More than a few years ago, an employee where I worked visited the Hermitage, I think at that time it was in the still USSR. He bragged that he had taken an extra suitcase filled with toilet paper, and had largely financed his trip by selling the toilet paper. I don't know if he was being truthful or not.

This week my wife was talking to my sister about our upcoming trip to the Netherlands, and my sister, who had visited in the previous millennium, said that hygiene in the Netherlands was poor, and suggested we take toilet paper and hand cleaners. I've read a lot about the Netherlands, and hygiene has never seemed to be an issue. So is my sister's advice outdated? Or should we pack some bathroom supplies in the extra suitcase we take to bring home souvenirs?

Can't wait to read people's comments on this.

Clevelandbrown, this is a joke, right?

Saturday evening, here it comes .

You wanted to express you feeling that all dutch people smell/stink?
Right?

Geez!

Being married to a Dutch person and having visited Holland about 3 times, I find it amazing that someone thinks the Netherlands is not clean!!!

This is a joke, right? Is there a punch line?

Having just returned from Amsterdam I can say that you might have a problem FINDING a bathroom.... unless you are in a musuem, restaurant or department store. But when you do it will be very clean and well equipped.

The chances of needing TP and hand cleaners is greater in your flight over than in Netherlands itself.

Netherlands is quite hygenic nowadays. Even the prostitutes in the red light district have to complete regular doctor check-ups to satisfy government regulations.

I still wouldn't go swimming in the canals though.

Where is the camera ???

Does your sister live a bubble?

I worked in the Netherlands for 6 months the thought of poor hygeine never crossed my mind.

I hope there's not a link to sister, red light district, and the Netherlands!

"and my sister, who had visited in the previous millennium"

I am impressed.

clevelandbrown's sister must be over 108 years old. She obviously was there before 1900.

The last time I was in Amsterdam I was impressed with big plastic outdoor toilets that were set up for a concert in a park. The interesting thing was that as one stood and urinated, one could talk to the people walking by on the sidewalk. How convenient! No doors, no privacy. But very social.

Also, there are fly decals inside the urinals at Schipol Airport. Aiming targets, I guess.

I think the Dutch are as clean as the rest of the people in the western world. And they have helped make peeing more fun!

Those guys that can't pee in public will have problems in the Netherlands . Relax...

Hold your noses every one, I am after all in unhygenic Holland, where TP and handwashing are unknown.

The Dutch are well know as being extremely clean and houseproud.

gomiki said it is sometimes hard to fins a public toilet, but once you find one it will be clean, with the possible exception of some at petrol stations along the motorways. Note that the stops that include a cafe always have impeccable loos, but some petrol stations can leave alot to be desired, as they can anywhere in the world.
We at least always provde flushing toilets which is more than can be said for some of our European neighbours with their squat latrines.

If you feel the need to to bring a case load of TP and hand cleanser with you feel free to do so. It will mean you can carry less clothes of course, which means you will have to wear your underwear for more than a day but tahts Ok as long as your hands are clean right?

Yeah, all those smelly dutch in their trailers on the german autobahns.

Wow! Given your new found knowledge, you will most assuredly want to bring toilet paper, hand sanitizer, lysol, paper towels, and pinesol. Given your expectations of hygiene, you may want to consult your physician about necessary immunizations. God's speed, and may you prevail over the germs.

This is a common misunderstanding, since most modern innovations involving toilet paper (rolled, perforated, splinter-free, etc.) originated in the US.

Correct, all the sh*t and shi*t management originates in the US. Btw. I'm using hungarian TP, and it isn't splinter-free, just cheap!

So your going to take toilet paper and sell it? Gee,why didn't I think of that! I could travel all over the world selling toilet paper. Brilliant idea!