Geerte Piening never imagined that her late-night decision to relieve herself in an Amsterdam alley would lead to a nine-year battle for “urination equality” in the city. What started as a €140 fine for public urination turned into a national movement for accessible public bathrooms, particularly for women and wheelchair users.
Piening’s fight gained momentum in 2017 when a judge ruled that she should have used a nearby urinal instead of squatting in the alley. This decision sparked protests across the Netherlands, with demonstrators attempting to use the city’s street urinals, known as “pee curls,” to highlight the lack of suitable facilities for women and wheelchair users.
The judge’s ruling led to a motion to allocate €4 million for the expansion of public toilets in Amsterdam. However, delays in the public tender process pushed back the construction timeline. Finally, the city announced that new, accessible public bathrooms will be installed starting in October of this year.
Accessibility advocate Josephine Rees emphasized the importance of providing female-oriented, wheelchair-friendly public toilets in Amsterdam. She noted that the chronic lack of accessible facilities can create serious problems for wheelchair users, especially in cafes and public spaces.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Piening remains proud of her role in advocating for “urination equality” in Amsterdam. As the city prepares to install new public toilets, the hope is that women and wheelchair users will finally have access to the facilities they need.