A sex worker has revealed what life is like behind the window in the world’s most famous red light district.
Despite graduating from university with a biology degree, Lena chose to become a sex worker in the Dutch capital Amsterdam.
Travel influencer Karolina Wachowicz interviewed Lena about her life and experiences.
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Karolina, who originally comes from Kraków in Poland, told Need To Know: “Meeting a sex worker was one of the most honest encounters I’ve ever had.
“For an hour, she spoke openly about her clients, boundaries, money, and her own emotions.
“She ‘showed’ me this profession from the inside, without filters or stereotypes.”
Karolina described Lena as a “modest, well-built blonde; a biology graduate by education, a sex worker by choice”.
In the Netherlands, sex work has been legal since 2000.
Workers can be self-employed – registered with the tax office – and have access healthcare and insurance.
Lena explained that it’s precisely this legal worker status that gives her a sense of security.
She told Karolina: “I’m not a victim or a criminal, I have the right to my work, to protection and to boundaries.
“Clients know this well and I feel safe.”
In the De Wallen red light district, many women rent private rooms with glass entrances.
Police and municipal services regularly inspect their working conditions, and organisations supporting sex workers operate on site.
Karolina described Lena’s workplace as “ordinary looking and unremarkable from the outside”.
The travel influencer added: “On the ground floor, there was a typical bar that wouldn’t attract the attention of a casual passer-by.
“However, once I reached the upper floors, the interior completely changed.
“An atmosphere of discreet luxury and intimacy prevailed, completely different from the stereotypical image of ‘brothels.’
“Each room is equipped with a variety of erotic gadgets, condoms, and special telephones, allowing you to quickly contact the staff if necessary.
“Depending on the client’s preferences, various accessories are available, all to ensure a comfortable and satisfying encounter.
“The rooms offer an intimate, elegant atmosphere, often with a bottle of high-quality champagne on the table.
“Prices are transparent and vary depending on the time and type of service.
“The entire establishment operates according to strict hygiene and safety regulations, giving both employees and clients a complete sense of protection.”
Lena told Karolina why she chose to enter the profession despite her past education.
“I have a master’s degree, but it’s sex work that gives me true satisfaction, freedom, and fulfilment,” she said.
“I know my body, I know how touch works, how the brain works – thanks to biology, I can better understand what people want.”
Lena said she took a break from sex work during the Covid-19 pandemic, but returned as soon as she could to bolster her income.
The sex worker explained: “I tried work related to my studies, but it was too boring for me and definitely didn’t pay well enough.”
Although she didn’t provide specific amounts, Lena said she earns significantly more than a typical office staffer.
“It depends on how much you’re willing to give and how hard you try,” she said, adding that special “extras” often come with tips.
Lena said she can end an “intense day” with €3,000 (£2,600) in her pocket.
She also has to deal with some strange requests from clients.
Lena told Karolina: “There was a time when someone wanted me to hurt him, burn him with an iron.
“Of course I refused, but he insisted. In such situations, I often feel like a psychologist.
“I explain things to them, set boundaries, and try to soothe their pain, because such behaviour is not normal, and certainly not legal.
“I have the power because I decide what I do.
“Not everything turns me on, and I know how to detach myself.
“I’m not ashamed of my job, but it’s not the place to fall in love.
“I’m 30 years old, I pay my taxes, I run my own business, and I have regular clients, why should I be ashamed of that?
“This work isn’t for everyone, but it shouldn’t be perceived as a ‘last resort’ or a product of desperation.
“I’m not a victim of the system or circumstances, I have control over my life and I enjoy it.”
Lena added: “But it’s not like ‘Pretty Woman.’
“I tried to give my feelings a chance once and got burned.
“Now I know it’s just a job.
“I like it; it gives me pleasure, money, and independence, but my private life is something completely different.”
