Amsterdam’s red light district is iconic for its unique mix of history, culture, and tolerance.
Known locally as De Wallen, it’s the city’s oldest neighborhood and one of the most visited attractions. The area is famous for its vibrant nightlife, but it’s also a part of Amsterdam's centuries-old history with charming canals, cobblestone streets, and classic Dutch architecture.
The red light district, which is also famous amongst tourists, is primarily known for legalized prostitution. There, in between the many red-lit windows, sex workers stand to attract clients have become a well-known symbol.
Prostitution in the Netherlands has been legal since 2000, and Amsterdam's regulations require workers to have licenses, submit to health checks, and follow safety guidelines. The highly regulated environment aims to promote safer practices, and in general, to protect the well-beings of the sex workers.
But Bernadett Szabó was murdered there, marking one of the rare cases of sex murder case
Amsterdam’s red light district has its own share of petty crime, such as pickpocketing and occasional scams, violent crime—like murder—is relatively rare, especially compared to many other urban nightlife areas worldwide.
After all, the district is well-patrolled by law enforcement, and security is a priority, particularly because Amsterdam wants to maintain its reputation as a safe destination for visitors and locals alike.
But sadly for Bernadett Szabó, she didn't live to tell the story.
Born in the city of Nyíregyháza in the poor northeastern part of Hungary, Szabó who is also known as Betty, and her family, lived in poverty. But putting that aside, she reported did well in school.
Betty spent her free time gardening and played her violin, which earned her several prizes.
But when she grew a bit older, she began to realize the differences she had if compared to her friends: she didn't have the money to afford what others could.
In desperation, she decided to abruptly change her life, and departed for Amsterdam when she was just 18 years old.
She went to work at De Wallen, and there, due to her young age and her sexually appealing physique, she reportedly did have a steady base of returning clients.
It’s not uncommon for sex workers, especially those who are considered attractive and engaging, to cultivate a regular clientele who return due to comfort, familiarity, and even personal connection.
She got pregnant, and continued working, and only went on a leave for giving birth to her son, before returning back to work.
The 19-year-old from Hungary worked at the red light district to please her clients, and due to her young age and her sexually appealing physique, she reportedly did have a steady base of returning clients.
It’s not uncommon for sex workers, especially those who are considered attractive and engaging, to cultivate a regular clientele who return due to comfort, familiarity, and even personal connection.
This has long been part of the business dynamics in regulated districts like Amsterdam’s.
One day, it was normal like any other day before it.
Until it isn't.
On February 19, 2009, two fellow sex workers discovered Betty in her workstation along Oudezijds Achterburgwal, which is one of the main canals running through De Wallen and is right at the heart of Amsterdam's red light district.
She was dead.
It was 1:00 a.m., and her body was found stiff and lifeless, lying in a pool of her own blood, with about a dozen stab wounds all over her body.
Her colleagues had become concerned after they hadn't heard her usual music playing, nor seen her in her workroom.
When the news broke, there was an immediate outpouring of concern from the community, with heightened calls for improved security and protection for sex workers. The case garnered significant media attention in the Netherlands and Hungary, both due to the tragic circumstances and because it underscored vulnerabilities in the sex work industry.
Her murder highlighted the unique risks faced by foreign workers who, in some cases, may not have strong local support networks.
Initially, the police treated it as a "hot case," meaning they were actively investigating it, interviewing witnesses, and following leads. However, the investigation faced numerous challenges that are unfortunately common in such cases.
From limited witness cooperation to the scarcity of evidence, lack of surveillance, and the alleged organized crime influence that might be involved.
The case remains unsolved.
By the time 2012 came around, the sex murder case was officially considered a "cold case," with investigators no longer actively pursuing it.
This time, the authorities came up with another idea.
The Dutch investigators have created a life-size hologram of Bernadett Szabó that they hope will help trigger a lead in the investigation.
The visual representation of the teen, dressed in faded denim hot pants, a leopard-print bra, with a large dragon tattoo snaking up her stomach and across her chest, reaches out and appears to knock on the window to attract attention.
The 3D computer-generated image leans forward, breathes on the glass, and writes the word 'help.'"
With a prominent place at the red light district, investigators hope that the life-sized hologram of the young woman can jog memories and bring forward new witnesses.
Benjamin van Gogh, the coordinator of Amsterdam Wanted and Missing Persons Team, said that the authorities were cautious before creating the hologram and launching the highly public campaign to find her killer.
"Before deciding to use a hologram for the campaign, we brainstormed with different parties both within and outside the police on whether we should go ahead with this and how we should set it up," he said.
Her family purportedly signed off on the project, and have given their consent, giving the authorities the green light to pursue the idea.
The authorities said that they're "committed to doing this with dignity and with the clear purpose of achieving some form of justice for Betty by finding her murderer or murderers."
Szabó was murdered at one of the busiest intersections in the Netherlands, and watching the case fade into obscurity, overshadowed by newer investigations, feels like a persistent thorn buried deep within the skin.
"It is really almost impossible that there are no people who saw or heard something unusual at the time. Or heard someone talk about the case, which doesn't even have to have been in Amsterdam," Dreijer-Heemskerk said.
"After all, the red-light district gets visitors from all over the world."
Bernadett "Betty" Szabó's death was a tragic figure in Amsterdam’s history.
The sex murder case attracted so much attention because it highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by many sex workers in the industry, particularly those who came from abroad, who can be more isolated and at risk.
Betty’s death drew media coverage both in the Netherlands and Hungary, leading to calls for greater safety measures within the district.
The unsolved case has brought further scrutiny to Amsterdam's sex work regulations, sparking discussions on how to better protect the workers in the district, especially against potential exploitation and violence.
This tragic case continues to underscore the importance of law enforcement and regulatory support to ensure that workers are safe and that crimes are thoroughly investigated.
Amsterdam has since introduced more stringent regulations and improved security measures to protect sex workers in the Red Light District.
In response to cases like hers, Amsterdam has aimed to improve safety for workers, including offering support resources, better monitoring, and additional security for those in the industry.
Besides putting a hologram of the young teen, enticing passersby to take notice, or upload it to the internet to spread the news, the Dutch police is also offering a reward of €30,000 for information that leads to her killer.
"There are certainly several people who know who committed that crime," Dreijer-Heemskerk added.
"Betty’s hologram may create a certain connection with her and thus convince a person to come forward," said Benjamin van Gogh.
“In this type of case, we always try to put a face on a victim, so that informants know who they’re doing it for, and the hologram is a way of taking this a step further.”
At this time, Amsterdam plans to relocate sex workers working at the red light district to a dedicated place called the "Erotic Center."
But many fear that hiding such activity can put the sex workers in even more compromising situations.
With the police trying to reopen the case, the hologram of young Betty is a stark reminder to viewers of the threat against sex workers in the area.