Sjoerd

"Traveler" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
news:[email protected]...
    > Various guidebooks claim that that what these women did, visiting the
    > red-light district in Amsterdam during the day, should be fine. So one
might
    > read the guidebooks and reasonably assume they are authoritative. I would
    > have done the same until recently. But after a slight incident in Istegade
    > (Copenhagen's red-light district), I have decided that if I would not want
    > to go into a similar district at home, I won't do so in another city. So I
    > missed out on Christiania too - I wasn't about to trust the guidebooks.
When
    > I visit Amsterdam, I'm not going to believe the guidebooks there either
and
    > I'll give the red-light district a pass.

The red-light district in Amsterdam is very safe (too many people for much
crime). Just beware of pickpockets and ignore drug-pushers.

Sjoerd

nospamplease

[email protected] (Irwell) writes:

    > Amsterdam red light district is touted by travel agents as a
    > 'tourist' attraction,

I can't think why. There's nothing to see except some fat women in
windows, yet more sex shops, some menacing-looking criminal types
hanging around, and hordes and hordes of giggly tourists. And more of
the usual nice canals, bridges and houses. Avoid. The rest of
Amsterdam is far nicer.

Oh, also, take a camera to the red light district and you can get
stabbed to death. Apparently this is accepted as normal for the area.

--
-- Chris.

blandess

My experiences in Amsterdam would lead me to believe that if there is
any truth to this tale then it has been extremely exaggerated.

Last year I walked in all areas of Amsterdam by myself and never had
any troubles day or night. There is one possible exception and that
was a pickpocket or mugger who seemed to be checking me out so I just
turned towards them and stared at them until he realized I was aware
of his likely intentions and he gave up because he could not sneak up
on me and therefore I would not be an easy target.

I tried to find you on the http://www.travel-forums.com
website but was unable to do so??


On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 04:12:18 -0600, ctewhare
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Myself and three girlfriends returned from Amsterdam on Sunday evening.
    >We went over for the bank holiday for three days. We are all extremely
    >troubled still after the whole event and would warn any females that
    >are planning to go to be very cautious and avoid the red light
    >district. We were all attacked by pickpocketers, drug dealers and
    >litterally had to run into a pub for help. I was pushed and shoved as
    >they tried to corner us in an alleyway in the red light district. This
    >all happened 2.00 in the afternoon as we thought it might be dangerous
    >to take a look around at night. There were no Police and passers by who
    >saw the whole incident just ignored us. We felt totally helpless and
    >afraid and the as we ran, more and more of these people started to
    >chase us. We have since found out that they work in groups and target
    >girls who are not acompanied by men. This happened again on the last
    >day we were there so we knew it was not just a one off incident. I
    >cannot believe that there are not more warnings of this behaviour.
    >Luckily we are all unhurt physically appart from a few bruises but
    >mentally it has affected us all.
    >-
    >Posted via http://www.travel-forums.com

Don Wiss

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 11:06:15 +0100, [email protected] wrote:

    >[email protected] (Irwell) writes:
    >> Amsterdam red light district is touted by travel agents as a
    >> 'tourist' attraction,
    >I can't think why. There's nothing to see except some fat women in
    >windows,

Yep. The women were much prettier in the new red light district on the
barges north of Utrecht. A row of barges with a road in front. Designed so
men could drive by and check out the available women.

Don <donwiss at panix.com>.

Jenn

In article <[email protected]>,
"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote:

    > Irwell wrote:
    > >
    > > On 26 Aug 2003 15:47:52 -0700, [email protected] (Terryo) wrote:
    > >
    > > >ctewhare <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > > >news:<[email protected]>...
    > > >
    > > > We have since found out that they work in groups and target
    > > >> girls who are not acompanied by men. This happened again on the last
    > > >> day we were there so we knew it was not just a one off incident. I
    > > >> cannot believe that there are not more warnings of this behaviour.
    > > >
    > > >The red-light district must have held a great attraction for you.
    > > >It happened once and you went back so it could happen AGAIN?!?!? Just
    > > >what kind of "warning" do you need?????
    > >
    > > Amsterdam red light district is touted by travel agents as a
    > > 'tourist' attraction,
    >
    > Of course, but does that absolve the "tourists" from exercising a little
    > common sense? Usually "tourist" attractions have organized tours
    > visiting them - is that not true of Amsterdam's red light district?
    > (It's certainly world-famous.)



many travelers don't like to be herded like school children in silly
little groups

the red light district in Amsterdam is well populated with tourists and
I am surprised that anyone had as much trouble as reported

Padraig Breathnach

Jenn <[email protected]> wrote:

    >the red light district in Amsterdam is well populated with tourists and
    >I am surprised that anyone had as much trouble as reported

I'm not surprised; I'm incredulous.

PB

Irwell

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 10:11:30 -0400, Don Wiss <donwiss@no_spam.com> wrote:

    >On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 11:06:15 +0100, [email protected] wrote:
    >>[email protected] (Irwell) writes:
    >>> Amsterdam red light district is touted by travel agents as a
    >>> 'tourist' attraction,
    >>I can't think why. There's nothing to see except some fat women in
    >>windows,
    >Yep. The women were much prettier in the new red light district on the
    >barges north of Utrecht. A row of barges with a road in front. Designed so
    >men could drive by and check out the available women.
Can you bring your own barge-pole?

Tony Day

"Padraig Breathnach" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Jenn <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >the red light district in Amsterdam is well populated with tourists and
    > >I am surprised that anyone had as much trouble as reported
    > I'm not surprised; I'm incredulous.

Me too. Frankly, I don't believe it. But there are nearby areas that I
wouldn't go to. Maybe they had strayed? Even then I think it was rather
dramaticised.

Tony

Miguel Cruz

Padraig Breathnach <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Jenn <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> the red light district in Amsterdam is well populated with tourists and
    >> I am surprised that anyone had as much trouble as reported
    > I'm not surprised; I'm incredulous.

Ditto. My hunch is that someone looked at them funny - or at worst, they had
a pickpocketing attempt - and they made the rest up from there.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Miguel Cruz

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Perhaps it's a foolish question, but why on Earth would unaccompanied
    > young women (or old ones, for that matter) even THINK of visiting a
    > red-light district on their own?

I don't think it's really anything to be concerned about so long as they
exercise basic common sense (just like anywhere else).

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Evelynvogtgamble

Jenn wrote:
    >
    >
    > many travelers don't like to be herded like school children in silly
    > little groups

For the most part, I'd agree with you. However, something like a visit
to a red light district would make me opt for "official" escort of some
sort - and tours are the easiest means for a woman traveling alone to
see sites she might otherwise hesitate to visit.

Ryan B

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Jenn wrote:
    > >
    > >
    > > many travelers don't like to be herded like school children in silly
    > > little groups
    > For the most part, I'd agree with you. However, something like a visit
    > to a red light district would make me opt for "official" escort of some
    > sort - and tours are the easiest means for a woman traveling alone to
    > see sites she might otherwise hesitate to visit.

The "red light district" of Amsterdam is not at all dangerous. You will see
families with children etc. No one will bother you. The girls in the
windows are not naked but dressed in lingerie. The whole thing is more
funny than sexy or dangerous. During daylight hours a woman touring alone
would be in no danger at all.

Ryan

Alejandro

[email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > [email protected] (Irwell) writes:
    >
    > > Amsterdam red light district is touted by travel agents as a
    > > 'tourist' attraction,
    >
    > I can't think why.


It's quite different from other red light districts in other
countries.


    > The rest of Amsterdam is far nicer.

Agreed.


    >
    > Oh, also, take a camera to the red light district and you can get
    > stabbed to death. Apparently this is accepted as normal for the area.

It's common sense not taking a camera with you. Surely in your own
city you don't take pictures of drug dealers and/or prostitutes.

Alejandro.

Alejandro

"Traveler" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]> ...
    > I would
    > have done the same until recently. But after a slight incident in Istegade
    > (Copenhagen's red-light district), I have decided that if I would not want
    > to go into a similar district at home, I won't do so in another city. So I
    > missed out on Christiania too - I wasn't about to trust the guidebooks. When
    > I visit Amsterdam, I'm not going to believe the guidebooks there either and
    > I'll give the red-light district a pass.
    >
    > Traveler

Istegade has nothing to do with Amsterdam red-light district. As
others have said, Amsterdam red-light district is always crowded and
it's in fact a safe area given the visitors-crime ratio.

I don't think you should have missed Christiania based on the Istegade
experience, as Christiania is not a red-light district and the
atmosphere is quite different there. Of course, this is just my
opinion and you are free to miss what you want

Anyway, surely your guidebook didn't mention Istegade as a tourist
attraction, did it ?

Alejandro.

Anonymouse

you're just a troll.

in days past the fake-dope sellers did make pests of themselves sitting
on the bridges going "coca coca coca" or whatever but those days are
long gone.

the rld is "lively" but hardly hazardous.

there ARE tours

there ARE cops all over the place to help folks (had a chain pop off my
bike last trip and a couple of cops helped out with a leatherman tool).

if it was a legit post I'd suggest smoking a bit less before wandering
around the district so you won't be so confused.

ctewhare wrote:
    > Myself and three girlfriends returned from Amsterdam on Sunday evening.
    > We went over for the bank holiday for three days. We are all extremely
    > troubled still after the whole event and would warn any females that
    > are planning to go to be very cautious and avoid the red light
    > district. We were all attacked by pickpocketers, drug dealers and
    > litterally had to run into a pub for help. I was pushed and shoved as
    > they tried to corner us in an alleyway in the red light district. This
    > all happened 2.00 in the afternoon as we thought it might be dangerous
    > to take a look around at night. There were no Police and passers by who
    > saw the whole incident just ignored us. We felt totally helpless and
    > afraid and the as we ran, more and more of these people started to
    > chase us. We have since found out that they work in groups and target
    > girls who are not acompanied by men. This happened again on the last
    > day we were there so we knew it was not just a one off incident. I
    > cannot believe that there are not more warnings of this behaviour.
    > Luckily we are all unhurt physically appart from a few bruises but
    > mentally it has affected us all.
    >
    >
    > -
    > Posted via http://www.travel-forums.com
    >

--
"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted,
and I won't be layed a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people,
and I require the same from them"
J.B. Books (John Wayne)