On Monday, the Prostitute Information Centre (PIC) gave us a guided walk of Amsterdam’s Red Light Area. It started outside the centre, which was situated on a square surrounding a church (see pics below). Throughout the duration of the walk, I was mindful of how the sex industry differs in Amsterdam in comparison to the urban tour in Liverpool (see previous blog post).
The Prostitute Information Centre
The church opposite the PIC, and central to the Red Light District
The PIC acts as a support network for sex workers in the area, and just as a generic information centre for tourists visiting the Red Light. The first picture I took was a sign on the door of the centre which read ‘Don’t save us, save our windows’ (see pic below). Instantly, this was a differing attitude to the covertness of Liverpool. Constant rallying from radical feminists and anti-sex work reformers in the area is met with equal rallying from sex workers; the support network for these women was inspiring, and PIC acted as the central network.
Our guide explained that the reason the Red Light Area surrounds a church was that the sex workers used to work in the graveyards before decriminalisation, as laws didn’t apply in these areas. The area also surrounds canals, as it was primarily sailors who’d been away for a while who used the services of the Red Light. The area had undoubtedly changed since it started operating, and was bright and commercial. This alone was incredibly different from Liverpool’s strip clubs, which were located in discreet areas and all stood in separate areas from one another.
The tour guide noted the expectations of the women behind the windows: they had to always cover their nipples and genitals whilst stood in the window. This is different from the signs on the peep show where pictures of fully nude women were shown. This reinforces the fact that you can’t wear breasts, but can sell them. Despite this, the main similarity between the girls in Amsterdam and the girls in Liverpool was that their safety is a priority. Both have the ability to negotiate their business in any way they like, and measures are put in place to stop dangerous situations from occurring. However, there were instances of violence against sex workers, as represented by ‘Belle’- a statue outside the PIC resurrected as a sign of respect for all sex workers injured or killed at the hands of their punters.
The main thing I took from both tours, and one that others should understand, is that a woman’s body is her choice, and no one should take away the liberty to use it how they please.
For more on PIC, click here
Rosie x
Changing Legislation, Changing Morality 