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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAmsterdam plans to move red light district away from the city and into a purpose-built center
Lonely PlanetLast April, Amsterdam's council banned red light tours from the medieval district, also called De Wallen in an effort to tackle its overtourism problem. Now it's going one step further with a plan to close the brothel windows of the district and move the "erotic center" away from the city center. Sex workers have been advised they can move their businesses away from the rabbit warren of laneways and alleys of Singel and De Wallen, and into a new purpose-built center the location of which is yet to be determined.
Amsterdam's mayor Femke Halsema said she wants to combat the "rise in human trafficking by providing a safe environment in which sex workers can run their businesses". She has also expressed concern about the parade of "gawping tourists" in the red light district.
However, when the idea was first proposed, a lobby group known as Red Light United said that 90% (of 170) female sex workers surveyed wanted to continue working in their current location. "Relocating those workplaces is not an option because then the customers will not know where to find the sex workers," activist and sex worker Foxxy told the Het Parool newspaper at the time.
In other areas of the city, change is also coming. Tourists will soon be barred from Amsterdams famous coffee shops as Halsema limits the shops to residents only. The city is continuing to reimagine Amsterdam and deal with the huge influx of tourism. Nineteen million people visited the city in 2018, dwarfing the population of 850,000. Tourist tax on rooms were raised this year and more restrictions have been put on renting out Airbnbs. Theyre also halting new tourist-centric shops popping up in the city.
Amsterdam's mayor Femke Halsema said she wants to combat the "rise in human trafficking by providing a safe environment in which sex workers can run their businesses". She has also expressed concern about the parade of "gawping tourists" in the red light district.
However, when the idea was first proposed, a lobby group known as Red Light United said that 90% (of 170) female sex workers surveyed wanted to continue working in their current location. "Relocating those workplaces is not an option because then the customers will not know where to find the sex workers," activist and sex worker Foxxy told the Het Parool newspaper at the time.
In other areas of the city, change is also coming. Tourists will soon be barred from Amsterdams famous coffee shops as Halsema limits the shops to residents only. The city is continuing to reimagine Amsterdam and deal with the huge influx of tourism. Nineteen million people visited the city in 2018, dwarfing the population of 850,000. Tourist tax on rooms were raised this year and more restrictions have been put on renting out Airbnbs. Theyre also halting new tourist-centric shops popping up in the city.
Seems unfortunate; the current arrangement made prostitution a part of ordinary city life, which as a legal undertaking it should be.
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Amsterdam plans to move red light district away from the city and into a purpose-built center (Original Post)
brooklynite
Feb 2021
OP
Are you suggesting that patronage of sex workers is something to be discouraged?
brooklynite
Feb 2021
#5
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)1. The red light district does have its unique, odd charm.
Squinch
(51,090 posts)2. That includes, according to the mayor, a rise in human trafficking.
brooklynite
(94,997 posts)3. Not clear how moving the brothels addresses that...
None of the laws governing the sex trade are being modified.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)4. That, obviously, is a problem. But I wonder whether moving it
from medieval buildings by the canals to a modern industrial complex or shopping center in the 'burbs will make any difference. The same people will go there looking for the same thing.
brooklynite
(94,997 posts)5. Are you suggesting that patronage of sex workers is something to be discouraged?
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)6. I'm suggesting that sex trafficking is to be discouraged.
brooklynite
(94,997 posts)7. Which has nothing to do with the placement of the legal trade...
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)9. Exactly.
Yeehah
(4,603 posts)8. Seems like the council doesn't like tourists
I'm sure another city will be happy to get the money.