Sex workers in the Netherlands continue to face obstacles in accessing banking and insurance services despite efforts by some providers to offer more inclusive options, according to a report from Dutch News.
Insurance firm Nationale Nederlanden (NN) announced in early 2023 that it would accept applications from sex workers for personal liability and contents insurance. However, the company said it had issued fewer than 10 liability insurance policies in the 16 months since, and none for contents insurance.
Advocacy groups argue that access to financial services plays a key role in reducing vulnerability to exploitation and improving working conditions for sex workers, But many still encounter administrative hurdles when applying for products such as insurance or business bank accounts.
Irina Hornstra of the sex workers’ organisation Sekswerk Alliantie Destigmatisering (SWAD) said some of the barriers stem from sector-specific demands. “They ask sex workers for a licence, knowing that they won’t get one. For sex workers it’s a very expensive and risky process,” she said.
Meanwhile, licensing requirements vary between municipalities, the report said. In some areas, licenses are no longer mandatory for home-based sex work. In others, limits on the number of permits or conditions, such as requiring a second fire exit, can prevent applications from being approved, the report said. Some sex workers are also concerned about the risk of eviction if landlords are informed by local authorities that a permit has been requested.
Hornstra added that digital-only application processes may also discourage some from pursuing insurance. “The digital route doesn’t work for sex workers, so they need to make contact in person,” she said.
Bank account access remains another point of concern. In 2023, banks agreed to streamline procedures for sex workers who could demonstrate they were registered with the chamber of commerce, paying VAT, and maintaining financial records. However, some report that access remains limited.
“Banks are closing off the entry route to providing a regular service in society,” Hornstra said.
Banks cite regulatory obligations as a key factor. Institutions are required to monitor for potential money laundering and terrorist financing, with cash-heavy sectors such as sex work subject to increased scrutiny. They also have a duty to investigate potential cases of human trafficking, which may lead to more detailed questioning of applicants, according to the report.
