David Wienir - Amsterdam Exposed: An Americans Journey Into the Red Light District

De Wallen Press

West Hollywood, California

dewallenpress@gmail.com

Copyright 2018 by David Wienir

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission except for brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Wienir, David, author

Amsterdam exposed: an americans journey into the red light district / David Wienir

Trade Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0-9993559-0-9

eBook ISBN-13: 978-0-9993559-1-6

1. Travel/Europe/Netherlands/Amsterdam 2. Biographies & Memoirs/Travelers and Explorers

3. Romance/Multicultural

Printed in the United States of America

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

To my wife

Table of Contents

Prologue

IT HAS BEEN said that nothing is permanent except for change itself. This holds true for both people and places, so its not surprising that much has changed in Amsterdam since the events of this book took place. Much of that change, however, could never have been anticipated.

In recent years, efforts have been made to remove the red light district from the heart of the city, all in an attempt to reclaim and revitalize it. Entire rows of windows, where women have stood for centuries, are being shut. Historic streets are being redistricted. Essentially, working girls are being exiled from the citys core, and coffeeshops selling cannabis, which have attracted millions of tourists for years, have been closed as well. As much of the Western world has developed a growing acceptance of marijuana, especially for medicinal purposes, Holland has moved in the opposite direction. Legislation has even been proposed to treat cannabis with more than 15 percent THC as a hard drug, and make coffeeshops available only to the Dutch. As a result, the red light district that has persevered and flourished for hundreds of years in Amsterdam may soon be finished.

The story told in this book will take you on an intimate and unprecedented journey into that world, perhaps for the last time. This is not a work of fiction masquerading as fact. Only names have been changed. The book tells the true story of an innocent exchange student who moves to Holland hoping to write a book about the red light district and everything that follows. Its a story of exploration. Its a story of friendship. Its a story of the search for innocence in a place bereft thereof. Its a story of change, and its a story that will hopefully not only touch you, but forever reshape your understanding of the red light district and the women who work there.

I began working on this book in 1999 as the events happened, just days before the turn of the millennium. It has taken me almost two decades to share it with the world. There were times I thought the book would never be published. My life had evolved, and when lives do, stories go untold. My career had taken me into corporate America, with stints at several prestigious law firms. I represented clients such as Steven Spielberg and Madonna, and knew many lawyers would be quick to judge a book of this nature, given the subject matter and everything that comes along with it. I would be judged, too. There is nothing corporate America likes less than someone trying to change the status quo, or worse, someone who strays from the herd. With rent to pay and a fragile career in the making, I was not yet ready to rock the boat.

Over the years, I worked intermittently on the manuscript. Some years I did very little. In others, I did more. In every year, my perspective on the story changed. Ultimately, something kept me coming back. I struggled to figure out what it was. It wasnt just a story of a 26-year-old American in Europe. It wasnt just a story of someone trying to do the impossible, and it wasnt just a promise that had to be kept. Its simply a story that must be told. Theres never been another one like it.

A final note before we begin: for those politically correct readers, or those easily offended, it is my sincere hope that you will love this book, but be forewarned it is very real. I didnt soften the edgesat all. To do so would be inauthentic, and defeat the purpose. I saw what I saw. What happened, happened. So hold on tight as we dive in deep, and apologies to anyone rubbed the wrong way. That was not my intention. Lastly, if you are under 18 and reading this, best to put it down until you come of age. Otherwise, reader beware. With that, let the journey begin.

Chapter 1

A msterdam is in my heart, she said as she clutched the purple nylon shirt that clung tightly to her chest. Amsterdam, it is life.

Inga had only lived in Holland for two months and had already been bewitched by the infamous Dutch town. As we walked down Haarlemmerstraat in the direction of the central station, I had not much to add to the conversation. Not yet. I had only been in Amsterdam for a few hours. The city had yet to make its impression.

That said, this wasnt my first time in town, though it had been a while. Like so many Americans, I had backpacked through Amsterdam while an undergrad during a year abroad. I visited the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, and a live sex show, all must-see attractions.

Back then my trip was an innocent one. At the time, I had never even tried weed. I grew up on a cul-de-sac in the San Fernando Valley, went to an all-boys high school, and had very little contact with anything having to do with drugs. It was not a part of my upbringing, or something I was interested in. I even remember reprimanding one of my friends for smoking weed before going into the Van Gogh Museum. As for sex, well, I grew up in the height of the AIDS epidemic. We were taught to associate sex with death. It was terrifying, and I got off to a late start. When walking through the red light district during that first trip, I walked fast. I tried to not make eye contact with anyone, and wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I never imagined living in Amsterdam, or even returning. Six years after my first visit, the forces of my life were taking me back.

I was entering my third year of law school at Berkeley and about to begin a career in international law. The school agreed to give me a full semester of credit to study in Amsterdam. Many thought I was crazy for leaving Berkeley for even a semester. This was not the normal path. As Holland is an important center of international law, I tried but couldnt think of a good reason not to go.

Also, I definitely needed a break from Berkeley. My second book decrying the lack of intellectual diversity at the law school had just been publishedduring my second year. Essentially, the book was about the inherent worth of the individual, a theme that runs through this one as well. It created controversy and attracted national attention. The premise was simple. In the name of diversity, you shouldnt shout down people who disagree with you. Especially regarding controversial issues, and especially at a top law school. This was a lot for Berkeley to handle. After a tumultuous book release, I looked forward to some time away.

While most of my class remained in California for the summer, I took a job in New York at Coudert Brothers, the oldest international law firm in America. Back in the day, being a summer associate was like going to adult summer camp. Very little work was done or expected, and days were spent being wined and dined. There were about 30 of us in the program, mostly from top law schools. We were constantly told how great we were, despite having accomplished very little, if anything, in the real world. We would go on scavenger hunts, river cruises, country club retreats, and whatever else they could think of, all to get us to sell our souls after graduation. It was a scary time. After all, once you sell your soul, you can never get it back. You could feel it in the air, and see it in the faces around us. There was something soulless about the place.