In the 1980s, Amsterdam had the largest metropolitan concentration of drug users of all time. This prompts the municipality to adopt new policies. The idea is to set up small-scale facilities in the various neighborhoods. The plan never came to fruition due to fierce resistance from the neighborhoods and even resulted in the resignation of Public Health alderwoman Irene Vorrink. In the drug policy that the municipality subsequently developed, De Regenboog Foundation was asked to take care of the final phase: namely, preventing former drug users from relapsing. De Regenboog's aftercare section concentrates on individual counseling. And on supporting a self-help group of underprivileged Surinamese who have stopped using and are trying not to relapse.
Coffee and condoms
There appears to be another group for whom "there is no helper": addicted women, mostly working in prostitution. They do come to squat De Doelen, but appear to be the least accessible to social workers. Therefore, in 1980, De Regenboog appointed Marjolijn Keesmaat a field worker especially for this target group with church funds. She goes out on the streets in the evening and at night with coffee, sandwiches and condoms to visit women at work. She seeks recognition of street prostitutes as an existing group that needs facilities to work. At the time, politicians have no policy other than maintaining public order, which amounts to hounding and handing out fines.
Straatprostitutie