Experience the best of Red Light Secrets – Museum of Prostitution

Red Light Secrets offers a rare look inside Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District through stories, exhibits, and a former working brothel. Book Red Light Secrets Museum tickets or value-packed Headout combos that pair the museum with a Red Light District walking tour, Rijksmuseum visit, Amsterdam canal cruise, or Heineken Experience.

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Slide 1 of 10, Interior of Museum of Prostitution in Amsterdam with visitors exploring exhibits.

Framed portraits at Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution, Amsterdam.

Visitors exploring exhibits at Red Light Secrets Museum in Amsterdam.

Two mannequins in a window display at Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution, Amsterdam.

Office setup with vintage computer and decor at Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution.

Visitors reading confessions at Red Light Secrets Museum in Amsterdam.

Interior view of Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution with window overlooking Amsterdam street.

Red Light Secrets Museum room with bed, mirror, and window view.

Luxurious bathroom exhibit at Red Light Secrets Museum, Amsterdam.

Wall text inside Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution, Amsterdam.

Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution Tickets

Explore at your pace

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Explore Red Light Secrets, a museum dedicated to prostitution, featuring authentic interiors, interactive exhibits, and firsthand accounts from sex workers.
This is your chance to explore the world's only prostitution museum and gain insights unavailable through sightseeing alone.
Multilingual commentary transforms preserved rooms and objects into meaningful stories, giving greater depth to every part of your visit.
Add a 1 hour sightseeing cruise and admire UNESCO-listed waterways, charming canal houses, and iconic bridges with commentary in 19 languages.

More details

Explore Red Light Secrets, a museum dedicated to prostitution, featuring authentic interiors, interactive exhibits, and firsthand accounts from sex workers.
This is your chance to explore the world's only prostitution museum and gain insights unavailable through sightseeing alone.
Multilingual commentary transforms preserved rooms and objects into meaningful stories, giving greater depth to every part of your visit.
Add a 1 hour sightseeing cruise and admire UNESCO-listed waterways, charming canal houses, and iconic bridges with commentary in 19 languages.

from

€14.50

Slide 1 of 9, Tour group walking through Amsterdam's Red Light District with guide, near coffeeshops.

Amsterdam's red light district at night with illuminated windows and narrow street.

Guide explaining shop display during red light district walking tour.

Neon sign in Amsterdam's Red Light District depicting a dancer, part of the Coffeeshop Tour.

Tourists photographing in Amsterdam's red light district by a canal.

Tourist photographing canal houses in Amsterdam's red light district.

Coffee shop sign with "Old Amsterdam" text in Amsterdam.

Tour group exploring Amsterdam's Red Light District with a guide.

Oude Kerk exterior illuminated at night, Amsterdam canal in foreground.

Amsterdam: Red Light District Guided Walking Tour

1 hr 30 mins

Discover Amsterdam’s Red Light District on a 1.5-hour guided walking tour—no planning needed, and gain insights, highlights, and cultural context.
Walk past iconic landmarks like the Oude Kerk and Warmoestraat as your guide shares stories of sex work, its history, and its legalization.
Choose between English, Italian, or German-speaking guides for a more tailored and personal experience in the language of your choice.
Learn how Amsterdam’s attitudes towards the profession and visit Condomerie, the world’s first specialty condom shop.

More details

Discover Amsterdam’s Red Light District on a 1.5-hour guided walking tour—no planning needed, and gain insights, highlights, and cultural context.
Walk past iconic landmarks like the Oude Kerk and Warmoestraat as your guide shares stories of sex work, its history, and its legalization.
Choose between English, Italian, or German-speaking guides for a more tailored and personal experience in the language of your choice.
Learn how Amsterdam’s attitudes towards the profession and visit Condomerie, the world’s first specialty condom shop.

from ~~Original price€28~~

€25.20

10% off

Slide 1 of 11, Red Light Secrets Museum interior and canal cruise boat in Amsterdam.

Canal boat passing under a bridge in Amsterdam.

Boat captain steering during Amsterdam city centre cruise.

Passengers using audio guides on a canal cruise.

Guests enjoying a luxury romantic cruise on Amsterdam's canals.

Tourists enjoying a canal cruise in Amsterdam, viewing city architecture.

Combo (Save 11%): Red Light Secrets Museum with Amsterdam 1-Hour Sightseeing Canal Cruise

Explore at your pace

Audio guide

Combine Red Light Secrets stories via the audio guide with a 60-min canal cruise to explore Amsterdam's Red Light District and canals in one day.
At Red Light Secrets, use your pre-booked entry and multilingual audio guide to explore brothel rooms, exhibits, and first-person stories.
Board a heated glass-top boat for a 60-min canal cruise, with onboard audio commentary in 19 languages plus colouring pages or bingo for kids.
Plan both experiences on the same day at times that suit you; one combo booking covers separate tickets and keeps costs lower than booking alone.

More details

Combine Red Light Secrets stories via the audio guide with a 60-min canal cruise to explore Amsterdam's Red Light District and canals in one day.
At Red Light Secrets, use your pre-booked entry and multilingual audio guide to explore brothel rooms, exhibits, and first-person stories.
Board a heated glass-top boat for a 60-min canal cruise, with onboard audio commentary in 19 languages plus colouring pages or bingo for kids.
Plan both experiences on the same day at times that suit you; one combo booking covers separate tickets and keeps costs lower than booking alone.

from ~~Original price€30~~

€26.60

11% off

Slide 1 of 10, Amsterdam canal view with historic buildings and bicycles, promoting I Amsterdam City Card.

Top attractions included in I Amsterdam City Card: Rijksmuseum, Zaanse Schans, Moco Museum, A'DAM Lookout, Canal Cruises.

Tram in Amsterdam city center, part of I Amsterdam City Card public transportation.

Rijksmuseum entrance in Amsterdam with canal view, included in I Amsterdam City Card.

Canal cruise boat on Amsterdam canal with historic buildings in the background.

Artwork of a child with a balloon at MOCO Museum, Amsterdam.

A'DAM Lookout observation deck with panoramic views of Amsterdam.

Hermitage Museum entrance in Amsterdam with Dutch flag, included in I Amsterdam City Card.

Windmills by the water in Zaanse Schans, Netherlands, included in I Amsterdam City Card.

Colorful abstract art installation at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.

I Amsterdam City Card: Access 70+ Attractions & Unlimited Public Transport

Explore at your pace

Audio guide

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Explore Amsterdam’s top attractions for free or at discounted rates and access unlimited public transport with the iAmsterdam city card.
Save big at 70+ attractions, including popular sights like free entry to Rijksmuseum, and discounts at the Heineken Experience, Madame Tussauds & more.
Hit all the spots on your bucket list by riding seamlessly on the GVB public transport, including buses, trams, metros, and ferries.
Enjoy a free canal cruise from numerous spots across the city or rent a bike for free and discover Amsterdam at your own pace.
Choose between 24/48/72/96/120-hour passes, skip long ticketing queues with just one digital pass & upgrade to include audio guides.

More details

Explore Amsterdam’s top attractions for free or at discounted rates and access unlimited public transport with the iAmsterdam city card.
Save big at 70+ attractions, including popular sights like free entry to Rijksmuseum, and discounts at the Heineken Experience, Madame Tussauds & more.
Hit all the spots on your bucket list by riding seamlessly on the GVB public transport, including buses, trams, metros, and ferries.
Enjoy a free canal cruise from numerous spots across the city or rent a bike for free and discover Amsterdam at your own pace.
Choose between 24/48/72/96/120-hour passes, skip long ticketing queues with just one digital pass & upgrade to include audio guides.

from ~~Original price€67~~

€65.66

2% off

Slide 1 of 11, Red Light Secrets Museum interior and Amsterdam's Red Light District canal at dusk.

Red Light Secrets Museum entrance in Amsterdam's Red Light District at night.

Person using phone for audio tour in Amsterdam's Red Light District.

Amsterdam's red light district at night with illuminated canal and buildings.

Amsterdam Red Light District buildings illuminated at night along a canal.

Waag building exterior illuminated at night in Amsterdam.

Combo (Save 5%): Red Light Secrets Museum Tickets + Walking Tour of the Red Light District

Explore at your pace

Audio guide

Peek behind red lit windows, explore intimate workspaces, and follow audio stories that explain daily life inside Amsterdam's famous Red Light Secrets Museum.
Then, visit sixteen carefully selected landmarks that explain Amsterdam's approach to tolerance, regulation, and life within the Red Light District.
On your walking tour, listen to stories through the audio guide, use the interactive map for directions, and access content anytime without relying on the internet.

More details

Peek behind red lit windows, explore intimate workspaces, and follow audio stories that explain daily life inside Amsterdam's famous Red Light Secrets Museum.
Then, visit sixteen carefully selected landmarks that explain Amsterdam's approach to tolerance, regulation, and life within the Red Light District.
On your walking tour, listen to stories through the audio guide, use the interactive map for directions, and access content anytime without relying on the internet.

from ~~Original price€24.49~~

€23.27

5% off

Slide 1 of 11, Red Light Secrets Museum exhibit and guided tour in Amsterdam's Red Light District.

Combo (Save 9%): Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution + Red Light District Guided Tour

Explore at your pace

Audio guide

Walk through a former brothel at Red Light Secrets while audio stories in five languages reveal lives rarely seen by visitors.
Then, go on to stroll through the Red Light neighborhood with an English-speaking guide who adds local insights and stories easily missed when exploring alone.
With no more than fifteen guests, the tour has a more conversational atmosphere, giving you greater opportunities to engage with your guide directly.

More details

Walk through a former brothel at Red Light Secrets while audio stories in five languages reveal lives rarely seen by visitors.
Then, go on to stroll through the Red Light neighborhood with an English-speaking guide who adds local insights and stories easily missed when exploring alone.
With no more than fifteen guests, the tour has a more conversational atmosphere, giving you greater opportunities to engage with your guide directly.

from ~~Original price€42.50~~

€38.50

9% off

Slide 1 of 11, Visitors exploring art and artifacts in a gallery during the First Access Guided Tour of Rijksmuseum.

Visitors exploring exhibits in the Rijksmuseum library, Amsterdam.

Visitors viewing a large painting at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Rijksmuseum facade with visitors, Amsterdam, part of Skip The Line Combo tour.

Visitors viewing Vermeer's "The Milkmaid" at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Rijksmuseum 17th century gallery with paintings and sculptures on display.

Combo (Save 3%): Red Light Secrets Museum and Rijksmuseum Skip the Line Experience

Explore at your pace

Audio guide

Walk through former working rooms at Red Light Secrets while audio stories provide context that transforms curiosity into deeper understanding.
Stand before celebrated paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, then continue through galleries filled with history and culture.
Few combinations showcase Amsterdam's contrasts better, connecting Dutch artistic achievements with stories rarely told in traditional museums; so don’t miss this combo!

More details

Walk through former working rooms at Red Light Secrets while audio stories provide context that transforms curiosity into deeper understanding.
Stand before celebrated paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, then continue through galleries filled with history and culture.
Few combinations showcase Amsterdam's contrasts better, connecting Dutch artistic achievements with stories rarely told in traditional museums; so don’t miss this combo!

from ~~Original price€39.50~~

€38.31

3% off

Pro tips to help you make a pick

Choose the standard self-guided ticket if you only have 45–90 minutes. Walking tour + museum products usually take about 1.5–2.5 hours, while combos with another attraction can stretch closer to half a day.

For weekend evenings or tight schedules, pre-book a timeslot. The museum is small, and timed entry reduces the risk of finding it full or facing a short queue at the canal-side entrance.

Check whether your ticket’s audio content is delivered through a free app or an on-site device. If it is app-based, bring headphones and make sure your phone has enough battery.

Standard entry includes access to all public rooms and exhibits plus audio content, but it does not include a live guide, transport, or food and drinks.

If you want broader context on De Wallen, book a Red Light District walking tour that includes museum entry. The outdoor portion is guided, but the museum visit itself remains self-guided.

Treat 'skip-the-line' wording carefully. Here it usually means bypassing the on-site purchase queue and going straight to ticket scanning, not using a separate fast-track route through the museum.

Only choose a combo if the second attraction is already on your list. Documented bundles pair Red Light Secrets with a canal cruise, Rijksmuseum, a guided Red Light District walk, or the Heineken Experience.

If mobility is a concern, confirm access before booking non-refundable tickets. Multiple reviews mention steep, narrow Dutch staircases and there is no clearly confirmed full step-free route.

Check the age policy on your voucher before purchase. Different sources commonly state 16+ or 18+, so verify the current rule for your exact ticket and travel date.

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About Red Light Secrets Museum

Red Light Secrets focuses specifically on prostitution and sex work rather than erotic art or sexual history. Inside a former brothel in De Wallen, it uses a mock window, recreated work rooms, audio commentary, and candid testimonies to explain Dutch legal frameworks, safety measures, and daily routines. That gives visitors context many Amsterdam sex museums do not aim to provide.

AddressOudezijds Achterburgwal 60, 1012 DP Amsterdam, Netherlands

Also known asRed Light Secrets Museum

Year opened2014

Visitors per year300000

Expected wait time - Standard30-60 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

Did you know?

Red Light Secrets is housed in a historic canal-house brothel on Oudezijds Achterburgwal, one of the main canals in Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

The official site promotes Red Light Secrets as the world’s only museum dedicated specifically to prostitution, even though Amsterdam also has other sex-related museums.

Many visitors spend about an hour inside; review-based estimates put the typical visit at roughly 45–90 minutes.

The entrance is at Oudezijds Achterburgwal 60, about 0.4 km from Dam Square and about 0.8 km from Amsterdam Centraal.

The building’s steep, narrow Dutch stairs are part of the old canal-house layout and are one reason accessibility is a recurring concern in visitor reviews.

Why visit Red Light Secrets Museum?

Sit in the Red-Lit Mock Window

The museum lets visitors sit in a street-facing window overlooking Oudezijds Achterburgwal. This role reversal shows what it feels like to be on display to passers-by, a moment many reviewers say changes how they think about the district’s window culture.

Explore a Former Canal-House Brothel

Red Light Secrets is set inside a historic canal-house brothel in De Wallen. Narrow corridors, low lighting, steep Dutch stairs, and recreated work spaces including a bedroom and bathroom help show how compact and functional many real rooms are.

Understand Dutch Prostitution Laws and Safety

Corridor exhibits and audio commentary explain why prostitution is legal in the Netherlands and how licensing and inspections work. Visitors also learn about safety measures, health checks, and the differences between legal and illegal settings.

Read Personal Stories and Confessions

The personal stories and confessions displays move the museum beyond stereotype. Anonymous notes and testimonies from sex workers and clients range from humorous to deeply emotional, giving the subject a more human and reflective tone.

Fits Easily into a Central Amsterdam Walk

The museum is at Oudezijds Achterburgwal 60, about a 5-minute walk from Dam Square and about a 10-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal. Most visitors spend roughly 45–90 minutes inside, so it works well before or after a Red Light District stroll.

Plan your visit

Main Entrance - Oudezijds Achterburgwal 60

Located at street level on Oudezijds Achterburgwal 60, this is the museum’s only confirmed public entrance. Look for the canal-side door signed “Red Light Secrets – Museum of Prostitution.” All visitors enter here, whether they have a mobile voucher, a printed ticket, or plan to buy admission on the spot. Staff scan online tickets at the front desk, and same-day purchases are handled at the same counter. There is no airport-style security, though staff may visually check bags and enforce behavior rules. Queues are usually short, but a small line can form on the sidewalk during busy evening periods. Inside, expect narrow corridors and steep Dutch stairs, which can make access difficult for wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility.

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What our guests say

Olena O

Netherlands

Solo

2 weeks ago

+4 more

I got a lot of positive impressions. I especially liked the atmosphere and the opportunity to learn something new in an easy and pleasant environment. I definitely recommend visiting - a great place for an interesting and meaningful pastime!

Combo: Red Light Secrets Museum and Rijksmuseum Skip the Line Experience

Inoshan C

United Kingdom

Family

2 weeks ago

+2 more

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is a wonderful museum. It’s beautifully clean, well organised, and the collection of paintings is absolutely stunning. There are so many incredible masterpieces to see, and the atmosphere makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. Definitely a must-visit when you’re in Amsterdam!

Combo: Red Light Secrets Museum and Rijksmuseum Skip the Line Experience

Legagneux V

Group

Jul 2026

It was easy to book tours on-site, and there were plenty of pricing options. We especially enjoyed the free boat tour, the Rijksmuseum reservation, and the Moco.

I Amsterdam City Card: Access 70+ Attractions & Unlimited Public Transport

Ruslana B

Group

Jun 2026

I really enjoyed the canal cruise! What I appreciated the most was that there wasn’t an overload of information, so I could simply relax and enjoy the beautiful views of the city. I also noticed right away that the windows were perfectly clean, which made a huge difference. My first canal cruise experience was during the Light Festival with another company, and unfortunately the windows were so dirty that I could barely see anything outside. This time, the view was crystal clear, and it made the whole experience so much more enjoyable. Thank you for such a wonderful experience. I would definitely recommend this cruise to others!

Combo: Red Light Secrets Museum with Amsterdam 1-Hour Sightseeing Canal Cruise

Margit J

Germany

Group

Jun 2026

The captain was THE highlight! With his many additional comments and funny anecdotes in English, he was a big hit with my kids (teenagers) too. We learned a few things about Amsterdam that you definitely won’t find in any guidebook.

Combo: Red Light Secrets Museum with Amsterdam 1-Hour Sightseeing Canal Cruise

Romy C

Indonesia

Solo

Jun 2026

Deborah not only talked about the life of the sex workers but also historical context and life of people in the neighborhood and respect and safety of the people in the industry as they are heavily affected by mass tourism happening in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam: Red Light District Guided Walking Tour

Tobias T

Germany

Couple

May 2026

The historical insights into Amsterdam’s red-light district and Amsterdam in general made the tour an experience we’ll remember for a long time to come. On Saturday evenings, the neighborhood can get a bit crowded, especially if you’re wandering around on your own after the tour, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from booking the tour.

Amsterdam: Red Light District Guided Walking Tour