Tuesday, 3 December
Artemis to expand: Court approves second brothel site in Berlin
Berlin’s largest brothel (and one of the biggest in the country), Artemis is set to expand after a legal victory cleared the way for a second location. The Berlin Administrative Court ruled in favour of the Şimşek brothers, Artemis’ operators, granting permission to convert a run-down warehouse near the A100 Autobahn into a 32-room brothel. This decision concludes a years-long dispute with the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district, which had previously refused the necessary permits.
The planned site, visible from the current Artemis building, was once used for wine storage and will be adapted to include rooms for self-employed sex workers, as well as rest and sleeping areas. While located outside a formal urban development zone, the court deemed the project permissible due to its accessible location and minimal interference with public interests. Noise protection, a key issue, will be addressed with soundproofing measures to counter the surrounding traffic and train activity.
In the past, the Artemis brand hasn’t been without controversy. A 2016 police raid targeting the brothel for alleged tax evasion and links to organised crime ended with the charges being dismissed, forcing the city to issue a public apology and pay 250,000 euros in compensation. The Şimşeks have since positioned themselves as pioneers of regulated, legal sex work, emphasising hygiene and safety standards that exceed legal requirements.
Advocates argue that more regulated venues like Artemis help combat illegal prostitution, which surged during the pandemic, while critics within the district remain uneasy about the expansion. The decision can still be appealed.
