Walletjes

It is Amsterdam's largest and most well known red-light district. A designated area of legalized prostitution and has become a famous tourist attraction. Consists of a network of roads and alleys containing several hundred small, one-room apartments rented by sex workers who offer their services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights.

I was told not to take pictures. Why is it forbidden to take pictures in some places in Europe?

In some places it might be for security reasons or some of them find it offensive or they may want to protect the economic viability of their gift shop products . Well, it depends on which places you are talking about. But for me, it's probably because they want tourists to see for themselves. *smile*

Some say it is the happiest place in Amsterdam, and that the RLD is a "cakewalk" as many present it. Another image of the Red Light District is of packs of young and old men, giggling groups of women, couples holding hands and pointing in shock of it all, and crazy groups of teenagers. This proved enough that the RLD deserves a visit, if not a little look in. Generally speaking, if you are clueless about these and many other things, the RLD is far from being just "let's go to the District, smoke a joint and f*** some girls". It is NOT a safe place (there are news articles on the web that will help you understand what am I talking about). It is not to scare or to create a paranoia, or any kind of negative mood before you go to this place. It is to arm you the knowledge to avoid the nasty things that happen to careless tourists. So your stay in Amsterdam could be the safest and most enjoyable experience possible.