THE HAGUE – The city of Amsterdam said Tuesday it will raise the legal age of prostitutes from 18 to 21 and announced plans to close brothels during the early morning hours in a bid to protect sex workers.
“The minimum age for a prostitute is raised from 18 to 21 years,” the Dutch capital city announced in a statement, and said the new rules are meant to fight industry abuses and “strengthen prostitutes’ position.”
The city also wants brothels in Amsterdam’s landmark red-light district to close between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays and from 5 a.m. on weekends.
With an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 prostitutes, the city’s red-light district attracts sex tourists from around the world to a country long considered one of the world’s most liberal.