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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.