Visitors Flood Red-light District's 'Open Day'

Amsterdam's sex workers came to work early over the weekend to offer a free look at the city's famed red-light district.

Hundreds of wide-eyed visitors queued in the sunshine to enter the dimly-lit sex clubs and peep shows that draw thousands to the city.

"I think the open day is a great idea," said Love, an erotic dancer at Amsterdam's Banana Bar, who was on hand to answer questions. "It is especially interesting for women. If they learn what we do here they will realise it is not a big deal if their husbands or boyfriends want to come here".

More than 30 brothels are fighting closure after officials revoked their licences last year over suspected links to money laundering and drug dealing. But tourism authorities say the district - lined with sex shops, brothels and neon signs - is as big an attraction as Amsterdam's art museums and coffee shops.

The "open day" concluded with the unveiling of a statue to an unknown sex worker, intended to honour those employed in the industry.

"People who work in the sex industry don't get enough respect", said Mariska Majoor, a former prostitute who now runs the red-light district's information centre.

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