https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/19/amsterdam-sex-workers-protest-against-plan-to-move-red-light-district
Protesters oppose mayor’s plan to move their trade to purpose-built ‘erotic centre’ away from city centre
To be fair, Amsterdam red-light district is really safe, thanks to the windows and cops patrols. The plan to move them outside of the city in some shady areas is lowering the safety for all parties involved. And the reasons behind the move are basically "Won't Somebody Please Think of the Children?"
SBS made a good documentary about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxn84mAduXo
All bad policy decisions use that phase when none of them believe in helping or caring about children.
I think it's also about who defines the culture of a city, and frankly, that's not for a temporary elected official to decide.
I'd the people of a space want it to be different that's for them to decide.
It certainly does. But officially the reason is because they want Amsterdam to not be a "let's go get fucked" destination anymore. Less drugs and hookers tourists, more windmill and museums tourists kind of thing. That is at least the official story. I can confirm that central Amsterdam is not pleasant when the stag parties are around which is every day.
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"Won't Somebody Please Think of the Children?"
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This is the best part in my opinion:
Moving the red light district is Amsterdam’s latest effort to transform its image as a party capital. It has also launched a “stay away” campaign to discourage stag nights and boozy tourists, which caused a stir in Britain after the council said it would start by targeting British men aged 18 to 35.
How would a "stay away" campaign have looked like? Oi! British lads between 18 and 35! Don't come to De Wallen. There is nothing to be seen! Only young women in lingerie, that offer you sexual favours for money! And pubs! Lots of pubs! So please stay away! :(
It looks like this
Coming to Amsterdam for a messy night?
+ getting trashed
= 140 euro fine
+ criminal record
= fewer prospects
So coming to Amsterdam for a messy night?
Stay away
I love how you can hear the Dutch accent oozing off of the text.
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When I was passing the Red Light District some years ago, I wouldn't really describe what I saw there as "young women in lingerie".
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Sex workers in Amsterdam have protested against the planned transfer of their famed red light district to an out-of-town “erotic centre”, in what is seen as part of a battle for the city’s soul.
Dozens of people, many wearing masks to shield their identity, marched through the streets towards City Hall, one carrying a banner saying: “If sex workers are not to blame then why are we being punished?”
The mayor, Femke Halsema, wants to uproot the red light district and move it out of town to a purpose-built erotic centre, aiming to rid Amsterdam of its image as a “sin city” while reducing the number of tourists and rates of petty crime in the area.
She has found herself up against local residents who do not want the new centre on their doorstep, as well as sex workers who feel they are being made scapegoats for the criminals and crowds surrounding their neon-lit booths.
Halsema has long opposed the centuries-old red light district, known as De Wallen, where sex workers stand in windows waiting for customers.
It has also launched a “stay away” campaign to discourage stag nights and boozy tourists, which caused a stir in Britain after the council said it would start by targeting British men aged 18 to 35.
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I think a lot of people hear Red Light District and visualise a neighborhood of a few blocks... It's literally a 500m stretch of a canal and a a few tiny alleys, mostly on one side. It is very close to the main train station (literally across the street from one end of the station, but, to be clear to any Americans, the station is mall-sized), but that's the whole thing. It's filled with curious tourists so much that you can't really walk because of the foot traffic. It's... underwhelming. It's the kind of place you go to, spend half an hour walking a block back and forth because of the traffic, say "that's it?" and go do something more interesting.