It is yet another example of how prostitution is increasingly being forced to make way for art and culture in the Dutch capital.
Undercover hooker?
Tourists sometimes get confused by these prim and proper ladies among the women of loose morals. Giggling, they wonder whether they are "old-fashioned prostitutes" or "undercover hookers". But no, they are not really prostitutes. Tineke de Smet en Bregtje Buishand work for the Zuiderzee Museum.
The Zuiderzee Museum "presents Dutch art, design and cultural legacy at the interface of land and water". It is named after the former inland sea known in Dutch as the Zuiderzee - the Southern Sea - which was closed off fr
om the North Sea by a dam in 1932.
From a house at 63 Oudezijds Achterburgwal - the centre of t
he Amsterdam Red Light district - they are trying to lure foreign tourists to their museum in the old town of Enkhuizen. Museum curator André Groeneveld:
"We have plenty of visitors, but the numbers of Japanese, American and Spanish
tourists are still quite low, and we hope we can reach them here".
Whores' dogs
The museum is using a derelict house, which has been declared unfit for habitation. Instead of prostitutes it has Delft Blue curtains behind its windows. In the background is a picture of the IJsselmeer (Lake IJssel, the former Zuiderzee). In the foreground, two feet wearing wooding shoes are sticking into the air and two 'whores' dogs', statuettes that were once used to indicate whether prostitutes were busy or available, are sitting on the window sill. In this way, the old-fashioned spectacle also points to the profession of the 'neighbours'.
Tineke de Smet en Bregtje Buishand are sitting on the stoop doing their sewing and knitting. The traditional costumes they are wearing are not from any specific village. Andre Groeneveld: "It was a deliberate choice to avoid offending negative reactions from those communities". The two women are wearing a mix of various styles. Some passers, clearly in search of a different kind of entertainment, are stoically ignoring the scene. Tourists who take a stronger interest are provided with information on the Zuiderzee Museum and, if they want, can have their picture taken with the women.
Are you Paula?
Bregtje Buishand says it is a unique experience:
"Obviously, I am from the provinces, but I 'm not completely inexperienced. Two houses over, there was a sign on the door advertising the services of a prostitute called Paula. One day, a German tourist walked up to me and asked me 'Are you Paula?' I told him 'No, I'm afraid not'. You need a sense of humour to survive around here."
Many tourists don't know what to think of the two women in traditional costume. An Italian man believes it's a protest against all the nudity in the red light district. A woman from Spain thinks they are prostitutes in disguise. When she learns it's about all about promoting a museum, she recommends the two women put up a sign saying: We are not prostitutes, you don't have to pay us.
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Paris, June-July 1907 Oil on canvas, 8' x 7' 8"
Culture versus prostitution
The surprising combination of traditional costumes and prostitutes is the result of a new policy in Amsterdam. In the past few years, the council has closed one quarter of all the 'windows' used for prostitution and some of the area's larger brothels. They have been replaced by fashion designers' shops and other 'expressions' of art and culture.
The council also approached the Zuiderzee Museum. The museum will decorate the windows of 63 Oudezijds Achterburgwal throughout the summer, and Tineke de Smet en Bregtje Buishand will be sitting on the stoop in their traditional costumes on 16, 21 and 29 August.
The introduction of art and culture has completely changed the appearance of the Red Light district. "I'm really pleased with the change", says a passing local resident. "This is a good combination. Prostitution does not have to go completely, but it would be nice if it put less of a stamp on the district". When asked if he doesn't find the council's policy patronising, the answer is no: "I wouldn't know what was patronising about it".
13 August 2008
By Niels de Jager
[Copyright Radio Netherlands]
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Two ladies in traditional Dutch costume form a surprising contrast with the scantily dressed prostitutes flanking them on a street in Amsterdam's Red-light district.
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