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Amsterdam

Amsterdam-Oudezijds to Red Light District

Introduction

Amsterdam
History

Amsterdam again before visit

Rijksmuseum 1

Rijksmuseum 2

Rijksmuseum 3

Oudezijds to the Red Light District

Continuing in the Red Light District

Cannabis museum- Drugs problem

Amsterdam and Jews

Kroller Muller Museum

I'm sure this is a tour that's going to interest a lot of you;-)!
We start at the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. At its upper ends, and spilling over the other side of the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, are the fleshpots of of the city's famous Red Light District, with its provocative women and transvestites beckon passers-by, but also houses some of Amsterdam most prominent churches. During daytime sex-shops, massage parlours and go-go bars just look sad and seedy, since everyday life goes on  and the ordinary inhabitants of the area seem oblivious  to all this sleaze. But at night, the glow of shining neons and sparkling light give the whole scene a somewhat spurious air of glamour and excitement.
Let's start at Damrak , crossing the Oudezijds Achterburgwal to visit a few of historic buildings and then we'll return through Amsterdam's Chinatown.
Leaving the animated Damrak and walking Oude Lange Niezel, you will slowly be struck by the multitude by suggestively named bars, curtained shop windows and pink neon light. It indicates you  that you are on the fringe of the Red Light District. Don't forget we are here in a total democracy and Amsterdam has no inhibitions about any pictorial material that could be displayed openly in shop windows. They are very explicit! But let's go visit churches now;-)!
Crossing the bridge from Oude Lange Niezel to Korte Niezel, you have the full view of two imposing churches. The Sint-Nicolaas kerk with its roof and domes , a few hundred meters to the Northeast  and the bell-tower of the Oude Kerk ( 50 m south of the bridge). Stop at the bridgeand look around.

Oude Kerk

You have a fine view of some of the handsome 17th and 18th century homes on the other side. Don't you think the richly decorated gables give each house such an individual air? Check no. 14 Oude Voorburgwal, with its six-stepped gable and red shuttered windows. No. 19 has what is known a "neck gable", with two pretty plunging dolphins in carved stone. Gable decorations were often inspired by the owner's source of wealth, and have many maritime themes. (a detail found in "The Embarrassment of Riches" by Simon Shama--ed. Collins 1987--. It is scholarly but accessible interpretation of Dutch culture during the Golden Age).
Turning right down Oudezijds Voorburgwal and entering the Old Side, you rapidly notice a change in the atmosphere and in streetlife: nervous tourists try to appear blasé as the are beckoned by ladies of the night. You encounter people of uncertain gender , clad in gold lamé, rub-shoulders with shaven-headed men clad had-to-foot in black leather, maybe heading to the Hanky Panky Tattooing Museum and House of Pain, one of Amsterdam's kinkier institutions,  at no. 141.  Amsterdam tattoo parlours are world famous for the connoisseurs!. The Museum ids not for the weak of stomach or tender of heart: it shows how far certain people could go juts to look different.
At no. 187--opposite the Oude Kerk--pause to note the wealthy facade of the House of Pillars. The lowest are Tuscany style, the next Ionic and the top two Corinthian.

Bibliography

Holland, by Adam Hopkins (Faber and Faber, 1988), Penguin Guide to Amsterdam (ed.Vincent Westzaan, Penguin 1990), Guide du Routard 1998 (ed.Hachette), -Dwalen door Amsterdam en reizen door de Benelux, (ed. Lekturama 1984)