With its world-famous red light district dotted with window brothels, Amsterdam and the Netherlands as a whole are seen as a haven for sex workers. But the reality is nowhere near that black-and-white, according to a member of a Dutch union which represents those who work in the adult industry. Selling sex and running brothels are legal in the Netherlands, however the details of laws around the country can make the day-to-day lives of sex workers tough, explains Yvette Luhrs, who is an adult film actress, a webcam performer and member of the Proud union.
The group, which has been running for around three years, fights for the rights of those who sell sex, work in strip clubs, in adult films, perform phone sex, and appear on cam sites. Proud believes that sex work should be decriminalised to stop women from being pushed underground and put into danger.
Estimates suggest between 15, to 30, people in Holland are sex workers, in a nation of over 16 million people. Luhrs joined the group as it was fighting against a proposed law in the Netherlands parliament that would see sex workers sent to jail for six months if they worked without a license. Currently, each town and city has its own rules about sex workers being allowed to work ih their jurisdiction.
But if another sex worker is in the house then it can be classed as a business. These differences create a monopoly for certain councils and brothels, making it harder for women to move around the country and in turn to escape from danger without fearing they are breaking the law. Luhrs and the team at Proud also offer practical advice for sex workers to combat issues which arise due to the stigma attached to the job.
But you might struggle to find childcare services. In custody cases it can be used against you. So there are many reasons not to be visible as a sex worker. This is another issue that policy makers must factor into laws surrounding sex work, says Luhrs, and why it's important for advocacy groups such as Proud to exist.
