Dear hoogy, we try not to ridicule each other on Ignatzmice for any reason, but particularly not for the likes of a definition which might be falsely construed; nevertheless, for your future reference, I call on Oxford Languages provided by Google in defense of my use of the English language, specifically the definition which reads:

illusion - a false idea or belief.
noun: illusion; plural noun: illusions
"he had no illusions about the trouble she was in"

That is, the barriers have the effect of caging too many people into a small area, creating the perception the RLD is more crowded than it would be naturally.

... Eric

p.s. I apologize to fellow Ignatzmicers for being lured into what I feel is a superficial argument; for my contemptuous behavior, I'm ashamed.

p.p.s. My daughter always recites, "happy thoughts!", when she no longer enjoys the discussion at the table; mine is, I'll be returning to the RLD in November during the week to avoid both the crowds and the expensive hotels, to better enjoy the women and everything else.

I'm admittedly still pretty new to Amsterdam and I've only been down to De Wallen a handful of times but I haven't been super-impressed. It's busy on Fri and Sat after the sun goes down (by whatever definition you want to say 'busy' is....there's a lot of people about on the street all at once), and in the times that I've been there at various times of the day and on various days, Fri and Sat night are usually when I see a large percentage of the windows active and a higher percentage of the women working being what I consider to be on the 'hot' side of the 'conventionally attractive' meter.

I don't know if I'd ever talk to one of the ladies in that sort of environment. I generally would prefer an incall/prive place anyway, but I do like the idea of seeing what a provider looks like before agreeing to meet her.

it hasn't really got back to pre pandemic days . probably never will. especially as trompetter, dollesteeg etc are closed.
many legends did also left during the pandemic..

however for a first timer it's still very good compared to other european cities in its unique way.

I dont agree that the RLD is finished but I agree it follows the trend we see in every genre worldwide . go buy a lunch in your own city and its probably little more expensive but def not better and so on ... question is , is this trend here to stay for a few years?

15-20 years ago I was a regular there, visited at least once a year. Very nice memories, and great experiences with some of the biggest stars of the time (Nina, Blue jeans Annie).
Yesterday I was there again for the first time in about 15 years, because my wife really wished to see the girls in windows. No interest on my part, but I was happy to see the place again. Big, huge disappointment! Only a handful of girls at work (on a Saturday night!), lots of tourists, most windows dark, empty and rundown, and many many more shops than I remembered. Whatever happened to the Wallen, IMHO it is now ruined. Had I any interest in sex-for-money anymore I'd certainly go elsewhere. What a shame...

The RLD is going downhill for years and it's not going to be any better.

Apparently the building next to the old strip club entrance, La Vie en rose, has also closed in the last couple of weeks. So that whole area is now closed, following the earlier closures of trompetter, dollesteeg etc. (I assume Bethlemsteeg, just outside that building and which had a couple of windows, is also closed although that hasn't been mentioned).

I've had some memorable experience in La vie en rose, and had a couple of regulars there even last year. Genuinely feel a bit sad, i hope those ladies have relocated.

I understand this is temporary as there is a dispute between owners/management. I believe they have closed all of their rooms.
The rooms were closed after Sunday girls told Saturday!
I got this info from Ella, who currently is working in the small passage by Boomsteeg. She told me they are hoping to have it resolved by end of May. She said they will know what’s happening then, it’s not the municipality that’s closed it.
I’ll see another girl I know from la vie en rose tonight so if I get anymore info I’ll post it on here.
Ella was as good as ever.

Thanks for the update. Yes please do let us know if you get more info. Wonder whether the girls have been able to relocate at short notice?

Ella was working just outside La vie en Rose on bethlemsteeg, for a long time. You're saying she has relocated to the Boomsteeg area?

Following on from my earlier post, the dispute is between the room owner & the landlord which is hopefully going to be resolved in the very near future, then the girls would be able to return to working in their old rooms straight away. 38 rooms are closed so it’s not just le vie en rose/ bethlemsteeg.

Ella was working today in the ‘small passage ‘ by boomsteeg (was part of red light windows) she is there this week daytime though she said she was working there Saturday night, would guess she’ll return to here old window, as she’s missing her regular clients. There seemed a few girls in there I recognise from le Vie en Rose.

I think it will be resolved soon, I am certainly hoping as I’ve also had loads of memorable times in le vie en rose/ bethlemsteeg

This news is so tragic I wouldn't believe it yesterday. Exactly two weeks ago, I visited Vanessa in her room at Roos. This afternoon, Vanessa explained the reason is a business dispute having a court date on May 26 to argue covid incurred debt. Apparently, the contractual conditions are better for working girls in Boomsteeg where Vanessa will also start this Friday in room #2 during the day... Damn it, Vanessa standing hot and sexy proud almost 7 years under the covers of Roos had grabbed my attention like a lightning strike; how many hours I spent in her room I'm pleased I can't begin to count.

At least, as luck would have it, La Vie en Proost, my favorite strip club in all the world because they make me feel at home, having moved their door to Warmoesstraat, that is, no longer within the Red Light District, isn't forced to close earlier than 4am on weekends and 3am during the week. Also on Warmoesstraat is Stones where I head afterwards, pressing a 10 spot into the hand of a large bouncer on my way in to feel welcome, until closing an hour later.

Pardon the segue into my April trip report about an RLD not yet finished...

One night, so late my nighttime vice wallet was nearly bare, an older African women around Oude Kerk managed to grab my time and my last 30,- Euro; "Come and talk with me, I just want to talk," she used for extraction. I wasn't in the mood to talk, so I massaged her large soft black naked body instead - massage is a technique I use as well on my lovely wife when she wants to talk but I don't - I cherish these unexpected visits which are worth a story.

I had to meander half an hour out of my way though the RLD on Saturday to visit Tineke, but there is no other good reason for me to walk those inner streets then; the barriers and one-way requirements make walking though on the weekend no fun at all. Sunday night along the red lighten canals was quaint again; Monday was even nicer.

Last story, La Vie after midnight, a young Dutch body-builder kind of dude pushed his way through the heavy Saturday crowd to protect the two lethargic beauties he thought I was simultaneously molesting. "Hij is onze collega," I understood as they were defending me; he wasn't convinced until I offered to buy him a beer - morality ends with the rum and coke he wished to have instead. "So nice of him, he was protecting us," giggling together after he left, "he thought you were our pimp" - still anxious from the close call, I wasn't feeling the same gratitude.

Dorps, thanks for providing an impulse to post my trip report I had mostly wanted to write but couldn't decide on a topic.

Cheers Ignatzmicers,
... Eric

Nice report Eric, some good memories.

Vanessa is indeed a lovely lady, good to see she's found a new spot.

Similar to Rollmech, La Vie en rose has been my favourite spot in the RLD over the years; i've seen a few girls there regularly over at the years and it's always felt as though the girls there have a bit more integrity.

Let's hope the girls return, although the better contractual conditions elsewhere which you refer to, may mean some don't :(

Rollmech, thanks for the update. Heading over in a couple of weeks and was hoping to see Ella. Is Boomsteeg near the canal? Do you know which specific room she was in?

Hope it all gets sorted soon

Boomsteeg is on main canal between 17-19 oudezijds achterburgwal, 19 is small passage with 5 rooms in, Ella was in there. I guess she hasnt got fixed room there but she will be there if a room is available. She did tell me that this Saturday she was working night time as no room was available daytime. The room owners have some other rooms on boomsteeg, as well as rooms next to banana bar on canal, & molensteeg 14.

Sure you will find her, I wasn’t particularly looking for her, just went for look in passage as there was some girls in there, pleasantly surprised to see her so obviously went in, & had as good a time as ever.

Yes, the RLD has turned into absolute shit and the price for a 3-star-room in the city centre has become totally insane. 800 Euros minimum for 3 nights in an ibis Styles shoebox. Wtf...

Obviously a bit of an exaggeration but hotel prices have increased massively since Covid. Not just Amsterdam but around the rest of Europe too, although Amsterdam is near the top of the price rises.

The hotel I've been going to in De Pijp---a dump---has doubled their rates for both autumn and winter.

Air fares from the US now have about $500 in hidden fees, unless you don't wear clothes, want to travel to an airport out of your city to arrive and depart, and don't mind 6am flights with transfers.

Essentially what I got for seven nights in December 2022 for $1200 (hotel, air, local airport, seat choice, and checked luggage) is about $2300 to $2600 now for late 2023.

I may never be able to see Europe again.

Hence, I booked Montreal for autumn for a bargain price from NYC. Their weed is legal and good. I need to learn about their escort scene---I wasn't able to feel weel enough for sex last year when I initially scoped out the city.

It's sad to hear that you may never be able to see Europe again, Diesel.

I am surprised that there has been such an increase in flight and hotel costs in only the last few months as i thought the increases were all applied in 2021, with no real change since then.

I usually stay in a nice hotel not far from Centraal station, and their prices went up substantially in 2021 after the Covid reopening. The prices have been stable since - albeit 50-75% more than they were in 2019 before Covid.

Flight prices from the UK to Amsterdam haven't gone up much since 2019 (I can pick up return flights for around $100).

Hopefully you enjoy Montreal and don't miss Amsterdam! There are a few mongers on here from Montreal who i'm sure will be happy to help with the escort scene. I know there is a Canadian escort review board too which you should consult prior to making bookings.

Thanks, dorps.

I guess from my last trip report I was pretty much soured on Amsterdam's limited scene, albeit Park 118 suddenly looks like they've gotten some new gals that may be worth trying.

Hopefully the airlines and hotels are just being greedy and will come to their senses. With sex being legal in Germany and legal weed on the way, that may be a new destination. I've never punted there, though I did spend three days with a friend who lived in Hamburg back in 1999.

Yeah, any info on Montreal would be great, especially on budget incalls in the center of the city. I know outcalls run $240-260 Can., which for me is very expensive.

I am no veteran here, and I understand why someone who had good times in the past would be disappointed now, but I loved Park 118 when I was there! It feels like they are in recovery mode from covid, and they're making a sincere effort to earn your business. Some of the girls might be a little burned out, but that's to be expected in that industry.

Anyway, as for MTL: I'm a Canadian and I've hobbied there before. It's a good scene for French Canadian girls, who are all pretty hot! The only thing I'd say is your comment about the price: it's a bit more expensive than $240-$260 these days. In the past couple years a lot of girls are charging upwards of $300 an hour. You can still find lower than that, but the norm seems to be $300-350 an hour (especially when the girls travel out to Toronto, they increase their prices even more due to expenses).

Look up MERB for more info on girls there.

Yes, Park 118 does have plenty of new girls. But it has gone downhill over the years, with girls just asking too much for basic 'extra' services, and most girls not particularly attractive either.

I have never been to Germany, but by all accounts it is better for punting than somewhere like Amsterdam (a lot of people love the 'FKK's)

For Montreal (and also Germany) it is worth spending some time going through the relevant pages on the ISG forum (Canada is at the top of the forum). It may also be worth spending the roughly $20 to gain access to 'The Erotic Review' board as there are plenty of Montreal reviews on there.

I think the local review board is called 'merb' but you may need a VPN to access that. Hopefully the Montreal regulars on this board can also help you on where to look for reliable reviews.