A brief history of Amsterdam's laws surrounding prostitution at the beginning of the 20th century
- Reines des trotoirs Postcard
It began in 1854, some 65 years before the time of our postcard. In those days, brothels were licensed places where liquor could be served and sold, just like coffee houses, taprooms, liquor stores, and wine or beer houses. But brothels had to apply for a permit to be open at night later than these other businesses. As a result, brothels were officially registered with the municipality, which led to additional rules. Important and striking are the regulations concerning the appearance of brothels.
Passers-by on the street were not allowed to see the inside of brothels. For example, the windows and doors had to be covered with panels or curtains. In addition, no signs were allowed to be displayed on the outside, which would make it clear that the establishment served as a brothel. It was not allowed to attract any attention at all. Likewise, the persons working in the brothels were not allowed to try and attract the attention of passers-by.
In 1884 Amsterdam tried to limit the expansion of brothels and rendez-vous houses with new rules, such as forbidding them next to churches, schools, and other places where they were unwanted. It was determined by the city of Amsterdam that it was not permissible to open a brothel or_rendez-vous_ house or to relocate them without written notification to the mayor and aldermen. Thus the municipality itself could regulate the establishment. However, in practice, brothels were still regularly set up or moved without notifying the city. Even if a conviction followed, the business could continue to exist. The legal means to remedy this were lacking.
In 1889 , public women were forbidden to stand on the sidewalk or in the entrance of a place of entertainment to lure people in. This legislation probably gave the police more legal power to apprehend and fine public women when it was clear that they were working in the streets. It is not surprising, then, that prostitutes might have sat outside in front of brothels for this reason. Rather than actively luring people inside at the risk of being too conspicuous, sitting out in plain sight was probably enough for passers-by to know that it was a place to meet prostitutes, just like on the postcard.
From 1897 onward, brothels and _ rendez-vous_ houses were completely forbidden in Amsterdam. Amsterdam took the lead in this movement. Other cities followed, and by 1911, a national ban on brothels was implemented. However, the phenomenon of prostitution never ceased to exist. The brothels where women lived were replaced by new places like cigarette shops, café-chantant, and hotels. Women also began to stand outside in front of buildings more frequently from this period on. It was not until after World War II that prostitutes began to stand or sit behind windows, as is now the familiar image. The police often knew about this new way of attracting customers but allowed it. In this way, prostitution was tolerated.