Europa 2013

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Thursday morning and we were so excited to be visiting the Rijksmuseum. It's only a few kilometres from our hotel and the weather is so beautiful we decided to walk. (Getting plenty of exercise in Amsterdam!) The museum didn't disappoint. After 10 years of rebuilding, renovation and restoration the Rijksmuseum just reopened in May this year. It underwent a complete transformation of its building and the presentation of its collections. It is absolutely magnificent. Standing in front of Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' was another 'moment'. It was completed in 1642, is 3.6m x 4.4.m in size and is breathtakingly beautiful. The museum's Gallery of Honour is home to many paintings of the 17th Century Dutch Masters but my absolute favourite is Vermeer's 'The Milkmaid'. So very beautiful. There are collections of sculptures, furniture and interiors, fashion, jewellery, glass, ceramics, weapons, armour. . . the list goes on and on. Seven hours was not enough to really see everything properly. Oh well, will just have to return another day!

Tired and weary after a whole day on our feet we did wander what on earth had possessed us to book an evening walking tour through the Red Light District on the same day as our visit to the Rijksmuseum. Our guide Edgar was brilliant. (Nicaraguan with a Dutch wife . . . now there's a combination!) The tour is quite a serious one providing the history of the district and how it has evolved since it was established 800 years ago.Our first stop was at the Prostitution Information Centre which exists to provide information to prostitutes, tourists, locals . . . anyone who needs information about prostitution and /or the district. It was established by an ex-prostitute who worked in the Red Light District for over 6 years in the 1960's. The lecture was provided by another ex-prostitute who volunteers her time at the centre and who looks like she could be anyone's mother!

The District was established originally to cater for the sailors when they came into port with many of the prostitutes at that time wives of sailors themselves who needed to provide for their families while their husbands were at sea. To work in the district nowadays you must be from a member country of the European Union. The prostitutes run a legitimate business and pay taxes just like any other working person in the Netherlands. The famous 'windows' are hired out for 8 hour shifts. The more secluded and out of the public view the window the more expensive it is to hire because it is more discreet for the customer. The prostitutes negotiate a price with the customer but there is a minimum fee of $50.00 for ten minutes. The client can not enter the room unless the prostitute accepts his business and releases a lock so that he can enter. All negotiations are completed through the window so that the prostitute is in complete control over who she does and does not provide her services. The rooms include a safety alarm in the event that the prostitute finds herself in danger. Apparently the alarms rarely need to be used. Interestingly the prostitutes are not required to have a health check before they commence working in the district. It is against the law in the Netherlands to insist that a worker of any description have a medical! We received so much more detail but enough already. . . The rest is for strictly private conversations! Did we find it sad? Yes, definitely but not to the extent that I thought we would. The woman at the information centre was quite clear that there is a misconception that these women need or want to be 'saved'. She was adamant that they are in complete control of what they do and pointed out that this is the very real benefit of legalised prostitution as it empowers the worker. Interesting discussion for debate!

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Photos

Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum

Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum Gardens

Amsterdam
Rembrandt's Night Watch

Amsterdam
Vermeer's The Milkmaid

Amsterdam
Clive with Statue of Belle in the Red Light District

Amsterdam
Inscription underneath Belle Statue

Comments

[Kate]

Greetings
Hi Guys, it all looks amazing. Hope you're enjoying catching up with the family too. KT :)

[Glenys Watt]

Amsterdam
Hi Henny Great blog! We were all looking forward to receiving the link. Fantastic way to communicate your photos and travels. The Rijksmuseum is one of my most notable memories from my trip/s to Europe. Before the renovation of course. I still remember being gobsmacked by Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' and talked about it for years afterwards. Keep the blog coming. Glenys

[Rikki]

The Milkmaid
She's my favourite too. Love the colours and the sunlight from the window.