Visitors at the Dreilinden family pool in St. Gallen have expressed concern regarding the presence of children in the facility’s designated women-only area. While some long-term guests argue the space should remain a quiet, protected zone exclusively for adults, the pool management maintains that the area is open to all female guests regardless of age, while noting that boys are not intended to use the space.
Why the debate over the women-only area is growing
The conflict centers on the intended purpose of the historic Holzkastenbad area at Dreilinden. According to reports from the magazine Nau, long-term visitors feel the space is meant for women seeking a quiet, sheltered environment. These guests contend that mothers with children should utilize the general family areas instead. Some visitors have called for stricter enforcement of access rules by staff to prevent these exceptions, suggesting that allowing children once creates a precedent that is difficult to reverse.
How pool management handles access rules
The Badi Dreilinden stated to 20 Minuten that the women’s area is reserved for female persons of any age, meaning girls are permitted regardless of how young they are. However, the management clarified that the area is not intended for boys. Despite the reported frustration among some guests, the St. Gallen facility confirmed that no formal complaints regarding children in the women-only section have been filed with the onsite staff in the recent past. The pool advises that any guest bothered by a situation should contact the staff directly, who will then assess the circumstances and enforce rules if necessary.
Did You Know? The Dreilinden family pool in St. Gallen features a historic Holzkastenbad, a traditional wooden structure that has long served as the site for its dedicated women-only swimming area.
Comparing policies across Swiss pools
The approach to women-only zones varies significantly across different Swiss cities. In Zurich, staff at the Seebad Enge, such as employee Laura Müller, told 20 Minuten that they rarely hear complaints about children in the women’s section. Other Zurich facilities, including the Frauenbad Stadthausquai and the women’s areas at the Oberer Letten and Utoquai, allow access to all female-read persons, with some permitting male-read children under the age of six. In contrast, the Gartenbad Eglisee in Basel provides a distinct setup, offering a separate women’s bath that includes its own dedicated children’s pool, potentially mitigating conflict by providing specific amenities for families.
Expert Insight: The tension at Dreilinden highlights a common trade-off in public infrastructure: the challenge of balancing universal access with the desire for specialized, quiet spaces. When management policies are perceived as ambiguous, it often leads to friction between user groups who have different expectations for the same physical environment.
What could happen next
If complaints continue to rise, the facility may face pressure to clarify its age-related access policies or implement clearer signage regarding the presence of children. If the management maintains its current stance, they may need to rely more heavily on staff intervention to mediate disputes between guests. Alternatively, if the demand for “quiet-only” spaces grows, other facilities might look to the Basel model of providing separate, family-oriented infrastructure within women-only zones to reduce overlap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are boys allowed in the women-only area at Dreilinden?
No, the Badi Dreilinden explicitly states that the area is not intended for boys.
Have there been official complaints about this issue?
According to the Badi St. Gallen, no corresponding complaints have been placed with the staff in the recent past.
Do all Swiss pools have the same rules for women-only areas?
No. While some facilities in Zurich permit male-read children under six years of age, other locations like the Gartenbad Eglisee in Basel offer separate infrastructure to accommodate both women and children in different ways.
How do you think public pools should balance the need for quiet, protected spaces with the requirements of families with children?
