AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The Amsterdam, Netherlands, City Council voted Wednesday to increase the minimum age for prostitution and to introduce closing hours for brothels.
The city's executive approved the new rules, which will be legally binding once they are incorporated into local by-laws, DutchNews.nl reported.
Council research showed younger women are more likely to be forced into prostitution and exploited, so they decided to raise the minimum age of prostitutes from 18 to 21.
The council also determined brothels should be closed from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. to combat a lack of social control on the streets in the early morning hours, DutchNews.nl reported.
The Dutch government has been considering rules requiring prostitutes to register as sex workers and for all clients to check whether a prostitute is registered when procuring services.
Approximately 5,000 to 8,000 prostitutes work in Amsterdam, many of whom come from abroad.
