Yet drug users, differentiated into hard and soft drug users, are considered to be victims or patients rather than criminals. Dealing in drugs s prohibited. For this reason, the coffee shops where soft drugs can be bought, are still illegal. In Rotterdam, the social services, health services and police cooperate closely. Relief programmes are easily accessible and are aimed at regulating the lives of addicts.
People can freely go in for coffee, meals and medical care.
Social Innovation Social innovation in Rotterdam means that the inhabitants participate in what happens in their neighbourhood. Thus creativity may receive an extra impulse. Opzoomeren' Active local residents cooperate in order to improve 'their neighbourhood'. These improvements concern, for instance, the placing of street lighting, the layout of public gardens and solving parking problems. Many hands make light work, and therefore everybody helps to brighten up the neighbourhood.