Officials in Amsterdam closed eight massage salons at the end of last year where they suspect prostitution is taking place. A further eight have been told they will have to close down, the Parool says on Wednesday.

The closures are the result of a major effort to clamp down on massage parlours which also offer prostitutes and form unfair competition for licenced brothels, the council said.

In total, checks were carried out on 22 massage salons – mainly operated by Thai and Chinese nationals. Officials checked for ‘signs’ of prostitution as well as ‘scantily clad women’ and ‘sex-related objects’. They also carried out internet checks on sex review sites.

Difficult problem

City officials described the campaign as a success but described it as a difficult problem to crack because not every salon offers sex.

The city agreed at the end of last year to use plain clothes inspectors to check on what goes on behind the salon doors, the Parool says. Mystery guests will also be used in controls on taxis, suspected illegal hotels, boat hire firms and escort agencies.