One-Third of Amsterdam Brothels Close

18 brothels in the middle of Amsterdam's red-light district are to be shut down, after striking a deal of €25million (£18million). Amsterdam's mayor, Job Cohen, said that whilst prostitution was legal in the Netherlands, there was too much of it in Amsterdam City Centre. He was also worried about the trafficking of women and other related criminal activities.

51 neon-lit street windows, used by prostitutes to ply their business, are to be shut down in The Wallen area. It is claimed by the authorities that the windows are used for money laundering and attract other crime. Cohen said, "What we do want is to get rid of the underlying criminality."

However, there have been critics, mainly from the De Rode Draad, the Dutch sex workers union. Spokeswoman Metje Blaak said, "We believe that less windows means more exploitation of women. If the windows close down, women who are being exploited will be hidden somewhere else where union representatives and health workers can't make contact with them."

Story from the BBC