Known as the “oldest window girls” in Amsterdam, 70-year-old Louise and Martine Fokkens have almost 100 years’ experience in prostitution between them. They are now the subjects of the film Meet the Fokkens, and have written a book about their lives.
Louise was beaten by her husband in her early 20s and was forced to earn money for him. She has three children while Martine has four. Both women have suffered from violence, abuse, and exploitation but say they have kept each other company throughout the years.
Louise left the trade two years ago due to arthritis but the twins have been selling sex together since Matine took a cleaner job at the brothel where Louise was working. Martine still commutes into Amsterdam three days a week to take care of her ‘regulars.’
“Martine needs to carry on because there is not much money around,” said Louise.
Though most prostitutes in Thailand are young a number of older women, called mama sans, are in charge of brothels. Last month three mama sans were arrested for heading up a prostitution ring in Bangkok where they had allegedly tricked many of the girls into the trade.
