News item | 13-05-2026 | 13:45
The government will make extra efforts to protect the vulnerable in prostitution. That is why the minimum age for prostitution is legally increased from 18 to 21 years. In addition, it is being investigated how a so-called pimp ban can be legally elaborated. The Municipal Supervision of Sex Businesses Bill (Wgts) will also be submitted in the short term. This bill regulates that municipalities can process data of sex workers for the purpose of operators’ compliance with licensing regulations, their supervision and enforcement.
Minister Van Weel of Justice and Security: “We agreed in the coalition agreement that the vulnerable in the sex work industry must be better protected, which is why I now want to raise the age limit as quickly as possible to better protect young sex workers. I also want to see whether we can use a pimp ban to tackle rogue facilitators who abuse vulnerable sex workers, often working illegally in the Netherlands.”
Cabinet approach to safe sex work sector
In the sex work sector, the government is focusing on three components. First of all, it is about making rules for a safe sex work industry. Young sex workers are extra vulnerable to coercion and exploitation. We are therefore raising the minimum age for sex work from 18 to 21 years. We are also investigating a so-called pimp ban.
Secondly, the government is committed to supporting municipalities in supervision and enforcement. In order to better enable municipalities to supervise and enforce the sector, the Municipal Supervision of Sex Businesses Bill (Wgts) will be submitted to the House of Representatives in the very short term. This allows municipalities to process data from sex workers for the supervision and enforcement of the sex work industry.
And the third point is that the government remains committed to strengthening the legal position of sex workers. We will discuss with the parties involved how this will be followed up, taking into account the results of the evaluation of the Approach to strengthening the social and legal position of sex workers.
The above steps therefore focus on a safe sex work industry in various areas. These are measures that can make a targeted and effective difference.
