Amsterdam mega-brothel plan sparks furious backlash as EU vaccines watchdog warns new five-storey Erotic Centre will ruin the ‘tranquillity’ near its HQ
- European Medicines Agency Amsterdam HQ could be near new Erotic Centre
- Agency ‘concerned’ about plans which include around 100 sex workers spaces
Plans for a mega-brothel in Amsterdam sparked furious backlash as the EU’s vaccines watchdog has today said it would ruin the tranquillity near its headquarters in the Dutch capital.
Amsterdam City Council has been considering relocating legal prostitution away from its historic red light district for years and in February announced three possible locations for its five-storey Erotic Centre.
Two are near the new European Medicines Agency HQ – which moved to Amsterdam in 2019 after leaving London following Brexit – which is near major hotels and the city’s financial district.
The agency said in a statement it was ‘concerned’ about plans for the centre, which include around 100 ‘work spaces’ for sex workers as well as bars and entertainment.
‘The change of the location of the Red Light District is motivated by concerns of nuisance, drug-dealing, drunkenness and disorderly behaviour,’ the EMA said in a statement.
Amsterdam is preparing to build a five-storey ‘erotic centre’ as part of plans to relocate the famed red light district and attract ‘better quality’ tourists (stock image)
The plans, which appeared in December 2020 on Moke Architecten’s website, show that visitors can make their way past the sex workers, caterers and live shows via spiral ramps
The European Medicines Agency HQ in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
‘Locating the Erotic Centre in close proximity to EMA’s building is likely to bring the same negative impacts to the adjacent area.’
READ MORE: Amsterdam unveils its vision for five-floor ‘erotic centre’ complete with sex shows and 100 small rooms for prostitutes as city bids to clean up famed red light district
‘EMA is very concerned that this will create safety, security and nuisance issues’ for its staff and for visiting delegates, who often have to leave late in the evening, the regulator said in a statement.
‘The change of the location of the red light district is motivated by concerns of nuisance, drug-dealing, drunkenness and disorderly behaviour,’ it added.
‘Locating the Erotic Centre in close proximity to EMA’s building is likely to bring the same negative impacts to the adjacent area.’
The EMA said it would now work with the European Commission in Brussels, the EU’s executive arm, to take the case to the ‘highest appropriate political and diplomatic level to ensure a safe working environment’.
The watchdog added that it had only learned about the proposals through local media reports and ‘would have expected to be consulted’.
Two of the three proposed locations for the huge new brothel are near the EMA’s high-tech headquarters in a business district on the southern outskirts of Amsterdam.
The once-low-profile agency played a key role during the coronavirus pandemic, approving vaccines as the disease swept the globe and then dealing with concerns about possible side effects.
The erotic centre will reportedly contain 100 small rooms, two bars and an ‘erotic entertainment venue’ including a strip club (Pictured: Red light district in 2014)
Amsterdam City Council has been considering relocating legal prostitution away from its historic red light district for years
‘EMA’s work is essential for the protection of public health in the EU, and this should not be jeopardised by fears of staff and EU experts coming to EMA’s building,’ it said.
The planned erotic centre will have 100 spaces for sex workers, complete with areas for work breaks and other hospitality outlets, under the proposals by Amsterdam city council.
The city eventually plans to shut down the centuries-old Red Light district, or De Wallen, which is known for the neon-lit windows in which sex workers stand as they try to attract customers.
Local residents have long complained about the quality of life in the area, which draws huge crowds of tourists. In February the city said it would ban cannabis smoking in the district.
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