Amsterdam’s Red Light District isn’t just about tourists taking photos through windows. It’s a working economy - one that employs thousands, generates millions in tax revenue, and supports a network of businesses you might never think about. Call girls - or more accurately, sex workers operating legally in licensed windows - are central to this system. They’re not outliers. They’re small business owners.
How Sex Work Fits Into Amsterdam’s Legal Framework
In the Netherlands, prostitution has been legal since 2000. That doesn’t mean it’s unregulated. Sex workers must register with the city, pay income tax, follow health and safety rules, and operate in designated zones. In Amsterdam, that’s mostly the De Wallen area. The city issues licenses to brothel owners and individual workers alike. A call girl working independently in a window pays the same taxes as a barista or a bike repair shop owner.
There are no hidden economies here. Every euro earned is reported. Workers pay VAT on services, social security contributions, and municipal taxes. In 2024, the Amsterdam tax office reported €47 million in direct income tax revenue from registered sex workers - up 12% from 2022. That’s not pocket change. That’s funding for public transit, libraries, and clean water systems.
The Ripple Effect: Who Else Benefits?
Think about what happens when someone walks into a window to pay for a service. That person isn’t just paying the worker. They’re also paying the landlord for the space, the cleaning service that comes in daily, the security company that monitors the block, the pharmacy that sells condoms and lubricants, and the café across the street where they grab a coffee before or after.
Local businesses in De Wallen rely on this traffic. A 2023 study by the University of Amsterdam found that 68% of small shops in the Red Light District reported at least 30% of their daily customers came because of the presence of legal sex work. The bakery on Oudekerksplein sells more pastries on weekends than any other neighborhood. The pharmacy on Warmoesstraat stocks more condoms than any other in the city. The taxi drivers who wait outside the district make more money during evening hours than anywhere else in Amsterdam.
Even tourism companies benefit. Many guided tours now include stops near De Wallen - not to gawk, but to explain the legal and economic model. These tours charge €25 per person. In 2024, over 210,000 people took them. That’s €5.25 million in revenue, with a portion going to local guides and operators.
Call Girls as Entrepreneurs
Most women working in the windows aren’t employees. They’re freelancers. They set their own hours, choose their clients, and keep the majority of what they earn. The average hourly rate is €70-€120, depending on experience, language skills, and location. Many work only three to four nights a week. That’s enough to earn €1,500-€2,500 monthly after expenses.
Some invest in their own space. Others hire assistants for cleaning or booking. A few have built brands - offering virtual services, writing blogs, or selling wellness products. One worker, Maria, started a line of organic massage oils after noticing how many clients asked for aromatherapy. She now sells them online across Europe.
They don’t get pensions from the state. They don’t get sick leave. But they do get to file for business loans, open bank accounts under their own names, and even buy property. In 2023, the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce recorded 142 registered sex work businesses - 79 of them owned by women who started with one window and now rent out multiple units.
What Happens When It’s Not Legal?
Compare Amsterdam to nearby cities where sex work is criminalized. In Paris or Berlin, workers operate underground. They’re vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and police raids. They can’t report abuse without risking arrest. They don’t pay taxes. They can’t get health insurance. They can’t open a bank account.
Amsterdam’s approach reduces harm. Workers get regular health checks. The city funds free STI testing and mental health counseling. A 2024 report from the Dutch Public Health Service showed that registered sex workers in Amsterdam had a 75% lower rate of violent incidents than those working illegally in other European cities.
It’s not perfect. There are still cases of coercion, especially among migrants. But the legal system gives authorities tools to act. Police can shut down illegal operators. Workers can report abuse without fear. The system isn’t about moral approval - it’s about control, safety, and revenue.
Why This Model Works
Amsterdam doesn’t pretend sex work doesn’t exist. It doesn’t try to erase it. It acknowledges it, regulates it, and taxes it. That’s the key. When something is hidden, it becomes dangerous. When it’s open, it becomes manageable.
The city spends €1.2 million a year on outreach, health services, and legal support for sex workers. That’s less than 10% of the tax revenue it collects from them. It’s a net gain. And it’s not charity - it’s smart economics.
Compare it to other cities that spend millions on policing and incarceration. Amsterdam spends less on enforcement and more on prevention. The result? Lower crime, better health outcomes, and a stable income stream for the city.
Who Are These Women?
They come from everywhere: Poland, Romania, Brazil, Thailand, the Netherlands. Some are students. Some are single mothers. Some are retired. Some moved to Amsterdam because they heard it was safe. Most are not trafficked. The Dutch government estimates that fewer than 5% of registered sex workers in Amsterdam are victims of trafficking - a rate far lower than in countries where the trade is illegal.
They’re not invisible. They’re not voiceless. Many speak publicly about their work. They run support groups. They lobby for better housing and childcare options. One worker, Amina, started a nonprofit that helps others transition out of sex work - into nursing, IT, or teaching. She’s now on the city’s advisory board for labor rights.
The Bigger Picture
Amsterdam’s economy doesn’t run on windmills and tulips alone. It runs on people - including those who work in the windows. Their labor is real. Their taxes matter. Their businesses contribute.
Calling them ‘call girls’ makes it sound like a fantasy. But they’re not characters in a movie. They’re taxpayers. They’re landlords. They’re small business owners. They’re part of the city’s backbone.
When you walk through De Wallen and see the red lights, don’t just see a tourist attraction. See a functioning economy. See workers paying rent. See women buying groceries. See someone saving for a vacation. See a system that works - because it chose honesty over hypocrisy.
Are call girls in Amsterdam legal?
Yes. Prostitution has been legal in the Netherlands since 2000. Sex workers must register with the city, pay taxes, and operate in licensed areas. Independent workers can rent windows in designated zones like Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The system is designed to ensure safety, transparency, and regulation.
How much do call girls earn in Amsterdam?
Most independent workers earn between €70 and €120 per hour. Many work three to four nights a week, earning €1,500 to €2,500 monthly after expenses. Some who rent multiple windows or offer additional services like virtual companionship can earn significantly more. All income must be declared for tax purposes.
Do call girls in Amsterdam pay taxes?
Yes. Registered sex workers pay income tax, social security contributions, and VAT on services. In 2024, the Amsterdam tax office collected €47 million in direct income tax from registered sex workers. They file taxes like any other self-employed person and can claim business expenses like rent, cleaning, and health checks.
Is sex work in Amsterdam safe?
Compared to places where it’s illegal, yes. Registered workers have access to free health screenings, legal support, and safety training. The city funds outreach programs and has strict rules for brothel owners. Violent incidents are 75% lower than in countries with criminalized sex work. Workers can report abuse without fear of arrest.
Does tourism depend on the Red Light District?
Not directly, but indirectly, yes. While most tourists don’t pay for services, the area draws millions of visitors each year. Guided tours focused on the history and regulation of sex work bring in over €5 million annually. Local businesses - cafes, pharmacies, taxis - rely on the foot traffic generated by the district’s visibility.
