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

23 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

Amsterdam ‘pee in public protest’ cancelled, too many women want to attend

September 20, 2017
A ‘curl’ urinal in Amsterdam. Photo: BMA via Wikimedia Commons

A protest in Amsterdam about the lack of female public toilet facilities, prompted by a judge telling a woman she should have used a men’s urinal, has been cancelled – because too many women want to take part.

Cathelijne Hornstra put out a call on Facebook for women to come to Leidseplein in the city centre and use the urinal to show how bizarre the judge’s comments are. So far, 1,100 women said they would attend the protest and and another 7,900 said they are interested in attending.

‘The overwhelming interest means we have grown too big,’ Hornstra said. ‘We can’t fit all the women who said they would come on that one spot.’ Now women are being urged to carry out mini protests at urinals throughout the city and upload photos to Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #wildplassen.

On Monday a judge in Amsterdam told a woman he fined €90 for peeing in public that she could have used a men’s urinal. ‘It would not be pleasant but it can be done,’ the male judge said.

The judge went on to say that while there are few public toilets for women in Amsterdam, there was no real need to build more. In central Amsterdam there are 35 public urinals for men and just four public toilets for women, according to the Parool.

In de mailbox: ‘Zo ziet er het dan uit een vrouw in een urinoir!!’

Waarvan akte. pic.twitter.com/aXx4DGGRjU

— Josien Wolthuizen (@wolthuizen) September 18, 2017

Rembrandt van Rijn’s ode aan de wildplassende vrouw (uit 1631) #wildplassen #boete pic.twitter.com/kLWgYQTTlb

— Claire Oudorp (@ClaireOudorp) September 18, 2017

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
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
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
Weekend brings showers and cooler weather, sun still possible
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