Why would someone change something that works?
Munich, Spring 2025.
Desperately seeking a public toilet. And there it is.
It was a huge relief to finally find this.
…however, I could have walked by because of this sign from ancient times.
Memories from my childhood came to my mind. And the thought why this was changed.
The use of “00” to indicate a toilet originated in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, particularly in public buildings, hotels, and train stations. The term referred to a room outside the regular numbering system — the toilet was not considered a guest or office room, so it was simply labeled “00”, meaning “non-standard room” or “room number zero-zero.”
This label became a common euphemism for the toilet in German-speaking countries.
In other countries, this practice did not exist. English-speaking regions use terms like “WC”, “restroom”, or “toilet”, and in French-speaking countries, “salle de bains” or “les toilettes”. The “00” designation is not recognized internationally and is largely unknown outside the German cultural context.
