Full article: Amsterdam will make promotion of Red Light District ‘more honest’

The city of Amsterdam has promised to review its promotional material in order to cull overly rosy commendations of its Red Light District.

The city is tackling abuses in the area, and actively marketing the 'red light' character of the district does fit that picture.

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Full article: Auditor: ‘Impossible to measure success of Amsterdam’s Red Light District clean-up measures’

It is impossible to determine whether Amsterdam's efforts to reduce the number of window brothels, coffeeshops and call shops in the city's Red Light District lead to less crime.

This is one of the conclusions of a report made public today by the Netherlands Court of Audit.

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Full article: Red Light Radio – Live Radio in Amsterdam’s Red Light District

There's something new in Amsterdam's (in)famous Red Light District: a radio broadcasting live from a former prostitute's cubicle.

Radio Netherlands reporter Patricia Cronie asked founder Hugo van Heijningen what's the benefit of making radio next door to the prostitutes?

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Full article: Network of human traffickers forced women into prostitution in Amsterdam

With the arrest of five pimps and four operators of window brothels in Amsterdam's Red Light District the Netherlands' Public Prosecution Service believes it has captured an international gang of human traffickers.

Enforcing their demands with brute violence the gang forced a large number of women to work as prostitutes.

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Full article: Panel of customers advises Amsterdam City Council on well-being of prostitutes

A panel of customers of prostitutes in Amsterdam has been advising the city since this summer on issues such as human trafficking and forced prostitution.

Critics say the city's policy of reducing window prostitution, as part of efforts to spruce up and repupose Amsterdam's city centre, will force many prostitutes underground -- possibly subjecting them to abuse and exploitation.

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Full article: World famous Amsterdam sex theater no longer threatened with closure

World famous Casa Rosso, the most prominent landmark in Amsterdam's Red Light District, will not be forced to close down.

Four other companies that belong to owner Jan Otten, including the iconic Bananabar, will also remain in business. The City of Amsterdam will provide Otten with renewed business licenses -- albeit under strict conditions.

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Full article: Amsterdam hiring inspectors to audit prostitutes

The city of Amsterdam is hiring inspectors who, starting January 1, will audit prostitutes.

The municipality wil check whether prostitutes operating in the city have the correct permits.

The inspectors will also look for evidence of human trafficking and other illegal activities.

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Full article: Amsterdam wants to transform Red Light District sooner rather than later

The city of Amsterdam wants to make haste with its efforts to clean up its world-famous Red Light District.

Reportedly within three years it plans to start expropriating property owners who refuse to close their brothels, Dutch press agency ANP reports. To make this possible the city will soon change the zoning plan for the district. So says Pierre van Rossum, who heads up Project 1012.

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Full article: The connection between Amsterdam’s coffeeshops and organized crime

The number of coffeeshops in Amsterdam's Red Light District will be reduced by 34 percent over the next 3-6 years.

The closures are meant to make a dent in the estimated €21 - 42 million in un-taxed, yearly profits made by organized crime syndicates that officials have documented as being involved on the supply side.

The proposed measure, expected to be accepted by the Amsterdam City Council, is part of a large-scale project to clean up and repurpose Amsterdam's city center.

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Full article: 26 coffeeshops in downtown Amsterdam must close their doors

According to the Municipality of Amsterdam the large number of coffeeshops in the center of town create an infrastructure that encourages criminality. The City refers to such establishments as 'crimogene' -- a term used to describe functions that encourage 'promotion or advancement of -- or susceptibility to -- criminality.'

The closures are part of the Coalition Project 1012, designed to spruce up downtown Amsterdam by -- among other things -- breaking the influence of organized crime.

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