I actually went to the Netherlands on a visit to the University of Groningen, a two and a half hour train journey from Amsterdam. But on my onward and return journey from Groningen I got to spend half a day each in Amsterdam.

Now in Amsterdam I wanted to book a package tour of the city (I swear I will never in my life do it again), found out the name and address of the tour operator from internet in India itself. What made me decide in their favor was they are close to the Amsterdam Centraal Station and taxis are a big no for a broke student like me.

So when I got out (now are you getting impatient that where is RLD? Hold on I was getting there, Literally!) I had to find Damrak street shop number 26. First I took the wrong exit, went to the other side of the station, then asked a person for directions, he surprised me by speaking Urdu, which has quite a few words common with Hindi! Anyway I correctly exited on the other side. Found Damrak Street and started looking for shop number 26.

There is a canal flowing that separates two sides of the road on Damrak Street. On the left hand side I found my shop, there were a lot of open air cafes and other tourist shops on this street. I booked my tickets for the tour and started looking around. On the other side of the street I saw a row of nice houses just beside the canal and thought I will take a stroll on that side too. I clicked a few photographs of those houses and they have come out well, the trouble begins when I have to explain what they are! I started crossing the bridge and then saw a sign Sex Shop written on one establishment and stopped. I was jet lagged and decided that maybe on my return journey I will explore that area and decided to take another route. Later went back to the station and to Groningen.

Fast forward to my day in Amsterdam after coming from Groningen. I turn up for the tour and take a seat in the comfortable bus. The guide explains that ahead is the post office and the station and on the right side ladies and gentlemen, is the famous red light district and went on to other things! So it was just because of that sign on the shop I was saved a shock. I never knew that the RLD was located so conveniently next to the central station! Now I have told you where it is. It gives no indication from the outside as to what it is, so it is possible just to stumble there, as I would have had that shop sign not made me hesitate. Anyone who would like to walk around in cities unfamiliar can end up there!

So now my boring tour of two hours in the city and one hour boat ride (this was interesting) got over I had no clue what to do next! The boat dropped us next to the station around 6.00 in the evening. Now sun goes down in summer in Amsterdam at some crazy hour like way after ten at night (In India it goes down around seven in the evening and even earlier in winter). So I knew it would be day light for quite a few hours.

I am quite timid by nature as visiting RLD etc. go but now my curiosity was tickled. I tried going there, then walked back on the pretext that I want to eat something. Two bananas and a few strawberries later, I headed again but decided to take a stroll in some other direction. I started clicking a few photos and found that roll was jamming. Now for the third time I headed back to the other side of the street to get another roll of film. But by now I was convinced that I am a chicken and I am hesitating to go into the area. A new film loaded in my camera, I told my self firmly I will go in this time, come what may! And I did. So the moral of the story is if you are a shy or a timid person and if you do not know what to expect try building up some courage like I did, and visit in daytime. I had ample time at night but could not visit the place at night alone. And most of the area has signs that ‘no photographs’ are to be taken.

What is it Like: The place is divided in streets and you can keep walking inside the area as you keep moving on the straight road (more than one such roads, I guess). On the both side of this straight road, where I took a stroll, are further side roads where there are cafes (selling drugs too I guess as the look from outside was quite smoke filled) all kind of shops offering various suitable activities like massage parlors and stronger stuff like live shows etc. I cannot give any information on these as I was just taking a stroll there with a big backpack. Then there are of course big glass windows where normally one expects to find mannequins; only in these the person is real.

It was daytime and many of the windows were closed. The few that I saw had women who had stunning good looks to very average (also nationality did not look like any bar here and a few windows had a sign ‘windows available' call such and such phone number). They looked comfortable where they were, so I too was not feeling odd. Most of the people on the street were walking just like me, though I did see a few gentlemen walk in. So the general atmosphere is like many people walking on the streets surrounded by shops that can sell drugs, live shows, other such stuff and some real stuff too! It is row after row of the same thing.

Now that you have got the general idea, let me say that my walk was quite safe though I did hear language that I think I otherwise don't. There was an argument going on the street among a group of guys and one girl where the girl walked off and quite colorful language was spoken among them. Another group was sitting on a porch and getting photographed and looked completely stoned. I saw more than once police in the street and it was somehow reassuring. Also I was not offered to purchase drugs anytime in the entire walk. But I guess I must have been wearing quite a giant size frown on my forehead! To add to the list I could see towers of two churches and a Buddhist style temple inside the area (a sign in front of the gate said that it is open but the entrance is from some other direction) but I was in no mood to discover these places in any detail. I guess I had seen enough for a day. So after strolling on a few streets and proving that I can be quite daring I walked back as quickly as I could!

So the pointers that come out from my experience:

1) RLD is so conveniently located that one can just walk in, even by mistake. I am glad that I did not because unprepared I do not know how I would have reacted.

2) Visit it during the day if not feeling brave enough, but it still required overcoming some hesitation on my part.

3) This review may be hopefully helpful at least for those who want to take a stroll around the area. This review has no price information!

4) I guess I will visit during night if my husband too would have come with me on this trip.

5) I went in with an open mind, not knowing what really to expect and was not overly shocked and everyone left me alone but then my giant size frown was demanding just that.

Lastly here is a link from BBC news website with a main story concerning Australia but on the right hand side there are many other links to stories related to RLD in other parts of the world.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2143912.stm



Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug