Scandinavia is the most open-minded region in the world and it’s perfectly legal in Scandinavia for nudists to swim naked, or to sunbathe either topless or completely in the nude.
What is Nudism?
Nudism is the practice of going without clothing in mixed groups and for purposes of good health or personal comfort. Governed by a strict set of rules, nudism itself is purposely non-erotic and non-sexual. It is said that nudism aids both exercise and relaxation while promoting stress relief, a positive body image and increased self-esteem. Research indicates that children who have seen their parents nude do not grow up emotionally scarred, but instead are much more likely to be accepting of their own nude bodies, and more comfortable with their own sexuality.
Nudism in Scandinavia
In 1936 Soren Sorensen created a nudist holiday camp on an island near Copenmhagen and founded the first nudist club in Scandinavia, “Sunny Sports North”.
The Scandinavian naturist campings and resorts are owned or rented by naturist aorganizations, and membership in a club associated with the International Narurist Federation is usually required for access. However, you will be heartily welcomed to a short time “test visit”.
In Denmark, nudism is allowed on 4,500 kilometers of coastline and there are four “free beaches” dedicated to naturists only.
Norway has over 20 clothes-free beaches, and Sweden offers about 60 clothes optional beaches for nudists. Signs are often used to inform beach visitors about nude-only or CO beaches.
The nude beaches are public areas where nudity is accepted, either officially or by practice. Everybody have access to these beaches.
Denmark
The Danes have what may be the world’s most liberal policy regarding nudity at the beach. There are just a few beaches in the country where nudity is specifically prohibited. There are also just a few beaches that are specifically set aside for naturists.
Danish naturists by and large are circumspect about choosing where to be naked. Almost all nude bathing occurs on beaches with strong naturists traditions or on remote or peripheral areas of other beaches.
Strandguide.dk describes about 100 naturist places in Denmark. Almost all pages of the website are available in Danish, English and German. Of the places described, a handful are naturist camping establishments, while the rest are beaches, and the sites range from lightly visited beaches with naturist potential to popular and well established beaches.
Norway
While just about any beach in Denmark can theoretically be considered a nude beach, Norway and Sweden follow a more usual model of having some beaches specifically designated for nudity and others where nudity is unofficially tolerated.
Nudism in Norway is not uncommon and widely accepted. There are about 20 declared nude beaches (“free beaches”) along Norway’s coastline and fjords at the moment. However, besides those official beaches, nudists in Norway have unlimited possibilities all over the country to take a swim in the nude without being embarrassed or embarrassing anybody. And the long coast line helps to find a private bathing spot at any time.
Norway’s offerings include five nude beaches that are in or in the immediate vicinity of the capital city of Oslo, and Huk Beach—located about 7 kilometers west of the city center—is the most popular nude beach in Norway.
The Scandinavian Tourist Portal website provides detailed information about many nude beaches in Norway.
Sweden
In Sweden over 70 beaches are detailed (just under half are described as official nude beaches) along with eleven naturist camping establishments. Sweden has a bigger selection of nude beaches which are roughly evenly divided between coastal locations and interior lakeshore locations. There are about a dozen nude beaches within a 50 kilometer radius of the capital city of Stockholm, including several that are within the city proper.
The Scandinavian Tourist Portal website provides detailed information about many nude beaches in Sweden.
Naturists in Scandinavia, written by Tor Kjolberg