Amsterdam's Red-light District Entering National Gallery

In a move that is likely to cause controversy, a room of the National Gallery will be transformed to resemble Amsterdam’s illicit red-light district.

Visitors walking through the succession of re-created streets will be able to peep through myesterious glowing windows and doorways, and ogle the garishly lit, semi-naked mannequins.

The Hoerengracht, Dutch for “whore’s canal”, the work of US artists Ed and Nancy Kienholz, will be a first for the venerable institution who says The Hoerengracht will “shed light” on its historical paintings by Dutch 17th century masters, which also depict the seedier side of life.

Gallery officials believe that many of its Old Master paintings are far more shocking than The Hoerengracht, and as such, they see no reason to warn visitors about the nature of this piece.