Off with their threads: swimwear banned at German nudist beaches

The city of Rostock in Germany has introduced a strict new rule banning swimwear at its 37 designated nudist beaches along the Baltic coastline. While clothing had previously been tolerated in these areas, growing complaints from both nudists and non-nudists led officials to clarify that only full nudity is permitted. Those who refuse to strip down won’t be fined but will be asked to leave by city patrols.

The decision is controversial, with some arguing it’s outdated and difficult to enforce. Meanwhile, Germany’s historic Freikörperkultur is facing a decline, as the German Association for Free Body Culture (DFK) has seen membership drop from 65,000 to 30,000 in 25 years.

As Germany tightens the rules on traditional nudist spaces, the question remains: will enforcing full nudity help preserve naturist culture, or push it further into decline?