The Red Light District is located in a busy area of the Dutch capital
As Gazeta.Ru writes, the Amsterdam municipality has tightened the conditions for visiting the Red Light District for tour groups starting in April of this year. City authorities are confident that this will help reduce the tourist flow in the busy area of the Dutch capital and protect the privacy of sex industry workers.
"In recent years, the number of organized tours has increased significantly. At the busiest times, for example, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., up to 27 groups pass through this area," the municipality's statement says. This has caused extreme dissatisfaction among about three thousand local residents.
Starting in April, tourists will be banned from consuming alcohol and drugs in the district. They will also be prohibited from looking at the girls standing in the famous windows: excursionists will have to turn their backs to them. In addition, the size of tour groups moving through the district will be strictly regulated: no more than 20 tourists traveling on foot or by bicycle. If a group has more than five tourists, the guide will have to apply for a corresponding permit.
During a visit to the area, guides will have to explain to tour participants the necessity of following a number of new rules. According to information from the Amsterdam municipality, before the start of the tour, the guide is obliged to instruct tourists to "show respect for local residents, entrepreneurs, and sex workers."
Visitors must behave quietly, and they are forbidden to stop in places that are usually crowded or where their presence might disturb others. All tours must end no later than 11 p.m.
The main thing is that during a visit to the Red Light District, tourist groups will be finally banned from photographing sex workers. Many workers were previously against photography, and now the authorities have established an official ban.
Tourists in Amsterdam will be banned from looking at prostitutes
Violation of these rules will result in fines for guides. If a group fails to comply with the established rules, an independent guide will pay a fine of 190 euros. Guides from tour companies will pay even more – 950 euros. After three violations, a guide will lose their license.
But that's not all. The municipality has also raised the issue of the financial and legal justification for a tax on tour participants. According to the city administration, if tourists can afford to pay for a tour, they will also be willing to shell out for a small additional fee.
In total, the Dutch capital has three Red Light Districts. De Wallen is the largest and most famous among tourists. It occupies several blocks near the ancient Oude Kerk church, and its territory houses more than 400 brothels. It is this district that is mentioned in all guidebooks. The restrictions will only apply to this area for now.
Not far from De Wallen is the Singelgebied district, which is the second largest center of sexual entertainment in Amsterdam: it has at least 60 windows. There are practically no tourists in this quarter: it attracts mainly local residents. The third quarter, Ruysdaelkade, is located next to Singelgebied.
By the way, for those who have no desire to receive intimate services, there is a special "tourist" tariff. For approximately 50 euros, the girls in the windows will allow you to cross the threshold of the brothel and chat – and this implies just conversation.
Amsterdam authorities have repeatedly noted that most tourists deliberately go to the Red Light District for entertainment. At the same time, the total turnover of the sex industry, which includes not only street prostitution but also sex shops, is growing annually.