The Amsterdam Red-Light District

Probably you have heard about the Amsterdam Red-Light District as this is a very famous section in the Netherlands. Much to your surprise, what you may have heard is true! Here are some facts about the Amsterdam Red-Light District, a place unlike any place else.

The famous Amsterdam Red-Light District covers a large area in the oldest part of the city. It has been servicing the personal needs and desires of locals and visitors for five centuries, and thanks to the old buildings leaning at odd angles overlooking the tree-enshrouded canals that a certain charm tempts you to linger longer in the area. In this district, music of every genre can be heard along the streets from a dozen or more places late at night. And, it is the classier restaurants, redone streets, and revamped facades that transform what once dark and dingy into one of the most attractive parts of town – the Amsterdam Red-Light District.

Prostitution in the District

Did you know that prostitution is legal in the Netherlands? Yes, it is! It is most concentrated in the Amsterdam Red-Light District where it has enjoyed a long tradition of tolerance. It has been reported that since October 2000, window prostitutes have been allowed to legally ply their trade. Much to your surprise, the prostitutes in the Netherlands are also taxpayers. However, discrimination is still very much part and parcel in this kind of trade as a number of the prostitutes reported that some banks even refuse to grant mortgages for instance.

Now, as a legal profession, the government ensures that all prostitutes are able to access medical care and work in better conditions by way of regulating and monitoring working practices and standards. Also, it is worth noting that contrary to the popular belief, the Amsterdam Red-Light District is actually the safest area in the city as clusters of policemen and private bodyguards employed by the girls themselves are always on duty.

The Chinatown

The Amsterdam Red-Light District is one of the few places on earthy where you can authentic and really tasty Chinese food. The restaurants in this district are easy to find as cooked Duck is typically hung in the front window. However, Chinatown in itself is misleading as there are also dozens of Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai restaurants and cafés scattered along the beautiful canals. Besides the restaurants, there are other Chinese businesses in the Amsterdam Red-Light District, including a well stocked supermarket across from the Waag, near the Nieuwemarkt.

The Red-Light District Today


Amsterdam now prides itself on its wholly liberal and tolerant attitude. The city embraces, with the Amsterdam Red-Light District, embraces the fact that people may be into prostitution, pornography and soft drugs. So, instead of criminalizing everything, Amsterdam wears its heart on its sleeve. What you see is generally what you get. So, how do you get to it? The answer basically lies on which Amsterdam Red-Light District you are looking for. There are actually three Red-Light Districts in the city: the main area is in the Walletjes area, the Singel, and de Pijp.

The Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Highly accessible by air, land or sea, the Amsterdam is basically one of Europe’s top destinations. Affordable flights from within Europe, as well as direct flights from outside of the continent are readily available with the service of Europe’s fourth largest airport – the Amsterdam airport Schiphol.

The Amsterdam Airport Schiphol sees itself as far more than an airport. As claimed on its miniguide, which is obtainable from the information desks of the airport, the Amsterdal airport Schiphol is the Netherlands newest city as it caters to an audience wider than the humble trekker.

What sets the Amsterdam airport Schiphol apart from the other European airports is that, it offers a number of great attractions. Included in the list are the casino, the sauna and massage service. There was even a time that one entrepreneur was interested in opening a discreet licensed brother at this Amsterdam airport, bur even the liberal Dutch required time on that.

Driving Directions

The Amsterdam airport Schiphol is actually situated off the A4 motorway, which connects the city of Amsterdam to The Haque, Netherland’s seat of government, and Rotterdam. The exit to the airport is clearly signposted.

Car Parking

There are two short-term car parks in the Schiphol: the P1 and P2. These two are both connected to the terminal and the Schiphol Plaza by covered walkways, and is recommended of stays for up to 48 hours. Aside from the short-term car parks, there is also an available long-term parking in the airport, at an open-air P3. This car park area is situated 4 kilometers from the terminal, and a 24-hour shuttle bus is servicing in this area to provide links between P3 and the terminal. A luxury car park is also available, including a valet service.

The Bad Marks and Plus Points of the Schiphol Airport

There are a number of reasons for choosing the Amsterdam airport Schiphol. One of those is the fact that all the offbeat attractions of the airport are housed under one roof, with none of the terminal hopping that causes minor panic in transfer passengers or sometimes confuses unwary first time users. Aside from that is the fact that every great things stems from the vast Schiphol Plaza, which is the central hall of this Amsterdam airport. It is actually the plaza which provides easy access to car parks and the conveniently located rail station. In addition, it is the plaza which places pressure on your wallet as it provides a number of shops, with 40 shops currently on record.

The Schiphol airport further scores highly for its catering service that is offered both before and after passport security. It is even noted for its great thoughtful touches like a nursery for people traveling with young children. What’s more, the Amsterdam airport Schiphol is just so close to the city of Amsterdam with good transport links. It even has the best viewing terrace designed and built for aircraft enthusiasts at any major European hub airport.


However, just like many other airports in different areas in the world, the Amsterdam airport Schiphol has a reputation for baggage handling problems that greatly affected transfer passengers. And, for many people, its business center which is located airside only serves as bad mark for the airport.

The Incredible History of San Francisco

I grew up watching cowboy movies and tales of the old Wild West on weekend television with my dad. I can't help but think of those old black and white movies whenever I think of San Francisco or California in general. Whenever I think of visiting San Francisco there is a part of me that visualizes the San Francisco of old, long before the earthquake of 1906, or not so long before actually.

If you share my vision of a Wild West San Francisco or just wonder what it would have been like to walk down the streets of old, then perhaps one of these museums will help give you a taste of the good ole west without the outhouses (the one thing I never really could wrap my mind around). Even if you can handle a world without indoor plumbing, the idea of enjoying the greatest of the past while still experiencing the comforts of modern existence is quite appealing to me.

That being said, the first Museum on my list is an outdoor museum known as The Gold Rush Trail. To walk The Gold Rush Trail is literally to follow in the footsteps of history. Even though it isn't a museum that is filled with relics of the past, if you close your eyes and listen intently perhaps you can hear the ghosts of yesterday as they tell you the story of how this fair city began and what it has become today.

The next point of interest is The Society of California Pioneers. The society offers not only a museum but a library as well that are both open to the public and feature programs that focus on California. If you need snapshots of the vibrant history of California as well as San Francisco this is a good place to begin your search. If you don't find what you are looking for in the museum check out the library and see if they have something that will quench your thirst for historical knowledge.

The Museum of the City of San Francisco is next on my list of places that offer a glimpse into the past of this phenomenal city. If you haven't found what you are looking for on your first two stops, then perhaps this museum will provide the answers, or simply the moment in time, that you are seeking. This is by far my favorite for learning about the history of San Francisco specifically. With exhibits dedicated to events such as the Gold Rush, the earthquake of 1906, and the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, there is no doubt that you are getting the history of this city, not the state, and not the country. I think there is a lot to be said about history and how it always seems to have such a profound effect upon the future. If you are able to visit this museum I would certainly recommend it above most others in the area for an authentically San Francisco ambiance at the very least.

The history of any city is a vital ingredient in what makes that city the success or failure that it has become. Not only do the events in a cities history have a significant impact on the future of a city, but also the people of a city. It is the people of any city that recover, rebuild, and remain or pack up and leave. Isn't it incredible that we have the opportunity to learn about these great people?


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