The Hague (Den Haag) is set on the North Sea coast of the western side of Netherlands. The city’s population is over 520,000 people with 98.12 sq. km in geographical area. It is also branded as a hybrid city due to the fact that it has Netherlands’ seat of government despite it not being a capital city. It is also filled with mansions, green boulevards and parks, a refined culinary scene, fine museums, and a one of a kind café culture.
The Hague manages to keep up with the red light districts of Amsterdam with three of its own. Although it cannot keep up with the quality and quantity of those found in Amsterdam, there are still a couple of surprises waiting to be unveiled. For one, all three of the red light districts are strictly for pedestrian only, which means that all types of vehicles are not allowed.
History of the RLD
The existence of The Hague’s red light district extended a few centuries back. In the 15th century, The Hague’s brothels were operated by bailiff Vincent Lebenstein and the Attorney General of Holland. Local residents complained to Queen Mary due to its inconvenience, and so the operation of brothels stopped.
During 1825, The Hague issued a new regulation regarding prostitutes and the houses of prostitution which were followed by other municipalities.
In 1999, the largest location of street prostitution is found in Poeldijksestraat in Schilderswijk with 300 windows. However, it was closed down due to unclear reasons and was eventually demolished in January 2006.
How to find the RLD
Stay Safe in the RLD
Like any other red light districts, the same reminders apply such as the following:
Adult entertainment in The Hague is focused in the areas of Geleenstraat, Hunsestraat, as well as in Doubletstraat where the city’s red light district lies. The one that caters to high-end clients is located on the streets of Geleenstraat and Hunsestraat which is 500 meters northeast of the Den Haag Holland Spoor (HS) railway station.
The city has brothels like Colorotica and Slaves for Passion that host exotic erotic parties. One notable strip club is Casa Cherda, located at Bezuidenhoutseweg which quite unique as it allows the so-called “open sex”. This not only caters to the outgoing ones as it also has private chambers for the reserved ones.
Although less appealing to tourists than Amsterdam, The Hague can still keep up with everything that Holland’s most famous city can offer, like the famous marijuana coffee shops and the adults-only sex clubs, which are both completely legal in the Netherlands.
Adult Cinemas
Street Prostitution
The following are the streets where street prostitution is present:
Window Prostitution
Window prostitution in The Hague can be found in two separate prostitution areas: Doubletstraat and the neighboring Huns Street with 140 windows. The windows are open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on weekdays, and on weekends until 1:30 pm.
In the Netherlands, laws on prostitution have always been so lenient. Prostitution was never considered a crime. Although there were general bans on the establishment of brothels and pimping, however in October 2000, these were removed from the Penal Code.
In the Netherlands, the minimum legal age of prostitution is 18. Since 2000, Dutch authorities regularly check sex establishments to verify that minors and illegal aliens are not working as prostitutes.
Under article 273f Wetboek van Strafrecht (Dutch Criminal Code), human trafficking in the Netherlands is punishable by law. This law is not only limited to sexual exploitation but also wider forms of exploitation such as forced labour and trade of human body parts.
The non-adult entertainment nightlife in the city of The Hague is just as lively as its adult entertainment counterpart. Here are a couple of popular spots:
Netherlands has been referred to as one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world because of its early adoption of the LGBT rights legislation and tolerance perception. With this, a lot of its cities, including The Hague are generally friendly towards the members of the LGBT.
Here are a few gay hotspots:
General Attitude Towards Gays
Being a member of the LGBTQ community in The Hague is like living in a community where everyone is considered family as people here respect and understand their preference. In fact, according to a poll conducted in May 2013, 82% of the Netherlands supported same-sex marriage.
To further protect the LGBTs, the Equal Rights Act in 1993 has been enacted which bans discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in housing, employment, and both public and private accommodations.
The government granted same-sex couples domestic partnerships on January 1, 1998, as an alternative to marriage. With this, Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001.
Gay and Transsexual prostitutes in The Hague
Finding someone for gay and transsexual dating can be a daunting task. But in The Hague, apart from the numerous prostitutes in the red light district of the city, there are a couple of transsexual prostitutes you can spot in the Geleenstraat area. You can also try your luck online for more selection.