Pee curl: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Type of public toilet in Amsterdam}}

{{refimprovemore citations needed|date=July 2023}}

[[File:Krul_Public_toilet_singel_krul.JPG|thumb|Single pee curl at [[Singel]]]]

[[File:Ontwerp van een ijzeren urinoir boven bestaande riolen.jpg|thumb|The design of a pee curl]]

[[File:Charles Marville, Urinoir à 1 stalle fonte et maçonnerie, Faubourg Saint-Martin, ca. 1865.jpg|thumb|A photo of one of the Pissoirs installed in 1800s Paris, taken by [[Charles Marville]] around 1865]]

[[File:Charles Marville, Urinoir en fonte à 2 stalles avec écran, Chaussée de la Muette, ca. 1865.jpg|thumb|An example of one of the latter designs of the French pissoirs, photographed by [[Charles Marville]] around 1875.]]

[[File:Zicht_op_het_voormalig_Paleis_voor_Volksvlijt_-_Amsterdam_-_20015376_-_RCE_detail_plaskrul.jpg|thumb|A double pee curl at the [[Paleis voor Volksvlijt]], where they were first placed]]

The '''pee curl''' (Dutch: ''plaskrul'') is a public [[urinal]], many of which are found in the centre of [[Amsterdam]]. They originated at the end of the 19th century, and were first installed by the [https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dienst_der_Publieke_Werken_(Amsterdam) Publieke Werken], or Public Works Department of Amsterdam.

The curl is made of a spiral-shaped steel sheet suspended half a metre above the ground by four iron legs, and painted dark green. The top half of the plate is perforated so that any passers-by can determine at eye-level whether it is vacant or in use. The floor is made of tiles with a natural stone slab making up the the urinal itself, housing the central drain. The curls are connected to the sewer by this drain and are cleaned by the local municipality with water from the canal. The curls come in either a single or double version, with some coming equipped with roofs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=iBecomingDutch |date=2020-08-30 |title=KRUL |url=https://ibecomingdutch.wordpress.com/2020/08/30/krul/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=I Becoming Dutch |language=en}}</ref> You can find a map of the public toilets in Amsterdam [https://maps.amsterdam.nl/openbare_toiletten/?LANG=en here].

== History ==

By the 1800s, public sanitation in Paris was in a shambolicpoor condition, with the city beinghaving plagueda bymajor problem with public urination. The population was also rapidly risingincreasing with an expectation for it to pass a million by 1840, meaning the problem could only get worse.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Pissoirs — Public Urinals with Little to No Privacy |url=https://toilet-guru.com/pissoirs/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Toilets of the World |language=en}}</ref>

In the spring of 1830, the city government of Paris decided to install the first public urinals on the major boulevards, with them being ready comefor the summer. In July that same year however, many were destroyed and used as street barricades during the [[July Revolution|French Revolution of 1830]].<ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Pissoir |date=2023-06-13 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pissoir&oldid=1159870574 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-08-28 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1832, a [[cholera]] [[epidemic]] spread from Britain to Paris, killing 18,500 people (or roughly 2% of the city's population at the time) in 169 days. Among the dead was the [[Prime Minister of France|French Prime Minister]] [[Casimir Pierre Périer]]. The epidemic also brought Paris' economy to a standstill, with anyonethose who could flee doing so and anyone who stayed adopting futile measures to protect themselves from it.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-04-27 |title=Pandemic Lessons From the Era of ‘Les Miserables’ |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-04-27/how-paris-transformed-after-cholera |access-date=2023-08-28}}</ref>

In 1839 the ''[[Prefect (France)|Préfet]] de la [[Seine (department)|Seine]],'' [[Claude-Philibert Barthelot de Rambuteau|Claude-Philibert de Rambuteau]], began installing over 400 [[Pissoir|pissoirspissoir]]s in an effort to fix the sanitation issues that plaguedin Paris while also working to improve the water supply to the city, to enlarge the Paris sewer system and to install [[gas lighting]] in the city. The pissoirs that were installed at the time were simple, single-person masonry tubes with an entrance cut into the street side and a cornice and ball above. Despite these efforts, public urination continued to be an issue, with Parisians still relievedrelieving themselves "''en plein air"'' according to an April 1843 column in the ''[[Gazette Municipale]]''.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=blindfieldcollective |date=2017-04-20 |title=Patenting The Pissoir: Queer Bodies and Proprietary Technologies |url=https://blindfieldjournal.com/2017/04/20/patenting-the-pissoir-queer-bodies-and-proprietary-technologies/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1859, 20 years after the introduction of the pissoirs, Dutch inventor Leijs proposed the placement of similar hollow pillars to try and solve Amsterdam's issues with public sanitation, however, the design of the pee curl was chosen. In the 19th and mostthrough the majority of the 20th century, facilities like the Dutch pee curls and French pissoirs were sometimes used by [[homosexual men]] to have sexual intercoursesex. The anxiety of the public and indeed the government aboutregarding homosexuality is clearly visiblethus ininfluenced the design of the pee curl and later designs of the pissoir, with clear visibility into them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

The first of thesethe pee curls weren'twere not installed until 1870, with 1877 bringing the first double pee curl<ref -name=":0" /> – an S -shaped curl with opposing chambers -– to the [[Paleis voor Volksvlijt]]. An updated design of the pee curl was later created in 1916 by architect [[Joan van der Mey]].

=== 19th20th century and women's rights ===

In December of 1969,<ref>{{cite book |last=Kaplan |first=Gisela |author-link1=Gisela Kaplan |title=Contemporary Western European Feminism (RLE Feminist Theory) |publisher=Routledge |year=2012 |isbn=9780415636810 |page=152}}</ref> a Dutch Feminist group called [[Dolle Mina]] was founded to campaign for equal rights for women, including public "pee-right".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Donia Nota |first=Justine |date=7 July 2021 |title=(REST)ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT |url=https://openresearch.amsterdam/image/2022/1/24/justine_donia_nota_thesis.pdf |access-date=28 August 2023}}</ref> The group mainly fought to improve said rights by using protests in a playful and humorous manner.<ref>{{Cite web |lastdate=Nota2015-11-10 |firsttitle=JustineDolle DoniaMina |date=7('Mad JulyMina') 2021{{!}} |title=(REST)ROOMFeminism FORin IMPROVEMENTthe 20th century |url=https://openresearchinstitute-genderequality.amsterdamorg/imagenews-publications/2022feminism/1feminism-20th-century/24/justine_donia_nota_thesis.pdfdolle-mina-mad-mina |access-date=282020-08-15 August|website=Atria 2023|language=en}}</ref> One of these protests occurred in [[Amsterdam]]'s Dam Square in April 1970, installing a "towering papier-mâché penis with a sign that read ‘damestoilet’''damestoilet'' (ladies’ladies' room)." The structure was placed there to address the lack of public toilets for women in Amsterdam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Protestor’s Playground {{!}} History Today |url=https://www.historytoday.com/history-matters/protestor%E2%80%99s-playground |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.historytoday.com}}</ref> AlsoThat insame 1970year, several public toilets were wrapped with pink ribbons to protest this imbalance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sandberg Instituut |url=https://www.sandberg.nl/framing-indeterminacy |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.sandberg.nl}}</ref>

Amsterdam has had a urinary committee since 1928. Despite the [[World War II|Second World War]], meetings continued under the so-called "Committee of Consultation on the Urinal Question in Amsterdam". In 1941, a new urinal committee was established. Throughout the entire history of the committee, the ratio of male to female public toilets has always been heavily skewed, with the committee initially being of the opinion that public toilets were intended "for the man who has his work on the street". Another rationale for the gender disparity of public toilets being heavily skewed is that "Public toilet facilities, especially those for women, involved very high costs."

In 1985, [[Sanisette|Sanisettes]] were installed in Amsterdam, however they were deemed to be too expensive and were removed some years later.<ref name=":4" />

At the same time, there were fears (as stated previously) that enclosed public toilets would result in a higher rate of public indecency, where two person urinals "often acted as places for gay men to meet and engage in sexual acts."

In December of 1969, a Dutch Feminist group called [[Dolle Mina]] was founded to campaign for equal rights for women, including public "pee-right". The group mainly fought to improve said rights by using protests in a playful and humorous manner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nota |first=Justine Donia |date=7 July 2021 |title=(REST)ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT |url=https://openresearch.amsterdam/image/2022/1/24/justine_donia_nota_thesis.pdf |access-date=28 August 2023}}</ref> One of these protests occurred in Amsterdam's Dam Square in April 1970, installing a "towering papier-mâché penis with a sign that read ‘damestoilet’ (ladies’ room)." The structure was placed there to address the lack of public toilets for women in Amsterdam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Protestor’s Playground {{!}} History Today |url=https://www.historytoday.com/history-matters/protestor%E2%80%99s-playground |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.historytoday.com}}</ref> Also in 1970, several public toilets were wrapped with pink ribbons to protest this imbalance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sandberg Instituut |url=https://www.sandberg.nl/framing-indeterminacy |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.sandberg.nl}}</ref>

In 1984 the Urinal Commission published a report recommending the installation of the [[Sanisette]], a lockable and self-cleaning unisex public toilet which was pioneered by the French company [[JCDecaux]]. Negotiations were in an "advanced stage", however the plans were cancelled in 1985 due to a lack of funds.

==== Plasrecht ====

[[File:Wildplaster_Geerte_Piening_toch_door_rechter_beboet.webm|thumb|Geerte Piening aton a [[De Wereld Draait Door|DWDD]] who refused to use a pee curlinterview]]

In 2015, Geerte Piening was fined €90[[Euro|€]]90 for public urination when she relieved herself in an alleyway in Amsterdam due to the fact that the nearest public toilet that was designed for use by women was several kilometres away. She refused to pay the fine on the grounds that she felt that the design of public toilets in Amsterdam discriminated against women, and she was unable to go to a bar to pay to go to relieve herself as it was beyond closing time.<ref name=":3" />

The male judge in the case, however, held that “It"it would not be pleasant but it can be done",” in regards toregarding the use of urinals and pee curls. and shePiening was forced to pay the fine.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Wolthuizen |first=Josien |date=2017-09-18 |title=Toch wildplasboete: 'Vrouwen kunnen ook in urinoir plassen' |url=https://www.parool.nl/gs-ba06a616 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Het Parool |language=nl-NL}}</ref> This led to widespread mockery by the public and even led some women to demonstrate the "obvious difficulties" of using male urinals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-20 |title=Dutch sexism outcry after woman fined for peeing in public |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dutch-sexism-outcry-woman-fined-peeing-public-101437341.html |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

This event [https://www.facebook.com/events/146662185938347/?active_tab=discussion also led to a call] being put out on [[Facebook]] by Cathelijne Hornstra for people to gather and protest at the spot where Geerte was found by Policepolice. The protest was cancelled because of the overwhelming interest, with the organisers asking those interested (said to be nearly 10,000 women) to gather at urinals across Amsterdam. Attendees were asked to upload photos on Facebook and [[Instagram]] with the hashtag "#wildplassen", the Dutch word for the crime of public urination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boffey |first=Daniel |date=2017-09-21 |title=Protests planned at Amsterdam urinals over lack of women's toilets |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/21/protests-planned-amsterdam-urinals-women-toilets |access-date=2023-08-28 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== 21st century use ==

In 2008, all remaining examples of the original pee curls were repainted, galvanised, and restored.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[http://www.joostdevree.nl/bouwkunde2/jpgs/straatmeubilair_21_brochure_krullen_in_amsterdam_urinoirs_www_cornelissenamsterdam_nl.pdf De krullen van Amsterdam], D. Cornelissen & Zonen, 2008</ref> The city had thirty-five of the original pee curls as of 2017,.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-04 |title=Urinoirs Stadsdeel Centrum - Datasets - Kaart van Amsterdam - Gemeente Amsterdam |url=https://kaart.amsterdam.nl/datasets/datasets-item/t/urinoirs_stadsdeel_centrum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304055421/https://kaart.amsterdam.nl/datasets/datasets-item/t/urinoirs_stadsdeel_centrum |archive-date=2018-03-04 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Gemeente Amsterdam |language=nl}}</ref> of which two were the curls designed by [[Joan van der Mey]]. Amsterdam also has many different kinds of other public urinals, with portable urinals being used for outdoor concerts and other events, retractable urinals being able to be used overnight before retracting into the ground and wheelchair accessible urinals for those who need them.

In 2016, it was announced that new retractable urinals for women would be placed in Dam Square, Amsterdam. The urinals were equipped with two urinals for men and onea toilet for women, with the one for womenwhich havinghas a lockable sliding door.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World’s first: Retractable hidden urinal for women set for Amsterdam’s Dam Sq. {{!}} NL Times |url=https://nltimes.nl/2016/03/24/worlds-first-retractable-hidden-urinal-women-set-amsterdams-dam-sq |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=nltimes.nl |language=en}}</ref> Unfortunately, there is still limited public toilet availability for women, with only a few throughout the city being accessible.

The pee curls to the side of the canals are kept in place by the local government to keep people from publicly urinating and thereby falling in the canal, in an attempt to cut down on the amountnumber of people falling into the canal; an average of 15 people drown each year in the canals due tofor multiple causesreasons, including public urination.<ref>[https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/03/25/te-veel-mensen-verdrinken-in-de-amsterdamse-grachten-7407634-a1551641 Te veel mensen verdrinken in de Amsterdamse grachten], NRC, 25 March 2017</ref><gallery>

File:Die verschrikkelijke Ah tas - Eerste Marnixplantsoen.jpg|A pee curl with [[graffiti]]

=== Phase-out policy ===

File:2022 Brug 12, Corsgenbrug, Asd-zijaanzicht (5) met krul.jpg|A pee curl next to a canal

There are 37 cast iron pee curls and three modern pee curls in Amsterdam as of 2024, however, the municipality has introduced a phase-out policy where, should one be damaged, removed or otherwise receive complaints, they are not to be replaced. The aim is to replace them with an "MVG-toilet", a type of public toilet usable by men, women and disabled people.<ref>[https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/van-de-175-zijn-er-nog-37-over-en-er-wordt-ook-weleens-in-gepoept-fotograaf-renzo-gerritsen-30-zocht-alles-uit-over-de-plaskrul~b2890fec Of the 175 pee curls, 37 are left], Parool, 12 June 2024</ref><ref>Taking A Piss In Amsterdam[https://plaskrulamsterdam.nl/boek-plaskrul-gezeik-in-amsterdam-fotografie/ , Ode to the Amsterdam pee curl], 14 June 2024</ref>

File:Sexmuseum Amsterdam 31.jpg|A pee curl depicted in the [[Sexmuseum Amsterdam]]

</gallery>

==References==

Line 55 ⟶ 50:

== External links ==

* [https://wwwmaps.paroolamsterdam.nl/ps/verzameling~q22ad0b5openbare_toiletten/?LANG=en] Collectionmap of photosthe ofpublic pee curlstoilets in Amsterdam]

{{Commons category|Plaskrul}}

{{Human waste elimination}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Amsterdam]]