Episode 17: Of Monks and Men

This is a special area of Red Light District. Streets to your right are called Bloedstraat, Monnikenstraat, - The Blood of Christ Street and Monk's Street. In Medieval times most of Amsterdam monasteries (that was over 30) were located in what's now Red Light District. So the names of the streets preserved from the old times, even though the surroundings have changed.

One of the small streets that is parallel to the canal couple years ago was referred to as Blue Jeans Alley. The story behind it is rather curious. So once there was a girl working here who, tired of the standard bikini or lingerie, decided to go for blue jean shorts. The girl become very popular, and in no time half of the ladies on these streets were wearing the same kind of outfit. Here is a little bit of successful marketing in the world of prostitution.

In these streets a lot of Asian girls work ,but also corner of Oudezijds Acherburgwal and Bloedstraat is considered transsexual corner.

Please do a quiz in our menu to figure if there are any men in Red Light District.

Photo Boedstraat - The Blood Street by Christopher Elison is licensed under CC BY 2.0