Back in 2022, Belgium quietly made history, becoming the first European nation to fully decriminalize sex work.
Here at Euro Sex Scene, we’ve always admired progressive policies like those pioneered by New Zealand. Honestly, we thought Europe had been dragging its heels for far too long. So when Belgium took this historic step, we were genuinely excited, and we’ve been closely tracking its effects ever since.
Before 2022, Belgium’s sex laws were a classic European hodgepodge: selling sex was technically legal, buying was never penalized, but brothel owners, managers, and even those who helped sex workers — including sites like ours! —risked prosecution under vague pimping laws.
It was classic bureaucratic nonsense: the service was allowed, but everything about it was a complete PITA.
All that changed in June 2022, when Belgium fully removed prostitution from the criminal code. The implications were huge: adult sex workers could now advertise, hire support staff, or openly run brothels and agencies without fear of arrest. Not only did this decision legitimize sex work, but by late 2024, Belgium had even extended full social benefits, including maternity leave, pensions, and unemployment benefits, to sex workers.
Which, leads us to the conclusion… surely full decriminalization can be chalked down as a major success for sex workers?
Has Belgium’s bold experiment succeeded? And could the legal framework be rolled out to other liberal-leaning nations of Europe?
That’s exactly what we’re here to review…
More Transparency, Less Exploitation
Almost immediately after the law change, sex workers were reporting on safer working conditions, with a much greater deal of transparency than they had faced in the past.
Belgian escort agencies quickly took advantage of new legal protections, openly advertising their services without fear of raids or shutdowns.
Prominent local directories like Redlights.be flourished with more professional presentations and verified listings, making it easier—and far safer—for clients and escorts alike to connect.
Even this site, Euro Sex Scene, was able to crawl out from behind the sofa and start publishing links to the escort agencies that everybody already knew about.
The farce was over… in Belgium, at least.
(It still applies across much of the continent! 🤦)
Crucially though, with the removal of legal grey areas, sex workers have been gifted with the confidence to report abusive clients or exploitative managers.
We spoke by email to Sophie, a Brussels-based independent escort from EuroGirlsEscort; she explained:
“Before, it just wasn’t very safe. We were always scared to speak out. If a guy is abusive or refuses to pay, we had to handle it quietly because things can go wrong fast if you get the authorities involved. Like, attracting unwanted police attention or even losing our place to work. That’s how it was… you really don’t want to be the girl who ruins it for everybody else. Now, the law is definitely on our side. I personally had an incident shortly after the law change… one of many times, actually, where a client was aggressive, rude and threatening.
I’d have been scared to even mention this to anyone, but this time I just thought “fuck it”, so I called the police and, for once, they don’t just talk down on me… a pleasant surprise. They treated me with respect and… well, the guy quickly realised things have changed. Let’s put it that way. I don’t think he’ll be acting like an ass around this place again.
Seriously though, the support has fundamentally changed our working conditions. It’s empowering to know that we can demand basic respect and safety. I’m proud that we’ve actually followed through with it.”
Better Health & Safety Standards
Antwerp’s famous Villa Tinto, the heart of the Schipperskwartier red-light district, is the perfect example of Belgium’s post-legalization transformation.
This futuristic, high-tech brothel complex (pictured below) was already considered one of Europe’s safest sex work venues. That reputation has been soundly enhanced even further after the 2022 reforms.
Before legalization, Villa Tinto already stood out due to its forward-thinking approach: fingerprint scanners for entry, controlled entrances, and emergency alarms. But after the law change, Villa Tinto—and similar venues throughout the country—had to meet even higher regulatory standards.
The improvements were extensive and practical:
Panic buttons installed directly within each working room ensure rapid response from on-site security if things ever turn ugly (as Sophie suggested, it happens far too often still). Enhanced CCTV coverage now includes public areas and clearly-marked entrances, discouraging troublemakers, shit-stirrers and improving the overall atmosphere.
Regular inspections by city authorities have also become routine, covering everything from cleanliness and hygiene to ensuring workers aren’t being coerced or exploited.
Workers are regularly interviewed privately, without managers present, so that the authorities can detect exploitation or trafficking swiftly and sensitively. We’re not sure if this is the reason behind the series of high-profile raids, but it surely can’t hurt.
Villa Tinto specifically upgraded its facilities with improved lighting and better ventilation in each workspace, alongside the mandatory hygiene standards enforced through regular checks. SWs must now have clear emergency protocols and the venues typically provide discreet access to health services.
You only have to walk the streets to feel the changes. They’ve transformed the atmosphere in Antwerp’s red-light area, even if the odd grumble about ‘regulatory over-reaching’ persists amongst the punters.
Compared to grittier and less regulated environments like Brussels’ Rue d’Aerschot, where security remains patchy, places like Villa Tinto feel remarkably secure.
The knock-on effect of all this, naturally?
Raised prices.
Economic Security for Sex Workers
We have to consider the cost to the punters in all this because better regulations almost inevitably mean higher prices.
Before legalization, Belgium was a moderately-priced market; quick sessions in window brothels or basic incall apartments were around €50–€80. Escort services were pricier but manageable, around €150–€250 an hour.
Post-reform, however, prices have noticeably edged upward, driven by mandatory regulations, insurance costs, licensing fees, and taxes. The Covid fallout has played a role, too.
Clients now typically pay around €100–€120 for a simple window service, and escorts charge €200–€300 or more for an hour, depending on services, location, extras, etc.
Yes, punters feel this pinch, but there’s an important trade-off: higher prices now directly correlate with dramatically improved working conditions for sex workers.
We’d hope that most punters can appreciate why this is so important, and ultimately, a price worth paying.
For sex workers, economic security has improved a lot since legalization.
The 2024 introduction of labor rights like pensions, maternity leave, and unemployment benefits was revolutionary and deserves major praise. Many sex workers have officially registered as self-employed, paying taxes but gaining social security protections previously unavailable to them.
It’s true that many escorts still operate off the grid… but at least they have a choice.
Another independent escort we spoke to from Ghent said “Honestly, my overhead went up a lot. Insurance, taxes, paperwork… it’s all a headache at first and I spent a lot of time looking at forms thinking ‘WTF is this?’. But the upside is too much to turn down. I never expected a safety net in this line of work. Maternity leave, pension contributions, health insurance, it’s honestly quite a turnaround. Yes, I have to charge a bit more and… you do get undercut by some of the fly-by-night girls. But my long-term clients understand. It’s all good so far. Maybe they had a guilt complex anyway?!”
It’s hard to judge how clients have responded to the changes (beyond the occasional grumbles on punter forums), but if we had to guess…
Happy Girls = Happy John.
What’s Next for Belgium… and Europe?
Looking ahead, Belgium’s bold experiment makes a compelling case for the decriminalisation of sex work elsewhere in Europe. It’s something we’ve argued in favour of for many years.
Not that the Belgian authorities are resting on their laurels…
Debates around zoning, regulation, and the integration of sex work into broader labor protections are still ongoing.
Industry insiders predict further consolidation: smaller, informal brothels may either professionalize or vanish completely, while the larger, well-regulated venues thrive. Escort agencies and independent escorts are likely to benefit most. Nobody expects the underground sex industry to disappear for good… but most SWs won’t be forced to hide in it.
Belgium’s pioneering step could indeed serve as a model across Europe. It’s proof that legalization doesn’t just protect sex workers—it benefits clients, public health, and the community at large.
While other countries wrestle with outdated models and moralistic debates (“eww, sex“), Belgium has a blueprint. One that appears to be working well.
We look forward to seeing which country bites the bullet next!
