In order to prevent exploitation and trafficking[2] a number of measures are in place: The rent for the room includes cleaning, maintenance, towels, bed linen and wi-fi.

[4] The prostitutes are all members of the Association of Achterdam[5] and are visited weekly by support workers from Aanloophuis De Steiger.

[7] In 1991, the city council adopted a policy paper Prostitutie en overige sexinrichtingen vast ("Prostitution and other sex institutions").

[1] Following the October 2000 abolition of the law banning brothels, sex establishments in Alkmaar, such as the houses on the Achterdam, have been allowed provided they have a license from the municipal council.

This left a number of empty windows which were filled by other East Europeans, Latin American women and (older) Dutch sex workers.

In 2004 and again in 2015, the window operators held an "open day" during which members of the public could tour the premises and speak to the prostitutes.

The biggest was in March 2013 when more than 500 employees of the Municipality of Alkmaar, Public Prosecutor's Office and the police were involved in the raid.

[14][15][16] Nool challenged the decision in the Alkmaar Court, which decided there was "insufficient information on the serious risk that the permit would be misused for illegal purposes".

[7][16] On appeal in the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State (ABrVS), based on further information from the Bureau BIBOB, the Court ruled the Mayor had been justified in refusing the permit application.