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This is the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Or as the Dutch like to call it: The Wallen.
It's the largest and most famous red light district in the world.
The area started to develop in the 14th century.
And in the 17th century, the district flourished during the so called Dutch Golden Age.
Back then, Amsterdam functioned as a gateway to the World, wich attracted many shipmen...
and immigrants, and as a result: prostitution.
In the 20th century the district slowly started to deteriorate.
Its all time low was the downfall in the 80s, led by the then popular drug: heroine.
During the last couple of years however, the situation in the Red Light District started to improve.
Some of the notorious brothels have been closed down and are now being used as creative spaces.
One of these spaces is the Red Light Complex.
An initiative that helps transform a troubled neighborhood into a creative hub.
The former pleasure house now functions as a working space for many young creatives...
and is also the home of Amsterdam's finest radio station: Red Light Radio.
Hello dear listeners, we're back with Cinema Royale on Red Light Radio.
Guys, how you doing, Tim.
Hi, Hugo. -Hi, Orpheo.
Nice to meet you. So what is this place, in your own words,
because you guys started it off, didn't you?
This is Red Light Radio, an online radio station. Underground music mainly.
Yeah. A mix of like local guys, international dj's, and the whole building.
And the fact that we're in the Red Light District, in what used to be a *** window, or...
Yeah. This used to be the mirror. And here used to be a bed,
so small. - Yeah, so what was...
this place like before you got here?
We were actually not the first non-sex people who came in.
I mean, we did not find crazy stuff, because that's what the first people did.
Not true. - No?
You changed a sink or two. - Oh, yeah.
Yeah, the sink.
Like big hair balls coming out of the tubes and stuff, so.
And no gloves in the house so, you just shook my hand.
What brought you to this place?
We just wanted to spread good music,
and because the Red Light District is changing,
they put other people in the old prostitution rooms.
We thought it would fit because we wanted a radio station that was visible.
So yeah. I mean this is perfect you know. It's the whole neighbourhood, with windows...
and everyone's looking at it.
In this building, there's a bunch of offices.
It kind of formed itself.
It's really nice. It's kind of like a camping, everyone is walking outside and waving. Hi!
So that's really cool. - And what are you up to?
I'm making an animation movie of 10 minutes. - So you're an animator?
Yeah, I'm an animator.
It's about a guy who wants to live on the beach, and I'm just changing it right now...
like scrapping all these scenes I don't want to make.
Because it's a really big movie now.
And how do you find this place?
It's kind of a crazy place. That's what you feel when you're here.
And are these like apartments as well do you think?
Those are apartments, but right there, they are designing s & m suits,
that's what I think.
What's going on here? - I'm actually just starting to produce.
I usually use this place to record my vocals.
But since a couple of months I started to produce.
Can we hear a little bit, or is it not ready?
Yeah, I've just made some sketches, so it's not even real lyrics.
Just now.
Nice. - Haha.
So is that how you work then, like put the music down, and then like...
the lyrics will come later. -Yeah.
Sometimes I start writing right away, and sometimes I just mumble.
And how often are you in the studio?
I'm usually here everyday,
and I share a studio here with a friend, Faberyayo.
You've probably already seen him here.
I really like this area because it's just very vibrant, new stuff going on all the time.
There's a really big influx of people everyday,
doing stuff outside of normal society as well. So that's definitely good.
I just like the fact that it's a little bit grimey, because I think a studio shouldn't be too clean.
It shouldn't be too precious.
And that's really nice because there's no better place,
or no grimier place in Amsterdam than the Red Light District.
The type of stuff that you produce in a place like this,
is going to be different than if...
I were to have a studio, in a cabin in the woods or something.
Why not sit on top of it? That would be cool.
We sent a reminder for the party.
Saturday is the 1 year anniversary of Red Light Complex.
and I think we can convince them with that.
This is the creative office of Patta.
To be specific, it's a streetwear brand,
and I guess we are more popular outside of Holland,
than we are inside of Holland.
We did some hiking boots,
and last year, this was Kanye West's favorite shoe.
Okay. - And he wore this like everywhere, at everything so,
that was a really good look.
Also, for our collection we started to dig into the history of this area.
This is like an official plaquette, that was on the walls on the Zeedijk,
because the government of Amsterdam, they kind of warned people...
to not come in this area.
Because there's all drug dealers here and it's disgusting,
and it's kind of how we involved our situation in our clothing line.
Okay. -This area is kind of where Amsterdam started.
Rembrandt van Rijn, his grave is in this church, you know, for instance.
So that's ill.
So for us, being in this area and becoming a bigger and bigger name...
worldwide, this is like: okay, this is our base.
There's a lot of story, a lot of history to tell.
So for us, it's really full circle. We're really happy here.
Cheers, cheers. -Thanks.
It's your 1 year anniversary today.
Yep, 1 year of being an easy landlord, I think.
Also, the businesses are doing well for everybody who is in our building.
Do you think the area is changing because of places like your complex?
Yeah, I mean it's great. There's still a lot of crazy people walking around,
but also people who do different things now,
and I think that's also improving the Red Light District.
But I think if they're all people like us,
then we should move to another dirty area, I guess.
Yeah.