Amsterdam Residents React to Red Light District Clean-Up Attempts

July 06, 2012 from LinkTV News

Amsterdam, famous for its tolerant attitudes toward drugs and prostitution, is clamping down on these activities by revoking licenses from some coffee shops and brothels. Legislation passed earlier this year will ban tourists from the country's coffee shops, and another law currently moving through parliament would raise the minimum age for sex workers from 18 to 21, among other new restrictions. Authorities say they are aiming to prevent human trafficking and money laundering, but critics claim the city's government is more interested in raising revenues.

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Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. Its principal language is Dutch. The city's status as the capital of the nation is governed by the constitution. Amsterdam has a population of 820,256 within city limits, an urban population of 1,209,419 and a m... Explore this topic

De Wallen

De Wallen or De Walletjes is the largest and best known red-light district in Amsterdam and a major tourist attraction. It is located in the heart of the oldest part of the city, covering several blocks south of the church Oude Kerk and crossed by several canals. De Wallen con... Explore this topic

Human trafficking

Human trafficking is the trade in humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labor or for the extraction of organs or tissues, including surrogacy and ova removal. Trafficking is a lucrative industry, representing an estimated $32 billion per year in inter... Explore this topic

Prostitution

Prostitution is the business or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute or sex worker, and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms. ... Explore this topic

Red light district

A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc. The term originates from the red lights that were used as signs of brothels. There are areas in many... Explore this topic

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of twelve provinces in North-West Europe and three islands in the Caribbean. The European part of the Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germa... Explore this topic

Illegal drug trade

The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of drugs, which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws. A UN... Explore this topic

Money laundering

Money laundering is the process of concealing the source of money obtained by illicit means. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount of money l... Explore this topic

Sex worker

A sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry. The term is used in reference to all those in all areas of the sex industry including those who provide direct sexual services as well as the staff of such industries. Some sex workers are paid to engage in sexually expli... Explore this topic

Politics of the Netherlands

The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state. Dutch politics and governance are characterised by ... Explore this topic

Also See

Amsterdam

De Wallen

Human trafficking