Amsterdam’s Red Light District

In The Hesperus Prophecy, James notes how Declan eats a Snickers bar, with “such vigor it would make an Amsterdam red-light girl blush.”

This is an obvious, and somewhat crass, reference to Amsterdam’s red-light district. This area of the city is where legal prostitution, sex shops, strip clubs, and adult theaters are located. In Amsterdam, sex workers stand in windows facing the street, using red lights to entice customers and advertise their availability.