'Comfortable in my own skin': Foreigners react to public nudity in Germany

Everyone comes to Germany with certain ideas about what living amongst culture will be like.

If you did just a bit of research before arriving in the Bundesrepublik, you might have been prepared to battle the bureaucracy, put up with stern staff or face the language barrier. But did you come prepared for all the naked people?

Foreigners who move to Germany tend to learn quickly that the country takes a liberal approach to nudity.

Here a 'free body culture'—or Freikörperkultur (FKK) in German—is celebrated, and not always in private places: When it comes to saunas, mixed-gender and textile-free is the norm, and many beaches have an FKK section, for example.

This may not surprise those from neighbouring European countries, but it can be quite a shock for Americans, Brits or anyone from cultures that are less inclined to "letting it all hang out". 

We asked our readers if Germany’s pro-nudity attitude felt liberating or intrusive. Here is what they had to say.

'Strange behaviour'

The vast majority of respondents to our survey showed acceptance, or even a preference for Germany’s FKK culture, but a small yet vocal portion of our readers—around 15 percent—admit they still find the culture hard to stomach. 

Just a couple of our readers were somewhere in between, answering that public nudity in Germany made them uncomfortable "sometimes / in some situations".

Among those who stand opposed to nudity, some suggest their aversion is not about morality, but practicality.

"To be honest, I don't understand the allure of this strange behaviour," said Hyrum Talmadge, 31, a Utah native now living in Bochum. "What's the downside of wearing some clothes?"

Denise, 36, in Hamburg, also hasn’t come round to the idea. “I definitely have not gotten more comfortable with it. I actively avoid saunas and spas where it’s 'textile free'. In a country that takes privacy super seriously it’s beyond bizarre to me that somehow public nudity is welcomed. Coupled with the legendary German stare, count me out!"

She advised newcomers to "realize quickly that it extends way beyond the sauna and marked FKK beaches," adding that you may encounter nudity it in random parks, locker rooms, and at the lake. "Just accept that it's a local weirdness."

READ ALSO: Undressing at a Berlin sauna wasn’t the moment of liberation I’d hoped for

A 'healthier' perspective on the human body

Even those who embrace FKK can still occasionally be caught off guard by the locations where it pops up.

While locker rooms and lakes are more expected hotspots for nudity to take place, a few were surprised by nude locals in nightclubs, Munich’s English Garden and, according to 66-year-old Chris, a "public street in Leipzig".

"A girl in her twenties was doing cartwheels in the pedestrian shopping street completely nude," Chris said.

On the ‘flip’ side, many respondents claimed that moving to Germany had fundamentally changed their perspective on their own bodies.

"I am more comfortable with my body now," said Mathias in Lübeck. "I understand that the body is natural to everyone and that nakedness is by default not sexual. It helps promote a healthier body image than only seeing perfectly skinny people in movies or on billboards."

Julie, a 43-year-old American living in Hamburg, agreed that the culture has had a markedly positive impact on her self-image. “I’ve actually been able to feel comfortable in my own skin for the first time in my life,” she said.

For Julie, these benefits also extend to the next generation: “I’m happy to be raising my daughters in an environment where there is less focus on body consciousness.”

READ ALSO: How a German sauna taught a prudish American to relax at the sight of naked flesh

Thomas Wolf, 37, in Münstermaifeld, agreed, calling the German approach "one of the most enlightened things about the country."

Advice for the unexpecting expat

Whether our readers loved or loathed the nudity, there was a strong consensus that newcomers should adopt a 'live and let live' philosophy.

"It is fine not to like it and avoid it, but remember this is another culture. If that’s too big of a deal for you to handle, consider moving somewhere else", said Mahyar in Munich. 

For those coming from more conservative backgrounds, B. Wilson from the US offered some perspective: "Get used to it. It's just a naked body. You see horrific violence on the news every day...that is something to be truly offended by."

C.M. Worth, 53, currently living in Hessen, echoed this sentiment, encouraging newcomers to leave their cultural baggage at the border: "They're just bodies. They're not threatening, and they've nothing to do with you. In short, just get over the weird shame Anglo-American culture marinates everything in."

Luis O., 32, who lives in Berlin, struck a pragmatic tone for those who struggle with the sight of bare skin: "Just relax."

"Nudity is perfectly normal. It's not inherently sexual...pay no mind. And if you want to try it? Feel free to ease into it. Don't feel pressured."

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our survey! Do you find Germany’s FKK culture liberating, or do you prefer to stay covered up? Feel free to add your opinion in the comments.