Amsterdam city council can continue with its policy of reducing the number of brothel owners in its red light district, the government’s highest advisory body, said on Wednesday.

The city council began cleaning up the red light district in 2008 and has now introduced new zoning laws which make it possible to evict brothel owners who are uncooperative.

The aim is to reclaim one of the oldest and most picturesque parts of the city by encouraging exclusive shops to open there.

Empty buildings

Complainants said forcing out red light window owners would lead to a large number of empty buildings, but the Raad van State disagreed. The zoning law offers enough profitable opportunities, particularly since the council will, where necessary, buy the buildings itself and sell them on later.

Now the zoning laws are to go ahead, 62 red light windows will have to close, the Telegraaf reports.