The Amsterdam Red Light District, the oldest part of our capital, is turning green these days. Residents, entrepreneurs and property developers are committed to greening this special part of Amsterdam. Fancy an afternoon of eco-conscious shopping and a special city walk? Then come to Amsterdam for the Green Light District Walk. In this article, Saskia shares with you all the highlights of this walk, including some sustainable tips not indicated on the route!
Green Light District walking tour
I myself lived on the edge of Amsterdam's Red Light District for almost a decade. I know the neighbourhood like the back of my hand and love the raw Amsterdam atmosphere. These days, a new wind is blowing through the narrow streets. Besides the spicy sex clubs and ladies behind the windows, local residents and entrepreneurs are working to make Amsterdam's oldest neighbourhood more sustainable. And now you can see and experience all that for yourself by walking the Green Light District Walk. Follow the route and you will discover a new side of this special Amsterdam neighbourhood.
Will you walk with me? As a local, I also have some cool tips that you will come across on the walk, but which are not mentioned on the initiative's website. This walk is great if you want to shop in Amsterdam in a different, sustainable way. But also if you don't need anything, and want to enjoy this beautiful old neighbourhood of Amsterdam, this walk is a tip. If you come on Saturday, you can wrap it up nicely at The organic market in the Nieuwmarkt (at the Waag). So you can combine it with organic and packaging-free shopping. So don't forget your refillable jars and cloth bags!
The walk is three kilometres and it took me 2.5 hours (including shopping).
Vega & Vintage on the Amsterdam Red Light District
The walk starts at 9A Nieuwe Hoogstraat at the Green Light District Hub. You will recognise participating shops by a green real estate sign on the facades. From here, I start the walk with a friend and start at the first shop on the route: VEGA Life (house number 3A). At this shop, you'll find everything you need for a vegan lifestyle. Think shoes and bags normally made of leather, but you can also find vegan cosmetics and vegan cheese here. Before entering VEGA Life, we spot Amsterdam's oldest vintage shop at number 5A, called Timemachine. If you love vintage clothes and blingbling, then you should definitely take a look here.
Amsterdam natural gas-free, circular and energy-neutral city thanks to the Waag
You've probably seen the Waag up close before. It is Amsterdam's oldest public building and very characteristic of the Red Light District and the Nieuwmarkt. In the 15th century it served as our city gate, but today this iconic landmark contributes to a natural gas-free, circular and energy-neutral city. We were surprised: there is much more happening on the Red Light District than we had thought. They have also carried out an extensive study into sustainability options here, from insulation to extracting energy from the canal water (the canal water runs under the building). This knowledge makes you look at this building differently, doesn't it? Settle down for a cup of coffee, but don't rush past.
If you come on Saturdays, you will also find the organic market here. This market is really fantastic. You can go to the greengrocer for forgotten and unusual vegetables such as purple cauliflower and cauliflower sprouts. And there is a stall where you can buy packaging-free beautiful herbs and teas.
If you do the Green Light District Walk on Saturdays, you can cozy up to the organic market.
Sustainable living in Amsterdam
We continued our route along the Zeedijk to take a look at Binnen Bantammerstraat and Buiten Bantammerstraat. These little streets have been a personal favourite for years. Local residents have completely greened these old Amsterdam streets. In spring and summer, when everything is in bloom, it is even more spectacular. Stop on the bridge and enjoy the Amsterdam cityscape. And onde bridge, don't forget to look down, because you can see that houseboat residents are also making sustainable steps with solar panels on their flat roofs.
Ecological shopping in the Red Light District
Fair trade (vegan) chocolate from Cacao & Spice
We continue our way back to the heart of the Red Light District, towards the Oude Kerk. This bit, along with the organic market and the vintage shop, I think is the highlight of the walk. We walk past the ladies behind the windows looking for the fair trade chocolate shop Cocoa & Spice where we hear owner Salomé give a great talk on sustainable cocoa (and what is wrong with the cocoa industry). We also get to taste some chocolates. Salomé: ‘All the chocolate I sell comes from a biodiverse environment, from an environment where there is a lot of richness in plants and animals. Cacao (like coffee and wine) absorbs the flavour of the environment. The more biodiverse the environment the nicer and richer the flavour.’ A tip from Salomé: if dark chocolate tastes bitter, then you can almost certainly know it comes from a monoculture. Dark chocolate is not supposed to be (too) bitter.
The chocolate Salomé sells does another good thing. Profits are linked to reforestation projects and improving the position of women in the cocoa industry. Chocolate lovers with a vegan lifestyle will also be fine at this shop: the vegan selection is large, with the owner making her own vegan chocolates. And the goodies are packed as much as possible in biodegradable packaging materials. In short, a sustainable gift you can come up with at a party. We like! Want to know more about this extraordinary chocolate shop?
Circular soap from Nature Bar
We continue our way to the soap workshop Nature Bar Not far from the chocolaterie. An old pod room has been transformed into a boutique soap factory. Owner Marlies makes special sustainable and circular soaps and is happy to show you the making process. A favourite at our house is Spar & Cedar's circular soap, which is made from Amsterdam Christmas trees set along the side of the street.
Not seen enough yet? Then finish the walk with visits to The Upcycle and The Condomerie (sustainable condoms exist too!). Of course, there is much more to see. See all highlights of Green Light District Walk.
Visit sustainable Amsterdam and do the Green Light District walk
Would you also like to visit the sustainable shops and other green initiatives of the Green Light District? Come to the city centre (if possible) by public transport. You'll find the Red Light District at walking distance from Central Station and the metro also stops at De Nieuwmarkt. By car anyway? You can also park the car more cheaply at a Parking & Travel location on the outskirts of the city. Then the tram or metro will take you to the city centre. This will also save you a lot of stress of driving in the busy city centre and huge parking costs.
More fun outings and holidays in your own country
- Another sustainable gem in Amsterdam: Mana Mana restaurant.
- Does citytripping in your own country taste like more? Then check out our Breda tips!
- Which is also great fun to do once: A road trip through Friesland!
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
