Why do Dutch toilets have a shelf?

The purpose of the shelf is inspection. You're meant to look at the consistency, shape, color, abnormalities, etc. before flushing, and then hope that the rush of water cleans the shelf enough – otherwise, that's what the brush is for.

Why do some toilets have a shelf?

Instead of excretions making the plunge straight into the water, this toilet has a prominent shelf midway to catch everything. The natural question is why, oh why!, would Germans create this? And Germans have a practical, disgusting answer. I m told that the shelf is indeed to catch one's leavings for examination.

Are Dutch toilets different?

For a lot of people coming to the Netherlands it's an unpleasant surprise. What is the typical Dutch toilet? The bowl has a unique shape which includes a sort of shelf, a little bit above the water level.

Why do some German toilets have a shelf?

Advantages: Energy costs in Germany are much higher than in the United States, which includes the cost of water. Therefore, the shelf toilets were designed to use much less water than their American counterparts - hence the shelf.

Why is the Dutch toilet different?

Arguably the most alarming feature of a Water Closet is the infamous Dutch toilet bowl. Dutch engineers have designed the bowl itself to contain a plateau set well above the normal water level. To say the least, one must be very comfortable with themselves and all their excrements on the display shelf.

How to handle a DUTCH TOILET?

Why do the French have squat toilets?

France and Italy are an exception and have some squat toilets remaining in old buildings and public toilets because they used to be the norm there in the early 20th century. In BMW Welt in Munich, the public restrooms have some stalls with squat toilets.

Why are there no curtains in Amsterdam?

The most popular explanation stems from the Protestant religious tradition of Calvinism, which insists that honest citizens have nothing to hide. Closing the curtains could indicate otherwise.

Why do the Dutch have sinks in the bedroom?

Why is there a sink in the bedroom? It may seem a bit weird to see a sink in the bedroom, but it is quite common in the older parts of the cities! In the good old days, sinks were often in the bedrooms because showers were not in your typical dutch apartment until about 50 years ago!

Do Dutch toilets have an inspection shelf?

Well, we can thank the Germans. The purpose of the shelf is inspection. You're meant to look at the consistency, shape, color, abnormalities, etc. before flushing, and then hope that the rush of water cleans the shelf enough – otherwise, that's what the brush is for.

Do you flush toilet paper in Amsterdam?

To illustrate, in Amsterdam, a million people use water to shower, flush toilets and use their washing machine every single day. By flushing down about 33L of water – that's per person per day –cellulose-rich toilet paper also goes down the drain.

Are Dutch descendants of Vikings?

No, the Dutch were not part of the Vikings. The Vikings originated in Scandinavia. Scandinavia is a region in Northern Europe that traditionally included the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Sometimes people include modern Iceland in the broader region of Scandinavia.

Why you shouldn't sit on the toilet for more than 15 minutes?

Spending too much time on the toilet causes pressure on your rectum and anus. Because the seat is cut out, your rectum is lower than the rest of your backside. Gravity takes over, and blood starts to pool and clot in those veins. Add in any straining or pushing, and you may have a recipe for hemorrhoids.

What is a ghost toilet?

Ghost flushing, also known as phantom flushing, occurs when the toilet tank flapper is no longer creating a watertight seal with the flush valve, causing water to unnecessarily leak into the toilet bowl.

Why are there 2 toilet bowls in Europe?

However, while one of the systems most definitely is a toilet for human wastage, the other serves a different purpose. The other "toilet" is in-fact a bidet. You have likely heard of bidet but may not have come across one in the UK, as they are not installed as standard in UK homes or even in most hotels.

Why do European toilets have two buttons?

The toilet has two buttons on the cistern rather than the single-flush one; one button delivers a lesser amount of water (eg. 3 litres) and the other a greater amount (eg. 6 litres). It also uses a larger 10 cm trapway in the bowl, allowing for water to come out faster and clear the bowl efficiently.

Do the Dutch not wash their hands?

The Dutch are the least hygienic country in Europe, a survey by GallUp has revealed. Only 50 percent of Dutchies surveyed washed their hands each time, automatically with soap and water after using the toilet.

What are some weird Dutch traditions?

Why do Dutch houses have steep stairs?

But is there another explanation? Centuries ago, houses in the Netherlands were taxed based on their width. Expanding living space horizontally was expensive. Ever thrifty, the Dutch opted for building taller houses instead – with extremely steep and space-saving stairs.

What is considered rude in Amsterdam?

It is rude to speak whilst chewing gum. Knock before entering a room if the door is shut. Standing with your hands in your pockets can be considered impolite. Compliments are usually given in private directly to the person that deserves them.

What is the blue light district in Amsterdam?

What Is The Blue Light District? The blue light district in Amsterdam is an area within the Red Light District with several transgender sex workers. Some transgender prostitutes use blue lights in their window brothels to indicate that they are different as the female sex workers.

Why are there no homeless in Amsterdam?

In Amsterdam, you will hardly find any. The reason is a policy that the 4 largest cities in The Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, and Utrecht) and the Dutch government implemented in 2006 to get homeless people off the streets.

Why do toilets in Italy have no seats?

Most Italian public toilets don't have a toilet seat.

This has to do with maintenance. Since public toilets are often less than spotless, people often climb with their shoes on top of them, not to sit on a potentially dirty seat.

Why is toilet paper pink in France?

It is said that pink was the regional preference at the time; how they came to this conclusion, is a mystery! It is thought that this colour was selected to compliment the bathroom décor – pink bathroom anyone? Of course, white toilet paper is available in France (it's also cheaper), it's just much less common.

Why are German toilets like that?

Energy costs in Germany are much higher than in the United States, which includes the cost of water. Therefore, the shelf toilets were designed to use much less water than their American counterparts - hence the shelf.