Charles Geerts (businessman)

Charles Ludovicus Geerts (born 1943, in Amsterdam) is one of Amsterdam's largest brothel owners. In 2008 he sold 17 properties for 25 million EUR of which more than half was paid by the municipality. Dikke Charles (fat Charles), sometimes called "Amsterdam's Emperor of Sex," is a legendary king of brothels that before the sales controlled over 60 window brothels in the entertainment blocks. Most of the window brothels are now empty and curtains hang behind the windows.

There's a project called "Project 1012" to gentrify the red-light district of Amsterdam. Some fear however that it's a cover for speculation on the very coveted property in the tourist hub.