Have you ever been to Amsterdam’s Red Light District or know anything about it?
August 2, 2010 by
Filed under Red Light District
Ive been dating my boyfriend for about a year now, known each other for 6yrs…anyhow he is from Holland and we both live in OHIO. I did not know that they had this kind of thing going on, prostitution. I think it is quite interesting. Are these brothels used quite often? Are they riddled with STD’s? Is it safe for the women working there? How do they begin working there? Is the county ashamed of the RLD or are they encouraging towards it? I am just flabbergasted lol
It exists. I went to Amsterdam for 2 months back in 1997. I don’t ever ‘need’ to rent a woman for sex, so I never used the services. The women are not “riddled” with std’s. They start working because the money is very good, and for some, the sex is fun as well. The govt. regulates the business, and they all get check ups, and most practice ’safe’ sex. It gets very crowded on the streets in front of the establishments. The almost naked women are on display in windows at street level. If the tourists are dumb enough to try to take pictures, the big, burly ’security’ guys in the crowd will make you stop. If you give them any hassle, they just push you into the canal alongside the street. I saw an unfortunate drunk American get pushed in, camera and all, for videotaping after being asked to stop. The Netherlands is very tolerant of many various types of human behaviors. Pot is openly enjoyed there as well. I want to go back as soon as I can !
Have I been or do I know about it? Yes. Having lived there (and living 40mins away and visiting frequently) then I have passed through the RLD in Amsterdam more times than I can count, and many times walking on my own as a female and to be honest it’s never been a big deal
The thing is that it is a different mindset when you understand the objectives of legalising prostitution (and these are nationwide policies and not just for Amsterdam). Probably you didn’t know that prostitution is actually legal in other European countries as well e.g. Germany, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, Austria (to name the ones from the top of my head)
There are in principles two mindsets to dealing with prostitution. The first is what takes place in the US, UK etc when the authorities make it illegal and thus sweep it neatly under the carpet as not happening. The reality is that it is and will always take place because there is always a market for it. They don’t call it the oldest profession for nothing! The net result is that prostitutes work in an illegal, unclean & unsafe environment being exploited, traffiked, abused & put at risk from violence & STD’s.
Alternatively you have the pragmatic approach that it is going to happen and you try to deal with it. That is not to say that there are not still issues with traffiking, criminal activities around the operations etc – because there still are despite constant crackdowns by Amsterdam (and Dutch in general) authorities. This is the first aim to crack down and limit this. The second is to provide a better working environment for the women who are doing this.
I would suggest you read this PDF file produced by the Dutch Ministry of Justice (in English see on the right hand side of the page) http://www.minbuza.nl/en/You_and_the_Netherlands/About_the_Netherlands/Ethical_issues/FAQ_Prostitution
When you look at this way then you maybe will understand why there is less stigma attached to having a RLD operating in Amsterdam (and other places) and indeed why there are brothels (less overt though) in other European countries as well. It is not about “encouraging”" but more about managing what is something which will always take place regardless of wishes or desires for it not to.
It is interesting actually to read and hopefully gives you a insight into the reasons why, what takes place etc etc and I think when you understand this, then it becomes easier to understand and less shocking.
Hope this helps you a litte more.
I am Dutch, live near Amsterdam and have been a regular visitor to the city all my life. Even when I was a child I walked through the red light area with my parents and siblings, never thought much about it then.
In my late teens and early twenties I have talked with several people running safe havens for the women working the area, but I never talked with one of the women herself.
On average people do not like prostitution, would never want their daughter, wife, sister or mother to work there, not even the women who do.
Many of the women you can see in the windows work there because they were tricked or forced into it, or choose to do it because they had already experienced so many bad thing that this seemed the better alternative.
But almost non of them will admit to the neighbours at home that they do it. Nor do most of the men making use of the services.
I get the impression that American guys are more likely to go to a whore, or at least more open in admitting they do.
The fact that there is prostitution is accepted, because the people know that it does exist whether you allow it or not, but being or using a whore is not really accepted.
One of the worst insults I know in Dutch is ‘hoerenloper’ ‘he who uses whores’.
At least, with prostitution out in the open the police should be able to attack the excesses, and the guys who really feel the need have a place to go rather than ‘date rape’ a girl. And by being out in the open, the officials can set rules and make them stick, so no 14 year olds work there.
Although the checking is not as good as it should be, I have read a story of a girl who worked as whore in the Netherlands from 16, way to young, and forced into it too.
So as you can read I have double feelings about it, as have most Dutch I know, but it is better than the alternative, trying to hide and ignore it. So the girls will get STDs as well as unsafe working conditions, which I have red happens in almost all American cities, also in Ohio.
If you do not know about it happening in Ohio it just shows you are sheltered, not that it does not exist.