Historical story

Afraid of sex

Masturbation, homosexuality and prostitution were spoken of with horror in the nineteenth century. Every effort was therefore made to combat these forms of sexuality.

In the nineteenth century, many people were afraid of sex. It could make you sick. Masturbation or 'onania' made you deaf, your eyes deteriorated and you could eventually even go insane. When young men let their bodily fluids flow out, they became listless, sullen and shy. So parents had to pay close attention and warn their children about the horrific consequences. If all this didn't work, then there was the anti-aging belt:a belt that made it impossible to touch anything with your fingers. With such a belt on in bed at night, the lust probably disappeared quickly…

Even scarier than masturbation was homosexuality. Sex between two men went against all the rules. Bible in hand, these “sodomites” were condemned for centuries. For example, around 1730, fear reigned. Then Adrianus van Vleuten and Pieter Goddeeus were unceremoniously sentenced to death on the Rotterdam VOC ship Patmos. What had they done? “Played with fellow manhood.” Something to smile about now, but a creepy idea in the eighteenth century.

Prostitution was also considered dangerous. That fear was not entirely unjustified, because the contagious syphilis (Venus disease) made many victims. In all major Dutch cities there were brothels that were well attended. No less than 12% of the Dutch army suffered from 'venereal and syphilitic diseases' in 1850. Prostitutes therefore had to undergo regular medical examinations. That provided more hygiene, but did not help against the half-naked ladies on the street. Reverend Hendrik Pierson feared the salvation of these lost sheep and tried to save them. With some success:in 1911 a brothel was banned. That ban was only abolished again in 2000.