Amsterdam sex workers protest against transfer of red light area

 

Amsterdam’s sex workers protest against the relocation of their renowned red light district. Mayor Femke Halsema wants to reduce tourist numbers & petty crime in the area, but sex workers feel they’re being made scapegoats for criminals and crowds

On Thursday, a number of people protested the mayor’s intention to move the red light district to an out-of-town purpose-built erotic center by marching through the streets toward City Hall while hiding their identities with masks.

To boost Amsterdam’s reputation, Mayor Femke Halsema plans to move the red light district to a specially constructed erotic center. The mayor aims to lessen the amount of minor crime in the region and shed Amsterdam’s reputation as a “sin city.”

Previously, Mayor Halsema said, “Sex work belongs to Amsterdam and will never go away. But the situation in the inner city is unsustainable… due to the stream of tourists who regularly misbehave and cause nuisance.” She slammed “nuisance tourism” in the red light area.

However, sex workers said, “If we are not to blame then why are we being punished?” The sex workers said that they do not want to move to an “erotic center.”