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Insights from Local Residents
Happy residents: Rachel Bonnewell runs boutique hotel Misc eatdrinksleep and De Wallen craft cocktail bar Rosalia’s Menagerie with her husband.Provocative neighborhood: What’s it like to live in a place synonymous with sex shops, cafes, and drunken tourists? Six residents of Amsterdam’s De Wallen red-light district have their say.
Challenges Faced by Residents
Noise factor: Martine Groen, 70, who has lived along canal Oudezijds Achterburgwal for years, says she experiences a lot of nuisance behavior from loud tourists.
Community Initiatives
Campaign hopes: The municipality of Amsterdam has teamed up with local residents to launch the ‘We Live Here’ campaign.
Residents’ Experiences
Family ties: Sascha Kok, 49, moved to the red-light district after visiting regularly as a child and now helps to run the bookshop Antiquariaat A. Kok & Zn. B.V, which her family owns.Tourism impact: ‘The neighborhood has changed for the better, but the number of visitors has increased,’ says Kok. ‘The larger groups are the worst — they don’t care that people live here.’
Community Solidarity
Community spirit: Long-term residents Willemijn Tybout, 41, and Justus Dolleman, 52, say there’s a strong solidarity between red-light district locals.Visitor overload: The Dutch capital receives around 18 million annual visitors each year, and the red-light district is one of its many popular spots.
Personal Stories
Big move: Paul van Egmond, 51, relocated to the red-light district over a decade ago and has never looked back.Unique place: ‘I know all my neighbors, along with the prostitutes and window operators,’ says Egmond. ‘They are all friendly people.’
