Ministers are working on draft legislation to make it illegal to visit prostitutes who are not registered with the authorities, Trouw reports on Friday.

Clients visiting illegal prostitutes can be arrested and may face criminal charges if the legislation is approved by parliament, the paper says.
The draft law also includes setting up a national register of prostitutes. Men and women who work as prostitutes but are not on the list may also face charges if caught.
Brothels and sex clubs will also be required to apply for a nationwide licence to operate. At the moment brothels are licenced by the local authorities.
Council of State
Trouw says the draft legislation has now been sent to the government’s highest advisory body, the Council of State. The paper says it bases its claims on a document detailing ministers’ responses to Council of State recommendations.
The aim of the registration system is to help the authorities clamp down on human trafficking and tax evasion. Brothels have been legal in the Netherlands since 2000.
The proposals, drawn up by home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst and justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin, were circulated to police, justice ministry officials, the tax office and other interested parties for their comments at the end of last year.