Male escort Amsterdam: what it is and how it works

Updated 19 September 2026

A male escort, also called a gigolo, is a man who provides paid company. That can mean a dinner, a night out, a travel companion or a meeting in a hotel. Amsterdam is one of the cities in the Netherlands where demand for this kind of company is highest, partly because of the many business travellers, tourists and events. This article describes how the market works and which rules apply. It concerns adults only: throughout the Netherlands sex work is permitted only from the age of 18, and in Amsterdam a minimum age of 21 applies to sex workers working through an agency.

What a male escort does

In today's market it is a service booked by the hour or by part of the day, usually through an agency. The client decides in advance what kind of appointment it will be: conversation over dinner, company at a party or event, a walk through the city, an evening in a hotel or a combination. Whether any sexual contact takes place is an agreement between adults that either party can decline at any moment.

Agencies present their escorts with a profile stating age, home town and a short description. Some sites, such as gigolo-services.com, focus on booking a high class male escort in Amsterdam, where the profile is meant to help judge in advance whether someone suits the occasion.

Who books

Most clients of male escorts are women, followed by couples. Women book for many reasons: company while travelling or on a business trip, an evening without obligations, a partner for a party or wedding, or intimacy after a divorce or long relationship. For couples it is often a shared experience for which wishes and boundaries are agreed beforehand. Agencies offering male escorts in Amsterdam, also for couples usually explain how a first conversation with both partners works.

How booking works

A booking generally goes through an agency's website, by form, email or phone. The client gives the desired date, time, duration, place and a description of the occasion. The agency checks availability, discusses the wishes with the escort and confirms the appointment. Information on booking a male escort for women and couples in Amsterdam usually also states which details are needed and how far in advance a request should be made. For a first appointment, many agencies ask for a deposit or advance payment.

Appointments take place in a hotel, at the client's home or in a public place such as a restaurant. It is customary for the client to book the hotel room.

Rates

Rates are charged by the hour or as a package, often with a minimum of one or two hours. Longer appointments, such as a whole evening or a night, work out cheaper per hour. Travel costs are sometimes added, especially when the escort comes from outside Amsterdam. What is included differs by agency; dinner, drinks and admission to an event are generally paid separately by the client. Asking for a full breakdown of the costs in advance avoids surprises afterwards.

Discretion

Discretion is the starting point in this business. An agency should treat personal data confidentially, share no information about clients and never make unannounced contact. Escorts arrive in inconspicuous clothing and behave in public as ordinary company. The escort's privacy is respected in turn, so no photographs without consent. Services offering a discreet male escort service in Amsterdam generally explain how escorts are selected, for example through an introductory interview.

Safety and health

A few basic rules apply to every appointment. It is sensible for someone else to know where and when the appointment takes place. Wishes and boundaries are discussed beforehand, and a no from either side is respected at any moment. Sexual contact is safe, with condoms; under Amsterdam's rules, escort agencies may not offer unsafe sex in their advertising or claim that their sex workers are free of sexually transmitted infections. STI tests are available from the GGD public health service or a GP, among others.

Anyone who suspects that a sex worker is working under coercion or is under age can report this to the police, or anonymously through Meld Misdaad Anoniem.

The rules in Amsterdam

Sex work is legal in the Netherlands as long as it involves voluntary contact between adults. The national minimum age is 18. In May 2026 the Dutch government announced its intention to raise that age by law to 21; at the time of writing this was not yet law.

Amsterdam already applies stricter rules under its General Local Bye-law (APV):

• Operating an escort agency requires a licence from the mayor. The licence is tied to a fixed address.
• No sex workers under the age of 21 may work in sex or escort businesses. The operator holds an intake interview with every sex worker and must make sure that the person is self-reliant and not working under coercion.
• An escort agency states the business name and licence number in its advertising and uses only the telephone numbers listed on the licence.

For clients this mainly means that an agency active in Amsterdam should be able to show a licence number. Sex workers working independently register with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) and pay tax on their income, like other entrepreneurs. Whether a fully independent escort needs a licence differs by municipality.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Amsterdam APV, chapter 3 (Dutch), Government.nl: prostitution