to take a baby to the red light district in Amsterdam.

[honeytea]

We are staying in Amsterdam for 2 nights next week, I asked my Dutch friend what she would recommend we do whilst in Amsterdam, she said we must walk through the red light district it is a real experience and it probably won't be around for ever.

We have a ds who is 6 montgs old. He would be asleep either in his pram ( with a blanket hung from the hood) or snuggled up in a sling.

My dp and my friend think it would be fine to take a baby to the red light district ( friend also had a young baby) I amnot too sure. Dp is Swedish and he often says I am a prude. Dp's logic is that ds won't remember it even if he does wake up ( which is unlikely.) when ds has seen naked women other than myself ( sil's sunbathing and friends popping in and out of the sauna) he has just stared at their breasts as if he is thinking hmm they have milk too!

The culture of sex around children is very relaxed in Sweden, most people co-sleep and in our
Preparing for birth and parenthood class the midwife encouraged us to resume a sexual relationship even with the baby in the bed, ds was given a children's book about the body which included a picture of an erect penis and sexual intercourse ( the book is hidden for now.) my dp has liberal ( Swedish) views which often clash with my less liberal ( British views possibly)

So mumsnet jury, aibu to take my asleep baby for a stroll around the red light district?

I definitely recommend the Van Gogh Museum, i would happily go there again because the paintings are amazing, i never used to be into art before i visited there.

It's a bit grim, honestly, especially in the middle of the day. I went when I was about 10/11 while on holiday because my dad decided it was part of the "culture" of the city! We also ended up in the red light district in in Genoa, Italy at around 2pm. The women all looked bored and not even remotely attractive or keen to do anything!

Cat bars it is then!

There wont be any drug taking from our little group, ds is breastfed and I imagine cannabis + breastfeeding isn't a great combination, also I'm an overly anxious mother as it is. Dp is very strait laced and has never even tried a cigarette. I don't feel concerned about people trying to sell me drugs I can just say no thanks or speak Swedish, I think that would confuse them.

You want to see cats in Amsterdam? Go to the Catboat!

Also, you really should go to the Anne Frank museum if you can manage it.

So many people have got lost and ended up in the red light district, I think the city of Amsterdam needs to erect some warning signs to tell lost tourists to beware!

You cannot wander into the Red Light District by accident! It's obvious what it is.

when we were in Amsterdam earlier this year, we were strolling through the lovely old centre of town with our DC 9 and 11, and were aware that a street or two to the west was the RLD, so we just didn't go that way. It's a few particular streets which are easy to avoid if you have a map with you. The rest of Amsterdam was great; it's now my favourite European city.

'Coffee shops' are for consuming cannabis, we didn't go in, but from the outside they appeared to vary from cosy places with checked tablecloths to sultry bars; they all had a 'Over 18' sign on the door.

'cafes' are for coffee and cakes etc, and were easy to find everywhere. It was also very easy to find child-friendly bars, many of which sold a variety of lovely beers and ales plus food including pancakes (which satisfied my DCs' obsession).

the only thing I did dislike was that a lot more people seemed to smoke cigarettes than at home, and many of the bars were smoky even though I believe they are supposed to have a separate area for smoking.

I remember being under-whelmed. Is that it? I thought to myself. Seemed a bit sordid and grubby. Of course you can take your baby. The rest of Amsterdam is lovely.

Ashoething, of course you are entitled to your opinion! But the examples you give just prove my point - if people spend a lot of time in brown cafés where they can get stoned, they are going to get dealers hassling them!

It is a total lie about Amsterdam that people can just end up in the RLD by accident or will be offered drugs willy-nilly or even that loads of people sit around in brown cafés getting stoned. You have to actively go to the areas where this is permissible and the norm to experience these actitivities. People think that going to such places, checking out brown cafés, etc., is all part of the Amsterdam experience - well, it's not, it's a very specifically stereotyped experience that represents a truly tiny percentage of what the city has to offer and is all about, but if people frequent areas and pursue activities that are part of the stereotype, then they're going to experience that stereotype. Then present it as fact, when it's actually subjective and of their making.

I lived in Amsterdam for several years, my Grandad was Dutch, and I have many relatives who live in Amsterdam, and several of my British cousins have lived there too, and you simply don't get hassled by dealers or whatever unless you are in the sorts of areas where people go to find dealers! It's also very obvious when you are nearing or entering a dodgy area in Amsterdam. Amsterdam can actually offer a very wholesome family holiday experience, if people can think beyond stereotypes about drugs and hookers.

Totally agree with OxfordBags. I've taken my grandmother around Amsterdam and managed to completely avoid drugs and sex.

DH managed to wander through the red light district in Hong Kong with a 7 month old. Mostly just got shouted at by the ladies of the night for having DD out so late, and without her mother. DD doesn't seem to remember ;)

I'm stuck at 'festive'

I think the OP has watched too much Pirates of the Caribbean.

Theoneandonlyallen, I loved the cat boat!

Why on earth do YOU want to go? Taking a baby is a bit irrelevant...

I can't imagine thinking "oh I'd really like to go and see some women selling themselves to drunk stag-doers"

Prostitution as empowering and festive. Really? Some of those women probably have their own little babies that they are away from while they are being fucked for money.

Of course it won't be unreasonable. Your baby, or any other innocent person for that matter, will not know what the scantily clad women in the shop windows are there for, or what goes on behind those curtains.

It's not that the Dutch are particularly relaxed about sex, it is just that their laws on prostitution are very different to ours. While I wouldn't say it is a 'must see', if you stay in a hotel in the city centre, you can't really miss it.

I was imagining empowered women and a respectful but festive atmosphere.

That is the funniest thing I have ever read on MN. Brilliant.

We went on a guided tour of the RLD with Sandeman tours. They tell you about the history, legal aspects of prostitution, how the area is policed etc. I actually found it interesting. I didn't see any of the women in the windows being harassed, we were told they have personal alarms and the police respond very quickly to remove trouble makers. (They certainly dealt very efficiently with a drunk stag party trying to throw a bloke in the canal). There is a kindergarten in the RLD- the Princess Juliana kindergarten. Apparently the children are told that the ladies in the windows are selling kisses!

I think it is worth seeing for yourself. Our tour guide was called Lee, and she was fab.

Malcome,,, you know the usual mid sommer murder stuff without the murders obviously.

Swapping, parties etc... Can just say NOT involved but commen knowledge!!!

The legal prostitutes have to be over 18 and are licensed freelancers. Only EU citizens can get the licences. Because they are self-employed, they can refuse to perform any sex act as they see fit, or turn away any punter they don't like the look of. If they are harassed or assaulted, they can call the police and the guy will be arrested. STD testing has shown that the rates amongst legal prostitutes are no different to the general population. It may be far from perfect, but is it not safer for the women this way than hidden?

If you want to see the RLD , go during the day, walk through it and tick it off your list. It really isn't a must see tourist attraction, it's a place of work. The people working there do not appreciate tourist goggling at them and yes you will get hassled if you are walking around sightseeing.

It is easy enough to wander into it, they are in the oldest part of Amsterdam with many historical places of interest around it. Just that it is easy enough to spot your mistake and turn around. Many good restaurants in the area.

Your DP is very straight laced but calls you a prude for not walking to walk through the RLD?

Amsterdam is a beautiful city, it's such a tourist trap to go to the RLD &
have some hash. Do it if you want, but that's by no means all Amsterdam has to offer.

*Wanting to walk.

And as crunch says, if you wander through looking touristy you will be heckled. And for God's sake don't whip a camera out like my genius travel buddy did.

" Because they are self-employed, they can refuse to perform any sex act as they see fit, or turn away any punter they don't like the look of."

Then why on every documentary about human trafficking is Amsterdam mentioned?

Why on every documentary about prostitution in Amsterdam, it is said that the girls are "owned" by different criminals and in reality not turn down business, if their earnings are not what they should be?

There is always disputes about STI's, including Hepatitis and HIV among the prostitutes, of both genders.

If you want to visit the Oude Kerk (beautiful old church and worth a look) then you'll have to go into the RLD a bit, but during the day it's quite quiet.