Frequently asked questions
The questions we get most often, answered honestly. Including where the honest answer is that we cannot fill it in for you.
Questions from visitors
What exactly is 't Poortje?
't Poortje is a private courtyard on Lange Begijnestraat in Haarlem where rooms are rented to independent sex workers. We rent out the rooms; the women who work here are self-employed and decide for themselves who they work with and what they offer.
When are you open?
Every day from 11:30 to 00:45, seven days a week. The courtyard is closed only on 25 and 26 December. There is no need to book; you walk in whenever it suits you.
Is this a private house, a brothel or a window location?
It is window rental, not a private house. The difference is a real one: a private house is usually a club with a bar and a lounge where you sit down first, whereas here every lady rents her own room with a window and works entirely independently. People search for all sorts of things, from private house and brothel to prostitute and working girls, but we call it window rental in the red light district of Haarlem, and we call the women who work here sex workers. What it is in practice: an enclosed courtyard with rooms, with windows on the outside of the building as well.
How do I get in?
At the entrance there is a turnstile with a coin machine next to it. You put in two euros and the gate turns. Nobody is standing there, you do not have to check in and you do not show anything.
Why does it cost two euros to get in?
The gate stops anyone walking past from looking straight into the courtyard, and stops small groups gathering at the entrance. The courtyard sits among homes. Two euros is just enough of a threshold to keep passers-by out, and no more than that.
What if I have no coins on me?
There are change machines next to the coin machine that take ten and twenty euro notes. So you do not need to bring exact change.
Can two of us go through the gate together?
No, the turnstile lets one person through at a time and jams with two. If you come together, go one after the other.
Do I get the two euros back, or is it deducted?
No. It is not a deposit and not credit. It is entirely separate from whatever you agree with someone inside.
Do I need to book or make an appointment?
No, and it is not possible. Nothing is arranged, booked or brokered through this site. You come by and speak directly with the woman herself, on site.
Can I see who is working before I come?
No. There are no names, photographs or profiles of individual women on this site and there will not be. You see who is working at any given moment once you are inside.
What does an arrangement cost?
Arrangements start at fifty euros for fifteen to twenty minutes. What exactly you arrange and what it costs is discussed on site, directly with the lady herself: every lady is self-employed and knows what she offers and what she asks for it. That is not up to us.
How does privacy work here?
You do not check in at the gate, you give no name and no details, and once through the gate you are out of view from the street. Photography and filming are forbidden for everyone, anywhere in the courtyard. There are cameras in and around the building, for safety.
Are there cameras?
Yes, in and around the building. They are there for the safety of the women who work here, of visitors and of staff.
Where can I park?
The courtyard is in the old centre of Haarlem. The surrounding streets are paid parking and space is limited; there is no parking of our own. In practice you are best off in a car park in the centre and walking the last stretch.
How do I get there by public transport?
The nearest stop is Haarlem, Centrum/Verwulft. From there it is about a four minute walk. You can also walk from Haarlem station, straight through the centre.
Am I welcome if I have never been here before?
Yes. There is no introduction, no membership and no intake. You put two euros in the machine and you are in. The house rules are on this site to read beforehand.
Do I have to arrange anything once I am inside?
No. You can come in, walk around, look and leave again without arranging anything with anyone. There is no minimum, nobody approaches you to ask what you came for, and there is no point at which you still have to decide something. You do not get the two euros for the turnstile back, but beyond that you are under no obligation.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes, twenty-one. You may be asked for valid photo identification, and without it you will not be let in.
I want to work here myself. Where do I find information?
The working page explains how room rental works, what to bring and who to go to with questions. That page is also available in Dutch, Spanish, Hungarian, Romanian and Bulgarian.