Amsterdam city officials have been asked to explain why so few public toilets were available for women during this year’s Pride canal parade, compared to the number provided for men, the Parool reported on Wednesday.

PvdA and D66 councillors have submitted written questions to the council executive, after it emerged that men had access to nearly three times as many public toilet facilities. “It highlights a structural inequality,” the councillors told the paper.

According to city data, 377 toilets were placed in and around the Prinsengracht and along access routes, including 210 sit-down toilets, 147 urinal blocks (each with four urinals), and 20 easy access toilets. That gave men access to around 588 locations, while women had access only to the 210 sit-down toilets, which are unisex.

The city said that 80% of the facilities it placed on approach routes were sit-down toilets. Responsibility for the toilet provision on and around the Prinsengracht itself lay with the Pride organisers, who have not yet confirmed how many they installed.

Councillors said they had received complaints from women who faced long queues or had to use expensive paid toilets. The lack of facilities for women has been a recurring problem at major events, including King’s Day, when cafes often charge around €2 to use the toilet.

PvdA and D66 want the city to ensure more equal access next year, especially with Amsterdam set to host World Pride in 2026. They also urged the city to explore creative solutions with hospitality venues to ensure women have the same access to public toilets as men.

Amsterdam council agreed last year to spend €4 million to develop city centre public toilets for women, seven years after a high profile “peeing in public” case hit the city’s courts.

That furore dates back to 2017 when a 23-year-old Dutch woman lost her appeal against a fine for urinating in a public place after the judge told her she could have used a urinal.