MPs from the ruling Labour and two opposition parties are drawing up draft legislation which will make it a criminal offence to visit a prostitute whom they know has been forced into the sex industry.

Current legislation on human trafficking does not mention clients specifically, but the MPs believe they too should be hit for benefitting from the practice.

‘Clients should not look away if they know the prostitute is not working out of free will, PvdA MP Marith Rebel told the Parool. ‘By closing their eyes, they are contributing to human trafficking and are really jointly responsible.’

The three parties hope the legislation will be completed this autumn, when it will be presented to parliament.

Between 50% and 80% of the women working in the Dutch sex industry are said to have been forced into prostitution. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands and brothels can apply for official licences.

The government is planning to increase the age at which women can become prostitutes to 21 and to introduce some form of prostitution register.