Despite being a legal profession, sex work is often associated with crime by wide parts of the general Dutch population. The stigma surrounding prostitution has never disappeared and continues to influence the way sex workers are treated, as policy makers often talk about sex workers, as related to safety concerns, but very few politicians talk with sex workers about safe ways to regulate their profession. Voices in favour of an open and liberal society, where sex work is an accepted source of income, seem to be declining in numbers. Even though there is no majority to change the law and forbid prostitution again on a national level, Christians, feminist groups and Muslims pair up in putting pressure on town councils to stop them from granting (or renewing) licenses to brothels. In the Netherlands, the political landscape is heavily divided and majorities of seats in town councils often depend on religious politicians, or on those who believe that prostitution can never be a free choice, so political minorities can use their town council seats to veto licenses for brothels.