Bertem is not somewhere one would associate with prostitution. It is a sleepy rural village on the western edge of Leuven. In a private house just a few dozen metres from a private four sex workers have started plying their trade?

Local residents have expressed their concern. One told VRT Radio 2 Flemish Brabant that. “I live just a few metres away, my two children go to school here. I am very shocked and will certainly say something about it.

Another local resident interviewed shares these concerns. "A place like Bertem isn’t a good place for this. Certainly not with the school nearby, the children walk past there”.

The Mayor of Bertem Joël Vander Elst (Liberal), is aware of the situation. "We received a report that there is a massage parlour. However, it you look on the internet you see that much more is on offer there than just massages. If I am honest I would prefer not to have this in my municipality. We live in a rural municipality where everyone knows everyone and I don’t think that this is a suitable location”.