Dutch Library Tackles Period Poverty with Free Menstrual Products for Asylum Seekers
Purmerend, 23 April 2026
Purmerend Library now provides free sanitary pads and tampons for women in poverty, including asylum seekers who survive on just €74 weekly allowances. This initiative addresses a stark reality: one in eight young Dutch women experience period poverty, with 21% resorting to unsafe alternatives like reusing products or using toilet paper. The programme, run jointly by Stichting Armoedefonds and Bibliotheek Waterland, recognises that menstrual poverty forces girls to miss school and women to skip work, creating serious health risks and social isolation beyond mere financial hardship.
Menstruatiearmoede: A Hidden Crisis in Dutch Society
The scale of period poverty in the Netherlands extends far beyond what many might expect. Research indicates that one in eight young girls and women in the country face menstruatiearmoede, unable to consistently afford essential menstrual products due to financial constraints [1]. This issue has prompted the Stichting Armoedefonds to witness a significant increase in people who cannot purchase basic hygiene products, including sanitary pads and tampons, due to financial hardship [1]. The consequences ripple through society in ways that extend well beyond the immediate health concerns, creating barriers to education and employment that perpetuate cycles of disadvantage.
Dangerous Alternatives and Health Risks
When faced with the choice between essential purchases and menstrual products, women resort to alarming alternatives that pose serious health risks. According to Penny van Laarhoven from the Armoedefonds, girls regularly report using toilet paper as makeshift protection, living in constant fear of leaking through their clothing [1]. Even more concerning, some women resort to reusing menstrual products multiple times, a practice that carries severe health implications [1]. Research data reveals that 21% of women experiencing period poverty resort to unsafe alternatives [1], highlighting the desperate measures taken when basic hygiene products become unaffordable luxuries rather than essential necessities.
Community Response and Library Initiative
The Bibliotheek Waterland has positioned itself as a crucial community resource in addressing this crisis through its partnership with the Stichting Armoedefonds. Thierry van Suchtelen van de Haare, manager of business operations at Bibliotheek Waterland, emphasised the library’s role as an institution that stands at the heart of society, providing low-threshold accessibility to everyone, regardless of membership status [1]. The Menstruatieproducten Uitgifte Punt (MUP) established in the women’s toilets of Purmerend Library represents a practical, dignified solution that allows women and girls facing financial difficulties to access free sanitary pads and tampons [1]. This initiative forms part of a broader network, with the Armoedefonds now supporting over 200,000 people throughout the Netherlands through MUPs located in schools, community centres, libraries, and poverty assistance organisations [1].
Beyond Financial Hardship: Social and Psychological Impact
The implications of menstruatiearmoede extend far beyond mere financial constraints, creating profound social and psychological barriers for affected individuals. Girls are forced to report sick to school during their menstrual periods, missing crucial educational opportunities, while women sometimes cannot attend work [1]. Van Laarhoven from the Armoedefonds explains that period poverty affects confidence levels and leads to shame, preventing normal social participation [1]. This creates a vicious cycle where those already facing financial hardship encounter additional obstacles to education and employment opportunities that could improve their economic situation. The initiative at Purmerend Library, launched on 23 April 2026, represents more than just free product distribution – it acknowledges that access to basic hygiene products is fundamental to maintaining dignity and full participation in society [1].