Amsterdam Red Light District Museums: 5 Best to Visit
Posted on: June 1, 2026
5 Best Amsterdam Red Light District Museums
Amsterdam Red Light District museums get skipped by most visitors, who come for the windows and the nightlife. So they miss the stories behind the area. I use these five museums to fix that. They cover cannabis, legal sex work, religion, erotica and the history of the district. Here is what each one costs, when it opens, and whether it is worth your time.
Last updated: June 2026
There is a lot to do in ‘De Wallen‘. Also for those who want to learn something. There are currently five museums in Amsterdam Red Light District. At these museums you can learn more about cannabis, prostitution, the Red Light District, religion, erotica and… watches.
1 | Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum
In this museum in Amsterdam you can view cannabis plants up close, among others.
The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam covers the history and culture of cannabis. The museum traces the plant’s history from its earliest known use in ancient China to its present-day role in the Netherlands.
Visitors will learn about the different ways that cannabis can be used, from medication to recreation, and will see a wide variety of artifacts, including pipes, bongs, and other smoking paraphernalia.
The museum also contains a “grow room” where visitors can see how cannabis is cultivated.
Located on the famous street in the Red Light District one can find Amsterdam’s cannabis museum. It was founded in 1985 by one of Holland’s most important cannabis pioneers: Ben Dronkers – who’s also the CEO of Sensi Seeds. He was one of the first to become commercially involved with cannabis in Amsterdam from the 1970s onwards.
Did you know that at one time in Europe 80% of all clothing was made out of cannabis hemp? And did you know that it is illegal to grow cannabis commercially in the Netherlands? Just two fun facts you learn at the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum.
It offers audio tours in many languages.
Visitors to the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum can expect to find world’s largest collection of artefacts relating to the history of cannabis, its cultivation and its uses over the centuries.
The cannabis collection is located on the ground floor where one can get an audio tour in six different languages. This museum in Amsterdam Red Light District is not too big and a visit takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Reviews
✦ Google: 3,715 reviews | 4,3 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 729 reviews | 4 out of 5 stars.
Tickets
✦ Hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
✦ Price: 9 euro
2 | Red Light Secrets – Museum of Prostitution
The Museum of Prostitution, also called Red Light Secrets, is one of the most popular attractions in the district. It’s the only museum in the world dedicated to sex work. Here, you’ll get to see life behind the famous red-lit windows.
An interactive exhibition inside the Museum of Prostitution.
Do you want to know what it is like to stand in the windows? Do you want to learn how prostitutes become successful? Or, do you want to see what a brothel looks like from the inside?
Then visit this Museum of Prostitution in Amsterdam, named Red Light Secrets. Learn more about legal sex work in the Netherlands. It’s super interesting!
What does it feel like to stand in the windows?
Highlights of the museum:
Sit inside a real window display and experience what it feels like.
Read personal stories from sex workers about their lives and challenges.
Learn how the Dutch approach sex work with a legal and regulated system.
The museum breaks down stereotypes and shows the real, human side of the profession.
Become A Successful Prostitute
Inside you can also read 10 ways how sex workers become successful. We listed 3 most important sex work secrets:
- POSTURE. Pout those lips and work those hips. Stand upright and accentuate your curves.
- CHEERFUL. Make sure you look cheerful. Men don’t enjoy spending money in a surly woman.
- STAND OUT. Sitting quietly like the Mona Lisa will not get you attention. When you go unnoticed, you will have no business. Make sure to stand out.
The museum even has an imitation window brothel.
Red Light Secrets used to be a building with real window brothels, but the city of Amsterdam bought it from a sex entrepreneur during Project 1012. The municipality wanted more variety in the Red Light District, so since 2014 the Museum of Prostitution has been around.
Visit this attraction and get educated about one of the oldest professions in the world.
Reviews
✦ Google: 15,576 reviews | 4,2 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 2,339 reviews | 4 out of 5 stars.
Tickets
✦ Hours: 10 AM – 12 PM
✦ Price: 12,50 euro
💡 Tip: The museum is not very large, so you can visit it in under an hour. It’s a great starting point before exploring the rest of the area
BUY TICKETS >3 | Our Lord in the Attic
Inside Ons Lieve Heer op Solder.
This secret church sits at number 40 on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal in the Red Light District. Our Lord in the Attic is one of the oldest museums in Amsterdam. The second oldest, to be exact.
Only the Rijksmuseum is older. It was established in 1888, its attic served as a Catholic church for two centuries. A hidden church in which Catholics could worship covertly when it was forbidden to do so in public.
The last hidden church in Amsterdam may not be missed!
FACT: This church museum in Amsterdam is located next to a cannabis coffeeshop.
This church sits inside a preserved 17th-century Dutch house. It shows how a rich man lived during the Dutch Golden Age. Here you can learn about the history of Amsterdam and religion in Holland.
The director of this museum in Amsterdam – in the attic of Ons Lieve Heer op Solder.
Our Lord In The Attic is also one of the highlights in the Amsterdam Audio Stories app. It offers a red light district tour with stories of 22 experts, including the director of this museum and Russell Shorto – writer and historian, about the Red Light District. For just 5 euro you can learn everything about the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Download the app today in the Apple App Store.
Reviews
✦ Google: 2,089 reviews | 4,7 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 3,373 reviews | 4,5 out of 5 stars.
Tickets
✦ Hours: 10 PM – 6 PM
✦ Price: 12,50 euro
4 | Erotic Museum
One of the funniest museums in Amsterdam.
The Erotic Museum covers the history of sex and sexuality.
The collection runs from ancient Egyptian artifacts to vintage pornography. The Erotic Museum also holds the world’s largest collection of erotica.
The Erotic Museum in Amsterdam is located on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal – just in opposite of the Moulin Rouge. It portrays the history of eroticism and sex through the ages. This is one of those museums in Amsterdam where you can take perfect photos for your Instagram account.
This museum is owned by the same entrepreneur who also manages the erotic theatre Casa Rosso, strip club Hospital Bar, Sex Palace Peep Show, The Bananenbar and Sexy Loo.
Reviews
✦ Google: 2,120 reviews | 3,6 out of 5 stars.
✦ TripAdvisor: 454 reviews | 2,5 out of 5 stars.
Tickets
✦ Hours: 11 AM – 12 PM
✦ Price: 7 euro
5 | Sex Museum Amsterdam
The Sex Museum in Amsterdam, also known as “Venustempel” or “Museum of Sex”, covers the history and art of human sexuality. Located near Amsterdam’s Central Station at Damrak 18, it is the world’s first and oldest museum dedicated to eroticism.
Its collection includes erotic art, sculptures, and photographs. It shows how sexual themes have shaped culture and art over time.
The Sex Museum shows explicit content, so it is not for children and may not suit everyone. Skip it if sexual themes make you uncomfortable. It is aimed at mature visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Museums in Amsterdam Red Light District
The best-known museums are Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum, Red Light Secrets, Our Lord in the Attic, Erotic Museum, and Sex Museum Amsterdam. They cover cannabis, sex work, religion, erotica, and cultural history.
Yes. Red Light Secrets is the prostitution museum in Amsterdam Red Light District. It focuses on legal sex work, personal stories, and what life behind the windows is like.
Red Light Secrets is a museum about prostitution in Amsterdam. Visitors can see a real window setting, learn how Dutch sex work is regulated, and read stories from sex workers.
Yes. These museums show a different side of the district beyond nightlife. They help visitors understand its history, culture, religion, cannabis scene, and legal sex work system.
This page lists five museums in Amsterdam Red Light District. Together, they cover cannabis, prostitution, religion, erotica, and sexuality.
You can learn about cannabis history, cultivation, hemp uses, and how cannabis is used for medicine and recreation. The museum also includes artifacts and a grow room.
Our Lord in the Attic is a hidden church museum in a 17th-century canal house. It shows how Catholics worshipped secretly when public worship was not allowed.
No. The Erotic Museum focuses on sex, erotic art, and sexuality through history. It is better suited to adults because of its explicit content and themes.
Sex Museum Amsterdam, also called Venustempel, is a museum about the history and art of human sexuality. It is located near Central Station and is aimed at mature visitors.
Red Light Secrets is a strong first choice because it is one of the district’s most popular attractions and can be visited in under an hour.
Other Museums
The Upside Down Museum is an interactive spot where the rooms are flipped upside down for photos. It is a good add-on if you want something more playful than a classic museum.
ALSO SEE:
15 Things To Do In Amsterdam Red Light District
15x Must See in Amsterdam Red Light District
Amsterdam Red Light District Prices
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Great list! I had no idea there were so many interesting museums in the Amsterdam Red Light District. The Prostitution Information Center sounds especially intriguing. Can’t wait to check them out on my next visit!