NetherlandsAmsterdam's famous red light district De Wallen can be moved to a new location, farther from the center and operational from 2031.
Amsterdam has found a potential location to relocate the red light district De Wallen, which is Europaboulevard in the south of the capital. Europaboulevard is one of three areas being considered for new “adult centres”, which will have around 100 rooms for prostitutes. The advantage of this area is that it is not located in a residential area, and has convenient transportation connections by both public transport and private vehicles.
Femke Halsema, the city's mayor, said Europaboulevard Avenue is the most suitable location for the new red light district. Since taking office in 2018, Ms. Halsema has sought to move the red light district to a new place. The new red light district will have spaces for LGBTQ+ people in Amsterdam along with many areas for cultural events of eroticism and feminism.
A corner of De Wallen area. Image: Amsterdam
The relocation of the red light district caused mixed opinions. Sex workers objected due to concerns about safety and lack of customers, while people in the new location also did not like the appearance of the red light district. The relocation plan will be discussed by the city council next month. If approved, the new red light district could operate from 2031.
De Wallen has about 250 licensed "welcoming windows", it is expected that 100 "windows" will have to be relocated when the city issues an official decision. One of the reasons for moving this location is to help sex workers avoid constantly facing ridicule and harassment from tourists.
Mayor Halsema wants to protect De Wallen from the eyes of tourists. In 2019, she proposed a number of changes such as closing brothels with glass windows, reducing licensing for brothels, and requiring customers to pay just to enter this street, in parallel with the project. Move the street to another place farther from the center.
In 2021, when the Amsterdam city council voted to move the De Wallen area to a suburb or nearby town, Red Light United, the coalition representing hundreds of legal sex workers working in the The territory in De Wallen protested. They believe this is a costly action for the city and does not help ensure the livelihood of legal workers. The new location, far from the center, also makes many people worry that the street will be less crowded.
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