Prostitutes Corona
Initial Shutdowns and Government Response
When the Ladies of Love Left – COVID hit the city hard. Sex clubs and prostitution windows shut down from March 15th. Financial support was arranged for three months for sex workers by the Dutch government. It’s a contact job,
explained one worker, highlighting why sex workers struggled amid the pandemic. Research by R Küster (2023) notes that specific support for prostitutes during the coronavirus pandemic was lacking until then. The ban on prostitution due to the corona crisis came at the women’s expense.
Divergent Approaches in Europe
Despite COVID-19, prostitution continued in Germany. An opt-in system allowed people to work for brothels without being considered employees, offering sex workers more control over their work. The Netherlands saw similar disruptions. Porn shoots were cancelled, strip clubs and brothels closed, and many sex workers ended up on the streets or trapped in difficult situations. Amsterdam’s famous Red Lights in the Wallen district continued to shine, but commerce was banned from March 15th. Many sex-workers stopped working or faced severe income loss.
Health and Economic Consequences
Psychosocial consequences of COVID-19 on sex workers were significant. Prostitution in the Netherlands is legal and regulated, with De Wallen being the largest red-light district. Yet, during lockdowns, sex workers’ everyday security was compromised. Public health measures hit the Dutch domestic sex industry hard. Some Amsterdam sex workers continued to work discreetly, but window prostitution stopped and home sex work became limited. Financial hardship was widespread. Women contacted groups like the English Collective of Prostitutes for help, revealing the drastic impact of the pandemic on their lives.
Systemic Failures Revealed
In Germany, brothels closed, leaving many sex workers, especially Eastern Europeans stranded and facing homelessness. We are in a lot of trouble,
stated one collective, demanding government support. Many were excluded from pandemic relief, pushing some towards illegal work or street prostitution despite health risks. Amsterdam’s red-light district eventually reopened with strict rules like no kissing,
but business remained slow. Sex workers faced a stark choice: risk infection or face destitution.
The crisis exposed systemic issues, like the lack of safety nets and legal recognition, even in countries where prostitution is regulated. The pandemic underscored the precarity of sex work globally, forcing many into impossible situations just to survive.
*TAGS* – prostitution windows shutdown, psychosocial consequences sex workers, pandemic relief exclusion
