How does Amsterdam's red-light district look like right now?

The De Wallen district is considered by local people as an 'adult's version of Disneyland", and they want to stop this. 

When the government imposed a lockdown order whole nation in mid-March, the De Wallen red-light district in Amsterdam turned to a "gosh town" just after one night. Everything becomes deserted, gloomy due to empty of people. 

De Wallen depends much on tourists, attracting more than 1 million visitors each month. So, Covid-19 is like a full-blow on the sex industry of this country. Over 300 legal prostitutes have not income for the past 4 months, brothels have financial difficulties.

The red-light district with the dark look in March. Picture: Robin Utrecht/Sipa.

"Some girls have quit their job. They are afraid of catching nCoV and unstable income. If without tourists, they will not have income well. At least 70% income here comes from tourists", said Eric Hamaker, the owner of Red Light Tax, a company specializing in finance for prostitutes.

"I have 7 appointments with clients in the first week after the government began to lock down the nation. They disappeared in one day and caused me to lose 1.300 euros of income. After that I have stopped counting the amount I lost", Anita, a 56 years old prostitute said. 

Felicia Anna, a prostitute from Rumania and co-founder of Red Light United (the organization represents fro 110 women working in this field) said many have returned home, but some still stay on for a few days to work illegally as a lockdown. "Prostitutes can receive a subsidy from the government because they pay tax. But the amount of monthly 1.100 euro subsidy is not enough for spending expensive subsistence in the center of the city. Said Anna. 

The crowded science of one year ago. Picture: Peter Dejong/AP.

Holland government gave a green light for reopening in July, although before it has said the closure would extend to September. "If it is September, I will find other jobs and many owners of brothels must bankrupt", a tour operator at De Wallen said. When it is reopened, the girls are encouraged to ask customers whether they have symptoms of nCoV infection. De Wallen also apply more measures of infectious, spreading prevention such as washing hand, no kiss, restricting contact directly between sex workers and customers.