Sex workers are still struggling to gain access to bank accounts and insurance despite promises from banks to make the process easier.

Insurance firm Nationale Nederlanden (NN) agreed at the start of last year to accept applications for personal liability insurance and contents insurance from sex workers.

But the firm told nu.nl it had agreed fewer than 10 contracts for liability insurance for the sector in the last 16 months and none at all for contents insurance.

Opening business bank accounts and taking out insurance are seen as important steps towards removing the stigma from sex work and making practitioners less vulnerable to exploitation.

But Irina Hornstra, of the sex workers’ alliance Sekswerk Alliantie Destigmatisering (SWAD), said banks were continuing to put barriers in the way by making demands that do not apply to other sectors.

Licensing conditions

“They ask sex workers for a licence, knowing that they won’t get one. For sex workers it’s a very expensive and risky process.”

Hornstra said sex workers’ reluctance to take out insurance could be linked to the requirement to complete the application process online. “The digital route doesn’t work for sex workers, so they need to make contact in person,” she said.

Some municipalities no longer require sex workers to have a licence to ply their trade from home, but in places where licences are required numbers are limited or conditions are attached, such as an obligation to have a fire exit.

Sex workers also worried they could be evicted if the council tells their landlord that they have requested a licence.

Fewer questions

Business bank accounts are still difficult to obtain, despite an agreement in 2023 that banks would ask fewer questions if sex workers were able to show they were keeping administrative records and paying VAT, and were registered with the chamber of commerce (KVK).

“Banks are closing off the entry route to providing a regular service in society,” Hornstra said.

Banks argue they have an obligation to prevent money laundering and terrorism and have to investigate if their customers bank large sums in cash, which is more common in sex work.

They also have a duty to investigate if they suspect people are involved in human trafficking, which can lead to independent sex workers facing intrusive questions.