Window prostitution
🌹 Maison closeSex work in which the worker rents an illuminated window booth, sits in public view and negotiates directly with people passing on the street. She rents the room, sets her own prices and chooses her own clients.
The operator supplies the premises and is licensed for it; the negotiation is not theirs. The format's defence of the people working in it is that it is public — the booth is visible from the street, anyone can be refused at the door, and the rooms have alarms. The commercial model is the same room-rental arrangement as a Laufhaus or a privéhuis; what differs is that the negotiation happens in public view.
The full account, with its sources, is in our guide to Window Prostitution in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
Who sets the price?
The worker. She rents the room, typically by the shift, and chooses her own clients.
What does the operator do?
Supplies and is licensed for the premises. The negotiation is not theirs.