Brothels

Oberhausen is home to Flasshofstrasse, one of the oldest regulated red-light streets in the Ruhr area. Since 1963, the street has been officially designated as a tolerance zone and offers around 230 rooms providing a legal framework for sex work.

Legal Framework

• Sex work has been fully legal in Germany since 2002.
• The Prostitute Protection Act (ProstSchG) of 2017 introduced mandatory registration, health counseling, and operating permits.
• Condom use is mandatory for all sexual services — no exceptions.
• Flasshofstrasse operates as a regulated zone under official oversight.

Tips for Visitors

• Polite, respectful behavior is a baseline expectation.
• Cash is the preferred payment method.
• The street has its own character — visitors should come with realistic expectations.