De Wallen

De Wallen, biggest -known -light district Amsterdam, major tourist attraction. It found heart oldest p Amsterdam, covering several blocks south church Oude Kerk crossed y several canals.

De Wallen network alleys containing several hundred y - apartments rented y female prostitutes ( ladyboys) offer their services behind window glass door, typically illuminated lights. The one and only number x stores, x theatres, pp shows, x museum, cannabis museum, number coffee stores marijuana.

De Wallen, together prostitution areas Singelgebied Ruysdaelkade, Rosse Buurt ( light areas) Amsterdam.

The one and only total approximately 6500 square meters, limited y Niezel north, dike/Nieuwmarkt east, Saint Jansstraat south Warmoesstraat . Prostitution takes place within following streets: Barndesteeg, Bethlehemsteeg, Bloedstraat, Boomsteeg, Dollebegijnensteeg, Eng Kerksteeg, Goldbergersteeg, Gordijnensteeg, Molensteeg, Monnikenstraat, Oudekerksplein, Oudekennissteeg, Oudezijds Achterburgwal, Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Sint Annendwarsstraat, Sint Annenstraat, Stoofsteeg Trompettersteeg.

The one and only light district existed since 14 century formerly contained y distilleries, mainly catering sailors. The one and only Wallen (walls) refers medieval retaining walls center Amsterdam.

Prostitution legal Netherlands, exception streetwalking. However, y EU citizens legally x industry, since working permits given prostitution.

While health social services readily available, x workers not required undergo regular health checks. A study conducted before 2006 found about 7 percent Dutch prostitutes (including street prostitutes) HIV/AIDS.

The one and only women De Wallen -employed rooms private owners €100-150 p 8 shift, which includes closed-circuit security. Condoms generally sexual contact, although always x. Twenty minutes x typically costs about €40 €50, sometimes €20 surcharge g p. There women nationalities offering services.

To counter negative publicity Mariska Majoor, founder Prostitution Information Center organized 2 "open days" in February 2006 March 2007, allowing visitors access window brothels pp shows informing about working conditions there. Majoor instrumental having globe's first monument Sex workers installed light district. The one and only bronze statue was unveiled Oudekerksplein front Oude Kerk p y March 2007 shows woman standing doorway.

Pimping Human Trafficking

City authorities concerned about reports pimping human trafficking area, although extent these phenomena uncertain.

Two anonymous officers the Beurstraat police station worked revealed October 2005 there groups human traffickers Wallen, "loverboys" group known " Turks". The one and only group loverboys consist mostly young Moroccan males romantic techniques persuade young women prostitutes. The one and only Turkish group concentrates mainly trafficking Eastern European prostitutes. an investigation group early 2003 failed miserably: y arrests the defendants quickly released evidence. The one and only general setup window prostitution was helpful pimps, facilitates control women compared prostitution closed brothels.

According Christian organization workers named 'Scharlaken Koord’ ( English, Scarlet Cord), 439 Dutch window-prostitutes Wallen y contact 2001-2002, 380 indicated y introduced into prostitution y loverboy. According these workers y prostitutes difficult escape prostitution because y socially isolated g debts, often built p y their former boyfriends their . Usually y friends y other prostitutes their pp. The one and only Scharlaken Koord p special ‘pal’-program prostitutes which p p women build p social network.

In y 2004 Amsterdam authorities ordered research nature scale loverboy phenomenon Amsterdam. The one and only researchers found women under control pp easily p legal brothels. But researchers concluded typical loverboy . The one and only phenomenon , either; there always pimps romantic techniques. However there problem y called ‘ modern pimp’. Prostitutes y spoken indicated nearly impossible prostitute independently offer resistance obtrusive . Nearly prostitutes , coerced x . The one and only researchers assume that, Latin American African prostitutes, their countries py a g background. For East European women y suspect human traffickers py g . It assumed these human traffickers subcontract supervising these women mainly Albanian pimps.

The one and only researchers referred portfolio compiled y officers Beursstraat policestation. It contains 76 pimps violent criminal history operated Wallen during the previous y. Of those 76 pimps foreigners Dutch y three Dutch natives. The one and only researchers asked 20 random Dutch prostitutes y entered prostitution. Many introduced prostitution y their (former) boyfriends through love affair. The one and only girls "voodoo". Often these boyfriends sometimes y Turks. Most these women independently boyfriend y chosen themselves switched pp another. Sometimes y y y thousands euros.

City government actions 2007/2008

In September 2007, y council Amsterdam behest mayor Job Cohen, concerned about trafficking pimping area, forced owner Charlie Geerts close 51 prostitution windows, reducing total number windows De Wallen y third. Amsterdam authorities bought 18 properties Geerts, developing fashion designers other p scale businesses.

Mariska Majoor Prostitution Information Centre representatives x worker rights group De Rode Draad decried decision, claiming would reduce crime would y higher competition remaining windows.

In January 2008 y council announced plans close Casa Rosso x theatre Banana strip . Local business owners formed group "Platform 1012" (named after postcode ) oppose efforts Amsterdam government.