Twin Sisters Who Became the World’s Oldest Sex Workers

For several decades, identical twins Martine and Louise Fokkens have led lives that many people can only dream about, but even fewer dare to talk about.

Known internationally as the “world’s oldest sex workers,” the Dutch sisters have spoken candidly about their years behind Amsterdam’s iconic windows, offering an unfiltered account of survival, resilience, and a profession they insist was never as shameful as outsiders believe.

The twins, who retired in their seventies, spent nearly half a century in the sex industry and became enduring figures in the Netherlands’ Red Light District.

Their longevity alone set them apart, but so did their openness about an occupation often hidden in silence.

Over the years, they built reputations not just as workers, but as businesswomen who owned their own brothel and later a traditional Dutch restaurant.

In reflecting on their careers, the sisters dismantled taboos around so-called “body counts,” openly stating they had collectively serviced “355,000” men.

They were widely dubbed the “oldest window girls in Holland,” a title that followed them until retirement and cemented their place in modern Dutch folklore.

Growing Up With the Red Light District

Martine and Louise were raised in Amsterdam in a poor household where money was scarce and work was a necessity rather than a choice.

The Red Light District, they say, was never a mysterious underworld.

It was simply part of city life. This familiarity influenced what they saw: sex work, not as a crime, but as a job.

To start with, Louise was first introduced into the industry by her husband when still at the tender age of 17.

She later said she was “pushed” into “just trying it out,” only to find herself standing in a window moments later.

Though she never claimed it was her own idea, she kept her work secret, aware that her family might judge her harshly.

When relatives eventually discovered the truth, they urged Martine to intervene.

The attempt failed. As Louise later put it: “As if you can tell your twin what to do, we never listened to anyone.”

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From Cleaner to Window Worker

Martine’s path was different but equally shaped by financial pressure.

Married with children, she worked as a cleaner in a brothel and frequently rejected offers from clients.

That changed after her husband lost his job during a builders’ strike, plunging the family into crisis.

With bills mounting, the prospect of sex work felt, in her words, less terrifying because her sister was already involved.

“Without her, I would never have done it. But with him, it felt less frightening.”

Soon after, Martine took her place in a window, armed with advice from other workers and the reassurance of her twin’s presence.

Bizarre Clients and Unforgettable Moments

Over the years, the sisters had encountered many clients who had presented them with unbelievable requests.

One remarkable story involved a client who referred to himself as a “filthy little gnome” and was “shaking with excitement” at the prospect of his fantasy.

There was also another client who left without paying and left his prosthetic leg behind.

The twins locked it in a cupboard until he returned to settle the debt.

Their trademark thigh-high leather boots also became legendary, with customers charged “a lot extra” for anyone who wanted them removed.

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Knowing When to Stop

Age eventually forced difficult decisions. Louise admitted arthritis made some positions “too painful,” while Martine noticed a steady drop in business.

Still, even after retirement, Martine struggled to let go of one long-term client.

“He’s been coming to me for so long, it’s like going to church on a Sunday,” she said, describing his weekly S&M sessions.

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Dutch Flag On A Building in the Netherlands. PHOTO/ File