Suppose you are in the city and you suddenly feel: I have to go to the toilet now. Where is the best place to go? This is not so easy in Drenthe, because our province scores poorly on toilet friendliness.
There are only three municipalities with a sufficient score, according to figures from the Maag Lever Intestine Foundation. Coevorden is at the bottom with a score of 2.4. And Meppel is also not doing well with a 4.4.
Ilse Pfann is experiencing the consequences of this. She has Crohn’s disease and therefore often has to go to the toilet suddenly and immediately. “Simply put: I can’t hold it. Then a clean toilet on which I can sit for long periods of time is necessary. It would be even better if there was toilet paper available, but I always have that with me.”
The status of the public toilet in Meppel is disappointing, says Pfann. “First of all, the toilet is difficult to find. There is a sign that points to it, but it points in the wrong direction.” As soon as she opens the door, things don’t get much better. “It is not clean here. I would not want to sit on this. In addition, there is not even light. That becomes difficult when it is dark,” is the conclusion.
Nationally, one in three people indicate that the shortage of toilets affects their quality of life. It limits their freedom of movement when shopping and going out, among other things. Meppel also scores a poor grade.
“There is a public toilet facility in the city center that is suitable for the disabled. But people can also go to the town hall and the cultural center De Plataan. Outside opening hours you can go to the catering establishments for a toilet visit. The municipality of Meppel currently has no plans to to adjust this,” a spokesperson said in a response.
“It is true that there are good toilet facilities in the catering industry,” says Pfann. “But I don’t experience that it is accessible. I have had this disease for a long time and I don’t feel comfortable just walking into a restaurant and out again. And catering establishments often don’t like that either.”
Organizations such as the Stomach Liver Intestine Foundation argue that there should be a public toilet every 500 meters in city centers and recreational areas. “In addition, the toilets should be easier to find and keep them clean. Especially clean,” Pfann concludes.