Keep in mind things have changed over the decades, with a general push towards a public health code for establishmends of “free bathrooms, free tap water”.
Historically, Germany used to be famous for having only a few stops along the highway, with toilets you had to pay for. Tourist traps along France, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, used to let restaurants and bars charge for bathroom use, patron or no patron. Gas stops varied wildly, from free bathrooms, to “hole in the ground” ones, to “ask the manager for a key” ones. Rest areas along highways tended to have just a free “hole in the ground” type toilet, and it was up to you to avoid touching anything, then wiping off your shoes .
As for public bathrooms (outside an establishment), it still varies from place to place. Public events are required to put a number of free porta-potties, tourist traps may want to either finance installations with a fee, or reduce the number of free-standing turds in the bushes.
Still, over time the general move has been from “pee posts” for sailors to freely urinate onto, or people going down some stairs to sea/river level and taking a dump right there, to having public bathrooms with a “donation” policy, to public bathrooms with free piss walls/areas and a self-cleaning booth for a nominal fee.
Keep in mind things have changed over the decades, with a general push towards a public health code for establishmends of “free bathrooms, free tap water”.
Historically, Germany used to be famous for having only a few stops along the highway, with toilets you had to pay for. Tourist traps along France, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, used to let restaurants and bars charge for bathroom use, patron or no patron. Gas stops varied wildly, from free bathrooms, to “hole in the ground” ones, to “ask the manager for a key” ones. Rest areas along highways tended to have just a free “hole in the ground” type toilet, and it was up to you to avoid touching anything, then wiping off your shoes .
As for public bathrooms (outside an establishment), it still varies from place to place. Public events are required to put a number of free porta-potties, tourist traps may want to either finance installations with a fee, or reduce the number of free-standing turds in the bushes.
Still, over time the general move has been from “pee posts” for sailors to freely urinate onto, or people going down some stairs to sea/river level and taking a dump right there, to having public bathrooms with a “donation” policy, to public bathrooms with free piss walls/areas and a self-cleaning booth for a nominal fee.