Legalizing Prostitution: Lessons from the Netherlands

In Edmonton, a horrifying pattern has persisted for decades: a serial killer targeting mostly First Nations women, many of them involved in sex work. Their bodies have been found dumped around the city, highlighting the extreme vulnerability of women in the underground sex trade. This tragedy illustrates a simple truth: when prostitution is illegal, women are left unprotected, and it becomes much harder to track criminals or prevent abuse.

I first saw legal prostitution up close when I was 19, visiting the Red Light District in Amsterdam with my cousin. I remember walking past a window and seeing a woman sitting there, openly offering her services. What struck me most was how regulated and protected the environment felt. The majority of these women were from poorer countries like Russia, not Dutch, and their clients often came from abroad. The Dutch system doesn’t make prostitution moral or glamorize it—it simply regulates it, offering safety, healthcare, and the ability to leave the trade if they want.

Contrast that with Canada. Prostitution here is illegal in practice, even if only for clients under the Swedish model. Sex work is driven underground, exposing women to pimps, exploitation, and violence. Many women I have seen in Calgary appear to be struggling with addiction, looking unsafe and vulnerable. There is no regulated protection, no legal framework to mitigate abuse, and the system actively discourages women from seeking help for fear of prosecution or social stigma.

Legalization is not about encouraging prostitution—it’s about harm reduction. A regulated system would allow authorities to monitor the trade, making it easier to catch serial predators, prevent human trafficking, and ensure sex workers have access to healthcare and social support. It could help women escape addiction, leave abusive pimps, and operate in safer conditions.

I disagree with the feminist Swedish model, which criminalizes clients but not workers. While well-intentioned, it drives prostitution further underground and fails to address the realities women face. Feminists who support this model often misunderstand the complex dynamics of sex work and the dangers of criminalization. Protection, not punishment, is what women need.

The Dutch model demonstrates that acknowledging sex work and regulating it pragmatically does not destroy society—it saves lives. Canada could learn from this approach, shifting the focus from moralizing to safeguarding vulnerable women, improving law enforcement efficacy, and reducing harm.

Legalization is not perfect—but for the women in Edmonton, Calgary, and across Canada who live on the margins, it could mean the difference between life and death.