Amsterdam's S*X Workers Protest Against Red Light District Relocation

Amsterdam sex workers have voiced their opposition on Thursday to the proposed relocation of the city's renowned red light district to an out-of-town "erotic center," a move that has ignited a battle for the soul of the city. Scores of sex workers, many concealing their identities with masks, took to the streets in protest, marching towards City Hall. One carried a banner questioning the rationale behind their potential relocation: "If sex workers are not to blame, then why are we being punished?" The controversial plan, spearheaded by Mayor Femke Halsema, aims to uproot the historic red light district, known as De Wallen, and establish a purpose-built "erotic center" outside the city center. The initiative seeks to transform Amsterdam's image as a "sin city" while simultaneously reducing tourist congestion and minor crimes in the area. However, Mayor Halsema faces opposition from local residents who are unwilling to have the new center in their vicinity, as well as from sex workers who believe they are being unfairly targeted for the challenges associated with the bustling red light district. De Wallen has been a centuries-old symbol of Amsterdam, characterized by its neon-lit windows in canal-side houses where sex workers await customers. The city council has identified three potential locations for the proposed erotic center, which would include 100 rooms for sex workers. One sex worker, identifying herself as Lucie, criticized the plan as a "gentrification project." She argued that the primary aim was to control the crowds in De Wallen, which she asserted was not the fault of sex workers, thus questioning why they should be penalized for it. The protest underscores the complex and contentious nature of the debate surrounding the future of Amsterdam's iconic red light district and its implications for sex workers and the city's overall identity.