DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

18 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

No piddling matter? Police still let toddler off €140 fine for outdoor wee

September 27, 2017

Police have torn up a €140 fine issued after a two-year-old from Brabant had a wee against a wall.

Hennie van der Elst, from Uden, had let his grandson Mattias go to the toilet against the side of a bakery in the town as they waited for his wife to emerge from the supermarket.

The child, who had been toilet trained for just several months, had been going three times an hour, grandmother Harriet told the Gelderlander.

‘He had just visited the WC at home,’ she reportedly said. ‘But, well, he had to go again. What should you do? Let him wet his pants?’

 

Hennie kan niet geloven dat de boete van 140 euro is kwijtgescholden. Zijn kleinzoon (2) moest plassen en opa kreeg boete. pic.twitter.com/7vmwo1zwMO

— Raymond Merkx (@raymondmerkx) September 26, 2017


The unfortunate incident was noticed by a passing policeman, who issued the grandparents with a fine for peeing in public – or ‘wild weeing’, as the Dutch describe it.

After the issue exploded on Facebook yesterday, the local police service decided to withdraw the fine, saying there was ‘no legal option to make a grandfather liable for his grandson peeing in public.’

Chief of police at Maas and Leijgraaf Eric Heuvelmans, told the Gelderlander that they would discuss whether the policeman had taken the right approach. ‘I will talk with my colleagues and the family about this as soon as possible,’ he reportedly said. ‘It is very annoying that it has happened and I understand the emotions of those involved.’

An employee at the bakery Van de Ven apparently added to the paper: ‘If they had just asked, the little boy could have gone to the toilet here.’

Got something to say about this? Use the comment form below

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Crime Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
EU countries discuss cutting air passengers’ compensation rights
“As long as human beings have existed, we’ve moved and migrated"
The politics of emotion: we are poorer without Pieter Omtzigt
Claude finishes 12th in Eurovision despite early hopes
Podcast: The Trappist Monks Can't Bottle It Like Ajax Edition
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now