Ask people who have never been in Amsterdam about what they associate this city with. Many times you will get answers related with the supposedly liberal way the Dutch authorities deal with the use and sale of cannabisproducts like marijuana and hash and the openness of the prostitution in the so-called Red Light District.

While prostitution was taking place over the centuries, sometimes tolerated, sometimes persecuted, the sale of cannabis-products in all openness without day to day persecution by the authorities is a phenomenon which originates just from the mid 70’s. During the 60’s Amsterdam was nicknamed the ‘San Francisco of Europe’. Hippies were sleeping around the National Monument at DamSquare and others were camping in the Vondelpark, sometimes even in transparant tents as they claimed not to be willing to hide anything for anyone. Many started to smoke pott these days. A phenomenon that never dissappeared afterwards anymore.

Halfway the 70’s the authorities decided to experiment with tolerating shops where marijuana was sold under the conditions that no other drugs should be sold there. Besides they shouldn’t sell to minors. They were only allowed to have a certain maximum amount in stock. They should stop any of their clients to cause noise and disturbance around their shops. Soon there were  several hundreds of so-called coffeeshops in town. And many foreigners from all over the world knew to find them. In recent decades the number of ‘coffeeshops’ has more than halved as new shops are not allowed to open anymore and some existing ones have been closed for all kind of reasons. The stores where marijuana and hash are sold are spread-out over the whole city and usually open from the late morning till midnight.

Prostitution is concentrated in 3 of the so-called Red Light Districts. They are nicknamed as such because of the Red Lanterns hanging besides the windows where ‘working girls’ are trying to attract the attention of potential customers. The best time to experience The Red Light District is definitely after sunset as it is most characteristic and busy there that time. In general it’s safe in The Red Light District. Robberies are very rare, but pick-pockets might be among the pedestrians distracted by the girls and scenery. So please don’t take a lot of cash or other valuables with you on a tour there or at least hide it at very difficult to reach places for pickpockets.

At the Historic Museum there is a section about the turbulent and vivid 60’s in Amsterdam. It’s another reason to visit this museum.

In case you are curious about the history of prostitution and/or the liberal policies towards the sale and use of cannabis-products please feel free to put your questions either in your information request, or during your tour. Please indicate as well in case you would like to pass by a Red Light District or visit a store where marijuana, hash and spacecakes are sold and consumed.

I do Amsterdam by night tours through the Red Light District as well, but this is only possible with just 2 guests per tour.