Samen naar de Kliniek

Samen naar de Kliniek ("Together to the Clinic") is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) that provides free, trained volunteer companions — so-called abortion buddies — to people who have an abortion appointment and do not want to attend alone. The organization operates throughout the Netherlands and states that it works with respect for the client's choice and with guaranteed privacy. Its services are offered at no cost to the client. The initiative began in 2019 as an abortion-buddy project set up by the feminist platform De Bovengrondse together with the Humanistisch Verbond (Humanist Association) and the Nederlands Genootschap van Abortusartsen (NGvA, the Dutch society of abortion physicians). It was a response to increasing intimidation by anti-abortion demonstrators outside Dutch abortion clinics. Volunteers accompanied clients to offer both practical and emotional support. In December 2021 the project was converted into an independent foundation under the name Samen naar de Kliniek. The foundation's stated aim is to offer safe, accessible and empathetic support to women who have an abortion appointment. Volunteers accompany clients physically to the clinic or, if preferred, by telephone. They are trained in de-escalation, communication and emotional support. The organization emphasizes that the client's decision is always respected and that privacy is safeguarded. In addition to direct accompaniment, it seeks to help break taboos around abortion and to draw attention to intimidation at abortion clinics. Samen naar de Kliniek is active in a large number of Dutch cities, including Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Groningen, Zwolle, Roermond, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Den Bosch, Eindhoven, Arnhem, Enschede, Goes and Almere. Its head office is in Rotterdam. As a foundation it is a private, non-commercial entity rather than a listed company, and it relies on volunteers and donations to carry out its work.

The abortion-buddy project that became Samen naar de Kliniek was founded in 2019 by the feminist platform De Bovengrondse, in cooperation with the Humanistisch Verbond and the Nederlands Genootschap van Abortusartsen (NGvA). It emerged as a response to increasing intimidation by anti-abortion demonstrators at Dutch abortion clinics. Volunteers accompanied clients to provide both practical and emotional support during their visit. In December 2021 the project was converted into an independent foundation under the name Samen naar de Kliniek. Since then the foundation has continued and expanded the buddy service, operating in a large number of Dutch cities. Its head office is in Rotterdam. The organization combines direct accompaniment — in person or by telephone — with public awareness work aimed at breaking taboos around abortion and highlighting intimidation at clinics.

• 2021

  Project converted into an independent foundation under the name Samen naar de Kliniek in December 2021.

• 2019

  Abortion-buddy project founded by feminist platform De Bovengrondse with Humanistisch Verbond and NGvA, in response to intimidation at abortion clinics.

Non-profit, volunteer-based support service for people attending abortion appointments, emphasizing respect for client choice, privacy and de-escalation.

• Abortion buddy accompaniment (in person)

  Trained volunteers accompany clients physically to and from abortion clinics in the Netherlands.

• Telephone accompaniment

  Clients who prefer not to be accompanied in person can receive support by telephone.

• Volunteer training

  Volunteers are trained in de-escalation, communication and emotional support.

1. 1Samen naar de Kliniek — official websitesamennaardekliniek.nl
2. 2Samen naar de Kliniek — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Samen naar de Kliniek — Dutch Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org