I find the red light districts are fine.
I've heard a few people mention them being bad but the last time I was in Amsterdam I took my girlfriend (well, she was after the weekend -- long story) to one and we found it amusing -- we seemed to have found the "granny hooker" section where they wore curlers, smoked rollups and talked to thier friends.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 17 Sep 2010, 17:58, 1 reply)

(Shudder)
The section we mistakenly strolled into had row after row of shop windows behind each of which a stone faced dead eyed woman either tried to entice us towards her doorway, or sat staring apathetically out into the street.
Some of the girls honestly looked as though death would be nothing but a welcome release.
( DukeEuphoria Comes highly reccomended, Fri 17 Sep 2010, 18:32, closed)

Ah, Ricks bar - good place to have a mid morning bracer (tequila mostly)
also an excellent place to smoke something far too strong, and have a chap's first 90 minute whitey, resulting in a very fast walk indeed around amsterdam, consumed as i was by the need to find a park to sit in. not many inside the canal belt....
(micky2shoes has more shoes than feet, Tue 21 Sep 2010, 17:56, closed)