Utrecht city council has become the first in the country to vote to introduce gender neutral toilets throughout council-owned buildings.

The aim is to make transsexuals feel more comfortable about which toilets they use and remove discussion with other users, supporters of the plan said.

Gay and transgender rights lobby group COC has been campaigning for the introduction of gender neutral toilets for some time.

The motion to make the switch came from Liberal democratic party D66. ‘As an open house of democracy in the heart of the city, this is a fine symbolic place to begin with toilets for everyone,’ the party said in a statement.

It is not clear if the town hall will retain some men and women’s toilets for people who feel uncomfortable sharing facilities.

If the switch to unisex toilets is a success in the town hall, the concept will be used in other council buildings.

There are already mixed toilets in Amsterdam and Leiden university college buildings.