Amsterdam’s Red Light District is Back Open
Here in California, our reopening of businesses has taken two steps forward and then three steps back, with salons, bars, and gyms being closed again after a month of being open thanks to spikes in Coronavirus cases. However, in other parts of the world, the most intimate of industries is back open for business – yep, the De Wallen in Netherlands, aka the Red Light District, is back.
Dutch sex workers were allowed to go back to work at the start of July, after four months off the job. Many had been eagerly awaiting the day, It was a happy day for the local sex worker community, as many struggled to pay rent and bills during the closure of Amsterdam’s famous red light district, known locally as De Wallen.
“I screamed with joy when I heard we could go back to work,” said Foxxy, sex worker and spokesperson for Amsterdam’s sex worker advocacy organisation, PROUD, who worked in the red light district for years, but now sees customers in her own home.
Most will have to wait for their customer base to slowly make their way back – but not all. “For some women, that first night was the most lucrative night they’ve ever had,” said Foxxy. “Only a few windows were open, so any customer who showed up went to see those workers.”
However, the industry is taking risk seriously and making sure customers and workers are protected:
Anna* is a sex worker in the red light district. She’s relieved to be back at work and is taking precautions to keep both herself and her customers safe. The small table in her work space holds a bottle of Yakult and a small package of crackers, plus a bag of face masks, disinfectant and an infrared thermometer she’s invested in to test visitors for a fever. “Yesterday, a customer measured 36.5 degrees Celsius when they entered. When we were done, it was 36.7,” she laughed.
To minimise risk, Anna currently only has sex with customers doggy style. “As soon as a customer comes in, he and I wash our hands together,” she explained. She also asks all of her customers to wear a mask. She said some of her customers ask her to do the same.
