Authorities in Cologne, Germany, are spending up to €11,000 a month on security for a public restroom in the city center. According to the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper, the guarded facility is located on Krebsgasse, near Neumarkt Square.
Security personnel have been stationed at the restroom unit since May 2022. Their duties include preventing drug use and overnight stays inside the facility.
On weekdays, security is on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and until 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. Despite the security presence, the restroom is not free to use; visitors must pay 50 euro cents.
The city’s monthly expenses range from €10,000 to €11,000. In addition to guard wages, this sum covers the rental of the facility unit, electricity, and heating. Between May 2022 and May 2025, approximately €334,000 was allocated for these purposes.
Authorities plan to maintain security at the site at least until the opening of a new support center for people struggling with drug addiction. The center is currently scheduled to launch in August 2027.
If monthly costs remain at current levels, guarding the restroom could cost the city treasury between €640,000 and €704,000 over a five-year period. City officials anticipate that once the support center opens, the situation in the Neumarkt area will improve, eliminating the need for constant monitoring of the restroom.
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