No kissing allowed: Photos show how sex workers in Amsterdam's red-light district are adapting to the coronavirus pandemic

Sophia AnkelJul 4, 2020, 14:22 IST

A worker cleaning a sex worker's room in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 30, 2020.Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Amsterdam's famous red-light district has opened up to the public again, months after it had to be shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The decline in COVID-19 cases in The Netherlands has prompted health officials to allow sex workers to resume meeting clients much earlier than expected.
The sex workers are encouraged to follow health and safety measures, including checking clients for coronavirus symptoms, no face-to-face contact, and disinfecting their workplace after an appointment.
Scroll down to see how Amsterdam's famous red-light district is reopening its doors amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Amsterdam's famous red-light district has reopened its doors to customers again, months after it had to be shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak

Brothels in The Netherlands were meant to stay closed until September, but officials brought the reopening date forward to July 1, after the country continued to see a drop in coronavirus cases.

Now, sex workers plan to put on their red lights as quickly as possible, although there will be added health measures in place to make sure their work remains safe.

From checking clients for coronavirus symptoms to not allowing face-to-face contact, these photos show how Amsterdam's world-renown red-light district is reopening in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.

Like most places around the world, Amsterdam's red-light district came to a grinding halt earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Theatre Casa Rosso closed during the COVID-19 pandemic Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on June 27, 2020. Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Prostitution was made legal in The Netherlands in 2000 and typically the red-light district sees more than 1,000 tourists each week, according to the New York Times.

But as The Netherlands continues to see a decline in COVID-19 cases, sex workers have officially been allowed to resume their profession.

Workers cleaning glass windows on a sex workers' building in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on June 30, 2020. Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The announcement came much earlier than expected. Brothels in The Netherlands were meant to stay closed until September, but officials brought the reopening date forward to July 1.

"During the lockdown, a lot of sex workers ran into financial trouble so we're very happy that we can finally start our job again," Felicia Anna, the chairwoman of the Red Light United trade union, told the Guardian.

The announcement came much earlier than expected. Brothels in The Netherlands were meant to stay closed until September, but officials brought the reopening date forward to July 1.

During the lockdown, a lot of sex workers ran into financial trouble so we're very happy that we can finally start our job again, Felicia Anna, the chairwoman of the Red Light United trade union, told the Guardian.

Like all businesses, sex workers have been encouraged to implement stringent health measures to make sure their occupation remains safe and hygienic.

A worker cleaning a sex worker's room in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 30, 2020. Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Virus-prevention measures include checking clients for symptoms before letting them through a window...

A worker cleaning a sex worker's room during the preparation in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 30, 2020. Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Source: Associated Press

...and disinfecting anything a customer might have touched after every appointment.

A cleaner disinfecting a sex workers' building on June 30, 2020, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

For many sex workers, these changes are not too difficult to implement, considering they already have basic hygienic protocols in place.

"We are, of course, used to taking care of hygiene," Janet van der Berg of the Prostitution Information Center told the Associated Press (AP).

Another sex worker told the Guardian: "We already dealt with much bigger diseases than corona."

Source: The Guardian

For many sex workers, these changes are not too difficult to implement, considering they already have basic hygienic protocols in place.

We are, of course, used to taking care of hygiene, Janet van der Berg of the Prostitution Information Center told the Associated Press (AP).

Another sex worker told the Guardian: We already dealt with much bigger diseases than corona.

Source: The Guardian

Sex workers are not required to wear a face mask, but many have already said they will try to avoid face-to-face contact as much as possible.

Sex worker Moira Mona wears a mask at her studio where she creates videos near Amsterdam, Netherlands June 30, 2020. Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters

Source: The Guardian

One sex worker told the Guardian: "We don't need to wear any face masks during the playdates, thank God", adding that there will still be "no kissing" allowed from her clients.

Masks and gloves seen on a wooden seat inside a sex worker's room on June 30, 2020, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Source: The Guardian

One sex worker told the Guardian: "We don't need to wear any face masks during the playdates, thank God", adding that there will still be "no kissing" allowed from her clients.

Source: The Guardian

The sex workers are worried that the halt in global tourism will affect their business.

Police officers walk along the Red Light District as it reopens after the Coronavirus or Covid19 Lockdown on July 01, 2020, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

But photos of the district on the day it reopened showed the streets of the red-light district were bustling.

A general view of the Red Light District as it reopens after the coronavirus outbreak on July 1, 2020, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

"I've heard that they're busy. I think there's a party atmosphere," a spokesperson for the Prostitution Information Center in Amsterdam told the Associated Press.

A general view of the red-light district as it reopens after the coronavirus lockdown on July 1, 2020, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Source: Associated Press

AMERICAN RESILIENCE: How a small Alaska town fought for survival after the Exxon Valdez Oil spill dumped 11 million gallons of oil into the ocean and nearly wiped out its fishing industry

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

No kissing allowed: Photos show how sex workers in Amsterdam's red-light district are adapting to the coronavirus pandemic

Like most places around the world, Amsterdam's red-light district came to a grinding halt earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But as The Netherlands continues to see a decline in COVID-19 cases, sex workers have officially been allowed to resume their profession.

Like all businesses, sex workers have been encouraged to implement stringent health measures to make sure their occupation remains safe and hygienic.

Virus-prevention measures include checking clients for symptoms before letting them through a window...

...and disinfecting anything a customer might have touched after every appointment.

Sex workers are not required to wear a face mask, but many have already said they will try to avoid face-to-face contact as much as possible.

One sex worker told the Guardian: "We don't need to wear any face masks during the playdates, thank God", adding that there will still be "no kissing" allowed from her clients.

The sex workers are worried that the halt in global tourism will affect their business.

But photos of the district on the day it reopened showed the streets of the red-light district were bustling.

"I've heard that they're busy. I think there's a party atmosphere," a spokesperson for the Prostitution Information Center in Amsterdam told the Associated Press.