AMSTERDAM (AP) — Scores of prostitutes have taken to the streets of Amsterdam to protest moves to rejuvenate the city’s famed Red Light District by shuttering windows where scantily-clad sex workers pose to attract clients.
The prostitutes say that the closures are depriving them of safe places to work.
Amsterdam municipality is involved in a long-term initiative to reinvigorate the historic network of canal-side streets and narrow alleys in part by reducing the number of brothel windows. Some 115 of the 500 windows have been closed in recent years.
About 200 people — prostitutes and their supporters — marched through the Red Light District Thursday evening carrying banners including one that read: “Don’t save us, save our windows!”
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Maybe a Facebook page, YouTube video, and/or Twitter account would suffice? How many potential customers don’t use smartphones these days? Perhaps the girls could work out a “drive and ‘date’” package deal through Uber with prospective customers? It’s the 21st century after all, even in historic Amsterdam!
I guess in Amsterdam they want to move some of this out of sight, out of mind. Technology is one of the reasons why much of the seediness was driven from Times Square. When the porn industry went from Beta, VHS then to DVDS brick and mortar still made sense. Then with the Internet it made little sense to keep open store with those formats. Same with prostitution. Your local pimp or working girl could just set up shop on line.
I’ve actually been there and seen the area (did not partake-of that). Just the latest in their attempt to Conservatize the city. Sad. Don’t like it? Don’t go there.
The Red Light District is as much a part of Amsterdam’s history as Bourbon Street is for New Orleans. And they are very particular about their photos being taken, so I am going to guess that youtube and what not are big no-nos. And the classic turn down from a dutch girl you are trying to hit on? She points you in the direction of the Red Light District.
It is an interesting place to visit, however. It has like, sub sections, based on certain attractions/fetishes…big girls in one area, blondes tend to be in another…that sort of thing. And if you do go, definitely do the Pink Elephant trip…It would be a real shame to see it gentrified out of existence. One of my classic Amsterdam moments was drinking a fresh Amstel right on the edge of the RLD, smoking a bowl, watching some old Japanese guys gawk at the girls in the windows trying to beckon them to come inside…while a policeman was leaning casually on his car. And everything everyone was doing…was all perfectly legal!!