Explore the Wallen (Red Light District)

A visit to Amsterdam is not complete without a walk over the Wallen or Walletjes. The Wallen area has approximately 300 red-lighted cabins, where women from all over the world offer their services. The red-illuminated windows next to the canals are a big touristic attraction, so probably you won’t be the only tourist strolling around the alleys out of curiosity.

Don’t point your camera to the ladies behind the windows, as making pictures of the ladies is strictly banned. Can you resist the Wallen?

Opening hours: 24h a day

Location: Oudezijds Achterburgwal 106, Amsterdam.

More tourist information on the Red Light District can be found here.

Comments

Take an illuminated Canal Boat Tour during the Amsterdam Light Festival

As mentioned in one of our previous blog posts, exploring Amsterdam's canals by canal bike or canal boat is a must-do when you are visiting Amsterdam. Now during the winter months, you can add an extra dimension to your canal boat tour by booking the Water Colors arrangement, which will bring you till January 18th along a range of illuminated art works as part of the Amsterdam Light Festival. A beautiful way to explore Amsterdam’s canals during the dark winter months! But there is more. Next to a canal boat tour, there is untill January 4 also a Festival of Light Illuminade walking tour that will bring you along illuminated art in public parks, art projected on historic buildings and on other sights in Amsterdam’s city centre. For the bikers under us, there’s even a Festival of Light biking event through Amsterdam, called Light my Ride, which will be held January 4. The Amsterdam Festival of Light runs till 18 January 2015 (walking closes after January 4th). For more ...

Hit the ice like a Dutchie! Go ice-skating in Amsterdam

Did you know that the Dutch are the true masters of ice-skating? In total till date the Dutch won more than 130 speed-skating medals on all combined Olympic Games, more than any other country. It’s true that the geographical conditions make the Netherlands a suitable country for ice-skating: flat and a lot of water. Next to that, Holland has great indoor and outdoor ice rink facilities. And Amsterdam is no exception. So why not try and hit the ice when spending your time in Amsterdam during the winter months? Probably the most beautiful and pittoresque ice-rink of Amsterdam, and maybe even Europe, is on the Museumplein. Here you can skate right next to the magnificent Rijksmuseum. Unfortunately for the 2025/26 winter season the Museumplein ice-rink is currently closed. But there is a great other option to glide through Amsterdam this winter season. When you want plenty of space for ice-skating, the Jaap Eden baan in Amsterdam Watergraafsmeer is a good place to be and open ...

Rent a bicycle and explore Amsterdam on two wheels

For sure the historical streets of Amsterdam are best to explore by bike. Holland is as flat as a pancake, which makes the bicycle perfect for getting around. Next to that, there’s bike paths everywhere in Amsterdam, which makes it often faster to get around town by bike than by car. Sometimes cycling in Amsterdam can be bit hectic, but when sticking to the rules, it is a great way of getting around. Explore Amsterdam like a true Dutchy, and rent a bike! This article was written in 2014, hence some of the links were outdated. Read here our most recent article about the best bike rental companies in Amsterdam in 2026.

How to Spend a Weekend in Amsterdam

Search This Blog