Twin prostitutes Louise and Martine Fokkens retire at 70: The Ladies of Amsterdam
HOW do you defy ageism and sexism? Well, you can try working as a prostitute in Amsterdam. Louise and Martine Fokkens, 70, have been lying down on the job for 50 years. And, yes, the Fokkens are sisters (who both look like Brian Connolly, lead singer of 1970s glam rock outfit The Sweet.)
The Fokkens (I cannot tire of saying it) might be victims of nominative determinism, but their fate has serviced, by their estimated, 355,000 men.
Louise (mum to four) says some sexual positions make work “too painful”. Martine (mum to three) is running out of customers. She has her regular – the man who stocks up for his weekly sado-maschism session – but soon he’ll realise you can get that treatment on the NHS for free and leave her.
You can read about the Fokkens in The Ladies of Amsterdam.
Louise laments:
“There are few Dutch women and no sense of community these days.”
Martine explains why:
“The legalisation of brothels in 2000 has not improved prostitutes’ lives. There is no point working just for tax. That is why the girls are working from the internet and from home – you are less likely to be spotted by the taxman. It is better for the pimps and the foreigners, but not for the Dutch girls.”
Un less the taxman is passing by hyur window, in which case you’re f***ed, literally…
Posted: 14th, March 2013 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
