Officials in The Hague are concerned about the international reaction if Amsterdam presses ahead with building an erotic centre close to the RAI exhibition centre and Zuidas business district, the Parool reported on Wednesday.

The comments are contained in internal documents drawn up by the infrastructure ministry and show that there are both political and economic objections to the plan, the paper said.

City mayor Femke Halsema said at the end of 2023 that the new city brothel would be located at the end of the Europaboulevard, on the other side of the A10 motorway and close to the Zuidas business district.

The council hopes the erotic centre will relieve tourist pressure in the busy city centre and the target opening date is 2031.

At the time, government officials said the plan would have implications for the Zuidasdok project, a massive civil engineering programme that involves placing a stretch of the ring road underground and is set to take until 2036 to complete.

But now it appears that ministries have also looked further afield at the possible impact on the area’s reputation as a national business hub, the Parool said, without going into details. The European Medicines Agency, which is located on the eastern edge of Zuidas, protested heavily against the erotic centre plans at the time.

Officials also have questions about the cost of the centre and who would be responsible for additional funding if changes have to be made because of the Zuidasdok project.

Amsterdam, which had previously said it would cover any additional costs, has stated that a final decision on the investment will not be made until 2026.

City officials are due to debate the plans for the centre again on Wednesday, this time focusing on procedures to ensure locals have their say in the development. However, VVD councillors have already said they also wish to discuss the legal objections raised by the infrastructure ministry, the paper said.