Delft University of Technology has become the latest organisation to provide sanitary towels and tampons free of charge.

The university began a pilot programme in March in several faculty buildings which proved to be a success. Products will now be available at all educational buildings on campus as well as the library.

Student Council member Rutger Blijleven of student party ORAS began pushing for the pilot last September. ‘You want to make the campus a comfortable place for everyone. So if we can support this in any way, we should do it,’ he told campus magainze Delta.

In total, 176 products were handed out during the six-month trial, running about €200 at each of three locations.

During a meeting in August with the Executive Board and the Student Council, Vice-Rector Magnificus Rob Mudde was pleased with the results but cautioned he would pull the plug if costs ran too high. ‘In emergencies this is a great service, but the taxpayer should not have to fund this. After all, we do not provide free lunches either,’ he said.

Last month, the Utrecht suburb of Nieuwegein joined other Dutch cities including Rotterdam, Elst and Westland in offering free sanitary products for residents. Earlier this year, Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products free for everyone.