker was an American jazz musician who played trumpet and flugelhorn. He was also known for his distinctive style of playing, which included a wide vibrato and a unique sound.

Baker was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, on March 31, 1930. His father was a trombone player in a local band. At the age of five, he began taking piano lessons. In 1946, at the age of 12, he joined the Miles Davis Quintet.

He left the group in 1949 to pursue a solo career. He recorded several albums during the 1950s and 1960s, including The Sidewinder, Chet Baker Plays the Music of Charlie Parker, and The Real Thing.

Death

The world-famous American trumpet player Chet Baker could be found on and around the Zeedijk street a lot. Baker had become famous in the 1950s, playing with the best music artists in the world.

But in the 1980s he had turned into an old junkie who was always looking for his next shot. And that was nowhere easier to arrange than in Amsterdam. Baker had no fixed place of residence and stayed in hotels on and around the Zeedijk, among other places.

On Friday, May 13, 1988, half past three in the morning passers-by found an elderly heroin killed on the sidewalk in front of the Prins Hendrik Hotel at the end of the Zeedijk. It turned out to be Chet Baker, fallen out of the window of his hotel room under the influence of drugs.

The story goes that many people stepped over the dead body of Chet Baker that night. Only after a while the police was called in. This is how incredibly rough this neighborhood in Amsterdam was during that time.

Chet Baker was the Keith Richards of jazz music; a brilliant trumpeter. His most popular tracks are ‘I fall in love too easily’ (played more than 38 million times on Spotify) and ‘It’s always you’ (over 26 million plays).

The text reads: Trumpet player and singer Chet Baker died here on May 13th, 1988. He will live on in his music for anyone willing to listen and feel.

Due to deterioration, diseases, overdoses, addiction and perhaps also due to the death of Chet Baker, heroin acquired a very negative image. The popularity among the young people decreased rapidly and there were hardly any new heroin users in the Netherlands.

Ecstasy in Amsterdam

In the mid 1980’s, a new drug was introduced: Ecstasy or XTC. Originally developed in the 60s as a medicine to lose weight, but 20 years later by followers of the Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh widely introduced in Europe as a stimulant.

From 1983 to 1992, the Zorba the Buddha disco – the ‘Bhagwan disco’ – was located on Oudezijds Voorburgwal 216 – a street in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The disco was operated by followers of Bhagwan. The staff were dressed in red and walked around with dustpans to immediately clean any cigarette butts.

Zorba the Buddha disco had a futuristic snow-white interior and looked like an avant-la-lettre lounge club. They also conducted a joint meditation session a few times a night. According to various sources, there was an unknown substance in circulation around 1985 that made one very happy. It is the earliest known use of the ecstasy drug in Amsterdam’s nightlife.

The revenue of 180.000 Dutch guilders – the currency before the Euro – that was made here monthly in 1984, went directly to the community, where followers could even live for free at some point. It is now a generally accepted fact that the Bhagwan followers were the first to bring ecstasy to Europe. In the late 1980s, the emerging dance scene discovered this new drug and formed an inseparable bond with it. (Source)

Fun fact: Did you know that The Bulldog Hotel is nowadays located in the building where this disco used to be?

XTC Use in The Netherlands

According to the report ‘De achterkant van Amsterdam’, drugs are bought for around 5 million euros during the five-day festival Amsterdam Dance Event.

The number of Dutch adults who have ever used ecstasy is 8.4%. Almost a quarter of 20-24 year olds and almost one in five 25-29 year olds have experience with ecstasy. And 13.1% of all adults have used XTC last month (measured in 2018 by Trimbos: Source).

The Netherlands is one of the largest XTC-producing countries in the world. This is due to the tolerant policy and the low penalties. The average consumer price for one 1 XTC-pill is 5 euro.

Learn more about drugs during our Amsterdam Drugs Tour.

Cocaine Use In the Netherlands

More than a hundred years after the first legal cocaine factory, much has changed in 2019: a distinction has been made between hard and soft drugs in the Netherlands, where hard drugs (like cocaine, XTC and amfetamines) are illegal but soft drugs (like cannabis and magic truffles) are tolerated.

The term soft drugs has since become somewhat outdated due to the high THC-content (16.8%) in Dutch weed. Alcohol remains a big problem, although ‘De Blauwe Knoop’ no longer exists.

The Netherlands does not have a cocaine factory anymore, but in a recent interview, Chief Commissioner Frank Paauw said that Europe is being flooded with cocaine – through the harbors of Rotterdam and Antwerp:

“There is a very large supply of cocaine, making it easier to enter that market. There are also elements of being able to make a career very quickly.”

Frank Paauw

According to the National Drug Monitor, 5.4% of all Dutch adults (= 700.000) have ever used cocaine, 1.6% (250.000) used it last year and 0.6% (80.000) used cocaine last month.

Every year between 7,000 and 8,000 people seek professional help for their cocaine addiction. In the Netherlands, all addiction care (except for tobacco) is fully reimbursed by Dutch health insurers. 1 gram of cocaine cost about 50 to 60 euro in the Netherlands.

ALSO READ:

10x Amsterdam Red Light District Rules

10x Drugs Facts From The Netherlands

10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam

The post Astonishing Facts About Cocaine, Cannabis And Other Drugs in Amsterdam appeared first on Tours in Amsterdam.

The Netherlands went through a lot during the Second World War, between 1940 and 1945. This list contains 5 interesting facts about Amsterdam in WWII and 5 frequently asked questions about the history of Amsterdam.

Second World War Facts

Why did WWII start?

The Second World War began on September 1st, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. This was the beginning of a six-year conflict that would involve nearly every nation in the world. The primary cause of the war was Germany’s aggressive expansionism, which led to the invasion of other countries such as Czechoslovakia and France. Britain and France declared war on Germany in response to the invasion of Poland, and thus began a conflict that would claim the lives of millions of people. In addition to expansionism, other causes of the Second World War include nationalism, the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, and the failure of previous diplomatic efforts to prevent conflict.

What happened in Amsterdam In WWII?

The German occupation of the Netherlands and Amsterdam can be divided into three parts. After the invasion on May 10, 1940 to June 22, 1941, the ‘better than expected occupation’ part took place; Germans implemented a ‘velvet glove’ approach and the economic exploitation remained limited.

From June 22, 1941 to June 6, 1944, as the war progressed less and less in Germany’s favour, economic exploitation of the Dutch increased and the occupation became grimmer.

The third and final part started on June 6, 1944 and lasted to May 4, 1945. Hunger and shortages culminate during the Hunger Winter. German occupying forces increasingly lose their grip and also become increasingly incalculable. Leaders exert a moderating influence, but destruction is still being wrought. Throughout the German occupation the persecution of Dutch Jews was ever present.

When did Nazi Germany invade Amsterdam?

The war started for Amsterdam with the sound of propellor engines on May 10, 1940, around 3:00 am. German bombers flew over Amsterdam on their way to attack Schiphol Airport. But in a sense the World War II had already begun for Amsterdammers as early as August 1939, with the mobilisation.

The Netherlands maintained its neutrality, but the army was put on alert. 75 schools were used to house soldiers. 50,000 inhabitants had to make their homes available to soldiers.

Yearly on the 4th of May, Remembrance day is held on Dam Square in Amsterdam.

Why was Holland neutral in WW2?

At the start of World War 2 the Netherlands was a neutral country like it had been for over a century. This policy had kept them out of the bloody First World War. The Dutch sat on the sidelines as other countries in Europe first experienced slaughter on an industrial scale. The Dutch would only fight when attacked.

Was Amsterdam bombed in WWII?

Amsterdam was first bombed in WWII, on the 11th of May. On the second the day of the invasion a single Junkers Ju 88 bomber dropped four bombs on the centre of Amsterdam at the Herengracht. In total 44 civilians died and 79 were injured. After this incident the next serious bombing of Amsterdam was done by the allied forces.

On July 17, 1943 158 civilians were killed and 119 injured when allied bombers accidentally hit residential areas in Amsterdam Noord (North) instead of the intended war industry targets close by.

Why did Germany attack the Netherlands?

The Netherlands (and Belgium) were located in a strategic position between Germany and France. The route was logical for both the Germans and allies as fortifications were weak compared to the actual border between France and Germany. The Germans also wanted to turn Europe into an impenetrable fortress. Leaving the Netherlands open for an Allied counter attack was simply out of the question.

1 | Anne Frank: A Name Known Around The World

Anne Frank is the most famous Dutch person in the world, but she was actually born in Germany. Like many German jews her parents decided to leave Germany because of the rising antisemitism and its bad economy.

Her world famous diary actually might never have been published had it not been for Miep Gies, who found the diary and handed it to Otto Frank. She later said that if she had read the journal beforehand, she would never have given it but would have destroyed the pages.

According to Miep Gies, everyone who helped hide the Frank family would have faced the Germans because their names were in the book.

2 | Dutch Resistance

This is a fact about Amsterdam in WWII that not many people know. On a per capita basis the Netherlands had the most people hiding from the occupying forces. Nor have there been so many worker strikes in any other occupied country.

The most famous worker strike was the February Strike in 1941 when the Dutch demonstrated against the persecution of Dutch Jews. This act of public resistance, which was violently struck down, is still remembered every year in Amsterdam.

3 | The Bombing Of Rotterdam

Rotterdam used to have a beautiful historic city centre just like Amsterdam still has today. It was completely destroyed by a German air raid on May 14, 1940 between 13:27 pm and around 13:40 pm.

The bombing led to the surrender of Rotterdam the same day and under the threat of bombing other cities, starting with Utrecht, the Netherlands surrendered to the Germans on May 15. Other historical city centres like Amsterdam’s would be spared the horror of Rotterdam.

4 | Homosexuality During World War 2

Unlike in Germany, no people were arrested or prosecuted in the Netherlands for being homosexual. There were cases of Jews and resistance fighters being arrested who were dealt with extra severely after their homosexuality became known.

One of those Gay resistance fighters was anti-fascist Willem Arondoes. Arondoes led a group of resistance fighters that bombed the public records of Amsterdam. The records there were used by the Nazis in the persecution of Dutch Jews. Before being executed Arondoes loudly proclaimed:

“Let it be known that homosexuals are not cowards!”

Cafe ‘t Mandje Zeedijk: Tolerance & Resistance

Cafe ‘t Mandje was the first cafe in Amsterdam where regular and homosexual people mingled and partied together. The cafe is located on the Zeedijk in Amsterdam Red Light District and close to the then Jewish quarters.

German soldiers were not allowed to go in the area, because they’d get too distracted. Cafe owner (a lesbian herself) Bet van Beeren – aunt of Diana van Laar – hid several jews in the attic of the cafe.

Her brother is said to have stored resistance weapons in the basement. Whilst regular German soldiers weren’t allowed in the area higher officers used to actually go for a drink in this cafe!

5 | Dam Square Shooting

On May 7, 1945, two days after the liberation of the Netherlands people were out celebrating the allied victory on Dam Square, Amsterdam’s main square. Then suddenly around 3:00 pm German soldiers suddenly started opening fire into the big crows of partygoers.

German soldiers were stationed at a corner of Dam Square and fired from the balcony. In total 32 people were killed and 231 injured. A bloody start for a city that regained its freedom.

If you’d like to know more about the May 7th shooting incident we recommend this Dam Square Shooting article.

ALSO READ:

10 Amsterdam History Facts 

Red Light District Amsterdam: Travel Guide

Dam Square Amsterdam

Do you know other facts about Amsterdam in WWII? Drop them in the comment section below and share it with the world.

The post 10 Special Facts About Amsterdam In WWII appeared first on Tours in Amsterdam.

We’ve developed a unique Amsterdam Audio Tour app specifically for Amsterdam Red Light District. In it, 22 local an international experts will tell you all about one of Holland’s most unique areas.

Amsterdam Audio Tour With Virtual Guide & GPS

During the tour your virtual guide Sophie will talk and walk you through Amsterdam Red Light District, also known as “De Wallen”. She will tell you all about the wheelings and dealings that happen in the area and she’ll introduce you to 22 experts in their fields along the way. These experts share their knowledge and unique perspectives with you so you’ll really get to know De Wallen; its history and its current iteration.

Get to know what’s it like to be sex worker in Amsterdam, learn what area used to be like, hear real stories from real locals and learn everything about the Dutch culture, tolerance, drug policy, Dutch food, sex education in Holland and much more.

22 Experts As Amsterdam Tour Guide:

These 22 experts are part of this Amsterdam Audio Tour:

• Patrick – The Red Light District police officer.
• Jerzy Gawronski – Amsterdam’s archaeologist & professor of maritime at the University of Amsterdam.
• Veronique Verschueren – “smart shop” owner.
• August de Loor – Amsterdam’s drug consultant.
• Walther Schoonenberg – Amsterdam’s best architectural historian.
• Russell Shorto – Journalist, Author & historian who has written one of the best books on Amsterdam’s history.
• Birgit Buchner – Director at a hidden Catholic church museum.
• Dennis de Borst – CEO of the the famous Dutch FEBO snackbar chain.
• Martine & Louise Fokkens – Twin sisters as prostitutes for 50 years.
• Kate Lister – Lecturer & researcher of the history of sexuality  & owner of the famous Twitter-account Whores of Yore.
• Herman Vuijsje – Dutch writer & sociologist.
• Mariska Majoor – Holland’s best known sex worker activist.
• Theodoor van Boven – Owner of world’s first condom shop.
• Kasia – A Romanian window sex worker.
• Diana van Laar – Owner of Amsterdam’s first gay bar.
• Jan Otten –  Owner of Casa Rosso and Amsterdam’s last peep show.
• Hugo van Heijningen – Founder of Red Light Radio (a radio station located in a former window brothel).
• Lyle Muns – Local politician & male sex worker.
• Piet Middelkoop – Retired police officer who worked in the Red Light District during rough 1980’s.
• Henny Tinga – Front woman of the Salvation Army in Amsterdam.

A Little Preview of Amsterdam Audio Tour:

American historian Russell Shorto:

“This kind of tolerance is part of the Dutch identity. It goes all the way back to the Middle Ages and the battle against water. People built up dams and dikes, creating land where there was none.”

Lyle Muns, Male Sex Worker:

“Personally, I’m an escort, so I go to my clients, rather than working in a brothel or behind a window. I do so because it gives me a lot of liberty… I don’t need to rent a room and work the whole day and I can just go to a client for an hour, come back home, and do my other stuff. This is also why I became an escort in the first place; it gives me the freedom to pursue other things as well, such as my political career. Because I’m so open about my work, it doesn’t stand in my way, although I do get a lot of questions about it. Hopefully, in the future, sex work will be viewed as a normal profession or side job.”

“Hopefully, in the future, sex work will be viewed as a normal profession or side job.”

“And whether you’re standing behind a window, or work as an escort; being a sex worker in Amsterdam is particularly enjoyable because there is a lot of support from the government… They offer health services that are freely available, such as std-checks. There are social services that help you out when you’re having emotional issues. And, most importantly: it’s legal. You won’t find any police harassment like sex workers experience in other countries. I am really grateful for that.”

Amsterdam’s City Archeologist Jerzy Gawronski:

“The word ‘Wallen’ comes from the canals that cross section the Red Light District; the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. A ‘burgwal’ means ‘defensive wall’ with a canal in front, but now the name is used for the canals itself, which were dug as a defence for the city.”

University Lecturer & Researcher Of The History Of Sexuality Kate Lister:

“Whore” originally derives from the Germanic “horon”, meaning “one that desires”. That’s also why I use the term. Not to stigmatize sex workers, but to puncture the shame inherent in that word, and as a statement that by definition, we are all historical whores. We all desire.”

Kasia, A Romanian Window Prostitute:

“You need to be at least 21, you need a place to live to have a registered address, you need a registration at the Chamber of Commerce. And if you are from outside of the EU you also need a work permit. And you need to find a brothel that wants to rent you a window.”

Pros of the Amsterdam Audio Tour

• Flexibility: You can do the audio tour at any time. You don’t need anyone else to do this tour. You can also choose to listen to the content at home as an audiobook, while seeing lots of (old) pictures!
• An unique app: This is the only audio tour in Amsterdam that includes a great variety of experts. It’s one of a kind!
• Low priced: This Amsterdam audio tour app is priced at just 4,99 euro. That’s a real bargain if you compare it to a normal walking tour.
• Informational: 22 Experts and their knowledge in the palm of your hand.
• Modern: The newest way to discover a city like Amsterdam.
• Accessible: Downloadable to all smart phones.
• Exhaustive: All subjects that are connected with the Red Light District are discussed.
• Fun: It contains good jokes too.
• Exciting: Explore Amsterdam’s most fascinating area alone, or sync up with your friends, family or co-workers.
• No waiting around: for other people, or speed it up to your liking.

Amsterdam Audio Tour Specifications

Language: English.
Duration: max. 1u 50m.
Required: Smartphone & headset.
Included: GPS-map, dozens of pictures & stories.
Stops: 32.
Not required: Internet connection during the tour.
Download file size app: 42 mb.
Price: 4,99 euro per download.

Download The Amsterdam Audio Tour

The Amsterdam Audio Tours App can be purchased either through the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Android users. Learn about the Red Light District of Amsterdam whilst exploring the area, or just from a comfy chair in your home or hotel.

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The post Amsterdam Audio Tour App in Red Light District appeared first on Tours in Amsterdam.

Learn more about the most liberal city in the world and check out these amazing Amsterdam history facts that will blow your mind.

1 | Amsterdam History Facts: Canal Ring

Did you know that Amsterdam’s world famous canal ring got its spot on the UNESCO world heritage list only as recently as 2010? Even though the unique canal construction functioned as an inspiration for the construction of Saint Petersburg in Russia. All in all Amsterdam has around 100 kilometers of canals and is considered to be the Venice of the North.

Especially in the past, the canals where used for transportation of products. While nowadays it’s mostly used for recreational purposes.

Canals and Urban Planning – Solving Problems with Design

Amsterdam’s canals were built to solve multiple problems at once. The land was wet and unstable, so builders needed drainage. The city also needed transport routes and organized growth.

Instead of letting streets grow randomly, leaders planned the Canal Ring. The canals formed layers, each with a purpose. Inner canals focused on housing. Outer canals handled defense and shipping.

Canal system goals

• Control water levels
• Prevent flooding
• Move goods efficiently

Step-by-step canal process

1. Drain marshland
2. Dig canals in a fixed pattern
3. Strengthen land with wooden poles
4. Build homes and warehouses

Buildings were taxed by front width, not size. This explains the tall, narrow houses still seen today.

2 | Amsterdam History Facts: Royal Palace Dam Square

When construction of this massive palace was completed this building was actually the largest non-religious structure in Europe. Built during the hight of power of the Dutch Republic the building was intended to showcase Holland’s arrival and simultaneous domination of the world’s oceans and trade.

Royal Palace Dam Square is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Amsterdam. The Royal Palace was built in the 13th century as a castle for the Counts of Holland. It was later expanded and converted into a royal palace by King Louis Napoleon. Today, the Royal Palace is open to the public as a museum. Dam Square is also home to many other popular tourist attractions, including the NEMO Science Museum and the Royal Dutch Mint. In addition, Dam Square is a great place to people watch and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Amsterdam.

The outside of the building looks quite austere, to see the glory of this building one must enter it. When the building isn’t in use for Royal or public functions the people can visit. A must for anyone visiting Amsterdam.

3 | Amsterdam History Facts: Van Gogh

The Dutch master painter Van Gogh was largely self-taught. Only for a short period of around four months did he receive formal artistic training. And that happened only a few years before his death. Did you know that this famous painter actually lived in Amsterdam? During the Amsterdam History Tour we’ll show you the first church that Van Gogh visited when he arrived in Amsterdam.

4 | Amsterdam History Facts: Rembrandt van Rijn

Despite his initial large success Rembrandt in the end died in poverty. By the late 1640’s he had spent his large fortune. Failing to pay his mortgage he declared bankruptcy. He sold his house and many other belongings and moved into a smaller home together with his family. He never recovered financially from this.

Did you know that he got married in Amsterdam’s oldest building? That’s the Old Church in the Red Light District.

5| Amsterdam History Facts: Anne Frank

Did you know that Anne Frank actually wasn’t Dutch? Her parent fled from Germany due to rampant anti-semitism in the country and the poor economic conditions. Anne Frank’s story fits into Amsterdam’s history of being a shelter for those being persecuted throughout Europe.

Unfortunately Amsterdam ended being a safe haven when the Germans invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940.

6 | Amsterdam History Facts: Red Light District

Did you know that most windows are lit up in red in the Red Light District but some some windows are actually lit up in blue? When you see a blue lit window brothel during your visit chances are that there’s a transexual prostitute standing in the window brothel.

But why do all the regular prostitutes have red lights to begin with? Well, red lights actually hides imperfections on the skin of the prostitutes. It makes them prettier. Also decades ago, prostitutes used red lights to hide STD’s.

7 | Amsterdam History Facts: Drugs Facts

The Netherlands is currently the number one ecstasy producing nation of the world. If you look at history this country has been a major drugs producer or dealer ever since the inception of the first Dutch Republic back in 1588.

8 | Amsterdam History Facts: Dutch Stock Exchange

The modern stock exchange was actually invented in Amsterdam. The Dutch invented stocks. Trading first started on a bridge close to current Amsterdam central station.

During our Amsterdam History Tour our licensed guide will point you to the actual bridge and the building where they kept on trading when it rained.

9 | Amsterdam History Facts: The VOC, World’s First Corporation

A stock exchange isn’t much without actual stocks. With the creation of the VOC, world’s first corporation, they also created the first publicly traded company. As soon as the first stock certificates were handed out trading started on the streets.

10 | Amsterdam History Facts: House Boats

At this time there are around 3000 houseboats in Amsterdam. The history of houseboats in Amsterdam can be traced back as far as the 16th century. Plenty of locals still live in these unique dwellings. You could also rent one via Airbnb for your stay in Amsterdam.

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