Amsterdam is known around the world as a popular sex destination, but other areas of the Netherlands have also opened up their doors (in this case, parking spaces) for men who wish to purchase sex.  In Utrecht, a town fairly close to Amsterdam, there is a side road about 600 m long that is 4 km from the centre of town.  Men drive up and down the road negotiating with the women, and once the deal is made, they drive to the end of the road to a designated parking area.

There are about 14 parking spaces, separated by walls.  Sex acts take place in the customer’s car. Here sex acts are cheap – only about 20 euros – and many of the women use hard drugs.   Several are victims of trafficking.

Utrecht, specifically Europalaan and its sex parking, reminds me of McDonalds.  You drive through, order your meal, receive it at the window, and usually eat it in the car.  Sometimes people even pull into a parking spot nearby and eat it right there.

Fast food and women should never be on a level playing field. Sadly, the similarities in Utrecht cannot be ignored.

Michelle Brock