Amsterdam to move sex workers from Red Light District windows
Amsterdam has announced plans to establish a new 'erotic center,' which will effectively relocate sex workers from the city's famed red light district.
Known as the 'city of sin,' Amsterdam has long attracted tourists with its legal offerings like marijuana, which are banned in countries such as the UK.
The red light district, where sex workers are displayed in windows surrounded by red lights, is a major tourist attraction. However, Mayor Femke Halsema aims to remove this attraction from the city center. The proposed 'erotic center' will be situated on the outskirts of Amsterdam, specifically at Europa Boulevard in the South district, deemed a 'more suitable location' by the city's executive. The plan, set to be presented to the city council early next year, envisions a complex with 100 rooms for sex workers, sex theatres, restaurants, and clubs. Unlike the current district, the windows in the new center will be inside the building to reduce tourism and prevent disruptive groups.
Despite these plans, some locals expressed concerns about the potential increase in sex workers and associated disturbances in their area. Rather than relocating the district, they advocate for improved crowd control and police enforcement in De Wallen, the red light district's geographical name. Amsterdam's efforts to reshape its image among European neighbors include campaigns discouraging stag nights and excessive drinking, particularly aimed at British men aged 18-35.
The relocation of the red light district represents a significant step in this image transformation. However, locals opposed to the new 'erotic center' might find temporary relief, as construction and opening of the center, if approved, would take at least seven years.
