In the seventies two women asked themselves the question what the story was of the women behind the windows. Did these women need help? The only way to find out was to speak with them. At the time many of the women working in the Red Light District spoke Spanish and it soon became clear the language barrier made it difficult to communicate. Luckily the women found someone who spoke Spanish so the first contacts could be made. It turned out that there was a great need for help, both practical and psychological. To fill this need, in 1985 they started a permanent drop in center from where the women in the Red Light District were visited and that the women themselves could visit. Scharlaken Koord had become a reality.

They visited the Red Light District every week to contact the women and to listen to their stories. The information that the employees of Scharlaken Koord were given during the street work and the questions for help that the women made known the them, afterwards became the basis for starting prevention and social work. This continues to be the strength of Scharlaken Koord: they speak the same language as the women who work in prostitution. They listen to their pain and needs and use that information as a source for developing prevention activities, programs to leave prostitution and other forms of aid.