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Dutch brothels take city to court

2007-06-06 10:52:40

By Geraldine Coughlan

BBC News, the Hague

Friday, 29 December 2006, 13:11 GMT

Brothel

Amsterdam's mayor says the sex industry attracts criminality

Brothel owners in Amsterdam's red light district have taken the city council to

court over its decision to close a number of sex businesses.

The council is demanding the closure of 33 brothels, which account for around a

third of the district's sex businesses, by the end of the year.

The prostitutes union says the move will force many women to work illegally.

Prostitution was legalised in the Netherlands five years ago.

Criminal activity

The brothel owners say they will go to the highest court to save a third of the

windows in Amsterdam's famous red light district from disappearing.

Amsterdam's mayor, Job Cohen, claims that many sex businesses are fronts for

criminal activity, such as women trafficking and money laundering.

But the prostitutes' union, the Red Thread, which represents 20,000

prostitutes, argues that closing legal brothels will force many women onto the

streets.

The city council wants the banks to play a role by making it easier for sex

businesses to get financing.

Many have loans from private companies which the city council says are too

risky.

The city believes that with proper paperwork for registered brothels and

prostitutes, banking could have a positive effect on the fight against crime at

the heart of the sex industry.