The legal age for prostitution is to be raised from 18 to 21, the Telegraaf reports on Thursday. The paper says justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin has decided to increase the age after all and will incorporate the changes into new legislation on prostitution currently being processed.

Hirsch Ballin had earlier resisted the change because he was concerned younger prostitutes would move into the illegal sector.
But now he believes older girls are better able to decide for themselves whether to become prostitutes and deal with difficult clients, the paper says..
A majority of MPs back the age increase.
Register
In addition, the minister is setting up a national register for prostitutes. To qualify for inclusion, women must have a face to face meeting with officials about the risks, healthcare and legal implications of becoming a prostitute.
Once registered they will be given an official licence with photograph. This will enable clients to make sure they are dealing with an official working girl, the paper says.
In January, Amsterdam city council executive Lodewijk Asscher called on the official prostitution age to be increased to 23.
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