Hampered by its own popularity, Amsterdam is trying to change its image as a city where people can be ‘wild’, ‘no rules’ and drunken Britons told to stay indoors, while measures are taken to restrict cannabis use and brothels will be shut down for three hours earlier, reports CNN.

New rules for sex workers come into effect on April 1, requiring businesses in Amsterdam to close at 3 a.m. instead of 6 a.m., officials said, to combat what local authorities describe as unacceptable behavior by people who visit the red light district.

The cuts to the program come amid an ongoing campaign by the city council to move sex workers to an “erotic centre” outside the city centre. Amsterdam is also implementing measures to limit water cruises and the like.

Several sex workers told CNN that the reforms aimed at them increase stigma and said they believe they are being unfairly discriminated against and used as scapegoats for the city’s problem with mass tourism.

A spokesman for Amsterdam’s deputy mayor, Sofian Mbarki, told CNN that the package of measures is aimed at keeping the city livable, saying that “we must now choose restrictions over irresponsible growth.”

Why are sex workers protesting?

Violet says the shorter hours will have a particular impact on the transgender community, saying many clients who come in between 3am and 6am are looking for transgender sex workers.

She also spoke about the welfare issues of sex workers, explaining how this can affect their ability to get home safely.

“If you’re coming home at three in the morning, especially if everything’s closed, you’re more vulnerable as a sex worker,” Violet said, comparing that to 6 a.m., when there are more transportation options.

“Usually we have cash income. So at that time of the morning we could travel with a lot of money. If there aren’t many people on the streets, it gives people who would want to harm us an opportunity to do so,” Violet said.

The protest, organized by sex workers, disrupted a meeting of the city council on Thursday, which discussed options for the location of the “erotic center”.

According to Red Light United, protesters handed Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsem a petition signed by 266 sex workers calling for more police in the red light district instead of changing closing hours and moving to an “erotic center.”

Sex workers say turning brothels into an “erotic hub” could increase crime and “questionable” behaviour.

The restrictions on sex workers are only part of the authorities’ efforts to rebrand Amsterdam. Other restrictions are planned to be introduced in the red light district, aimed at alcohol and the banning of smoking marijuana in the street.

From mid-May, smoking marijuana cigarettes will no longer be allowed in Amsterdam’s historic districts.

The city council has also introduced several campaigns, including the Keep Away campaign, which was initially aimed at young Britons.

A spokesman for the deputy mayor of Amsterdam, Sofian Mbarki, said that the campaign was launched in the UK because “part of this group is strongly represented in the night life of the city center, accompanied by more than average unpleasant behavior”.