TrendWatching Daily | Innovations

Dutch retailer HEMA solves the King’s Day toilet shortage, one home at a time

Written by Liesbeth den Toom | Apr 9, 2025 11:43:38 AM

As the Netherlands gears up for King's Day celebrations, retailer HEMA is addressing a perennial pain point at large events: the shortage of toilets, particularly for women. The brand has launched Thuistoilet (Home Toilet), transforming private residences across ten Dutch cities into a network of accessible bathrooms for orange-clad revelers.

Participating residents receive a free kit containing bathroom essentials like cleaning supplies, air fresheners, tampons and The Good Roll's sustainable toilet paper. Those in need of a loo will be able to find their good samaritan via a map on HEMA's website; homes are also invited to display an official poster. Hosts are asked to provide access from 1  pm to 6 pm on King's Day, and maintain full control over access to their home.

Tapping into people's innate desire to help others, Thuistoilet creates a framework for strangers to assist one another in addressing a practical need. Transforming a common constraint into an opportunity for doing good, HEMA and campaign developer Tosti Creative identified a feel-good, human solution that should boost both brand equity and community spirit on one of the nation's biggest holidays.