Every night thousands of people wander through Amsterdam's Red Light District wondering what actually happens behind those windows. Red Light Secrets — the world's first Museum of Prostitution — answers that question. Housed in an authentic former brothel on Oudezijds Achterburgwal in the heart of De Wallen, the museum takes visitors through recreated working rooms, personal stories told directly by sex workers, and the district's layered history — culminating in the experience of sitting behind an actual red-lit window looking out at the street. Honest, eye-opening, and nothing like a typical museum. For adults only! Book your experience now on Thrillark.
Key Highlights
- Red Light Secrets is the world's first Museum of Prostitution, housed in an authentic former brothel right in the heart of Amsterdam's De Wallen district.
- Twelve explicit audio stories are included with every ticket, narrated by Inga — Amsterdam's most famous sex worker — who speaks candidly about 15+ years working in the Red Light District.
- The museum recreates the actual rooms sex workers use, from a basic standard room to luxury suites, giving visitors a genuine behind-the-scenes perspective on the industry.
- The most iconic moment: sitting in a real red-lit window facing the street and experiencing exactly what it feels like to be on the other side of the glass.
- The Confession Wall at the end of the tour is where visitors anonymously leave their own sexual confessions — some funny, some surprising, all of them revealing.
- A small book about the history of the Red Light District is included with every entry ticket.
- The audio guide — included in admission — is available in English, German, Dutch, French, and Spanish, and is activated by scanning chips at each room.
About Red Light Secrets Museum Ticket
Red Light Secrets opened in an authentic former brothel on Oudezijds Achterburgwal — one of De Wallen's most famous canals — as a non-profit initiative developed in collaboration with sex industry advocacy groups and the city of Amsterdam.
The building itself is a traditional narrow Dutch canal house, and the museum makes full use of its original layout: the stairways are steep, the rooms are small, and the atmosphere is intimate in a way that no purpose-built exhibition space could replicate.
Visitors move through recreated working rooms at different price points, from a basic room to a luxury suite, learning the economics, the rules, the risks, and the realities of the profession through exhibits, films, historical artefacts, and 12 frank audio stories narrated by Inga, a sex worker who spent over 15 years working in the district.
The window experience, sitting behind the famous red-lit glass as pedestrians walk past outside, is the museum's defining moment.
The Confession Wall at the end collects anonymous written secrets from every visitor who has passed through, and is as funny, shocking, and human as anything in the building.
Ready to explore? Lock in your tickets now on Thrillark.
The building itself is a traditional narrow Dutch canal house, and the museum makes full use of its original layout: the stairways are steep, the rooms are small, and the atmosphere is intimate in a way that no purpose-built exhibition space could replicate.
Visitors move through recreated working rooms at different price points, from a basic room to a luxury suite, learning the economics, the rules, the risks, and the realities of the profession through exhibits, films, historical artefacts, and 12 frank audio stories narrated by Inga, a sex worker who spent over 15 years working in the district.
The window experience, sitting behind the famous red-lit glass as pedestrians walk past outside, is the museum's defining moment.
The Confession Wall at the end collects anonymous written secrets from every visitor who has passed through, and is as funny, shocking, and human as anything in the building.
Ready to explore? Lock in your tickets now on Thrillark.
Inclusions
- Full admission to Red Light Secrets Museum
- Audio Guide - Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish
Exclusions
- Personal expenses
- Food and beverages
Insiders' Tips
The Confession Wall at the end of the tour is worth lingering over; set aside an extra 10–15 minutes for it.
Additional Information
Opening Hours
- Monday to Friday: 11 AM to 10:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 11 AM to 11:30 PM
- The minimum age requirement is 18.
- ID may be requested at the entrance.
- The museum contains explicit audio-visual content.
- Not wheelchair accessible. The museum is housed in a historic Dutch canal house with steep, narrow staircases.
- Not recommended for visitors with significant mobility limitations.
Cancellation Policy
A full 100% refund is available for cancellations made at least 24 hours before your travel date. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the travel date are strictly non-refundable. Additional cancellation or refund fees may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Red Light Secrets and what makes it different from a typical museum?
Red Light Secrets is the world's first Museum of Prostitution, located in a genuine former brothel in Amsterdam's De Wallen district. Unlike a conventional museum with display cases and information panels, it is an immersive walk through recreated working spaces — bedrooms, bathrooms, and private rooms used by sex workers — accompanied by frank audio stories narrated by Inga, a real sex worker with over 15 years of experience in the district. It was developed as a non-profit initiative in collaboration with sex industry advocacy groups and the city of Amsterdam, with the goal of humanising the profession and providing genuine insight rather than sensationalism.
Who is Inga and what are the 12 audio stories?
Inga is described by the museum as Amsterdam's most famous prostitute — a sex worker who spent over 15 years working in the Red Light District and who narrates the museum's entire audio tour. Her 12 stories cover different aspects of her working life: the economics of the trade, the relationships with clients and colleagues, the rules of the district, the risks and realities of the job, and her personal feelings about the profession. She speaks without taboos or euphemism, and the result is an audio experience that is simultaneously explicit, funny, and genuinely illuminating. The audio guide is activated by scanning chips at specific points in each room and is included in the entry ticket.
What is the window experience at Red Light Secrets?
The window experience is the museum's most talked-about moment. Red Light District sex workers advertise themselves by standing or sitting in ground-floor windows framed by red neon light, visible to the pedestrians walking past outside on the canal street. At Red Light Secrets, visitors can take a seat in one of these authentic windows — looking out at the street from the other side of the glass — and experience exactly what that perspective feels like. It is deliberately disorienting: many visitors describe the sudden awareness of being observed, the reversal of the usual tourist gaze, as one of the most memorable and thought-provoking moments of their time in Amsterdam.
What is the Confession Wall?
The Confession Wall is the final exhibit of the Red Light Secrets Museum, and for many visitors it becomes the most memorable part of the whole experience. Every person who passes through the museum is invited to anonymously write their own sexual confession and add it to the wall, which now holds thousands of contributions from visitors around the world. The confessions range from hilarious to surprising to unexpectedly touching. Reading them can easily absorb an additional 15–20 minutes beyond your planned visit time — the sheer variety of human experience on display is genuinely remarkable. Adding your own confession is optional but encouraged.
What is the minimum age to visit Red Light Secrets?
Visitors must be at least 18 years of age to enter Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution. The museum contains explicit audio content, explicit visual material, and recreated spaces from a working brothel. ID may be requested at the door, so carry valid identification. The museum staff enforce the age restriction consistently. Children and teenagers are not admitted under any circumstances.
How long does a visit to Red Light Secrets take?
A typical visit to Red Light Secrets takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour, depending on how long you spend in each room and how much time you devote to the Confession Wall at the end. The museum is housed in a narrow Dutch canal house with several floors, and the guided route moves through each space sequentially. Visitors who take their time with the full 12 audio stories and linger over the Confession Wall often find themselves spending closer to 90 minutes in total. Last admission is 45 minutes before the museum's closing time.
Is Red Light Secrets wheelchair accessible?
No — Red Light Secrets is not wheelchair accessible. The museum is housed in a historic Dutch canal house with the characteristically steep and narrow staircases typical of Amsterdam's 17th-century architecture. These staircases cannot be modified without compromising the building's heritage character. Visitors with significant mobility limitations or who use wheelchairs are advised to note this before booking. The museum does not have a lift. Visitors with mild mobility concerns should be prepared for multiple staircase climbs between floors.
Where exactly is Red Light Secrets located and how do I find it?
Red Light Secrets is at Oudezijds Achterburgwal 60h in the De Wallen neighbourhood — Amsterdam's famous Red Light District. Oudezijds Achterburgwal is one of the district's main canals, and the museum is identifiable by its red neon signage on the canal facade. It is approximately a 10–15 minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal Station. The easiest approach is via Warmoesstraat or through the Dam Square area into De Wallen. Note that the exit of the museum may be on a different door than the entrance — check when you arrive.
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