Amsterdam has made the decision to move sex workers, and the cannabis-selling cafes and bars, out of their city centre. The famous brothel windows in the ‘red-light’ district are being shut in order to attract ‘better tourists’.
Femke Halsem, the city’s mayor has proposed to shut down a significant number of the windows in the narrow alleys of Amsterdam, a decision which is being backed by local political parties.
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This decision to move the De Wallen red light district was first proposed in mid-2019 stating that the sex workers had been reduced to a tourist attraction, drawing stares and abuse. The sex workers are being invited to move to a purpose-built centre elsewhere in Amsterdam, the location of which is yet to be decided.
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In addition to this the mayor has been pushing to ban foreign tourists from cannabis cafes to tackle anti-social behaviour. As Amsterdam attracts 20 million tourists per year, the cafes are pushing back on this ban fearing that this will promote local dealers to take over the market.
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Tourists are welcome to enjoy the beauty and freedom of the city, but not at any cost. We have to intervene firmly.
-CDA’s Diederik Boomsma told The Guardian
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The mayor said her decision is being made in order to ‘strengthen cultural diversity and the local identity’. Instead of making it a spot for tourists to get high and gawk at sex workers. However, according to a survey conducted by a newly formed lobby group named Red Light United, 90% of the 170 female sex workers wanted to continue working in the windows in the narrow alleys and canalside streets of the Singel and De Wallen.