EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
Most residents aren’t too happy about the idea, though, and neither are the sex workers
The Amsterdam city government announced that it has picked a location for the long-discussed Erotic Center, which is meant to replace the popular but controversial Red Light District in the downtown De Wallen area. The proposed location will be a high-rise situated on Europaboulevard near the ring road in the southern district (Zuid) of the Dutch capital.
The move of the Red Light District to a new location is part of the local authorities’ drive to clean up the image of Amsterdam and rebrand the city as a living, breathing, modern urban area which cares for its residents and wants to welcome a more refined type of tourists in the future.
Curiously enough, however, it is the very residents (for whom the city is aiming to make the De Wallen historic district more livable) that seem to be vastly opposed to moving the Red Light District.
Back in June, a survey among the capital’s residents found that only about 20 percent were in favour of the Erotic Center proposal. Roughly 35 percent oppose the plan, and another 18 percent strongly oppose the idea.
For residents of the Zuid district, the shift would mean simply transferring all the noise, crowding and troubles that the Red Light District generated to an area which is more family and business-oriented. Sex workers themselves are also largely opposed to the transition having formed an alliance of sorts with the residents’ organizations protesting the move.
If implemented, the transfer of the district and the disappearance of the glowing red windows characteristic of the Red Light will not happen overnight. The aim of the government is to construct a centre which apart from the services of the sex workers will also offer things like tantric workshops, feminist lectures and cultural events.
For now, the plan of the government is to have a broader discussion about this in the City Council first thing in the new year. If changes go ahead as planned, the previewed horizon for the opening of the Erotic Centre will be the year 2031.
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
This, however, is likely to change soon
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
And the current administration plans to make Jardin del Turia Europe’s largest city green space by extending it to the sea
The aim is to have the public be able to admire the architectural design without distractions
The installation has been thought out with the concept of letting people “talk” to their dearly departed
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
A US geologist claims to have solved the centuries-old mystery
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team