Step into the neon glow of Amsterdam’s Red Light District, and you’ll quickly learn: there is no escaping the lure of the window girls.
Using all premium positions from street level upwards, these girls showcase themselves in red lit booths to entice customers inside. As much a tourist hot spot as an active stomping ground for johns in the market, Amsterdam’s red light district can be a dizzying experience.
For first-timers, the openness of this kind of solicitation is a whole new ball game, so we’ve put together a newbie guide on how to approach this kind of window shopping and what to expect.
Window Shopping For Sex in Amsterdam
Nowhere in the world has a red light district quite as famous as Amsterdam, and with good reason.
The narrow labyrinth of De Wallen is always crowded with people and is home to almost three hundred single rooms rented by independent prostitutes.
In order to compete with other working girls, these prostitutes use the windows to ply their trade. Though they are not naked or explicit in their actions, the exhibitionism of sexily clad women stood in red (or neon) lit windows is an arousing and iconic scene and one which captivates the affection of those who love this city.
Being able to walk the streets and browse from such a huge selection of women in this way is a unique experience, but where should you go, how do you get the girl you want, and what should you expect?
Where To Go For The Window Girls
Amsterdam’s De Wallen area (aka the Red Light District) is the main hunting ground. This isn’t some hidden back alley operation. It’s smack in the centre of town, right around the Oudezijds Achterburgwal and Oudezijds Voorburgwal canals.
The warren of passageways around Amsterdam’s old port known as the De Wallen area has been synonymous with sex work in the Netherlands since the early 14th century.
There are dozens of smaller side alleyways that interconnect these thoroughfares with window workers, sex shops, peep shows and cafes lining them all with Warmoesstraat, constituting the main gay area of the district. While Bananenbar and Casa Rosso draw the bigger stag crowds thanks to their… interactive stage shows.
The area is usually very busy with tourists and stag parties. It can get very crowded with a big contingency of drunks all determined to get some action later in the evenings.
By nightfall, the area gets seriously packed. We’re talking selfie-stick tourists, groups of lads in matching shirts, and a surprising number of couples doing some “just curious” browsing (always funny to watch).
If you’re hoping for a discreet vibe or a proper chat with a working girl, forget it. It’s wall-to-wall noise and testosterone by 10pm.
If you fancy somewhere a bit quieter then head to de Pijp (behind the Rijksmuseum) or Raadhuistraat; both known as the red light areas for those actually looking to buy rather than just browse.
| Area | Vibe | Crowd | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Wallen | Wild, neon-soaked, touristy | Tourists, stags, couples | First-timers, window browsing |
| De Pijp | Quieter, less crowded | Locals, experienced punters | Discreet encounters |
| Raadhuisstraat | Off-radar, calm | Mix of locals and tourists | Straight-to-business visits |
Recent Relocation of Prostitution Windows
De Wallen has been undergoing significant changes in recent years. It appears city officials want to address concerns related to crime, human trafficking, and the impact of mass tourism (this article won’t help!).
According to Time, the city has proposed relocating a substantial portion of the prostitution windows from De Wallen to a newly planned “erotic center.”
The rumoured location for this center is Europaboulevard, situated in the southern part of Amsterdam.
It’s said that the facility will house 100 of the city’s 249 licensed prostitution windows, along with spaces for LGBTQ+ communities, cultural events and amenities such as sex shops, theatres, bars, and restaurants.
Ahh, the gentrification of prostitution!
We’ll keep you updated on these changes (predictably, there’s currently much uproar), but for now, the tawdry window shopping is alive and well…
The Art of Window Shopping
For most guys, so much flesh on display can bring out the Neanderthal, and they find that an inner instinct takes over, one that is not much admired or respected by the working girls of Amsterdam.
Like any experience with a prostitute, there is an etiquette to follow, and observing these rules will get you the best experience.
Remember that prostitution is wholly legal in the Netherlands, and the girls here can pick and choose their customers. Act like an ass, and you might not get a piece of one.
How to Book a Window Girl in Amsterdam
Let’s break it down, nice and simple.
You see a girl you like in a window. You catch eyes. You nod. Maybe she waves. If she doesn’t, move on. If she does, congrats… you’re in.
Now what?
You walk up. You give a little smile or say hello. She’ll usually open the door. You ask how much. She tells you the price. If you like the offer, you go in. If not, you thank her and move on.
It’s not rocket science. But here are a few tips to avoid looking like a lost puppy on a stag do:
- Don’t take photos. Seriously, fellas. You will get shouted at. Or worse.
- Don’t push aggressively for discounts. This isn’t a market stall. A little haggling can produce results on a slow night, but it’s also a fast-track to getting the door slammed in your face.
- Be clear and polite. Say what you’re into (briefly). Most girls will say yes or no upfront.
- Don’t loiter. If you’re not booking, keep walking.
Once inside, you’ll usually get 15–20 minutes for a standard full-service session. Extras cost more. Don’t assume anything.
The experience is designed to be ‘tourist-friendly’, but there are some key points to keep in mind.
The most obvious…
Don’t Be Standing and Staring
Standing and staring too long at any window girl is not good practice and is more likely to make you look like a freeloader than a decisive punter.
If you need to get your eye in, spend some time walking around the area slowly to give yourself an idea of what’s on offer.
Not only will this give you a chance to get a feel for the area, but it will also get you used to quickly clocking some of what you fancy. Having said that, if you see someone that you particularly like the look of, then don’t take a chance on coming back, as she may well have been taken by then.
When you see a window you like the look of, approach her with confidence and make eye contact. If she hasn’t made a move to intercept you before you arrive then gently tap on the window to indicate you are interested.
On a slow night, you may find that some of the girls might tap the window first to attract your attention. This often indicates that this is a buyer’s market, so you should expect a lower price.
Prices and Expectations
Once you have her attention, the first thing you need to do is to establish the cost of her services and exactly what that includes.
You should be looking at anything from €50-100 for straight sex with oral, but anything fancy on top of that will either cost you extra or be politely refused. Slow nights might see this reduced to €40-50, and you may be able to negotiate these rates down, but doing so may risk her flatly refusing.
Once you’ve agreed on a cost (and a specific service), she will generally point you ahead of her in the direction of her room.
This could be anywhere in the building: upstairs, downstairs, in the back, but nine times out of ten, you will be asked to lead the way. This is common practice and is a way for her to assess your manner and state before she’s committed to being in an enclosed space with you. If you are falling over drunk or in an agitated state, acting erratically, she may well refuse your service and call for backup.
Don’t be offended by being checked out in this way; it’s good safety sense.
Getting Down To Business
As soon as the door closes, then, your time has begun, and it is at this point that you should handle the ‘transaction’.
Get the money out of the way and, if you have any last requests for the performance, now is your chance.
You will need to get undressed (as your host will), and you can expect to be asked to lie down on the bed. At this point, it is usual for her to put a condom on you and then give you a blowjob for a couple of minutes.
Penetrative sex is usually one of two or three standard positions, and once you are finished, your time is up. If your time is up before you are finished, then the general rule is ‘tough luck’.
It’s a good idea to bear this in mind when you start to ensure that you have paid for enough time and use the time you do have wisely…
Your host will usually give you a perfunctory clean-up with some tissue and dispose of the condom, but then you are expected to leave. Don’t expect machine the way of pillow talk!
Lastly, first-timers should remember that window girls expect to be treated with respect and do not appreciate newcomers expecting their experience to come straight from the set of a porn film.
The girls are professional and provide a service but do not perform gymnastics whilst being grabbed and pulled about…
