Dear fellow micers,

My last trip to Amsterdam goes back to September 2011, I haven't been around for 3 years and one of my possible plans for this summer is to take another trip back to my first playing ground :))

You know, I've been busy with the sauna club scene (Yin Yang, Planet Eden, Golden Time) and others cities in Europe (Frankfurt, Prague, Krakow), but I miss Amsterdam, I miss the church bell, the smell of weed in the streets, the music pumping out loud from souvenir shops, the crowdy pedestrian areas, strollling and walking along the scenic canals.

After a 3 years gap, my informations are no longer up to date, so I got some questions to those of you who kept being regular Amsterdam visitors, not about the city itself of course, about the RLD. The city itself will always be exciting for all the reasons I mentionned above, but the Red Light District might change.

What are the main changes that occured during 3 years? Is the RLD now smaller in size? Has the RLD girls' service really gone down in level as I read in another thread? Do you feel it was much better before, or do you think there is still much fun to be had?

By the way, I was a regular with a German girl named Elisabeth in Singel RLD (Spuistraat 24), and Tunisian Sonia on Stoofsteeg 11, are they still around?

Your help will be much appreciated, thanks

Hi,

There was a thread with questions like those ones you've asked or so a few days ago here viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22767



Let see from my last experiences what I've witnessed of and how it impacted and even changed the RLD.
The closure time which concerned Trompettersteeg and other few windows including 3-2 in Sint Annendwarsstraat had impact on the business itself for let say the last two years now; Since may 2012, most of business which was done in Dolleb, Trompettersteeg, SA, is very low nowdays except maybe for Goldbergersteeg and Bethlemsteeg. Neverthless OZA seems to not suffer from that situation, at least for the moment. Never saw OZA with nobody there.

Dayshift is sometimes dull, during week days (loolz's last pictures here are giving a good idea), and quite animated during week-end (Sint Annenstraat can be quite calm as well, but I never saw that street very busy in comparison with Monnikenstraat or OZA). OZA is always busy during night or so. I guess it's not necessary to say that it can be crazy on saturday night. That said, it also depends on the time you're visiting. Around Christmas it can be very animated and not so in February or September.

Therefore there is one element that seem to surface these days, and I guess it will continue in the next future. During the last one year and half the girls have been tempted to raise their prices, so the sessions for a good 25-30 min, S&F are more like 100€ that the usual 50 for the same time approximatively we used to know four or five years ago when I think, the RLD was at its best for the late 2000's, early 2010 as I don't know what it looked like before but it was certainly much more fun though. It seems that more and more rip-off girls are working currently, we try to keep focused on how to avoid them by keeping updated the girls section. We can also consider Mila as one of the new stars in the corner. She's working day and nightshift, changes rooms sometimes, but can be found quite easily with her name on a plate in her window, Sint Annenstraat 21-2.

So indeed, many changes : kamers that have been closed, more fashion, leisure, food, clothes shops, the council apparently tries to give a "better image" of the neighborhood. A few girls have quit, some of the most famous in the past like polish Marta on OZA 117 for example, as well as Jennifer_Cutie on OK 3-1, . There is a great loss there in my opinion, but that's the way it is one day or another they stop.




Yes, differents scenes, different ways of mongering.




The RLD is not smaller in size, but a few windows are no longer open, so in terms of size is the same but not in terms of active working girls, as they are a few less to work than before.
I think there's still much fun to have. Some of the greatest providers in the past are still working here, like German Kim, Polish Anna, Greek Anna in Trompettersteeg, Dutch Rachel at the same location, Max who is back after a short period of time in Utrecht. No really there still fun and good times to have and share in the Dam.
Service can be very low, some girls are dealing with it, pretending they'll do everything they said at the door, and just starting the upsell once the door is closed, but in general, for an extended session with the girls of Top 2014, there are no really a high risk of desillusion. YMMV of course.



Sonia is still working nightshift in Stoofsteeg 11. Helene in the Singel still works too.

@Carice, thanks for your update.

Finally I've chosen Krakow PL as a destination for my next summer trip. Next time when I come back to Amsterdam, I'll take into consideration your reply and slopdge's thread What's the RLD in Amsterdam like these days.

Hi,

I suppose that Sonia will be there when you'll decide to have your next trip.

Amsterdam is still a very open-minded, welcoming city with lots of things to see and do apart from the weed and the RLD. Yes, it sounds like Roland's signature, but it's very true. : -)

A very useful overview Carice.

Welcome 'back' Farid.
Overall I think that you will find the RLD disappointing in comparison to 2011. If I remember rightly one of your favourites was Julie3 (as she was mine), the type of service that she provided was relatively common in the Wallen at that time - I could think of easily 5 or 6 girls on the night shift alone that were as good as her - now you will struggle to get service like that, full stop.

You'll also probably notice the diversity of the girls has reduced, back then there were still quite a few Dutch girls and many Eastern Europeans (Czechs, Slovaks and Poles in particular), now it seems that supply of girls has moved even further east, with an awful lot of girls from either Bulgaria or Romania. Personally I don't find the new influx as being particularly good providers. The two other things that I've also noticed have increased over the last couple of years; virtually all the girls have tattoos now and many of them have fake boobs.

Having said all that, Amsterdam is still a wonderful place to visit (its just that the mongering isn't as good).

bb69

I was over on May 1st for ine night, and it was probably the worst trip ive ever had/done

None of the girls i wanted to see were working, it just felt crap, probably due to the fact im only allowed 1 unit of alcohol a day, and had to give up smoking last December, so im a more miserable bad tempered bugger than i was before LOL

Amsterdam is still Amsterdam, the city and , the lovely Dutch people are still wonderful, but the RLD is not a shade of what is was a few years ago sadly !!

Who mentioned Krakow ? thats my next trip adventure, for the girls[ + Auschwitz ] Love Polish ladies
ps no trip report sorry, as i did f*ck all sorry
regards

Yeah, it's nothing like it was the first time I visited. In the past two years, I think I've tried four, maybe five new girls in de Wallen (always with some trepidation.) All of them were terrible except for one, and she is so popular I generally consider it a waste of time trying to find her available. Amsterdam is finished as a decent destination for the sex tourist. The boneheaded authorities with their 1012 project, the idiot tourists with their tipping culture and tolerance for awful service, and the girls themselves have seen to that. It's a sad thing but, at this point, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone whose primary motivation for visiting is the sex aspect. Nor would I really recommend it to anyone for the weed either. Not unless you like being ripped off. Oh, but what am I saying?!? There's the Rijksmuseum! How could I forget that?!? That's clearly worth paying hundreds of euros for the plane and the extortionately priced hotel!! Oh... wait....

I'm really not sure what I do with this site as this trend continues. Given the current traffic level, the number of posts on the forum and the fact that we lose money every month, there's little point in keeping it alive as it is. Only reason I do it is because I know folks would be upset if it disappeared. But sooner or later, either that needs to happen, or the site needs to be rebranded with a different focus (perhaps Europe in general, with Amsterdam at the bottom of the list where it now belongs.)

Great reply Bluto
Sadly. all so very true, from what Amsterdam was a few years back to what it is now.
From the early 70"s till around 2010, it was my favourite short haul trip, and i will still visit even if its just to go the free ferry, a tram ride or mingle with the lovely Dutch people.
But when i walked around last Thursday[1st] day and night time, the magic of de wallen had gone, totally, even going into my friends shop [oz117] was a shock. Gone are his private cabins to watch some porn, now he sells sex aids etc and no vids, and has to shut by 22.00hrs !! He has had enough, and is selling up.
+ i never saw one female politie !! Not one FFS, at least then i could have got a hard on !! grrr
It would be a tragedy for this site to close, but fully understand your reasoning, but a " europe guide " would be an excellent idea imho, and as you say, AMS at the bottom of the list

In a few years time, i hope the AMS council have a meeting and wonder where all the tourists have gone, then realise what a total bunch of pricks they have been, Amsterdams loss. Frankfurt etc gain !!
regards

Yes, I'm much more inclined to change the site in this way rather than close it. The reason I got involved in the first place (together with Wim and AmsterdamChris) is that I didn't want it to close back in 2010, but I could not have foreseen the changes of recent years. Anyway, I need to think about it and discuss some things behind the scenes I guess, but the goal is to keep the site around in one form or another for as long as possible. Glad you understand, anyway.


I do think they're seriously underestimating the percentage of travellers who come here for the seedier aspects and, like you say, they will figure it out too late. Oh well. Hopefully we can meet up for a beer in Frankfurt one of these days.

If you ever go again, visit De Pijp. I don't feel that's changed at all. Reviews on hookers appear to corroborate this. Sure, it's small, but it's very much what legalised open prostitution is all about.

Elizabeth, I have not seen in that large window on Spui or anywhere.
Enjoy your summer vacation.

Many thanks Bluto, greenhoff, billybob & danny for your very useful insight.

To sum it all up, I also noticed this thread Service level has gone down in addition to splodge's thread : What's the RLD in Amsterdam like these days ?

That 1012 project is a total nonsense, an utopia spawned by a bunch of stubborn bureaucrats who have no clue about the real tourists' motivations to visit Amsterdam. The RLD's attractiveness, the energy and the sexy atmosphere that was all around, it was unique in Europe, this is what they have been killing through the years.

As you said it well, greenhoff & Bluto, it will be too late when they'll finally realize how stupid they have been.

In the future I might take some kind of nostalgic trip in remembering of the past, enjoy all the other good things the city has to offer.

Whilst I agree that you might be able to get a better sex experience at a FKK or at another European country, Amsterdam still does something for me.

Sure €50 doesn't get you as much as it used to and sure up-selling is certainly more prevalent than it was a few years ago but I believe that the atmosphere of the Dam is still something special and unique.

I'd still rather do my research on here, see a beautiful girl, wander the gorgeous cobbled canal lined streets, have a smoke, have a drink and soak up the atmosphere than go to a German multi-floor sex club.

Each to their own though, I guess I'm less of a sex tourist and more of a fan of chilling out with a bit of sex on the side.

Take it easy,

J

I suppose in my case I have the advantage of not knowing what I'm missing. My first trip to Amsterdam was just last year, so I've never known De Wallen to be any different.

I, personally, enjoy it for what it is. Yeah, the rip-off artists suck, but I still dig the overall vibe of the place. Who knows what the future holds. Maybe things will improve, maybe not, but for now, for me anyway, there's still plenty of fun to be had.

For me it all went to shit at the end of 2008 when Sarah (Italy) left.

+ in 2011 when ABJ left too

regards

Project 1012 is about improving the image of Amsterdam and the way the world sees it. I have many Dutch friends outside the whole RLD thing that hate the seedy reputation it brings to their country. I doubt they care if the cost of a clean up is less sex and drugs tourists who's money often ends up in criminals hands or some Bulgarian family.
I think like most things in life there is the subjective "I want" view and the objective "What's right" view. I want Amsterdam to be as seedy as possible and I hate the stupid art bullshit in the RLD. However I think it's right and understandable that Project 1012 continues to it's conclusion. My only slight concern is that it will force some girls underground and it will be less easy for the authorities to watch out for them.
In June I will be going on my 99th visit and looking forward to it as much as my other 98. To me very little has changed in those 22 years. Gorgeous girls and junk food are still available a few yards from my hotel and that's all I care about. I don't care about prices going up because they, along with my wages always have and always will. None of the girls I see have dropped their service (based on what I want in a 30 min session) and I found a very nice previously unmentioned girl on the "no go canal" Oudezijds Achterburgwal at 41-5 called Vanessa in April.

It's interesting. I never heard of any OZA 41-5, I can't find it, not even on your map. Can you please help us to localise it ? By the way I'm curious & I think I'm not the only one about this Vanessa that you've met. Would be helpful to say a little bit more about her or even better to make an entry in the girls section. Don't you think ?

41-5 is the one on the corner with Molensteeg. You face it from the bridge.

Not sure if this link works.


http://www.amsterdam-red-light-district ... y900x5.jpg

I just realized that I also have not been to Amsterdam in 3 years.

So far I have only tried London, Thailand and a little bit of Singapore, USA and Germany. For me, the disadvantage of Amsterdam compare to London and Thailand is that you generally don't get to do many things like A-Levels, BBBJ or even kissing. There's always the possibility of rip-offs and upsells. In terms of value, it is also more expensive in my opinion.

On the other hand, walking through those narrow lanes and peering through those red light windows is a one-of-a-kind experience, probably the most intoxicating experience in my life. I also discovered punting from a chance trip to Amsterdam, and it changed my life, I believe, for the better.

So it's in Molensteeg not on OZA.

EDIT : I checked George's Map and have the explanation.