Alkmaar city council was right to refuse to renew a brothel permit to the owner of 92 out of 120 windows in the city’s red light district, the council of state said on Wednesday.

The owner of the properties had appealed against a council decision not to renew the licences because they suspected the properties had been bought with criminal money. The council suspects part of the ransom paid to free beer magnate Freddie Heineken was used to buy the buildings.
A lower court had ruled there was not enough evidence for this and said the brothels could remain open. The council of state disagreed, saying there is sufficient reason to doubt the financing.
The owner has six weeks to close down the brothels, which account for around 75% of the windows in the red light zone.
Under legislation known as the Bibob law, councils can shut down brothels and other businesses if they suspect that the owner has contacts with organised crime.