This post was last Updated on September 19, 2020

Extended Versions of our Naturist Guides, we stumbled upon several forgotten ones from the early days. One of the first blog posts we ever published was called “Something about Cultural Differences“ in which we talked about nudism in different cultures around the world. While diving into all the content of our website for blog posts which we could include in our brand new, we stumbled upon several forgotten ones from the early days. One of the first blog posts we ever published was calledin which we talked about nudism in different cultures around the world.

When we were reading that post again we felt that something was missing. Although the information is still quite accurate, most of what we wrote were things we had learned from the internet. Our only naturist experiences had been in a handful of European countries and honestly, we didn’t know that all that much about the global naturist lifestyle at the time.

Today, after almost two years of traveling around the world, we thought it was time for a re-write. Not only have we visited many naturist places, but we’ve also gained a lot of personal experiences about how things are handled differently and we had the chance to talk to lots of nudist club members, naturist federation board members, nude resort owners, and so many other naturists and nudists.

It wouldn’t even be possible to put all that information in just one blog post. So we decided to split it up in three different posts. Today: Naturism in Europe.

Europe is where modern naturism got started

Nudism and naturism as we know them today originated from Western Europe. In the first half of the 20th-century groups of people from mostly Germany and the UK got together to enjoy being naked in the company of others. Without the whole thing turning into an orgy. Just like today, people had different reasons to enjoy nudism or naturism but back in the day, the most common one was because of the health factor (both physically and mentally) which was achieved by being naked in nature.

Which seems like a pretty sensible idea in the aftermath of the industrial revolution.

Historians and psychologists don’t always agree about at which point non-sexual social nude lifestyles started to flourish and what exactly was the trigger for them to grow into what we know as the naturism and nudism of today. Since we are neither historians nor psychologists, we can only guess. Just like with everything in history, it was probably a mix of reasons, coincidences, and being in the right place at the right time.

It doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that today the holy grail of naturist opportunities is still in Europe, its birthplace. But we have to be careful with that statement because Europe is a large continent with many different countries and cultures. The nude habits in one country are certainly not the same as in the one next door.

Naturism in East and North Europe

Ukraine for example has several nude beaches at the coast of the black sea and hosts a festival called KaZantip which is often called the little European sister of Burning Man. Just like her big brother, she’s not a stranger to nudity.

Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland do have nude beaches as well, and Hungary is becoming more and more important as a naturist holiday destination. In eastern Europe the naturist options are much more limited than in western Europe, that’s for sure. But you would be surprised about the eastern European countries which do have at least a couple of unofficial nude beaches or naturist clubs.for example has several nude beaches at the coast of the black sea and hosts a festival calledwhich is often called the little European sister of. Just like her big brother, she’s not a stranger to nudity.anddo have nude beaches as well, andis becoming more and more important as a naturist holiday destination.

In the north of Europe, the average temperatures may not be that attractive to the majority of naturists but yet there’s quite some social nudity going on. Finland, Sweden, and Norway are well known for their saunas and all these countries have several naturist clubs and campings for the long summer days. And those can be very long over there.

Naturist campings can also be found in Denmark and here’s a fun fact about that country. All public beaches are clothing optional by default. How cool is that?

Naturist clubs and nude spas

nude events, and the so-called naturist village. For the largest selection in naturist places you still have to be in western Europe. The options are huge and include campings, resorts, clubs, B&Bs,and the so-called

An important distinction we can make here is between the countries which merely focus on local naturists and those who focus mostly on naked tourists.

Germany, The Netherlands, and also our home country Belgium have a long history in local naturism. Germany was the birth math of naturism as we know it and naturist camping Athena Ossendrecht on the border of Belgium with The Netherlands was one of the first places to host the international INF Congress. Other than historical importance, these countries still offer a lot for the local naturist in the form of campings, clubs and nude beaches. and also our home countryhave a long history in local naturism. Germany was the birth math of naturism as we know it and naturist campingon the border of Belgium with The Netherlands was one of the first places to host the international INF Congress. Other than historical importance, these countries still offer a lot for the local naturist in the form of campings, clubs and nude beaches.

Germany also has a history of wellness, spa, and communal bathing. A habit which is by default practiced nude. Do you know any famous German bathing suit designers? We don’t think so.

Several decades ago the nude spa also found its way towards Belgium and The Netherlands and because the weather is this part of Europe is not always decent enough to drop your clothes outside, these indoor facilities know a huge success. Interestingly, more and more Belgians and Dutch start to enjoy social nudity in the spa without identifying themselves as naturists or nudists. also has a history of wellness, spa, and communal bathing. A habit which is by default practiced nude. Do you know any famous German bathing suit designers? We don’t think so.Several decades ago the nude spa also found its way towardsandand because the weather is this part of Europe is not always decent enough to drop your clothes outside, these indoor facilities know a huge success. Interestingly, more and more Belgians and Dutch start to enjoy social nudity in the spa without identifying themselves as naturists or nudists.

The misconception about English naturism

UK. In the comments that we often receive on Naked Wanderings, it strikes us how many people still believe that the Victorian age has never ended and that the British are still the prudes of Europe. A European country which isn’t often at the top of favorite destination lists of the nude traveler is the. In the comments that we often receive onit strikes us how many people still believe that the Victorian age has never ended and that the British are still the prudes of Europe.