Have you heard of freikörperkultur? It’s German for ‘free body culture’ and has been an integral part of the country’s way of life since the late nineteenth century, with people historically being encouraged to disrobe and bare it all to properly connect with nature.
Across Germany, beaches, parks and even hiking trails have been designated nudist areas. However, today, younger generations aren’t feeling so emboldened, and it’s impacting the free-spirited vibes so much in one beach destination that new regulations will soon come into force.
Rostock, a seaside city on the Baltic sea, has in recent years reduced its number of naturist beaches from 37 to 27. But the city is determined to maintain nudist culture in its remaining naturist hubs. And now, after ‘numerous complaints from people who felt harassed’, the city has announced that beach wardens will have the power to ban visitors determined to keep their swimwear on, according to euronews.
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Moritz Naumann, from Rostock Tourism, told CNN that this is only to happen in instances of ‘conflict’, but it’s worth being aware of if you’re not quite prepared to don your birthday suit.
If you are prepared to let it all hang out, other rules in nudist areas also apply (though if you’ve got some common sense, it won’t be hard to remember): all body types are welcome, but taking photos, staring, and making comments to other people are prohibited.
Not quite vibing with letting it all hang out? Rostock’s beach is 15 km long, with plenty of mixed-use and clothing-only beaches – we’d recommend opting for one of those, instead.
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