<strong>Provocative neighborhood: </strong>What's it like to live in a place synonymous with sex shops, cafes and drunken tourists? Six residents of Amsterdam's De Wallen red-light district have their say.
Provocative neighborhood: What's it like to live in a place synonymous with sex shops, cafes and drunken tourists? Six residents of Amsterdam's De Wallen red-light district have their say.
Anoek De Groot/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Noise factor:</strong> Martine Groen, 70, who has lived along canal Oudezijds Achterburgwal for years, says she experiences a lot of nuisance behavior from loud tourists.
Noise factor: Martine Groen, 70, who has lived along canal Oudezijds Achterburgwal for years, says she experiences a lot of nuisance behavior from loud tourists.
Katja Brokke
<strong>Campaign hopes:</strong> The municipality of Amsterdam has teamed up with local residents to launch the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwelivehere.amsterdam%2Fabout%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">"We Live Here" </a>campaign.
Campaign hopes: The municipality of Amsterdam has teamed up with local residents to launch the "We Live Here" campaign.
Getty Images/Sylvain Sonnet
<strong>Family ties:</strong> Sascha Kok, 49, moved to the red-light district after visiting regularly as a child and now helps to run bookshop Antiquariaat A. Kok & Zn. B.V, which her family owns.
Family ties: Sascha Kok, 49, moved to the red-light district after visiting regularly as a child and now helps to run bookshop Antiquariaat A. Kok & Zn. B.V, which her family owns.
Katja Brokke
<strong>Tourism impact:</strong> "The neighborhood has changed for the better, but the number of visitors has increased," says Kok. "The larger groups are the worst -- they don't care that people live here."
Tourism impact: "The neighborhood has changed for the better, but the number of visitors has increased," says Kok. "The larger groups are the worst -- they don't care that people live here."
Pixaby
<strong>Community spirit: </strong>Long-term residents Willemijn Tybout, 41, and Justus Dolleman, 52, say there's a strong solidarity between red-light district locals.
Community spirit: Long-term residents Willemijn Tybout, 41, and Justus Dolleman, 52, say there's a strong solidarity between red-light district locals.
Katja Brokke
<strong>Visitor overload: </strong>The Dutch capital receives around 18 million annual visitors each year, and the red-light district is one of its many popular spots.
Visitor overload: The Dutch capital receives around 18 million annual visitors each year, and the red-light district is one of its many popular spots.
ROBIN UTRECHT / Stringer / Getty
<strong>Big move: </strong>Paul van Egmond, 51, relocated to the red-light district over a decade ago and has never looked back.
Big move: Paul van Egmond, 51, relocated to the red-light district over a decade ago and has never looked back.
Katja Brokke
<strong>Unique place: </strong>"I know all my neighbors, along with the prostitutes and window operators," says Egmond. "They are all friendly people."
Unique place: "I know all my neighbors, along with the prostitutes and window operators," says Egmond. "They are all friendly people."
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<strong>Happy residents:</strong> Rachel Bonnewell runs boutique hotel Misc eatdrinksleep and De Wallen craft cocktail bar Rosalia's Menagerie with her husband.
Happy residents: Rachel Bonnewell runs boutique hotel Misc eatdrinksleep and De Wallen craft cocktail bar Rosalia's Menagerie with her husband.
Katja Brokke