Time ago I was about to have a date with one woman of The Courtesan Club; after contacting the agency, I was on the verge of booking her when a friend who had had a date with one of them warned me against the agency; then I turned to Dreams and Desires and I had a date with one of their women. Combining the experiences of my friends and mine, I'd like to trying to write an exhaustive comparative review in order to give you an idea of what to expect in dealing with two of so called "high class agencies". While I start writing is October and, little by little, I hope I will be able to post it before Christmas.

The way one experiences sex is very personal (what is good for me, maybe won't be good for you), so I will try to stick with what I think is objective and of general interest.

VLEB
Both The Courtesan Club (former Women of the World and from now TCC) and Dreams and Desires (from now D&D) are members of the VLEB, the association of agencies that work in perfect legality. At least theoretically, by hiring one their employees, you can be sure you won't do anything wrong or harmful.

WEBSITE
TCC. Very elegant. Dark and soft colours suggest mistery and adventure in refined environments. Women's profiles are balanced portraits, that is to say they give you an exact idea of women's appearances, tastes and personality.
Vote: 9 .
D&D. A bit loud colours give you the impression of kitsch. Newbies and curious can find a very practical "sex dictionary" where, among other things, they can read about what escorts allow in bed. Women's profiles are almost identical to TCC's ones. There are reviews, which I consider pretty useless (and a bit vulgar): a part from the fact this kind of experience is personal, would they ever post a negative review? Anyway, even if it is not as classy as TCC's one, this website is packed with practical and useful information.
Vote: 8/9.

PICTURES.
TCC. Pictures (faces blurred) of former Women of the World seemed to be the work of somebody who was something between the amateur and the professional. Maybe it was so on purpose, to give you the impression you were dealing with real women. Nevertheless, it looked like the photographer saw them like objects to be put on display in a window (the same poses endlessly repeated, as if models did not have personality, as one of them complained with my friend). Now it is better and you will get what you see, but I have the feeling it is still not the work that should be required to be High Class.
Vote: 8/9
D&D. Pics (faces blurred) are clearly the work of a professional and the women seem treated like models. I read here and there they are fake and I can understand the gossip, because what you see really seems too good to be true. Nevertheless, as far as I have experienced, they are not fake (maybe, they have just made a stomach a bit flatter) and you will essentially get what you see.
Vote: 9 + +.

SERVICE DESK
TCC. It's truly fantastic. You feel of having to do with educated and refined women of the world; they are warm, polite, prompt in giving an hand, an advice, a suggestion; they make you feel comfortable; they have wit and a nice sense of humour too and the exchanges I had with them are among the most pleasant I have ever had with Dutch people. You should give a try, even if you are not inclined to hire their services.
Vote: 10 + +
D&D. It's problematic. You can't know whom you are dealing with because the emails are always signed by two names at once. This is bad: at least for me, it is important to know with whom I'm doing business. Moreover, sometimes they are slow to write back and always cold and laconic in their replies. They make you feel uneasy, as if you are just dealing with people selling sex and after your money (of course it's what they are, but, being "High class", they are supposed to behave a little more classy).
Vote: 6 - (I was tempted to give 5, or even less, but the fact is that, in the end, you get what you need to arrange a date)

POLICY
TCC. All the babbling about courtesans and courtesanship is just a stunt. In fact, what matters is what they ask for in the client's etiquette section and what they ask for clashes with the aforementioned babbling. A courtesan is supposed to be more than a prostitute, she is supposed to be a woman with whom you can let yourself go, with whom feeling safe and who will not betray your confidence. The Courtesans Club's policy deny and betray the very name "COURTESANS Club", it reduces it to just a stunt and you can't complain or call that a fraud because the truth is all written, black on white, even if a bit concealed among the historical/theoretical babbling about courtesans. Cunning but, given what you pay, unforgivable.
Vote: 4.
D&D. The client's etiquette is very similar to the one of The Courtesan Club. Then, in the FAQ section, you can read this cute passage:

"Feeling of falling in love is the most beautiful and great feeling! Then you might want to book this particular girl as often as possible (if she desires it too) enjoying your time with her as much as possible. You could pamper her and treat her as your princess. If you would like to spoil her with gifts, please see her favorite choices at her profile. Please do not ask the girl about her private details. Even if she likes you very much, she still wants to remain confidential."

This is fine (I would have expect something similar from TCC).
Vote: 9.

NOTE that, if your companion decides to harm you, she can walk away and keep your money by simply claiming you did not comply with the etiquette. If things start going wrong (for example, if she says she has not been told about your requests or she shows up not dressed as agreed or behaves differently from what has been arranged and so on), the only thing you can do is to strike first: terminate the date, call and file a complain immediately, requesting a substitute or a refund (hoping the agency will be on your side). Of course, if you prefer, you can act like a gentleman and let her behave as she likes and strikes first, but then you have to know and to face that agency's interests come first, escort's interests second and client's ones third.

THE WOMEN
Since we are dealing with high class agencies, you can be sure you are dealing with fresh, clean, healthy women in good physical shape, ready to French kissing and glad to receive oral.
TCC. For what concerns a date with a woman from The Courtesan Club, I have to rely on my friend's experience, which has been negative. Don't get me wrong: I did not avoid TCC simply on the basis of a friend's negative experience, because something can go wrong for thousands reasons that are personal and, as such, are not my or my reader business. What is my business is the way the agency acts when something goes wrong. Given the amount of money you have to spend with an agency like TCC, it's appalling your interests are not a primary concern for them.
Vote: 3.
D&D. I had a very nice evening with a young student. It has been nothing extraordinary, because there were moments when I felt her distant and this was not very pleasant. Anyway, she was a good person and also very committed to do her best to make me enjoy her company and I appreciate the sincere effort very much. She showed up on time, she was dressed as asked (the TCC woman was not), acted discretely (the TCC woman did not), gave no problem (the TCC woman did). Here and there we had bits of small talk in which she made me have some glimpses of her nice personality. I'm not completely satisfied, but I don't regret having been with her.
Vote: 7/8.

FINAL COMMENTS
I'd like to find a woman who does not need to do this job for paying bills or a nice pair of shoes. I think that only this kind of woman could be interested in being with you beyond the physical exercise of having sex. I don't mean that she has to be your real girlfriend, but she should be and make you feel involved LIKE she were your girlfriend, for mutual pleasure. Then it would be possible to be intimate even without sharing personal details as the etiquette (rightly) requires. She would be a true courtesan and it would be the ultimate experience of this kind. Alas, it's very difficult to find one of them among so many young prostitutes who take this job as if it were the same of a waitress in a pub (in fact, the women I wrote about in my review have a bit rough hands, as waitress/kitchen maids; actually, one of them said she worked in a pub).

I can't recommend The Courtesan Club because of the gap between what they promise and what they actually deliver and because the way my interests risk to be treated if something went wrong. Anyway, they have so many clients that they don't need me.
At Dreams & Desires' they should learn something of the art of public relations as shown by The Courtesan Club. I would recommend them because of their honesty, in the sense that, more or less, you will get what their website and their manners make you think you will get, but you should be warned it will not be the ultimate "high class" experience". For that, frankly, I still don't know who could be recommended.

That's all folks!!! I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Yours,
Paul

Thanks for your feedback on escort agencies don't get many reviews of them on here so it is appreciated. As for high class you cant go wrong with Ditavip she looks and acts exactly as she describes her self on her website. and is cheaper than dreams and desires and courtesan club. Having spoke to her about it she loves the job she does and you can tell by her enthusiasm and willingness to give you what sort of experience you are looking for.

Thank you so much for your kind words & suggestions. I'll think about the latter.

One of my aims in writing an objective and detailed review was also to dispel the urban legend of "fake pictures". Of course there exists agencies that try taking advantage of their clients through fake pictures, but it is not the case with agencies committed to observe their legal duties. The VLEB is an association of this latter kind of agencies and, if interested in perfectly legal agencies, I invite my readers to visit its website.

(Well, you should also take into account that pics can remain online for months and who does not change a bit after months?)

On another note: given the fact I did not have direct experience with one of their escort, I might seem harsh in my judgment of The Courtesan Club. Please, don't get me wrong: in fact, I'm not judging their women. I could, because my friend is a dignified and reliable person and I have made my own idea about his companion, but it's not the point at stake here (that's why I did not name my companion from D&D too). Prostitutes are women like all women as much as we are men like all men around on this world and, you know, as they say: "S***t happens". I mean, it's human to have a problem with a prostitute exactly like being betrayed by a friend or arguing with a shopkeeper and so on. So, when "S***t happens" with an escort, what matters for me and my readers is to know the way the agency face the problem, the way they manage the situation. In avoiding The Courtesan Club I'm not avoiding all their women, who are very attractive and with whom I would be very intrigued to have some nice exchange, but I'm simply avoiding the risk to be treated like my friend was when s***t happened to him.

In my book the rank of interests is the following:

1) Mine.

2) My companion's.

3) The agency's.

For now, I'd rather to stick with my own book!

Bye bye,
Paul

Just been having a look on the Courtesan Club website and have to agree with what Paul says about the Client Etiquette section. "Do not insist that she drinks alcohol when she doesn't want to - this will lead to her parting." Seriously, I'm going to spend all that money booking a high class girl and she refuses to drink a glass of wine or champagne with me? Think I'd sling her out myself if that was the case.

Having used all the main escort agencies in the Netherlands and the courtesan club a number of times I feel in a position to comment here. I've had some great experiences with some of the TCC girls, others not so great. The people who run the agency are basically decent enough. But I do think they don't value their clients enough, are too friendly with the girls and if something does go a little awry you can guarantee they'll take the escorts side of things. They believe their own hype and for the money you should expect better.

Never tried Dita, seems she's well rated might give it a shot!!

Precisely. Since there are (too) many so called high class escorts around today, you can find outstanding, average and below average persons equally distributed in as (too) many agencies. Of course an agency cannot be held responsible for whatever happens during intimacy. It is a matter of subjectivity.

On the other hand, speaking objectively, the agency is to be held responsible for the way the transaction and brokerage are managed. You can't pay thousands of euros just for a bit of French kissing and sex. This is part of the package, but it can't be all the package.

After paying so high rates, when a problem arose and a complain filed AFTER the date, the basically decent enough people at The Courtesan Club did not even asked my friend for his version of the facts. So much for all the "courtesanship" and "high class" babbling (=stunt). Unbelievable. Unforgivable. Shameful.

Dear folks, keep always in mind that, in arranging a date with a complete stranger through an agency, you surrender your personal data, you make them know what you like in bed, you put yourself in their hands, you trust them-that's what high rates should be supposed for, I think. Not even asking for your version when something goes wrong means that they have no respect for you and for what you pay (anyway, they keep the money!).

Sorry folks, but I can't put myself in the hands of The Courtesan Club, the hands of people who hold a client's word, integrity, dignity and money for nothing.

Cheers!

PS 1

I have checked Dita. Fascinating, not expensive, but, considering my tastes, a bit porny.

PS 2

Dear Ian,

considering your experience and the parameters according to which I wrote my comparative review, which agency would be worth a try?

I can only draw on my own experience, so this is my subjective view and opinion.

I've had varying experiences with the girls from the courtesan club, however I do believe the girls are in general a cut above those from other agencies, which is why I continue to deal with them. Some girls do work for the other Dutch agencies but generally the girls they have are exclusive to them. Whether this is due to their reputation or a superior recruitment process, or if it's just been pure good luck I couldn't say.

In terms of customer service I would rank Society Service the highest by far. I genuinely believe that they consider their customers as their number one concern.

I'm actually not much of a fan of Dreams and Desires, I didn't much enjoy dealing with them and wasn't that impressed with the girl I met. To be fair I've only used their services once but wouldn't repeat.

Nothing too groundbreaking to say, nice to have a discussion on the more high end agencies. Doesn't seem to be discussed too much on this site... Perhaps we're on the wrong site to discuss this?

Before experiencing the aforementioned big problem with The Courtesan Club, I have to say that my friend had had a fantastic date with one of their women. The first time I posted here I was looking for information about TCC (former Women of the World) because my attention was drawn on them by his first, successful experience.
Even if I am strongly attracted by some of their escorts (and even more so after what you, dear Ian, have written), I can't feel at easy and safe in having to do with them. If you knew some of their escorts are working for other companies too, it would be nice to let me know their names (you can send a private message), so that to have a chance to meet one of them bypassing TCC.

I can't find a negative opinion about Society Service and what you have written is very encouraging. Maybe it's time to try their services. Alas, I won't be in Amsterdam as soon as I had hoped.

Apart from the fact my experience with their girl was not memorable (nevertheless I confirm she was a nice and committed person), folks at the service desk of Dreams & Desires are so cold, detached, laconic, I'd dare say bored, that I feel still appalled and disheartened, when I think of having to to do with them. They should invent a new category for the way they run their company: the middle-class escort agency. I don't think I'll give them a second chance too.

It's true: it's really difficult to find reviews and discussions about high class agencies. And a lot of what you find is useless. In fact, interviews and reportages look like a form of advertising in disguise and you can't rely on anything that can be directly or indirectly related to the personnel of the companies; some reviewers describe amazing experiences in general terms, without realizing that writing a review doesn't mean describing personal feelings about intercourse with an escort, but means finding an objective point of view in order to be of help for people in dealing with this or that agency; some reviewers just try to scary you talking about fake photos and escorts more interested in texting with their mobile than taking care of you....

Apart from this forum, I was not able to find a place where discussing and sharing opinions about high class agencies ad escorts (of course there is Captain 69, but you have to pay). Anyway, even if this thread is not as popular and frequented as a thread on windows girls, at least for me, our little exchange is useful-and pleasant.

In writing my review I made an effort to give an example and different parameters to stimulate reflections and reactions and I still hope somebody will be so nice and generous to stop by and give his/her opinion.

By the way, I wish everybody a great 2014!

Paul

Some articles purportedly from a Courtesan Club escort, who knows who it was actually written by but gives an insight on the flip side of their operation. It's in Dutch but Google translate does the job.

(I actually can`t post the link but if you Google thecourtesanclub Charlotte S, then the site is "thepostonline")

In answer to Ian's previous question, Sara (the courtesan club) and Adriana (society service) are I believe one and the same. Their used to be a couple more who were with both agencies but think that's it for now.

First and foremost, thanks for the tip about Sara/Adriana: I will take it into account in planning my next adventure.

Coming to Charlotte's blog: you can also type the address of postonline . (<-- "dot") nl and then search for Charlotte on their site. I seem to remember that, after rebooting their company, at The Courtesan Club somebody had announced a blog of one of their women that was due to start. Well, it could be a fake, just another stunt from the shrewd women of TCC. In that case, I could borrow the words of Pal (I will be back to him more in detail later), who, commenting Charlotte's post of January 13 wrote that she is advertising for her and her company and, at the same time, she is “educating” clients about how to behave with her.

Alas, until a true journalist tries writing a serious reportage without links with or instigation by the companies, we won't be able to know something approaching the truth about escorts and their pimps.

For now let's try to take "Charlotte" seriously and, with the aid of google translator, let's see what she writes. In particular, I'd like to bring your attention to a "A surprise for Wouter" (it's specified that "Wouter"'s name, like Charlotte's, is fictitious), posted on December 16 2013 on the Postonline . Here some extracts:

A SURPRISE FOR WOUTER

"Usually I can set my clock by synchronizing it with the appointments I have with Wouter. Every six weeks on Saturday night, he invites me out for an evening and a night of fun. Wouter is a sweetheart. He is in his early forties, looks good, is a little nerdy (delicious!) and despite the fact that he has never had a girlfriend, he is good in bed. He plans his bookings normally a week or two ahead and, just as I am beginning to wonder if he has a new favourite, it appears the application for the next date in my mailbox .

After X number of dates is it important to keep the contact. [...]. New customers can (unless there were a special request) be sure that I 'm dressed in a seductive but, at the same time, discreet way. But tonight I have a surprise for Wouter. At first, when he opens the door, there is nothing to see (I must of course take into account the neighbours). [...] I give him a kiss on the cheek and a big hug and we go inside. Wouter goes straight into the kitchen to get a bottle of wine while I put my trench coat on the wooden coat rack [...].

Despite his good job, it's over ten years since Wouter lives in an apartment outside the city where he works. The bookcases are discoloured with age, and the decor is cozy, but modest and obviously that of a single man. Possibly, Wouter is the least materialistic man I know. [In contrast to] my relentless desire for new shoes , clothes and expensive items [...] he would rather read a good book and spend time with friends and family. Ten years ago, he bought a second-hand car that he still merrily drives around and his most precious possession is a huge houseplant that he has owned since his student days and that now is overgrown half room. I sometimes say to him that he should afford not put away everything and enjoy himself more [...].

After hanging up my coat, I immediately proceed to the living room, waiting for Wouter. He soon comes in with two glasses and the bottle, and when he sees me he blushes. A soft " wow ... " escapes his lips. " Do you like it ? ": I ask him while I play teasingly with the zipper of my skintight black shiny catsuit. Moreover, there is a zipper that can be opened and runs both sides of my chest all the way down, just above my buttocks .

[...] He is so sweet that he tames himself and asks me to sit down, talk and drink a glass of wine with him, but I notice that he can't keep his eyes off... [it follows the description of the way she induced him to action]

The next morning he wake me up with breakfast in bed. And before I leave, he gives me a big hug and whispers in awe in my ear: "You are really... phenomenal."

The poor guy spent more than 2000 euros for a night with his favourite cat-woman and here it's the bonus he gets. We can stick our nose into "Wouter"'s home, we can see the discoloured shelves, the big plant, we know he is shy, lonely, a bit (deliciously) nerdy, but at least not bad looking and good in bed. And I prefer sparing you the (from a client's like me point of view) disheartening tale about the Indian virgin: you come from India and choose an high class agency to provide a prostitute for losing your virginity and your story ends up on the web. Oh my...

In her last post, she mocked two Arab (well, sort of) gentlemen who wanted to cut to the chase immediately (as I wrote: "S***t happens"...). This latter post prompted a discussion of which I'd like to quote what Pal, one of the interlocutors who seems to have read and borrowed from this thread of mine too, wrote:

"In one's private life, perhaps, only innermost thoughts and feelings are more intimate than sexual life. You can choose to discover details of and thoughts about your sexual life [...], but why expose you clients? Of course you don't write names and such kind of personal data, but, for making an example where you have laudatory words for a client, [when you wrote about Wouter], you let all readers around here to enter his house and stick their nose into his private life (and The Courtesan Club is ok with that!). [...] Maybe he is ok with all that, but if he is or not it's not my business or the point here. In fact, I'm now taking your post about Wouter in particular for affirming a general principle.

[...] How can I share intimate moments with you, dear Charlotte, how can I whisper sweet words in your ear while kissing your neck and tell you about myself, with the dread thought of finding all that exposed on the internet? Of course, I would have a date with you thanks to my money, of course it would be primarily a transaction, but, as you show to know, you can end experiencing real feelings [...] I would find obscene to see my intimate moments with and my feelings for you exposed on the internet. You can choose for yourself but it would be not fair to choose for me."

Bert Brussen replied to Pal:

"Yeah right. When I see something special, like two fat Arabs, I write about them, just as I write about everything else that is special and seems interesting to share with my audience.

I don't see why that can’t be done with clients form an escortgirl. Like these guys are so special you shouldn't write about them [???].

Wrong.

No names, no recognizable characteristics, just some figures In a story. There’s nothing wrong with that.

If you never want to show up in somebody’s story, you better stop living at all."

To which Pal replied:

"Madame Bovary is a story. Here we are in front of facts and slices of the real life of real people.

Moreover, we are speaking about people whom Charlotte has business with, they are part of the world of her work, not men or situations noted while sipping a coffee among friends [in] everyday life. They are men with whom a deal has been agreed and paid for (that’s why I’m here questioning the behaviour of The Courtesan Club too).

You have to spend 2000 euros and more, to enjoy a night with Charlotte and this should entail of something more than the physical act of sex. For example, it should entail to decide when showing up in a story which is entirely part of a financial transaction.

So, I’m perfectly ok of showing up in somebody’s story in real life (within certain limits and it’s not an accident that there are laws protecting privacy that define these limits), but when I’m doing business with somebody, and particularly when I’m the one who pays dearly for that, I want to be the one who has the last word about my own story."

I totally agree and I don't have anything to add of my own.

I found some other exchange about The Courtesan Club from a very interesting source, but it will be the matter of my next post in this thread, maybe next week.

I know that Charlotte's adventures and the ensuing discussion have been a long read, but I preferred to translate, copy & paste everything here anyway, just in case somebody decides to delete the posts in order to silence the interesting discussion on Charlotte's blog.

Bye.

P.S.

Please, note that, if Wouter's story were true, a detail such as the big plant that he owned since his student's days would be sufficient for his acquaintances to identify him. So much for the discretion that, according to Charlotte's reply to Pal is paramount for her and The Courtesan Club.

I'd say that a meeting on "neutral ground" (=hotel) is always preferable.

Marian Donner worked as a telephonist for Women of the World (I don't know if she still works for The Courtesan Club: when I contacted TCC I had no exchange with her). She has written two novels, the first about the story of a prostitute. She is a columnist too, writing for several newspaper about everything-if I were mischievous, I would say she is a hack, but since I am not, I won't say it. You can find all her writings on her website (mariandonner . nl -well, exception made for me, who does not have a website nowadays?), where you can post comments and, if lucky enough, discuss directly with the great woman.

In June 2012, she wrote a column, "Verdacht" (i.e. "A suspicion", courtesy of Google translator) about a new law concerning prostitution. I spare you the column itself (which is in Dutch), mainly because, her main income being what she earns thanks to prostitution, she can't be very reliable when expressing opinions about a law that could jeopardize her earnings.

More interesting (and, I think, honest) is the discussion between her and one of her readers. It is in English, so this time I can simply copy and paste it. On June 28, 2012, GLuc, her reader, wrote a long comment, from which I extracted what follows:

"...if women who freely and consciously do escorting fear to be discovered by their friends and relatives or risk their careers, it means that, even in the most advanced and open minded societies, prostitution remains a stigma to be avoided like plague.

Among other, interesting things, Michela Marzano [an Italian philosopher who teaches in Paris] wrote “L’éthique appliquée” [...], a small, thought provoking book that doesn’t provide answers, but compels the reader to reflect about many questions. Chapter VI revolves around a big question [...]: “When a person accepts to have a sexual relationship, on what does she/he agree? How does her/his consent manifest itself? What kind of bond the defenders of the “consensus” [intended as the only source of legal legitimation] establish between “moral legitimacy” and “legal arrangements”?”. As for what specifically concerns prostitution, she remarks that, before speaking of freedom of choice and consensus, we should investigate the real conditions that cause a woman to take a decision in this direction.

[...] [in] dealing with human nature and with such kind of personal choices, it is almost impossible to give answers: an answer ends up in generalizing (as much as a law ends up in establishing a boundary between “white” and “black” in an area that is mostly characterized by “gray”). So, you are right to be suspicious when a government takes action in this field. Moreover, “moral grounds” are always very slippery-nevertheless, I feel that an agnostic position could be a bit selfish (in the sense: “I don’t care about evil until it touches me directly”) and dastard.

[...] You are a woman who happens to work for an escort agency too and, when you write about these topics, this puts you in a unique position, making your opinions particularly valuable (I don’t like her/him who writes about things she/he didn’t go through: usually she/he is inclined to write as if women and men were not made of flesh and blood).

But what are these opinions exactly? I mean opinions (and feelings, but not judgments) that come to your mind when you look one employee straight in her eyes, when you provide her with a client, when you imagine her with the client you have provided, when you connect her, as individual, and her “official” life to the society that made possible for her to choose this particular profession and that, at the same time, stigmatizes her for her choice.

Well, maybe I’m going too far and it’s time and better to stop here."

On July 3, Marian Donner replied:

"No, you definitely don’t go too far. Because, to be honest, I’m not sure what my opinions on escorting are. The women I know tell me they love this business (although not everything is always sunshine) and I choose to believe them. Also because I think that one of the most arrogant things you can do is saying that you know better what someone else feels or thinks or what motivates them than they do themselves.

On the other hand I also see a culture wherein women are too often being reduced to their bodies with the effect that women get their self-esteem out of being wanted. Combine this with a capitalist system in which everything is for sale and I start feeling doubtful.

Still, as I said, I choose to believe people on their word (I think it was Maya Angelou who said that you should always listen carefully to what someone says, because they will tell you who they are, much sooner than you realize) and I also choose to believe that they know best what is best for them. But choosing is the verb here. And you are right that this can be selfish (as you said: I don’t care until it touches me. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.)

At the same time I don’t think I close my eyes for all the sorrow that is going on in prostitution. Forced sex labor is absolutely awful and the fight against it should be a priority of every politician. But I don’t think that the measures that are taken right now are helpful. Also because the differences between a well-educated, well-bread Dutch lady and a Polish girl who hardly has any choice are enormous. The difference lies in the amount of freedom and although you can ask yourself how free westerners are (or West-Europeans), I think these differences should be acknowledged and the fight should be customized (I don’t know if this is a right frase [=wording?], I mean, in Dutch, ‘maatwerk’: more eyes and ears on the streets).

In the end, I try to point out what is wrong, as do most people, but what is right, I’m not sure of, as perhaps also most people are not. But I do thank you for your reply, and the chance to think it all over again. And realize that I still don’t know :-)"

I concur with most of what Mrs. Donner writes (but not so much with her agnosticism). I think too that you have-no, I'd say you must listen carefully to people (provided you are able to ascertain they are telling the truth). So, I wonder why nobody at The Courtesan Club bothered to listen to my aforementioned friend's version of the facts when (apparently) something went wrong... Well, maybe, when it comes to money and business, they don't bother about what is wrong and what is right and they just listen to what they think is in their interest to listen to. Yeah, business is business. What a tender world would be otherwise.

More about Mrs. Donner next time, after quoting something else of hers.

Bye for now.

On May 23, 2011, Marian Donner gave a reading for Women Inc. which I tried my best to translate (of course again with the aid of google translator). I hope my rendition has been, if not to the letter, at least true to the spirit.

SEX WORKER: SELF-EMPLOYED, ILLICIT SEX SLAVES OR ECONOMIC MIGRANT? (Dutch orginal, which you can find of her website: "Sekswerker: zelfstandig ondernemer, illegale seksslavin of economische migrant?")

"What motivates a woman to sell her body, to have sex with strangers? Is it possible that someone does it freely? [...]

Yes, that's possible .

It's all about the choices you have.

For those who has to choose between a job as a cleaner or being hunched on knees scraping the shit out of toilet bowls, and paid sex [...] the choice is not difficult at times.

Everyone is entitled to a have a fun, challenging job, a nice house, a loving partner. But [there is a large gap] between dream and reality [...] For many Eastern European women, this is the reality: a homeland where the chances of a good education or job are minimal.

Can the choice to work in sex in the Netherlands be made in freedom? [...] [It] should be possible.

There are also women, and that's the other extreme, who have that fun, challenging job, that fine house, sometimes even that dear partner, with children at home, and they still choose to be a sex worker. Because they are looking for excitement and adventure, as they find their lives boring, because they want to get more than they have done so far. They want to go out to chic restaurants, [... and have an] occasional trip to Paris.

The Polish immigrant and the luxury escort, they both sell their bodies, but the first one doing it because she has choices, while there are too little for the other.

I am a writer, but also work as a receptionist at an escort agency, the fanciest and most expensive office in the Netherlands. [note the explicit advertisement] The women who work there are highly trained and know exactly what they are doing.

In everyday life, one of them has a top position in the auto industry. All day she is surrounded by men who are constantly trying to outdo each other and especially her. [...] she was a cock, a top-dog, in their own words: " a tough bitch ." [...] She learned those female qualities with which men could be used to make them want [what she wants], not only in expensive hotel rooms, but also at work.

[...]

Is this woman used to be abused? Are the other escorts like that? Does they therefore have [because of abuse] a deformed view of sex? I do not know. The ones I 've talked to say not. They say they chose this job. [...]

We live in a world [...] in which a book like " How to make love like a pornstar ' is a bestseller. In which everything, whether it comes to cars, deodorant or toilet paper, sold through sex .

Freedom is an illusion. Only when we have all had a happy childhood, [born and living] in a world where opportunities are equal for all [...] [only when] we question the spirit who is trying to make us believe that everything is for sale, only then there will be truly free choices. Until then we have to help ourselves with what we have: the reality.

If it were up to me a cleaning lady would earn as much as a prostitute. If it were up to me the body of a woman would not be used to sell products. If it were up to me everyone would have, anywhere in the world, the same opportunities.

For the time being this is not the case. And maybe that will never happen. But meanwhile, who deserve our attention are the ones that have no chance or possibility [...] Women who are lured here, under false pretenses, whose passport is confiscated [who are forced to sell themselves] [...].

But the worst thing we can do here is [considering and stigmatizing the luxury escort like a woman that had no choices]. And yet this is exactly what the government continues to do again and again. [...] they present all the different sex workers [as they were the same].

As if a Polish forced sex worker is the same as the high- class escort with its top job in the car industry. [...]

There is a difference and that difference is essential. What we need are not big gestures, no symbolic politics, [...] but time, money and attention. Working on an individual level. Fieldwork, unions [...]

[...]

Humanity, a human eye, that's what's still missing. Not only in the problem, but often also in the search for a solution."

I'd dare say Marian Donner, receptionist at Women of the World (now The Courtesan Club) is a bit one of the Bobos. Who is a Bobo? I'll explain it in the future. It has been another long read and I have other material related to escorts and their agencies to post. In the end, when done with interviews, columns and talks, I'll add my comments and conclusions about Charlotte, Mrs Donner, The Courtesan Club and so on.

The latest adventure of Charlotte. The lucky man whose private life we are going to expose is a septuagenarian.

"It is a cold and wet evening [...], I knock on the hotel room door of Albert. It will be our first meeting and I'm a little nervous, not least because of the age difference between us is very big: my client of tonight has already passed 70.

Friendly smiling, a tall man with silver hair opens the hotel room door. He helps me with my coat and red wine is already breathing on the coffee table. While Albert hang my coat, I look around me [...]

THE WIDOWER

In a calm and friendly tone Albert tells about himself. So I'm learning quickly that his wife has deceased ten years ago, that he is the father of two adult children, and that he finds his retirement boring. [...]. Appearance or age play a role, when it comes to intimacy, connection, mutual respect and trust. And the friendly treatment and openness between us soon create the click that makes me forget the difference of age.

Albert has purchased massage oil especially for the occasion. " Massage Oil intimate ," tells the caption on the bottle... He would like to take the time to massage, " because at my age time the sex is not as long ," he says without a trace of self-pity . "But first a nice hug !" When he hugs me I smell his neck that he has showered before my arrival and his shirt spreads the flowery scent [...]. He is so tall that my head but arrives to his chest, and on my 10 inch high-heeled Prada's. [...]

We share a kiss and I start to fumble on his shirt. [...]

We make love quietly and lovingly but " the act " itself, as Albert has predicted, is not much for the body. Not really, he finds himself, but he has enjoyed it anyway. "Do you know what it is ..." he says as I am with my head on his chest, " a widower at my age... this is the only opportunity I have occasionally to feel the warmth of a woman... " I could go on but I know you might say that he has a point. So I say nothing, give him a kiss on the cheek and I'm glad I can be there before him."

Yeah! Good for you Albert! And remember: this time as always, with Charlotte and The Courtesan Club, discretion is paramount!

Interesting reactions to the aforementioned last columns by our dearest Charlotte.

Michiel Mans mocks men like Albert (in Dutch). Why I'm not surprised? It's the natural reaction of him who is envious of or feel superior to the client. It's Charlotte to blame for having put her clients in the condition to be mocked by everybody.

Indeed, the other two reactions (in English) by Pal, somebody who is actually following this thread too, speculate on being a client of an high class escort and on the aims of the latter, when, like Charlotte, she decides to write columns about her experiences.

On the first point, Pal writes:

"There are people who like window girls. They are people for whom it’s ok to be seen paying for sex. There are people who prefers luxury escorts because a so called GFF [recte: GFE] experience, among other very pleasant things, has the invaluable virtue of discretion. Until they meet Charlotte, courtesy of The Courtesan Club."

About the aims of Charlotte and her agency, Pal writes:

"Indeed, in retrospective, considering all the columns written by Charlotte until now, you can almost discern a path, a developing, coldly executed plan for an advertising campaign exalting The Courtesan Club.

Among rather generic details that straddle between the explicit and the implicit description of sexual activity (calculated to give some ripples of excitement to the intrigued reader) ad among other details useful to make you believe her stories are real, Charlotte does not neglect any trick to introduce to and to allure you to seek the services provided by her exclusive company [...]

In fact, she can come directly to your home (see “De spannende verrassing voor Wouter” [references are to the Dutch titles of Charlotte's columns you can find on thepostonline]) or she can join you at your hotel room. In the latter case, you don’t need to book a big and expensive room (the case of Albert or the Indian virgin): this means that you don’t have to be very rich to afford her services, this means she can satisfy a lot of different clients.

In fact, she is so professional that she can help you for a successful first time (see “De eerste keer”), she can meet you regularly and spend the night with you as is if she were your real girlfriend (see “De spannende verrassing voor Wouter”), she has no problem to be intimacy with an old man (see above “De weduwnaar van zeventig”); it doesn’t matter if you are average looking (see “De spannende verrassing voor Wouter”) or fat (see “‘Twee zwaarlijvige Arabieren”), if you are good or not in bed, and, if you want to cut to the chase, she has no problem to let you bang her like a common prostitute (see “‘Twee zwaarlijvige Arabieren”). She can work alone or in couple (see “‘Twee zwaarlijvige Arabieren”); she can give massage, cosplaying is familiar to her (see “De spannende verrassing voor Wouter”) and I suspect that in the future one of her stories will be about roleplaying and some other one about soft BDSM.

And then it comes the “educational” part.

In fact, how do you have to behave with her? Please, always remember to take a shower before the date, then help her with her coat, offer her a drink (if you open a bottle of wine, let it breathe a bit, before serving) and a gift is always very welcomed and cherished (see “De eerste keer”); having a conversation to know each other or going out to have dinner is very nice (see “De eerste keer”) but, as it has been just underlined, if you just want to have sex without many preliminaries, even if it is not so nice, it is anyway acceptable because Charlotte is a true professional (see “Twee zwaarlijvige Arabieren”). Of course, the latter case, beside not being exactly what is expected when dating an high class escort like Charlotte, is not the right way to have the best from her.

In the future, I bet you will see the “services”, “clients typology” and “educational” parts growing alongside the lines I have just described, while Charlotte will be more and more the personification of the stereotype of the high class escort, [...]

I read somewhere that this company has thousands of clients, and this means that its earnings allow staff and employees to afford high standard of living. Do they really need to come to the postonline to put up an advertising campaign through which they expose the private life of their clients? For what? Another increase of their earnings? [...] Is this always, only and just business?"

Dear Pal, do you understand that, if not rhetorical, your final question is really guileless?

If you read what I posted on 2012-09-07 at 2:36 pm, you will find a link to an interview (in Dutch) with two escorts working for Women of the World (the agency now known as The Courtesan Club). You will see that copy and paste that interview from the magazine to google translator is impossible. This is why I'm rely on a guy who translated it for a post on his (a bit weird) blog. I hope the translation is correct. I hope that anyone who knows Dutch and finds mistakes will be so kind to underline them.

Anyway, before leaving space to the interview, I have to add more than a warning. The nice escort of The Courtesan Club with whom my friend had an awful experience, told him that her bosses were upset because there were fake interviews of Women of the World's escorts around. Well, and here it comes the second warning, you should take into account that that nice escort is not reliable, because she almost slandered my friend with her bosses as much as she almost slandered her bosses with my friend. She did it separately and in a very cunning way, because she succeeded in wrapping her lies with the amount of truth needed to make that lies believable.

For example, when I was told what she said against her agency, my friend and I were able to verify that one of her complaints might be true but for a detail that made it ambiguous. In fact, she said she did not give her consent to something that, as we witnessed, actually happened but she could have lied and that consent was given. As this example surely makes you understand, this unreliability prevent me from writing more about what she said. I don't want to be unfair with The Courtesan Club like they have been with my friend: my criticism about The Courtesan Club does not rely on what said by an unreliable prostitute, but it relies on their behaviour when confronted with a mixed bag of truths and lies about one of their clients. As I have just underlined, given the costs a client has to sustain to meet one of their employees, he should be at least entitled to give his version, a version that could be of help for unwrapping the truth from the lies.

But now it's time to leave you to the interview:

"Some time ago, the students magazine Folia featured a story about two student prostitutes, called Cindy and Anna in the article (‘Het is eigenlijk jammer dat je het niet op je cv kunt zetten’, Annemiek Recourt, Folia, weekblad voor de Universiteit van Amsterdam, jaargang 64 19/11/2010 nummer 11). They both work for 'Women of the World'. The article has made an impression on me. (From here on I mainly follow the text from the article). They offer the client a girlfriend experience, where talking and kissing are just as important as sex. Cindy believes that people underestimate the work: 'They believe that you lie down and then it's done. But you have to give yourself both mentally and physically. The clients are often highly educated, successful men, mostly from abroad. You entertain them on multiple areas, talk with them about politics, about art. It is certainly no assembly-line work.' Anna says: 'Often the client books a dinner package. That consists of two hours dining and two hours private time in the hotel chamber. When I started to do this work, I especially worried about the first thing: if I was interesting enough as a conversational partner. You must have a lot going for one. It is actually a pity that you can’t put it on your CV.

And the sex? Being an escort is more than just talking pleasantly. Anna: 'Yes, of course, you must actually like sex. But I don't have much difficulties giving myself physically.' She believes that she experiences a lot of nice things. Recently, she set off with five colleagues: booked by a group of six men. 'One of them had arranged it as a surprise for the rest. It was a cosy evening, which only ended at seven o'clock in the morning.' But also the Hindu doctor, who never had sex with somebody else other than his own wife, made a big impression. 'He wanted to have more confidence about his achievements in bed. That was a special experience.'

Are Anna’s stories not much too rosy? These often older men can't possibly be always friendly and attractive. Both Cindy and Anna believe however that in most clients you can discover 'something nice'. Cindy: 'is a beautiful appearance necessary to have a good time? An interesting personality or a passionate story can also be very charming.' Okay, sometimes you have bad luck indeed. Last week, Anna had 'such a person with whom it didn't go smoothly. Above all, he spoke English badly. Then it is really hard work. And yet, you get over it; after all, you offer a service which has been paid for."
When somebody is drunk, or really unpleasant, then the women make a U-turn on the spot, although that has never happened yet. They also don't do just everything what has been asked of them. Fortunately, the men indicate their wishes (think about: anal, sadomasochism, fetishes) when they book.

Cindy has had several jobs on the side, but she found them all equally 'dull', and she emphasises the emancipated character of her present source of income: 'I must offer a certain quality, I am my own boss.' Doesn’t she struggle with the ethics of her work? 'No, actually not.' Cindy is silent for a while. Then: 'I enjoy it and I harm nobody with it. So I see no problem.' Anna is sometimes sick about having a lesser evening. 'At such a moment, you are confronted with what you are doing: then you are a whore anyway. Because we mustn't also idealise it: such a man pays for you, it is no pretty woman.' But she also is very enthusiastic. 'I push back my boundaries this way. I have learned that some things are sometimes scarier than they are, and that I dare to do it anyway in such a case. I find that tough of myself.' (Once again: see! Sexuality is all about transgression!)

Both call girls are convinced that this work is not suited for everybody. Anna emphasizes that money shouldn’t be the main drive: 'Having a great liking for sex is an absolute prerequisite, you must be in for strange things.' (See! Sexuality is transgression!) It also has a lot of impact on your social life. Cindy explains: 'Even if you are only booked for two small hours, you have lost your whole evening.' And mentally you must be very strong: 'The moment that I enter somewhere, I turn the switch and change myself into Cindy, who has a different age, a different study, a different birthplace. That's why my work name is so important.'
You must also be able to combine it with your ideas about love. These ideas have changed for Cindy because of her work: she doesn't believe in monogamy anymore. Anna has an open relationship. Her boyfriend knows of her 'hobby' and doesn't find it a problem, according to Anna. 'He says: "you are not my property". He believes that it is a phase which I have to go through.' She does realise how special his attitude is, and she is happy with it, because she 'wouldn't be able to keep silent about something important like that'."

Maybe, next time I will quote something more from the same post which the translation of the interview belongs to.

By for now.

My previous post was a quote from "Prostitution in the Netherlands" by the blogger Donkey, AKA Kris2. I find it interesting for the large amount of material in English translation about all or almost all that concerns prostitution in Holland. Of course, since we are speaking of a true large amount of material, you should really have a lot of time to read it-much more than me.

What follows is another passage from the same post comprehending the translation of the above mentioned interview:

"You regularly read stories about voluntarily prostitutes, many times they are very positive about the profession. These prostitutes tell that they enjoy being together with their clients, they enjoy the sex, they enjoy the personal contact, and they enjoy to meet interesting new people. I have problems believing these stories. Honestly, I cannot really believe that women genuinely enjoy the sex with so many, often old and dirty clients. Unless you are a masochist of some sort, enjoying the humiliation of having sex with men you would detest under normal circumstances. I can believe that a woman works independently in prostitution, without a pimp or somebody else who exploits her. I believe that some women have made a conscious decision to do this work. But do they really enjoy it?

I wonder if these stories aren't really masked advertisements. There are sex magazines which feature short interviews with prostitutes. A photograph of the prostitute is depicted alongside the interview. Also the name of the brothel or escort agency is added. In these interviews the women obviously tell that they enjoy their work a lot. But that is so obvious, they wouldn't tell that they don't enjoy their work in what is clearly an advertisement. In women's magazines you often read stories about happy hookers. And also these stories seem to be masked advertisements. There are many stories about prostitutes who work for the escort agencies 'Women of the World' and 'Vialet Escort Service'. Also these stories are really positive. But perhaps I should give them the benefit of the doubt. These are high-class escort agencies. Usually rich businessman use the services of these agencies, often for many hours, 300 euro per hour. The prostitutes are especially selected regarding their beauty, intelligence, and sexual and conversational skills. Also the clients are screened, they have to give their full names and addresses to the escort agencies. The agencies check if these persons are real.

I read a book written by Lindsay Momerency, which is called 'Studente ontvangt – Bijverdienste in de prostitutie' (2012). She interviewed prostitutes who work for 'Vialet Escort Service'. One prostitute tells that she has worked with other escort agencies, but she wasn't satisfied about every single one of them. Sometimes she was paid too little, or the boss was annoying. She read something in the paper about Zoë Vialet and then she tried it with this agency. She is satisfied about it. She really started this for the kick. It seemed terrific to her to do something that really shocks people (See!!! Sexuality is all about transgression!). She doesn’t want a boring life. Another prostitute tells that if a girl isn’t satisfied about a client, then he is removed from the system. So, that means that this client cannot approach this escort agency anymore.

This mode of conduct is unusual for an escort agency or brothel. Usually escort agencies and brothels don’t screen their clients. I believe that if the rotten apples are removed, then it could be possible for prostitutes to work with a high degree of safety and while also having a high degree of respect from the clients. So perhaps I have found the voluntary prostitutes I was looking for. In my opinion sexuality is still something bad, but perhaps you could create some special situations where there is some mutual respect, albeit very little. In my opinion, sexuality is always something abusive. A man can only develop an erection through objectification and transgression. However, if a woman doesn't bother about being the object of objectification and transgression, then perhaps it is okay. But it is still silly."

By the way, dear donkey, sexuality is not bad. "Bad" can only be the wrong way to live/experience it.

Well, now it's time to leave Donkey/Kris. I have quoted enough useful for the case I'm making and for the conclusions I will draw from it. When I have the time, as promised before, I will say my last word about Mrs. Donner, The Courtesan Club & co.

Stay tuned.

Cheers!

Probably by now, tired of waiting, somebody has just taken a look on Wikipedia, so, regarding what I wrote about Marian Donner, I no more need to explain that Bobo stands for Bourgeois-Bohemian and that, according to David Brooks who coined the term, it is an abbreviated form of the words, suggesting a fusion of two distinct social classes (the counter-cultural, hedonistic and artistic bohemian, and the white collar, capitalist bourgeois). In fact, if you look for her, you can find pictures of Marian Donner with cigarettes dangling from her lips and a bottle of whisky, you can find that she has literary idols like Bukowsky, you can read her tirades against capitalism, you can be astonished in finding she thinks that Dutch women of 2000 should read "What is to be done?" by Chernyshevsky (by the way showing she is a little bit ignorant about Chernyshevsky) and so on. At the same time, she works as a pimp...

Definitively a Bobo then? Well, I used to think so, but after reading with more attention to details her talk for Women Inc, I am no more sure. Now I am inclined to think she is just a telephonist of a luxury escort agency who happens to be very absorbed by her job, no matter what it takes to do it better than anyone else. The rest is just a cover, a divertissment. In fact, if you consider what she revealed about the employees of her agency, you will find that, according to her, if you work for Women of the World / The Courtesan Club, (again according to her:) the best and most expensive escort agency of The Netherlands,

1) you do it for your free choice;

2) you are highly trained to do it;

3) you can acquire skills that will be useful in other fields.

So, being an high class prostitute is a healthy and formative job that helps women on the path of success! At the same time, this is a work with tasks that can be accomplished only by the most successful women. If you want to try the best, Marian and her agency will provide it for you!

Taking into account that there was also another talk given for Women Inc by one of Marian Donner's bosses about similar topics, one might say that exploiting an association like Women Inc to advertise for their company is, morally speaking, disgusting. Nevertheless, this would be an observation concerning ethics that, not only will not touch such cynical, ruthless and reckless people (as they proved to be also with their attitude towards one friend of mine), but will not be useful to the reader of these lines. Here we are not to express moral judgements but to understand what having to do with an high class escort agency implies, what to expect and how to behave. We have to ask ourselves if Marian Donner's and their boss activities like the conferences for Women Inc can be relevant for that. Well, in my humble opinion, the answer is: "Yes". And the next time, in closing the case I am building, I will tell you why.

Bye.
Paul

INTERLUDE 1 - The latest post of Charlotte on thepostonline (translated with the aid of google - translator).

Before leaving you to Charlotte's words, I have to report that it is no more possible to comment what she writes. "Reacties zijn gesloten": "comments closed/disabled": you can read on her pages and this speaks tons about the policy of The Courtesan Club. Their employees can betray, expose and, sometimes, ridicule (when not do worse as in the case my readers know well) clients who pay large amount of money, while clients have to pay and shut up. How much is "High Class" considering client's word and voice as nothing? And how is it possible that a super-dreadnought company like The Courtesan Club is afraid of some few comments left here and there on the internet? Again, is this touchy attitude "High Class"?

........................


"In a few years you will make a career as a lawyer, and we talk about anything more!"

I may very well lie. With a straight face I tell friends and family about so-called double shifts through my [catering] agency and I declare that I might have bought this expensive bag (read : got a customer who paid a lot) after three weeks living of tea and crackers! In reality, I throw carelessly everything I like in my shopping cart at the supermarket and I forget to look at the price tags when I pick a new dress. [...] but sometimes the double life strikes me heavyly.

[...] I find it difficult that I have friends and family whom I can not tell why I could not be at a party (I had an international booking) and why I am always so tired during morning lectures at fair Friday (because I 'm usually up in the wee hours on Thursday to find somewhere in a luxury hotel room...).

But I know that this job, [...] in the normal world, is still a highly stigmatized profession, which I can be better. [...]

Occasionally , I am convinced that people in my area have the puzzle complete. A friend once said with raised eyebrows : " All Karen Millen dresses... I think I must work for a catering agency too" and then she looked at me with a ' should - you- not have something - to - tell - me? " Look and I looked blushing on the other side. After this, I was sure she had a suspicion of my hidden income.

A few weeks later I took her out to dinner. I had not slept all night long and was terribly nervous when I finally moved to her between the dishes of sushi on my phone. "Look ," I said, "this is me", and pointed to her my pictures in the gallery of the website of The Courtesan Club . " Okay, cool," she said.

[...] months later after this meeting, I heard that my friend had some sleepless nights because of the shock and worry about what she had learned about her old friend...

Lawyer

My parents have been repeatedly made ​​ambiguous remarks, but I dare not say whether it was consciously or unconsciously. Recently I noticed my father quite out of the blue on: "You can do anything but anything against your will ."
Where did this come from? I asked a friend and colleague of mine . " Oh," she said, " Well, but tell nothing. In a few years you will make a career as a lawyer, and we talk about it anything more!"

...................................

Well, well, well... for once our beloved Charlotte left alone her clients and at last wrote something about herself. There are some common places you can expect when you read about this kind of topics, but I'd say that what she wrote rings true. We can only wish her that her secret life won't harm her relationships with people she loves and that being a prostitute won't be endanger any career she may try in the "normal world". A strange world, this "normal" world, where it looks like that prostitutes are the culprits for the existence of clients...

This is an "Interlude" because in my last post I left a question to be answered. It is an "Interlude 1" because the promised answer will come after an (I hope) interesting "Interlude 2" concerning the agency Society Service.

Stay always tune guys!

Paul