Famed paint shop Engels opens Amsterdam shop with Red Light Dist. pigment

Famed Amsterdam paint shop Engels opened a branch in Amsterdam-Noord with a exuberant celebration on Saturday. The celebration included performances by a variety of artists and the unveiling of a new Amsterdam paint color - Red Light District red, Het Parool reports.

Sisters Louise and Martine Fokkens (73), who worked as prostitutes for more than 50 years, helped Engels in determining the exact color of the red used in the Dutch capital's Red Light District for centuries. Red Light District red, also known as 'whore red', can now be ordered from Engels.

Red Light District red is not the only Amsterdam original color sold by the paint shop. Others includes real canal green, used in the city to paint doors, windows and fences. And a yellow used in some old interiors.

The opening party for the Engels store on Slijperweg included performances by Gooise Willem, Brian B. and Naja Filzer. The Fokkens sisters also performed a song.