Please don't pee on the palace: Dutch govt

Please don't pee on the palace: Dutch govt
By admin


If you're caught short on Amsterdam's historic Dam Square, the Dutch government has a message for you: don't pee on the palace.

The Dutch royal family uses the stately Royal Palace in downtown Amsterdam as a working palace, not a residence. But the building's dark arches provide a favoured spot for urination, often at night, out of sight of patrolling police.

After a multimillion-euro renovation in late 2011, people began urinating against the palace's sandstone facade. That prompted authorities to put up a fence.

But the Interior Ministry has called the barrier "unworthy" of the historic location. It is now installing lights and movement sensors to deter people from relieving themselves.

The government has also warned that peeing in public is punishable by a 140 euro ($A210) fine.

If those measures don't work, authorities are considering a urinal near the palace that rises out of the ground at night and sinks back below the footpath during the day.

Other possible moves include a raised set of steps featuring a "pop-up" fence or fine mesh screens to block access to the arches after dark.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]