Prostitution in the neighbourhood: Impact on residents and implications for municipal regulation

•This paper presents an empirical study on the experienced impact of window prostitution and related nuisance by local residents.•The results are based on a qualitative study, making use of interviews with residents, city officials and police members.•The results indicate that several types of nuisance are reported (e.g. noise, litter), but that not all residents experience nuisance or negative impacts of prostitution in their neighbourhood.•We find support for the process of Othering: problems are attributed to both prostitutes and clients, who are portrayed as highly different than the residents.•We see that although residents are successful in influencing the municipal regulation, local policymakers also try to protect prostitutes' interests.

Red-light districts (RLD's) are still assumed to be associated with nuisance, deterioration and criminality. However, little empirical research deals with the experienced impacts of RLD's on the local neighbourhood. This paper adds to this skinny body of literature, by investigating residents' perceptions on the impact of window prostitution in a RLD situated in a residential area in Western-Europe. Although not all residents experience negative impacts of prostitution, the municipal regulation still incorporates certain residents' concerns regarding nuisance, which is conform the ongoing regeneration and gentrification of the broader area, which can be framed within the 'urban renaissance' discourse. At the same time, the city approach is also characterised by elements to maintain prostitution in the area and to improve sex workers' safety and working conditions.