Full article: Amsterdam will make promotion of Red Light District ‘more honest’

The city of Amsterdam has promised to review its promotional material in order to cull overly rosy commendations of its Red Light District.

The city is tackling abuses in the area, and actively marketing the 'red light' character of the district does fit that picture.

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: Auditor: ‘Impossible to measure success of Amsterdam’s Red Light District clean-up measures’

It is impossible to determine whether Amsterdam's efforts to reduce the number of window brothels, coffeeshops and call shops in the city's Red Light District lead to less crime.

This is one of the conclusions of a report made public today by the Netherlands Court of Audit.

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Full article: Red Light Radio – Live Radio in Amsterdam’s Red Light District

There's something new in Amsterdam's (in)famous Red Light District: a radio broadcasting live from a former prostitute's cubicle.

Radio Netherlands reporter Patricia Cronie asked founder Hugo van Heijningen what's the benefit of making radio next door to the prostitutes?

Amsterdam Tourist Information

Full article: The connection between Amsterdam’s coffeeshops and organized crime

The number of coffeeshops in Amsterdam's Red Light District will be reduced by 34 percent over the next 3-6 years.

The closures are meant to make a dent in the estimated €21 - 42 million in un-taxed, yearly profits made by organized crime syndicates that officials have documented as being involved on the supply side.

The proposed measure, expected to be accepted by the Amsterdam City Council, is part of a large-scale project to clean up and repurpose Amsterdam's city center.

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Full article: 26 coffeeshops in downtown Amsterdam must close their doors

According to the Municipality of Amsterdam the large number of coffeeshops in the center of town create an infrastructure that encourages criminality. The City refers to such establishments as 'crimogene' -- a term used to describe functions that encourage 'promotion or advancement of -- or susceptibility to -- criminality.'

The closures are part of the Coalition Project 1012, designed to spruce up downtown Amsterdam by -- among other things -- breaking the influence of organized crime.

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Full article: Fewer tourists visit Amsterdam’s Red Light District

Tourists are staying away from Amsterdam's 'clean' Red Light District as a result of Project 1012 -- the city's efforts to spruce up the area.

In response, German sex emperium Beate Ushe, for the most part now in Dutch hands, plans to start a publicity campaign designed to attract more foreign tourists to the world-famous district.

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Full article: Economic crisis felt in Amsterdam’s Red Light District

The economic crisis is impacting one of the world's oldest trades: prostitution.

Prostitutes in Amsterdam's Red Light District told Dutch Daily Algemeen Dagblad the see fewer customers, higher rental rates for their 'windows,' and a sharp increase in the number of customers who want to pay less for their services.

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Full article: Amsterdammers tell City officials what they think about Red Light District cleanup efforts

Amsterdammers who live in the area affected by Project 1012 -- the City's plans to reduce the number of brothels and coffeeshops in Amsterdam's downtown area and Red Light District -- were invited to have their say during a meeting with city officials.

Many of them feel stigmatized by the suggestion that their businesses are somehow promoting criminality.

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Full article: Reprieve for some Amsterdam brothels and coffeeshops

After closing a number of brothels in the Singel canal area, Amsterdam Alderman Lodewijk Asscher tells the city's town council no further closures are necessary there.

The closures were part of the ambitious Project 1012, designed to 'clean up' Amsterdam's historic city center. The project has met with increasing resistance from locals and town council members.

Asscher also says that a number of coffeeshops scheduled for closure in the Red Light District will be able to close later than originally planned.

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Full article: Amsterdam: Armbrug

In the past sketches and paintings of this bridge were used to draw provincials to Amsterdam.

To-date this is still one of the city's most photographed and painted views.

Amsterdam Tourist Information