Tourists in the "red light district" will be obliged to behave decently
Amsterdam is introducing new rules for sightseeing visits to the De Wallen area, known as the "red light district". During the stops, tourists will not be able to face the windows of establishments providing sex services, so that they do not stare at women for too long. Also, they will still not be allowed to take pictures of sex workers and shout at them.
To walk around the block in the company of more than five people, tourists will have to get a special permit from the mayor's office. Companies of more than twenty people who travel not on foot, but on bicycles or segways, have been banned from visiting the quarter. This measure should limit illegal private tours of De Wallen.
Also, groups of tourists will not be allowed to linger on bridges or near shops during their opening hours, so as not to interfere with traffic. Before starting the excursions, guides will be required to remind tourists to respect the residents of the area, sellers and sex workers, and the excursions will end no later than 23 hours.
The new rules will come into force on April 1, 2018. Violators of the rules and those who cannot provide the necessary documents will be fined by the police.
The purpose of the restrictions is to reduce "pedestrian congestion" in the area, reduce the influx of tourists to the "red light district" and improve their relations with Amsterdam residents, as well as to protect sex workers from intimidation. The Mayor's office signed such an agreement with travel companies. There are 3,000 residents and 400 brothels in the block. More than 200 thousand tourists visit De Wallen every year.
Back in 2017, the guides concluded a corresponding voluntary pact: even then it was said that when a group stops in front of women to listen to the guide, you need to stand with your back to them.
"Of course, it is not forbidden to watch: anyone is free to do this. This is not a law, but a norm. But we want people to behave respectfully and not look closely or for too long," said Vera Al, a representative of the Mayor's office. The authorities took action after discovering that only 40% of the guides had signed the agreement.
Keywords: Amsterdam | Prohibitions | Quarter | Netherlands | Rules | Prostitution | Brothel