Amsterdam?s sex workers came to work early during the weekend to offer a free look at the city?s famed red-light district.

Hundreds of wide-eyed visitors queued in the sunshine to enter the dimly-lit sex clubs and peep shows that draw thousands to the city and to snoop around prostitutes? neon-lit boudoirs.

?I think the open day is a great idea,? said Love, an erotic dancer at Amsterdam?s Banana Bar, who was on hand to answer questions and pose for photographs in fluorescent negligee. ?It is especially interesting for women. If they learn what we do here they will realize it is not a big deal if their husbands or boyfriends want to come here.?

Organisers staged the open day to counter bad publicity surrounding the 800-year-old district after harrowing reports of forced prostitution, human trafficking and organized crime.