Red Light Secrets vs. the Sex Museum (Venustempel): Which to Visit?

Posted on: November 6, 2026

Red Light Secrets and the Venustempel are two different museums. Red Light Secrets is the museum of prostitution, in a 17th-century canal house on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal — it puts you behind a real red-lit window and inside a brothel room. The Venustempel (Sex Museum) on the Damrak is the world’s first sex museum, a light-hearted romp through erotica, art and history. In short: Red Light Secrets is about the district itself and is best booked online; the Venustempel is about erotica through the ages and costs just €9 at the door.

Red Light Secrets: the museum of prostitution

Red Light Secrets sits right among the windows on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, in a 17th-century canal house. It is the only museum that puts you behind a red-lit window, so you see the street from the worker’s side of the glass. Inside you walk through an authentic brothel room, read the anonymous confessions visitors leave behind, and hear real stories on the included audio guide. It is the better pick if you want to understand the district you’re actually standing in. Tickets are around €14.50 and it is worth booking online — the canal house is small and queues build on busy evenings.

The Venustempel (Sex Museum): the world’s first

The Venustempel, better known as the Sex Museum, opened on the Damrak in 1985 — the first sex museum anywhere in the world. It is not about the Red Light District at all; it is a cheerful, slightly kitsch tour through erotic art and objects across the centuries: a Venus statue, wax figures of Mata Hari and Marilyn Monroe, the famous moving “flasher”, giant phalluses for photos, and themed rooms. At €9 paid at the door (no discounts, rarely a long queue) it is the cheaper, more light-hearted of the two — and a handy warm, dry stop five minutes from Centraal Station.

Which should you visit?

Visit Red Light Secrets if you want the real story of the windows you’re walking past — it is the more immersive, more “Amsterdam” of the two, and the one worth booking ahead.

Visit the Venustempel if you want a cheap, fun half-hour through erotic history, or a warm stop near the station — no booking needed, just €9 at the door.

Doing both? They sit about a 10-minute walk apart, so an afternoon covers the pair. For the wider picture, our guide to the 5 best Red Light District museums ranks every option, and the complete visitor guide maps out everything else nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions About Amsterdam’s Sex Museums

1. What is the difference between Red Light Secrets and the Sex Museum?

Red Light Secrets is the museum of prostitution — it is about the real lives of the women behind the windows, and you sit behind a window yourself. The Venustempel (Sex Museum) is the world’s first sex museum and covers erotica, art and history, with no focus on the Red Light District.

2. Which Amsterdam sex museum is better?

It depends on what you want. Red Light Secrets is more immersive and tied to the district (around €14.50); the Venustempel is cheaper (€9), more light-hearted, and quicker. Many visitors do both — they are a 10-minute walk apart.

3. How much do they cost in 2026?

Red Light Secrets is around €14.50 (and worth booking online); the Venustempel is €9, paid at the door with no discounts.

4. Can you book tickets online?

Red Light Secrets yes — you can reserve on Tiqets and skip the queue. The Venustempel is door-only, so there is no need to book ahead.

5. Are the museums suitable for all ages?

Both have a minimum age of 16. They are explicit by nature, so neither is suitable for children.

6. Where are they, and can you do both in one day?

Red Light Secrets is at Oudezijds Achterburgwal 60 inside De Wallen; the Venustempel is at Damrak 18, five minutes from Centraal. They are about a 10-minute walk apart, so both fit comfortably into one afternoon.

7. Is Red Light Secrets the same as the Erotic Museum?

No. Red Light Secrets is the museum of prostitution; the Erotic Museum was a separate venue on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. See our guide to all five Red Light District museums for the full list.

Prefer a comparison of the shows or the paid venues instead? See guided tour vs. audio tour and window vs. escort vs. club.

Sources: Red Light Secrets (official site & Tiqets listing); Sex Museum Amsterdam official FAQ (price €9, opened 1985). Prices checked for 2026.

About the author — Martijn, Amsterdam guide

Martijn has guided hundreds of tours through Amsterdam’s Red Light District and De Wallen over the past years. He writes from first-hand experience — the shows he has seen, the bars he knows and the streets he walks every week — and his tours and photos also feature on TripAdvisor. Everything here is checked against what he and our local guides see on the ground.

• Experience: years guiding Red Light District & De Wallen tours in person
• Standards: first-hand, checked on location, useful for real visitors
• Transparency: some links are affiliate links (no extra cost to you)

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