A multi-storey erotic centre planned by Amsterdam was described as an “erotic prison” and compared to the 16^th century “spinning house” exploiting those deemed to be “fallen women” at an event for residents to share their views.

At a meeting with councillors lasting more than three hours at the city hall, the majority of more than 40 speakers said they opposed the erotic centre.

In December, Amsterdam’s mayor Femke Halsema recommended a location in Zuid as the best site for a multiplex with 100 prostitution windows, entertainment and erotica. The plan is intended to provide more safe space for sex work, improve conditions, reduce criminality and human trafficking and reduce nuisance in the red light district.

Several sex workers said they were concerned that if prostitution were pushed out of the historic centre – De Wallen – it would be further stigmatised and they would be unsafe travelling to and from their work.

Mariska Majoor, a former sex worker who has recently been a spokeswoman for a self-described “monster” coalition of opponents to the plan, said the proposal was simply too big. “A prostitution window on the street is very different from one in a closed erotic centre,” she said.

“The location is dark at night. There will be more stigma and more danger…I’m worried they will be waited for on the paths by people with nefarious plans.”

She said that sex work, however, needs more safe work spaces. “The number of work spaces has declined drastically in the last 20 years…smaller-scale [is the solution].”

Erotic prison

Other sex workers protested that the place would be like a prison. “Sex workers have moved from doorways to windows…and now into a segregated centre pushed to the edge of town, out of sight, out of mind,” said one speaker. “Keep your laws off our bodies and no erotic prisons.”

Huub Nelis, chairman of MBO College Zuid trade school, said there were deep concerns about criminality, for example drug dealers attracted by the party location who could tempt vulnerable young students into crime.

“Our students don’t just walk around up to 5pm but also in the evening,” he said. “There will be parents who will say, my child won’t go there, and that’s the only education [for their chosen career] in Amsterdam. For the erotic pleasure of the one, some children will not be able to get their education.”

Time gone by

The project was described as “megalomaniac”, an “ego trip” and a poor use of millions of euros in closing 100 windows in the red light district. Cynthia Cournuejouls, a campaigner and resident of Amsterdam Zuid, led speakers in song, in an alternate version of the Dutch classic pop song, Niet of Nooit Geweest calling it “the biggest ever magnet for every bachelor party”.

There were several voices in favour, however. Richard Jones, a male sex worker, said there was a need for more work space for minority sex workers, who were forced to operate at home and risk being criminalised. “People who say they don’t want it in their neighbourhood don’t realise it is already happening…with their husbands, their friends, with them themselves,” he said. “At the moment, your houses are our workplaces.”

A single Amsterdammer, Midas Meester, said the erotic centre would be a good idea to update “a place created with the standards of time gone by,” De Wallen. He added: “It’s the most beautiful part of Amsterdam and I think it’s a shame that it’s a tourist pit.”

Nuisance

But others said limiting the capacity of the red light district, banning cheap sweet shops and catering, limiting cheap flights and closing low rent hotel rooms would better reduce the nuisance hordes of misbehaving tourists in central Amsterdam.

“Sex work is part of the heart of Amsterdam,” said architect Anna Torres, who has come up with an alternative plan to spread out the red light district. “Why would you want to rip out that heart and put it in a box?”

Councillors, who will also be formulating new policy on prostitution, will vote on whether or not to go forward with an erotic centre in Zuid in two weeks.