In Amsterdam at least 9 massage parlors are closed because they offer sexual services.
In this manner the city wants to stop this type of illegal prostitution, popularly known as ‘Happy Ending’.
But it’s swimming against the tide, more new massage parlors are started again their business on other locations.

Contrary to e.g. the city of The Hague it’s allowed in Amsterdam to start a massage or beauty studio in any shop, professional qualifications are not required for this branch.
A spokesman of mayor Eberhard van der Laan reported that sperm traces were found, during an inspection under Asian massage parlors, in twelve of the thirteen surveyed salons.
Most of these massage parlors are located in the districts of East, Centre and South.
The sperm stains can be traced with UV-lamps, also called “spermlamps’.

Van der Laan has decided that nine massage parlors, which the report has been completed, must close their doors.
Six salons (see our previous post) are closed now, but three salons lodge an appeal. They do not agree with the decision and filed a legal procedure.In the meantime, they can remain open.
About three massage parlors, the report is not finished, so the mayor still needs to take a decision. “But it’s a similar situation,” the spokesman said.

The approach to abuses in massage parlors is one of the priorities in the policy of the City of Amsterdam (even in The Hague and Utrecht).
Not only to fight illegal prostitution but also because of the unfair competition with licensed sex businesses.
“We need to prevent exploitation and trafficking. It is not intended that the ladies we drive out ‘the window prostitution’ settle themself in the massage parlors, “the spokesman said.

However, there are always new massage parlors, so the approach appears to be a lengthy and much time-consuming.
There are now about 130 massage parlors in the city. (See map) The massage parlors being watched for several years. A few times a year, large checks held where a large number of inspectors is deployed to screen the massage studios. This not only involves new business, but also to re-inspections.

In respect of violations the parlors have to close for a indefinitely time. After that the owners can dialogue with the municipality. If they can prove that prostitution is no longer occurs, they can be open again.