Nov, 9 2025
Call girls in Europe haven’t always been what you see in movies or online ads today. Their story stretches back thousands of years, shaped by religion, war, law, and shifting social norms. This isn’t just about sex work-it’s about power, survival, and how societies treat women who operate outside traditional roles.
From Sacred Prostitutes to City Brothels
In ancient Mesopotamia and Greece, temple prostitution was documented as a religious practice. Women served as priestesses, offering sexual rites to honor deities like Ishtar or Aphrodite. While some scholars debate how widespread or literal this was, the idea that sex and spirituality were linked in public life was real. In Rome, brothels-called lupanaria-were common, even in Pompeii. Archaeologists found over 25 brothels in the city, with graffiti left by clients and workers alike. These weren’t hidden corners; they were part of daily urban life.
By the Middle Ages, the Church condemned prostitution but didn’t eliminate it. Instead, cities like Paris, London, and Prague tolerated it in specific districts. Authorities saw it as a necessary evil-a way to control male behavior and prevent worse crimes. In 1358, King Charles V of France officially licensed brothels in Paris, regulating where they could operate and requiring workers to wear distinctive clothing. This wasn’t empowerment-it was control. But it also gave sex workers a fragile form of legal recognition.
The Rise of the Courtesan Class
During the Renaissance, a new kind of call girl emerged: the courtesan. Unlike street workers, courtesans were educated, often fluent in multiple languages, skilled in music, poetry, and politics. They moved in elite circles, advising kings and nobles. Veronica Franco of Venice was one of the most famous. She published poetry, hosted intellectual salons, and defended her profession in writing. Her life shows that sex work wasn’t always a last resort-it could be a path to influence.
These women weren’t slaves. Many owned property, hired servants, and invested their earnings. But their status was always unstable. A patron could abandon them. A scandal could ruin them. When the Counter-Reformation swept through Europe in the 16th century, many cities cracked down. Brothels were shut. Courtesans were pushed into the shadows-or forced into convents.
Industrialization and the Birth of the Modern Call Girl
The 1800s changed everything. Cities grew fast. Men moved from farms to factories, often leaving families behind. Demand for companionship-and sex-rose sharply. In London, the number of registered prostitutes jumped from 8,000 in 1850 to over 80,000 by 1880. Many were young women fleeing poverty, abuse, or orphanhood.
This era gave us the first modern call girls: women who advertised in newspapers, used coded language like "lady visitor" or "companion," and met clients in boarding houses or private apartments. They weren’t always on the street. Some had regular clients who paid monthly. Others worked for madams who managed multiple women, handled bookings, and collected fees.
By the late 1800s, reformers like Josephine Butler began fighting for the rights of sex workers, arguing that laws targeting women were unjust. The Contagious Diseases Acts in Britain, which forced women suspected of prostitution to undergo medical exams, sparked protests across Europe. These movements laid the groundwork for future advocacy.
War, Migration, and the Shadow Economy
World War I and II reshaped the landscape again. Soldiers needed companionship. Women moved to cities for factory jobs. With men gone, many women turned to sex work out of economic necessity. In occupied territories, relationships between soldiers and local women were often framed as prostitution-even when they were emotional or romantic.
After the wars, many women who had worked during the conflict stayed in the trade. In postwar Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris, brothels reopened. The U.S. military established "rest and recreation" zones in places like Naples and Frankfurt, creating demand for sex workers who served foreign troops. These networks became entrenched.
By the 1960s and 70s, the sexual revolution changed public attitudes. Contraception became widely available. Feminism challenged old double standards. Many women began seeing sex work as a choice, not a sin. In the Netherlands, the government started experimenting with legalization. By the 1990s, Amsterdam’s red-light district became a tourist attraction-and a model for others.
Legalization, Criminalization, and the Digital Shift
Today, Europe is a patchwork of laws. In Germany and the Netherlands, prostitution is legal and regulated. Workers can register, pay taxes, and access healthcare. In Sweden and Norway, buying sex is illegal-but selling it isn’t. This "Nordic model" aims to protect workers while punishing clients. In France, a similar law passed in 2016.
But legality doesn’t mean safety. In countries where prostitution is illegal, like Italy and Spain, workers still operate openly. They rely on online platforms, social media, and apps to find clients. Many avoid police by using encrypted messaging, fake names, and burner phones. The rise of digital platforms has made the industry more invisible-but also more dangerous. Scammers, human traffickers, and abusive clients now have easier access to vulnerable women.
Recent studies from the European Union show that over 60% of sex workers in Europe report experiencing violence. Only 12% feel safe reporting it to police. That’s not because they’re criminals-it’s because the system still treats them as disposable.
Who Are the Women Behind the Label?
"Call girl" sounds glamorous, but it hides a wide range of realities. Some are students paying for tuition. Others are single mothers supporting children. A few are entrepreneurs running businesses with multiple employees. Some are trapped by debt, addiction, or coercion.
In Vienna, a former sex worker named Maria now runs a nonprofit helping women exit the industry. She says, "No one wakes up wanting to be a call girl. You end up there because you had no other options-or because someone took them away from you."
Organizations like the European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWRA) argue that decriminalization-not regulation-is the key to safety. They point to New Zealand, where full decriminalization since 2003 led to a 70% drop in violence against sex workers and better access to health services.
What’s Next for Call Girls in Europe?
The future won’t be about banning or glorifying sex work. It’ll be about recognizing the people behind the work. Technology will keep changing how clients find workers. AI chatbots, virtual companions, and deepfake pornography are already disrupting the market. Some workers are adapting by offering digital services-video calls, custom content, online coaching.
But the core issue remains: how do we protect women who are often invisible in the system? Legal frameworks still treat them as problems to solve, not people to support. Until that changes, history will keep repeating itself-women surviving, adapting, and disappearing into the margins.
Were call girls always considered criminals in Europe?
No. For centuries, many European cities tolerated or even regulated sex work. In medieval Paris, brothels were licensed. In Renaissance Venice, courtesans were celebrated intellectuals. Criminalization became common only in the 19th century, when moral reformers pushed laws targeting women while ignoring male clients.
Is being a call girl legal in Europe today?
It depends on the country. In Germany and the Netherlands, selling sex is legal and regulated. In Sweden, Norway, and France, buying sex is illegal, but selling it isn’t. In Italy and Spain, it’s a gray area-selling isn’t illegal, but organizing or advertising is. Enforcement varies widely, and many workers operate without legal protection.
Do call girls have access to healthcare in Europe?
In countries with legal frameworks, like Germany and the Netherlands, sex workers can access public healthcare, STD testing, and even union benefits. In places where it’s criminalized, access is limited. Many avoid clinics out of fear of being reported. NGOs fill some gaps, but services are inconsistent across borders.
How has technology changed the industry?
Technology shifted the industry from street corners to smartphones. Apps, social media, and encrypted messaging let workers screen clients, set prices, and avoid dangerous situations. But it also exposed them to new risks: scams, doxxing, blackmail, and AI-generated content that mimics their image without consent. Many now offer digital services like video calls to reduce physical risk.
Are most call girls in Europe victims of trafficking?
No. While trafficking does happen, studies from the EU and UN show that the majority of sex workers in Europe are not trafficked. Many choose the work for financial independence, flexibility, or lack of other options. Blaming all sex work on trafficking ignores the agency of women who are making real choices under difficult circumstances.
Understanding the history of call girls in Europe means seeing them not as symbols of vice, but as people shaped by economic forces, gender norms, and legal systems. Their story isn’t over-it’s still being written, one app notification, one court ruling, one protest at a time.