is is just me, dislike of warmoesstraat and red light d'

mtbskalover · Post by **mtbskalover** » Mon 2nd Apr 2007 06:01 pm

I was thinking, each trip that ive been to amsterdam me and my mates have spent less and less time in this area of town. For example this past feb we spent half an hour wondering round, the whole 3 days. First time we went we'd wonder through during the day, and then spend the evening exploring the area.

we are all young, straight and love a smoke and a drink. just the vibe around here just isnt nice. Constantly looking out for dodgy dealers and pick pockets, and dodging the many tourists. Ive been to kuala lumpar's markets and thats even more crowded and quite enjoyed the hustle and bustle.

dont get me wrong, its great fun to walk into a sex shop for a look around, or wonder round smiling back at the smiling girls.

and the bars and cs's tend to be overly loud and play dodgy dutch trance or something. Many people might enjoy the vibe, but i can go to a dance club for a drink back home.

I just like the more downbeat, chilled out areas of town, or our favourite hostel, the flying pig downtown.

SoenderbronX_DK · Post by **SoenderbronX_DK** » Mon 2nd Apr 2007 07:30 pm

You hint that this might be a matter of preference, and I think it is… Also, I find the issue of the parrots (street dealers, the parrot metaphor should be clear to anyone who have had the “pleasure” of dealing with them) and pickpockets in the RLD (and Warmoesstraat, but that is mostly the latter part) to be much exaggerated. First of, the parrots are very easily dealt with, in a number of effective ways, the least taxing to you is simply to ignore them completely with great results. Secondly, the issue of pickpockets in the RLD is by no means worse than other places in town, notably Dam Square and Centraal station, but as you are in no more risk of being deprived of your possessions here than in any other bussy metropolitan area all over the globe I really do not see an issue worth much attention.

A thing that I understand a lot of people could find unattractive about that particular area is that it is a very “lively” area in the sense that if you haven’t seen a greened-out, piss drunk british attendant of a stag party puking his guts out, or just simply passed out, outside Stones Café by 5 in the p.m. on any Thursday, Friday or Saturday, chances are you yourself was stoned as fuck or just didn’t bother looking (it looses the air of a spectacle after the first few days of living on Warmoesstraat

). Now don’t you all go jumping on me at once, there are also people of other nationalities stumbling around on the verge of regurgitation on Warmoesstraat, their mates just aren’t quite so loud about it

“Oy! Get that bloody wanker a fucking fatty gents, he’s had one too many pints he did. Sort the bugger right out!” is not an uncommon thing to have shouted in your ear while trying to figure out which is the next guy to go down like a sack of taters, but damn those guys have fun and as they are all very nice gentlemen when it comes to the rest of us, you gotta love ‘em right ?

And that is just the thing about Warmoesstraat in particular, it can be quiet and quite dreamy, but this is a rare occurrence in the high seasons unless you venture out in the early morning to sit at a closed restaurants doorstep and have a peaceful wake and bake (or perhaps a “I really fucking gotta get some sleep, it’s freaking 7.30 in the morning” joint). After our first night in Amsterdam (YH Meetingpoint, right on Warmoesstraat) I did the first and had a chance to see what such a vibrant and lively place could also look like. It was very serene and calming watching the last of the clean up, chatting to a few surprisingly nice street dealers/homeless dudes (I assumed, they never asked me for any thing or tried to push anything, but they damn well had the appearance and behaviour otherwise), one of whom actually insisted on buying/giving me a round of coke (the drinking kind, I don’t mess with the other stuff

) for my spliffy. When I come to think of it, it was a little surreal at that time because I had all the nasty rumours that neighbourhood had and this situation and feel of Warmoesstraat as the city was wakening was so much to the contrary that it almost defied belief, that and I was really high from the SSH+Orange Bud+NYCD J I was smoking after a few hours of sleep (leftover goodies gathered in a big fat one, from 420, HSB and Coin respectively, tasted like a strong OJ with a SSH spliffy on the side

). Actually, there was no way I was not still under the influence from last nights overindulgence, that might have added too…

Well, I could go on for ever with anecdotes of the RLD (no not that kind all you kinky devils out there

) and Warmoesstraat, I love the place, but it is a place where it is good to keep just a little of your wits about you, and damn hard to do so. So if this is not your idea of a good time, or you just feel like chilling for a bit, well, walk five minutes and your almost in the Jordaan and it doesn’t get much more mellow and relaxing anywhere in the world than there, save perhaps in any of your favourite Coffeeshops or other beloved places of the ‘dam

SBX_DK

drummerboy323 · Post by **drummerboy323** » Wed 4th Apr 2007 03:21 am

The area is awesome and safe. I was just there a week alone. I stayed on Warmoesstraat and even wandered the RLD till 1am Alone.

DC · Post by DC » Wed 4th Apr 2007 11:55 am

I know of many stories to contradict this, it depends on the individual. If you act like a target, you'll become one. I personally don't like the RLD and tend not to frequent it, but maybe this is also down to bein here for 4 yrs. Alot different to a week or so every year. It's deffinately worth a look, but the rest of the city is better.

JayK · Post by **JayK** » Thu 5th Apr 2007 02:20 am

Gotta say I agree, each time I go back to Amsterdam I seem to spend less and less time around the RLD area and more time exploring areas like Jordaan, De Pijp, Rembrandtsplein etc and venturing out to other towns like Haarlem, Leiden and Nordwijk (sp?).

drummerboy323 · Post by **drummerboy323** » Thu 5th Apr 2007 05:04 am

I liked the dock area near NEMO at night. They should have the stairs to top open at night. I also found myself in the areas around Westerkerk and Singel at night. They seemed pleasant as well.

la2019 · Post by **la2019** » Sun 15th Apr 2007 09:37 am

I find the RLD totally seedy and touristy, not to mention a little nerve-wracking at times. And I gotta say, that's why I love it. While I haven't spent a whole lot of time there, wandering around there after the last coffee shop has closed and I'm as high as a kite is a truly surreal experience. And maybe it's me, but I find it so fascinating. It's so different from anywhere else I've been. There's an energy there that I haven't seen replicated anywhere else in the world (well, the parts I've been to). Again, I wouldn't want to spend any real time there--but I have to see it every time I go.

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Sun 15th Apr 2007 06:11 pm

I'm not a big fan of the RLD, so I don't spend much time on Warmoesstraat. It's entertaining though. It would be a shame to visit the Dam, and spend all your time here and think this is what Amsterdam and the Dutch are about. Amsterdam is a great city to stroll around with a lot of great neighbourhoods that deserving visting.

sonicblue · Post by **sonicblue** » Tue 17th Apr 2007 09:45 pm

I stop by the RLD each visit. It's cool for a walk through but I get bored of the whole experience rather quickly then end up strolling to another part of town.

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Wed 18th Apr 2007 08:28 am

It was a novelty the first time I went but I find myself in different parts of the city everytime I go back.

Amsterdam has some gloriously beautiful archetecture, parks and loads of culture..... I want more of that and I want to visit more of The Netherlands.........

In may I'm going with 5 other people..... that'll be 4 virgins and 2 vets....... I guess we'll see our fair share of the RLD.... as for the rest I'll be up with the larks while the virgins sleep it all off! lol.... that's when I'll do my exploring.

MsLed · Post by **MsLed** » Mon 23rd Apr 2007 11:41 am

Warmerstraat from about 3am turns into night of the living dead with the crack heads wandering around saying 'CHANGE?'... have you seen the latest south park episode? very similar and not cool if you are off your face on mushrooms.

As a woman I would avoid it at night.

cattales1960 · Post by **cattales1960** » Mon 23rd Apr 2007 03:30 pm

Msled, that is so true, but as a woman, I would also avoid lots of areas alone. I always have people in all parts of the dam approaching me for whatever reason. ANd was far was the pickpockets, well they were hot and heavy in Dam Square this last week so its not just the RLD.

MsLed · Post by **MsLed** » Mon 23rd Apr 2007 03:53 pm

Yes there are many areas to avoid at night but luckily I have a strapping big bloke with me. Just got to keep ones eyes open!

Can't wait to get there....only 3 more days!

xx

cattales1960 · Post by **cattales1960** » Mon 23rd Apr 2007 05:08 pm

have a great time ms led, is this your first trip? you will love it

MsLed · Post by **MsLed** » Mon 23rd Apr 2007 09:02 pm

no it is my 6th. perhaps this time I will make it to doing something cultural but so far have not made it passed the coffeeshops!

xx