In the Netherlands toilets have a kind of shelf built into the bowl. Why?

This is a serious question. I can think of no reason for it to be there and neither can anyone else I have asked. By keeping the waste above the level of the water it creates quite a lot more stink than normal toilets.

The kind of toilet we have in the Netherlands is/was the normal kind of toilet.
I have used different kinds and have gladly gone back to the traditional Dutch kind.
Much easier to clean, never dirty water splashing up, the stink is no worse than any other toilet I used.
And you can see how healthy you are (if you are interested in that.)

I assume you mean the toilets with the hole toward the front? It probably has to do with saving water. That's the only reason I can think of. I can imagine it's not a whole lot of fun to clean toilets like that. No splash back though.

I think they just like to inspect their junk. You can tell a lot from a pile of crap. Just ask the doctors in Jurassic Park!

Ive heard its because they eat a lot of meat, and its to check their stools for worms!

Sorry, no answer to your question, just another comment on this fantastic toilet.

I think this is the best toilet I have ever come across. When I first saw one, I called that shelf an 'observation deck'. Great for checking out if the colour, consistency and ingredients are normal. Any good poos you do in other toilets, go torpedoing down the S bend and too late to check!!!

The 'no splash' is just great!!! Easier to clean off skiddies cos the poo hasn't travelled far from the **** to the landing spot. There is definitely no extra smell - unless it was going to anyway!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!

Toilets in Germany have the same set-up, it's kind of funny .... I like to think of it as a way of checking your health.