On September 3rd, students from the Women’s and Gender Studies in Europe program
visited The Prostitution Information Center (PIC). The nonprofit is located in the heart of De
Wallen, the largest area of Amsterdam’s Red Light District. In 1994, the PIC was founded by
Dutch activist, author, and former sex worker Mariska Majoor. Her experience working inside
the Red Light District windows during the 1980s inspired her activism and drove her to create
the PIC. Majoor’s mission was to establish an educational center where sex workers could share their stories with anyone interested. Today, the PIC welcomes hundreds of visitors each week and offers guided tours and information sessions about the Red Light District. In addition, there are workshops, meet-ups, and film screenings. The PIC is also committed to supporting the needs of sex workers in their community by providing access to mental health and clinical resources. Team members are also available for media and academic interviews for thesis or article writing.
During our group’s visit, we met with activist, sex worker, and producer Bear. Originally
from the United States, Bear began working as a phone sex worker in the 1990s and identifies as a professional dominatrix. In 1999, they migrated to the Netherlands and found community and employment opportunities in the Red Light District. At the PIC, Bear is a speaker and educator who shares their insider knowledge. Our group greatly appreciated their openness to our questions. They started our conversation by providing us with a brief yet informative overview of the complicated history of sex work in the Netherlands.
One of the key points in our conversation was the statement: “Sex work is work.” Bear
emphasized that sex workers are entrepreneurs like people in any other job but the stigmas
surrounding sex work often criminalize the work and make it challenging. In the Netherlands,
there is tolerance towards sex work, however the profession is still largely scrutinized by the
public, law enforcement, and the government. In every aspect, the stigma associated with sex
work is evident. The impression that people are forced into sex work without choice is instilled
by every public sphere. Bear outlined how this is reflected by the Dutch prostitution policy
aimed to improve labor relations and crack down on human trafficking. In practice, however, this policy reinforces negative stereotypes that sex work is only done by vulnerable individuals
coerced into the career. The requirement of mandatory intakes for sex workers is a good
example. Depending on the city, the intakes are conducted by social workers, brothel managers, or the police. During the intakes, sex workers are questioned and tested on a variety of topics, such as language abilities and the status of their romantic relationships. This discriminatory and invasive process, intended to identify those vulnerable to human trafficking, is instead making it even harder for sex workers to find employment legally.
As someone not familiar with the Dutch law, I found our lecture with Bear enlightening
as well as reaffirming our previous readings and lectures. There is so much misinformation and distortion surrounding sex work, and it was refreshing to hear from the perspective of those directly affected. I believe that a visit to the Prostitution Information Center is essential for anyone traveling to Amsterdam and planning on exploring the Red Light District.
