Prostitution in Croatia is illegal [1] but common. Many women from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Eastern Europe , especially from the Ukraine , work as prostitutes in Croatia. At the turn of the 20th century, prostitution was legal. In Zagreb it was advertised as a tourist attraction and contributed to the city's economy. At one stage every other building was a bordello. To open a brothel, the owner had to register at the town hall and received a licence.
The licence required the brothel to be well run and provide a quality service. The women working in the brothels had to have a twice weekly medical examination. Brothels were not allowed to advertise their presence, but a discrete, uncommonly coloured lantern was allowed to be placed outside.
The best known brothels in Zagreb were the Kod Zelene Lampe Green Lantern's , which was the most expensive, the Pick , and the Klub which had cabaret until 5 a.
In the s, Zagreb became known as the centre of prostitution in Yugoslavia, with the highest number of prostitutes. Women from other areas of Yugoslavia, such as Sarajevo , came to the city because of the higher rates for prostitutes compared to their own areas.
The economic crisis, [8] post-communist turmoil and subsequent arrival of international military personnel , demand for prostitution rose. The opening of borders allowed foreign prostitutes to come to the country.
