Court shuts top Amsterdam brothel

[MaggieH]

For those who still believe that "legalized prostitution would control the sex industry and prevent organized crime" (prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, by the way):

"Court shuts top Amsterdam brothel

http:// news.bbc .co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7172087.stm

Last Updated: Saturday, 5 January 2008, 06:43 GMT

A Dutch judge has ordered a leading Amsterdam brothel to close, as part of a campaign to cut links between the sex trade and organised crime.

The judge upheld the city's complaint that the Yab Yum Club had been taken over by the Hells Angels biker gang.

The brothel, which describes itself as up-market and exclusive, denies this.

In September the city announced plans to buy about 50 shop fronts where prostitutes display themselves, and turn them into businesses or homes.

In December the municipality decided to withdraw the Yab Yum Club's licence.

The club - which operates from a 17th-Century canal house in Old Amsterdam and charges clients about $500 (£250) a time - challenged the move.

Ahead of Friday's court decision it said allegations that it was controlled by the Hells Angels were "absolutely wrong".

But an Amsterdam city council spokeswoman said after the ruling: "This shows we did the right thing by not giving out the permit and closing the brothel."

The mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen, has said that although prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, there is too much of the sex trade in the city centre.

He also said that the trade involved exploitation and trafficking of women, and other kinds of criminal activity."

As Janice G. Raymond once put it: Legalized prostitution does not control the sex industry but expands it!

[KatetheGreat]

great article. Thanks for sharing!

[annared]

Ah, so the Social Experiment is starting to crumble - about time. I used to love going to Amsterdam, it truly is a beautiful little city, until the government pimps took over.

[KatetheGreat]

http:// news. bbc .co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4616264.stm
there is also this article as well.

and this:
http://news. bbc. co.uk/1/hi/uk/3900361.stm

http://news. bbc .co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4488254.stm

http://news. bbc. co.uk/1/hi/uk/4621590.stm <-- a great article. Note the use of pornography.

http://news. bbc .co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/4564832.stm

*A few articles involve prostitutes who have disabled children and cannot work elsewhere because they need the money for their children's care. These women are pushing for legalization because they see no other options. That is a problem. As I believe Sam once said, it is not sex work that helps pay for this, it is the money.


I looked up pictures for the first time (I'd seen the photos of women in the windows, but I'd never seen any pictures beside that). With their giant penis fountain, the statue of a prostitute, the half naked women in the windows available for purchase, the breast-groping plaque, and the women all claiming to love what they do, I can see why sexist men are clamouring to introduce this to Canada. It makes me even more sick to think it's a possibility after I see the pictures.

Furthermore, some articles claim the Dutch government is working to help the women out or to discourage them from joining, but everything I have read about about why the prostitutes do what they do, and every bit of reading on the red-light district tour is one big "We choose it and it's cute!" fest, including the tour itself. None of it suggests there is a problem with it in the least. Nor does Amsterdam seem to be taking a "we don't like it, but we'll allow it to exist to reduce the harm" approach - they are actively profiting off it and promoting it to others - it's a very proud part of their identity.

Just thought I'd share in case some people hadn't seen much of it.



http://p. vtourist .com/2588112-Red_Light_District_De_Wallen_XXX-Amsterdam.jpg

http://michaels comments .files .wordpress.com/2006/12/amsterdam-red-light-district.jpg

http://news. bbc. co. uk/olmedia/720000/images/_721844_redlight300.jpg

http://www. product-reviews. net /wp-content/userimages/2007/09/prostitute-windows-in-amsterdams-red-light-district-are-to-be-closed.jpg

http://www.a msterdam .info /pictures/red-light-district/images/red_light_district_penis_fontain.jpg

http://farm2. static. flickr.com/1269/1032760166_b1a7774d19.jpg

http://img. time inc .net/time/daily/2007/0709/amsterdam_red_0924.jpg

http://www.vassg .hu /fotok/penis.jpg

http://www. david phenry .com/amsterdam/redlight02.htm


and this page on the red-light district tours:
http://www.pic - amsterdam .com/startgb.html

"Mariska Majoor, founder of the Prostitution Information Centre (PIC), can tell you all about life in “de Wallen” like no one else can. As a 16 year old girl she started working in prostitution of her own choice. She not only talks about the history of the area but also about her own experiences. Mariska is very open about her thoughts and motives and she is always ready to answer your questions about prostitution or the area."



Their government profits way too much from the tourist-appeal not to be defending this to the dickens. I'm suprised to see they are going ahead and closing one of the brothels.

Let's hope in time they'll realize what a disaster it is.

When did this law go through?

[annared]

When did this law go through?

Do you mean the Legalisation? if so 1999. And thanks for all the link info.

[MaggieH]

Yeah, thanks, Kate!