Erotic parties under prostitution policy?

The Municipality of Groningen may classify erotic parties under prostitution policy and thereby tighten regulations. This is leading to debate among the organizers of these gatherings.

Dagblad van het Noorden reports that organizers of erotic parties are putting up resistance. One of the initiators of KinkFaktory, Leon de Koning, wants to organize the night experience in Groningen for the fourth time on June 18. KinkFactory It is known as the first fetish party in the Northern Netherlands and now continues as an erotic party at a unique industrial location which is being transformed into a ‘playground for the night owl’. Previously, the parties were held at EMG Faktors, but due to the fire in late 2015, the Filthy Shades event will now take place at club Paradigm.

De Koning wrote to the municipality to check whether his party was proceeding in accordance with the established rules; the response was unexpected. Initially, only an event permit was required for the party, but now the organizer will have to apply for a prostitution permit. The Municipality of Groningen intends to potentially classify the parties under the prostitution policy and thereby include additional rules regarding hygiene and minimum age within the policy. Because De Koning's party relies on volunteers and has a small budget, he cannot afford the €1,100 fee for the permit. Moreover, he does not want his party to be categorized as prostitution: “We steer clear of that.”

The discussion came up yesterday during a debate at City Hall about new prostitution rules in Groningen.

Photo: Facebook KinkFaktory