Red Light Secrets Museum
Red Light Secrets Museum
Museum of Prostitution
Red Light Secrets Museum
A rather unusual museum with a very distinctive theme. For some, the idea of visiting this museum may feel like quite a hurdle—while for others, it might simply sound like a bit of fun.
However, the museum is genuinely very interesting. It deals with the subject of prostitution in a very open manner (extremely open, in fact), and the audio guide is an essential companion throughout your visit (included in the ticket price). Together with Inga, who once worked here, you move through the rooms and learn quite a lot.
Unlike most museums, Red Light Secrets stays open until late in the evening, so you can easily stop by even after dinner.
Personally, Boris and I came away with a newfound respect for the women behind the windows in the red-lit district.
My Rating:
The Positives:
The opening hours are unbeatable for Amsterdam ;). The topic is presented in a relevant way – the audio guide is excellent!
The Negatives:
The topics are still covered somewhat superficially...
Note:
16+ only!
Last Modified: 24.03.2026 | Céline & Boris
Red Light Secrets Museum
Tickets
The details
at a glance
Red Light Secrets Museum
Photo Gallery
What is there
to see?
A visit to Amsterdam isn’t complete without a walk through the city’s Red Light District. Located in the oldest part of the city along the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, you’ll find erotic shops, sex cinemas, and the Red Light Secrets Museum.
Unlike in places such as Hamburg, there are no restricted streets here. Amsterdam approaches the subject of prostitution openly and without pretence. One striking feature that leaves a lasting impression on most visitors is the roughly 300 red-lit windows, where women offer their services. A quick note: looking is allowed, entering is encouraged (by the women), but photography is strictly prohibited.
The Red Light Secrets Museum gives you the opportunity to look behind the drawn curtains. Inside the converted townhouse, you are guided through the world of prostitution with the help of videos, multimedia installations, and carefully designed rooms, following the daily lives of the women who work there.
An audio guide accompanies you throughout the exhibition and is essential for fully understanding the experience. Here, the women themselves are given a voice—Inga, an iconic figure of the district, speaks on their behalf. Some visitors may even find themselves blushing as they hear these first-hand accounts.
While the visit can be entertaining, the museum also has a clear purpose: to provide a realistic insight into this world. Each room focuses on a specific aspect of the profession. You can explore freely, and additional information and answers to frequently asked questions are displayed on the walls.
What do clients typically want? Are women allowed to visit the red-lit windows as customers? How much do different services cost? Visitors are also informed about legal regulations and hygiene standards.
Towards the end of the tour, the museum turns its attention to the darker sides of the profession. Issues such as violence and human trafficking are addressed, as well as the often exclusionary and disrespectful way society treats those working in the industry. The museum also commemorates the women who have been murdered. A small shrine with photographs and names encourages visitors to reflect more deeply on the subject.
If you’ve ever wondered what it might feel like to be the one on display in the window, you can experience this for yourself at the Red Light Secrets Museum… but don’t worry—you can keep your clothes on.
By the end of your visit, you’ll understand that the reality of this profession has little in common with the image portrayed by Hollywood in Pretty Woman. Instead, it is a line of work that comes with many challenges—though most visitors likely suspect that already.
Official website of the Red Light Secrets Museum (EN): www.redlightsecrets.com
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2023–2026
With support from Boris Hermann.
