Nijmegen is done with wild pee-ers, and it’s tackling the problem with a splash of creativity.
As crowds pour in for the Four Days Marches event and its street parties, the city is fighting back with more toilets and one very cheeky pee park. 👇
Welcome to the plaspark
On Saturday (July 12), Nijmegen unveiled its boldest (and weirdest) attraction yet: the plaspark.
This 2.5 by 7-meter setup allows people to legally relieve themselves against replicas of classic urination targets, such as a tree, a fire hydrant, and even a front door.
Each is connected to a clever underground drainage system, keeping things surprisingly clean for a public bathroom installation.
Backed by the organisers of the Four Days Marches, the park aims to flush out one of the city’s most persistent party problems.
READ MORE | I had to pay €4 to use a toilet on King’s Day — and I’m pissed
“With this, we draw attention to a real problem: over one in six inner-city residents experience nuisance from urinators in the street,” director Joris Bouwmeister tells de Volkskrant. “Our message is: if you really have to, or want to, do it here.”
A public toilet that both mocks and prevents wild peeing? That’s peak Dutch practicality.
A creative fix, but clearly made for men
Let’s be real. The plaspark and the 1,300 urinals now scattered across Nijmegen are effective… if you’re a man.
Even the director of the Four Days Marches knows this isn’t a perfect fix.
“It keeps mopping with the tap open. Literally and figuratively.” Joris Bouwmeister confesses, using a tongue-in-cheek Dutch idiom to highlight that he’s aware the plaspark is attempting to solve the issue of “wild peeing” without addressing the actual problem.
READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #45: Pee in the canals when drunk — and fall in
Despite significant upgrades, the city’s toilet landscape is far from equal. If you can pee standing up, Nijmegen has you sorted. If not, things get trickier. 👇
So, where’s the pee Disneyland for women?
To help with the demand, 250 extra portable toilets have been added “to accommodate women in particular”, but they aren’t women-only and still lack basic privacy and comfort.
More voices are calling for a truly inclusive solution, one that offers a clean, covered, and private space where women can go without queues, stares, or stress.
This isn’t a futuristic fantasy. It’s a basic need that still hasn’t been met.
Is Nijmegen on the right track, or should public toilet design stop catering to just one gender? Let’s flush out the conversation. 💬
Finding a toilet in the Netherlands is one of the most annoying things for tourists. When you do find one you are fumbling for change to get in while you are practically peeing in your pants. This is much better taken care of in The USA in case they need inspiration.