Jump to content

De Wallen: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 52°22′24.3″N 4°53′53.0″E / 52.373417°N 4.898056°E / 52.373417; 4.898056
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Current legal status: new legal working age
Line 12: Line 12:
The [[Rokin]] and [[Damrak]] run along the original course of the river [[Amstel]]. These two roads meet in [[Dam Square]] which marks the spot a bridge was built across the river in 1270. It had doors which were used to dam the river at certain times to avoid flooding. The Damrak then became a harbor and it was around this area that the red light district first appeared. The walled canals led to the names ''De Wallen'' and ''Walletjes'' (little walls).
The [[Rokin]] and [[Damrak]] run along the original course of the river [[Amstel]]. These two roads meet in [[Dam Square]] which marks the spot a bridge was built across the river in 1270. It had doors which were used to dam the river at certain times to avoid flooding. The Damrak then became a harbor and it was around this area that the red light district first appeared. The walled canals led to the names ''De Wallen'' and ''Walletjes'' (little walls).


Historically because of proximity to the harbor the area has attracted both prostitution and migrant populations and these are the features it is best known for today.
⚫
In 1578 a Catholic and Calvinist city board was formed. All fornication was deemed punishable, working girls were banned and forced underground though it still prospered. One or two girls would work for a madam who would provide food, accommodation protection and advice. Often the madam and girls would venture out at night visiting pubs and inns to pick up clients.
Parlours remained illegal but tolerated if kept hidden. Trade remained small scale though spread across the city. Well known areas were De Haarlemmerdijk, De Houttuinen, Zeedijk and as always around the harbor.


⚫
In 1578 a Catholic and Calvinist city board was formed. All fornication was deemed punishable, working girls were banned and forced underground though it still prospered. Girls would work for a madam who provided room and board, protection and advice. Often the madam and girls would venture out at night visiting pubs and inns to pick up clients. Parlours remained illegal but tolerated if kept hidden. Trade remained small scale though spread across the city. Well known areas were De Haarlemmerdijk, De Houttuinen, Zeedijk and around the harbor.
⚫
In the 18th century wealthy men would meet working girls at gambling houses on De Gelderskade and [[Zeedijk]]. The girls would then take the men back to the parlors where they came from. However these were often unappealing to a gentleman of means. A solution to this problem was for the gambling houses to provide boarding for the girls. This suited everyone including the authorities. The gambling houses made the most of it by investing in luxury furnishings and gradually they became upmarket brothels employing up to 30 girls. Famous brothels included De Pijl in Pijlstraat, De Fonteyn in [[Nieuwmarkt]] and Madame Therese on the [[Prinsengracht]]. For those who could not afford these expensive places there were still girls to be found around Oudekerk and unofficial policies of tolerance remained although prostitution was technically illegal.


⚫
In the 18th century wealthy men would meet working girls at gambling houses on De Gelderskade and [[Zeedijk]]. The girls would then take the men back to the parlors where they came from. However these were often unappealing to a gentleman of means. A solution to this problem was for the gambling houses to provide board for the girls. This suited everyone including the authorities. The gambling houses invested in luxury furnishings and gradually they became brothels employing up to 30 girls. Famous brothels included De Pijl in Pijlstraat, De Fonteyn in [[Nieuwmarkt]] and Madame Therese on the [[Prinsengracht]]. For those who could not afford these there were still girls to be found around [[Oudekerk]] and unofficial policies of tolerance remained although prostitution was technically illegal.
⚫
In 1811 the ban on working girls was finally lifted. A system of regulation was brought in and there were compulsory health checks. This was largely to protect soldiers from VD. They were given a red card which was essentially a permit to work. If they were found to be infected the card was taken until they could prove they were disease free again.


⚫
In 1811 the ban on working girls was lifted. Regulation was brought in and there were compulsory health checks to protect soldiers from VD. They were given a red card which was a permit to work. If found to be infected the card was taken until they could prove they were disease free again. Because there was no reliable treatment for [[syphilis]] until the early 20th century this could mean dangerous treatments such as mercury baths to ease symptoms.
⚫
In the early 20th century religious organizations ran campaigns to try to end tolerance of prostitution. by 1911 a law was passed which once again bans brothels and pimping. Working girls themselves were not banned though. Once again it was driven underground and tolerated as long it did not cause a disturbance. With the closure of many parlors some girls moved to De Pijp.


⚫
In the early 20th century religious organizations ran campaigns to try to end tolerance of prostitution. In 1911 a law was passed banning brothels and pimping. Working girls themselves were not banned though. Once again it was driven underground and tolerated as long it did not cause a disturbance. With the closure of many parlors in De Wallen some girls moved to De Pijp.
⚫
In 1935 it was estimated that there were around 150 disguised parlors. Fronts included massage, pedicure, manicure, and beauty treatments. Working girls continued to work around the Oudekerk (Oudekerksplein). Instead of being visible as they are today they would stand behind closed curtains and peer through a small crack looking for customers. If they stood in the doorway they would get arrested.

⚫
In 1935 it was estimated that there were around 150 disguised parlors. Fronts included massage, pedicure, manicure, and beauty treatments. Working girls continued to work around the Oudekerk (Oudekerksplein). Instead of being visible as they are today they would stand behind closed curtains and peer through a small crack looking for customers. If they stood in the doorway they would be arrested.


==Location==
==Location==

Revision as of 07:57, 21 October 2013

Red-light district of Amsterdam

De Wallen (Dutch pronunciation: [də ˈʋɑlə(n)]) or De Walletjes (Dutch pronunciation: [də ˈʋɑləcəs]) is the largest and best known red-light district in Amsterdam and a maallen consists of a network of alleys containing approximately three hundred one-room cabins rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights. There "kamers" are the most visible and typical kind of red light district sex work in Amsterdam and are a large tourist attraction.

Being one of the oldest areas of the city, De Wallen has architecture and layout that is typical of 14th century Amsterdam although many of the buildings are now more recent. The canal system here was contained within the former walls of the city, of which the Waag is a surviving example and is the oldest remaining nonreligious building in Amsterdam. The area is also bordered by a small Chinatown.

The area also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops that sell marijuana. 26 coffeeshops in the De Wallen area will have to close their doors between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2015.[1]

De Wallen, together with the prostitution areas Singelgebied and Ruysdaelkade, form the Rosse Buurt (red light areas) of Amsterdam.

History

Near the Oude Kerk

The Rokin and Damrak run along the original course of the river Amstel. These two roads meet in Dam Square which marks the spot a bridge was built across the river in 1270. It had doors which were used to dam the river at certain times to avoid flooding. The Damrak then became a harbor and it was around this area that the red light district first appeared. The walled canals led to the names De Wallen and Walletjes (little walls).

Historically because of proximity to the harbor the area has attracted both prostitution and migrant populations and these are the features it is best known for today.

In 1578 a Catholic and Calvinist city board was formed. All fornication was deemed punishable, working girls were banned and forced underground though it still prospered. Girls would work for a madam who provided room and board, protection and advice. Often the madam and girls would venture out at night visiting pubs and inns to pick up clients. Parlours remained illegal but tolerated if kept hidden. Trade remained small scale though spread across the city. Well known areas were De Haarlemmerdijk, De Houttuinen, Zeedijk and around the harbor.

In the 18th century wealthy men would meet working girls at gambling houses on De Gelderskade and Zeedijk. The girls would then take the men back to the parlors where they came from. However these were often unappealing to a gentleman of means. A solution to this problem was for the gambling houses to provide board for the girls. This suited everyone including the authorities. The gambling houses invested in luxury furnishings and gradually they became brothels employing up to 30 girls. Famous brothels included De Pijl in Pijlstraat, De Fonteyn in Nieuwmarkt and Madame Therese on the Prinsengracht. For those who could not afford these there were still girls to be found around Oudekerk and unofficial policies of tolerance remained although prostitution was technically illegal.

In 1811 the ban on working girls was lifted. Regulation was brought in and there were compulsory health checks to protect soldiers from VD. They were given a red card which was a permit to work. If found to be infected the card was taken until they could prove they were disease free again. Because there was no reliable treatment for syphilis until the early 20th century this could mean dangerous treatments such as mercury baths to ease symptoms.

In the early 20th century religious organizations ran campaigns to try to end tolerance of prostitution. In 1911 a law was passed banning brothels and pimping. Working girls themselves were not banned though. Once again it was driven underground and tolerated as long it did not cause a disturbance. With the closure of many parlors in De Wallen some girls moved to De Pijp.

In 1935 it was estimated that there were around 150 disguised parlors. Fronts included massage, pedicure, manicure, and beauty treatments. Working girls continued to work around the Oudekerk (Oudekerksplein). Instead of being visible as they are today they would stand behind closed curtains and peer through a small crack looking for customers. If they stood in the doorway they would be arrested.

Location

Prostitution behind the Oude Kerk
De Wallen by night

The total area is approximately 6,500 square metres (1.6 acres), limited by the Niezel in the north, the sea dike/Nieuwmarkt in the east, the Sint Jansstraat in the south and the Warmoesstraat in the west. Prostitution takes place within this area in the following streets: Barndesteeg, Bethlehemsteeg, Bloedstraat, Boomsteeg (now closed), Dollebegijnensteeg, Enge Kerksteeg, Goldbergersteeg, Gordijnensteeg, Molensteeg, Monnikenstraat, Oudekerksplein, Oudekennissteeg, Oudezijds Achterburgwal, Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Sint Annendwarsstraat, Sint Annenstraat, Stoofsteeg and Trompettersteeg.

Between Sint Jansstraat and Sint Annenstraat and running parallel to them are Leidekkerssteeg, Gooijersteeg, Blaauwlakensteeg and Zwartlakensteeg. At least three of these had red light windows which were closed in the 1970s. Today these alleys are blocked by locked gates although the remains of some bricked over windows can be seen in the architecture. In the 1990s Slapersteeg was also closed and a gate now blocks the alley.

In the 1990s parts of Sint Annenstraat and Sint Annendwarsstraat were demolished. The rooms in Goldbergersteeg were opened after this time.

Bronze statue Belle in front of the Oude Kerk by Els Rijerse. Inscription says "Respect sex workers all over the world."

Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, with the exception of street prostitution, but work permits are not issued for prostitution; therefore legally working in the trade is limited mostly to EU citizens or foreign permanent residents. (A non-EU citizen can work legally in Netherlands without a work permit in certain circumstances, for instance, if they are the spouse of a local citizen.) From January 2013 the legal working age of a prostitute in the Netherlands was raised from 18 to 21.[2]

Whilst health and social services are readily available, sex workers are not required to undergo regular health checks. Brothel owners and room operators often require health certificates before employing or leasing rooms.[3]

To counter negative publicity, Mariska Majoor, founder of the Prostitution Information Center, organized two "open days" in February 2006 and March 2007, allowing visitors access to some window brothels and peep shows and informing them about the working conditions there.[4][5] Majoor was also instrumental in having the world's first monument to sex workers[6] installed in the red light district. The bronze statue was unveiled on the Oudekerksplein in front of the Oude Kerk at the open day in March 2007 and shows a woman standing in a doorway.[6]

Abuses and human rights

Glass doors to rooms rented by prostitutes in the Amsterdam red-light district

Netherlands has been listed by the UNODC as a destination for victims of human trafficking, [7] however the actual UNODC report lists it behind Germany and four other EU countries of concern.[8]. According to Job Cohen, the former mayor of Amsterdam, "We've realized this is no longer about small-scale entrepreneurs but that big crime organizations are involved here in trafficking women, drugs, killings and other criminal activities".[9]

Jasper Luijs is the chain supervisor for a group of organizations that work to remove wrongs (or abuses) in the sex trade within the Municipality of Amsterdam. Police, the tax agencies, the Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Crime and public prosecutors all have an interest in improving the conditions of sex workers in the district. Together, they form a central network that works to achieve this goal. “Since the entrepreneurs in prostitution have to apply for a permit, to start their business, we have more control on what is happening. Of course there is still work to do. All actors in the chain can create barriers against wrongs. By working together intensively we can signal problems and fight them.”[10]

Groups of sex workers have also worked to raise awareness of their rights. The Prostitute Information Centre founded in the 1990s is a prostitute-led organisation offering tours of the area and information concerning safety and rights of the people involved.[11] While sex workers in brothels currently have to register, it has been suggested making escorts and kamer workers register, which has been opposed by some sex worker groups out of concern it would favor pimps over the workers themselves.[12] Jan Fisher of Red Thread commented: “It will be the reverse. The ones who want to work know how devastating the stigma could be, and will be. They will try to work outside this system and they’ll be vulnerable when they’re detected by the police and tax office, and the ones who are trafficked may be forced by their pimps to register so they have a kind of legal status.”[13]

In 2007 a statue called "Belle" was unveiled on the Oudekerksplein with the inscription "Respect sex workers all over the world".[14]

More than 75% of Amsterdam's prostitutes are from Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, according to a former prostitute who produced a report about the sex trade.[15]

Negotiations

In 2004, Amsterdam authorities commissioned research into pimping and human trafficking in Amsterdam. The Willem Plompe institution took up that job. The researchers, under the leadership of professor Frank Bovenkerk,[16] found that women under the control of a pimp can be easily put to work in the legal brothels with the brothel owners being aware that the women are controlled by pimps. The general setup of window prostitution was said to be helpful to pimps, as it facilitates the direct control of the women by their pimp.[17]

A Christian organization of aid workers named the 'Scharlaken Koord’ (in English, Scarlet Cord) has set up a special 'pal'-program for prostitutes in which the pals help the women build a new social network.[18]

Amsterdam Street Post and Advertising.
Bronze relief in the cobblestones near the Oude Kerk. Created and installed by artist Rob Hodgson.

In September 2007, the city council of Amsterdam at the behest of mayor Job Cohen, concerned about trafficking and pimping in the area, forced the owner Charlie Geerts to close 51 prostitution windows, reducing the total number of windows in De Wallen by a third. Amsterdam authorities bought 18 properties from Geerts, with the aim of developing the area with fashion designers and other upscale businesses.[19]

Mariska Majoor of the Prostitution Information Center and representatives of the sex worker rights group De Rode Draad have decried the decision, claiming it would not reduce crime but would only lead to higher rent and more competition for the remaining windows.[20][21]

In January 2008, the city council announced plans to close the Rosso live sex theatre and the Banana bar strip club in the area.[22] Local business owners have formed the group "Platform 1012" (named after the zipcode of the area) to oppose the efforts of the Amsterdam government.[19] In the end, the actions of the city government resulted in the closure of the Yab Yum brothel.

At the end of 2008, mayor Job Cohen announced plans to close half of the city’s 400 prostitution windows because of suspected criminal gang activity; part of the city's 70 marijuana cafes and sex clubs will also be closed. Mayor Job Cohen: "It is not that we want to get rid of our red-light district. We want to reduce it. Things have become unbalanced and if we do not act we will never regain control".[15]

In 2009, the Dutch justice ministry announced plans to close 320 prostitution "windows" from Amsterdam.[23]

A former Amsterdam prostitute who is now a city councillor said: "There are people who are really proud of the red light district as a tourist attraction. It's supposed to be such a wonderful, cheery place that shows just what a free city we are. But I think it's a cesspit. There's a lot of serious criminality. There's a lot of exploitation of women, and a lot of social distress. That's nothing to be proud of."[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Straatgerichte aanpak" (in Dutch). Amsterdam.nl. Retrieved 29 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ http://www.iamexpat.nl/read-and-discuss/expat-page/news/legal-age-for-prostitution-raised-Amsterdam
  3. ^ http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/02/amsterdam_to_raise_prostitutio.php
  4. ^ Mutsvairo, Bruce (23 February 2006). "Amsterdam Red Light District turns spotlight on its practice". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Red Light District holds 2nd annual Open Day". Dutchamsterdam.nl. 9 March 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b Statue in honor of prostitutes unveiled, DutchAmsterdam.nl. Accessed 21 September 2007
  7. ^ BBC NEWS
  8. ^ https://www.unodc.org/documents/Global_Report_on_TIP.pdf
  9. ^ NYtimes.com
  10. ^ http://www.humanityinaction.org/knowledgebase/312-the-audacity-of-tolerance-a-critical-analysis-of-legalized-prostitution-in-amsterdam-s-red-light-district
  11. ^ http://www.pic-amsterdam.com/wordpress/en/?page_id=14
  12. ^ http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/sex-workers-say-no-licensing-law
  13. ^ http://rodedraad.nl/nieuws/de-wet-regulering-prostitutie.html
  14. ^ http://www.amsterdam-red-light-district-maps.com/History.html
  15. ^ a b Timesonline.co.uk
  16. ^ Google Inc.
  17. ^ Slavenhandel op de wallen, NRC-handelsblad, Ruth Hopkins, 1 October 2005. Template:Nl icon
  18. ^ Scharlaken Koord
  19. ^ a b RadioNetherlands.nl
  20. ^ Amsterdam Cuts Prostitute Displays, Spiegel Online, 21 September 2007
  21. ^ "Amsterdam closes a window on its red-light tourist trade" by Anushka Asthana, The Observer, September 23, 2007.
  22. ^ Casa Rosso is next red light target, DutchNews.nl, 17 January 2008
  23. ^ DigitalJournal.com
  24. ^ RNW.nl
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Red-light district (Amsterdam).

52°22′24.3″N 4°53′53.0″E / 52.373417°N 4.898056°E / 52.373417; 4.898056

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=De_Wallen&oldid=578083644"