MDL Fund and KHN sign agreement for better access to catering toilets

Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN) and MDL Fonds (for stomach, intestine and liver) today signed a national cooperation agreement to increase freedom of movement for millions of Dutch people. The aim is a broad movement in which catering entrepreneurs hospitably open their toilets to owners of the digital toilet pass, even without an order in return. By doing so, the hospitality industry underlines the importance of accessibility and hospitality for this group of pass holders.

For almost one in four Dutch people, the fear of not being able to find a toilet is a reason to stay at home. This applies to a broad group, from people with gastrointestinal or liver disorders to the elderly, pregnant women and parents with young children. By signing this cooperation agreement, both parties aim to remove uncertainty among these groups and make the Netherlands more accessible.

Hospitality without barriers

In this collaboration, KHN expresses its intention to actively call on its more than 18,000 members to open their sanitary facilities to holders of the digital MDL Fonds WC pass in the WC Wijzer app, even without the obligation to consume anything.

“Access to a toilet is not a luxury for many, but a basic need,” said Mariël Croon, director of MDL Fund. “We are extremely grateful for the hospitality of KHN. Thanks to their support, passholders will soon be able to enter the city with a more relaxed heart. This agreement is a powerful signal to enterprising Holland.”

Call to entrepreneurs

KHN president Marijke Vuik: “For hospitality entrepreneurs, hospitality is paramount. With this cooperation agreement, we encourage our supporters to remove the threshold for passholders, where it is possible within the possibilities of the business. Of course, the individual entrepreneur decides whether this is feasible. In doing so, we show together that a small gesture makes a huge difference to the accessibility of our society. This is a social responsibility we are happy to support and we hope more stakeholders will do the same.”

Mutual respect

For the partnership to be successful, MDL Fund requires pass holders to use the facilities respectfully. Leaving the toilet tidy and showing gratitude -for example, by a small tip- are central to keeping support among entrepreneurs high.

Findability through the app

Hospitality establishments that participate will be made visible in the MDL Fund WC Wijzer app. This allows users to see at a glance where they are welcome. The cooperation has a duration of at least three years, during which both parties will structurally develop the agreements made in the agreement.