Mayor Johan Vande Lanotte insists prostitution in Ostend will not increase, but will only move and become more centralised. Prostitution is legal in Belgium and research done by Leuven University in concluded that Belgian men spend roughly million euros on prostitution each year. According to government statistics from , there are 26, prostitutes in Belgium, an estimated eight out of 10 of those women are the victims of human trafficking or are otherwise actively being exploited. Non-profit group Oostendse Oosteroever would rather see the industrial building converted into a museum or aquarium.
The massive structure standing on the edge of the harbour is nowadays occasionally used for parties, but the building is in need of quite a bit of maintenance. The new owners of the building — who also own a brothel in Antwerp called Villa Tinto — are bound by Belgian law to maintain the historical facade of the hangar and keep it in good condition.
According to Flemish public broadcaster VRT, the renovations to the hangar will cost around 10 million euros. Europe Belgium What's On. Hangar 1 in Ostend. Save to Wishlist. A derelict hangar called Hangaar 1 in the Ostend harbour has been acquired by a project developer who will turn the massive space into an adult entertainment building, with around 50 windows for prostitutes.
The plan has been years in the making and will also include a brewery, office space and a restaurant. View on Oostende beach from the sea. The casino in Oostende. Read Next.
