Schaefer was first elected to the House of Representatives in the 1971 general election, where held a seat with interruptions until 1990. He also served as an alderman in the municipal executive of Amsterdam from 1978 to 1986, in charge of housing.
Schaefer was initially elected to the House of Representatives in 1971, where he held a seat with interruptions until 1990. He also served as an alderman in Amsterdam's municipal executive from 1978 to 1986, focusing on housing.