‘I feel liberated’: My very British introduction to Germany’s nudist Free Body Culture

12.06.2024 - 09:49 / euronews.com

With the rise of wild swimming, forest bathing (traditionally known as going for a walk in the woods) and ‘Iceman’ Wim Hof's sub-zero philosophies, there is a definite trend for reestablishing bonds with the natural world across Europe.

And it isn’t confined to rural destinations. I’m planning a trip to Berlin in December so I turned to my local friend, Johan, to find out how I can get in on the trend.

He suggests that we check out the Helios Club, which he likes to visit after work or at weekends to relax. When I asked what it entails, he said it's a family-friendly community where members eat and drink, play sports and socialise or just walk around the club's woodland sucking up nature.

I replied in the affirmative, but I could hear a chuckle in Johan's voice. “You should probably know, being British, that it's an FKK club.”

I had no idea what that meant, but Johan, an accomplished musician with an urbane wit and a mischievous sense of humour, rarely invokes my nationality unless it is to imply some cultural shortcoming. I gulped before asking what exactly FKK meant.

His reply sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. “It's kind of a nudist club.”

Johan explained FKK, or Freikörperkultur, which translates as Free Body Culture, is a German tradition which dates back to the end of the 19th century. The movement encourages adherents to shed their clothing and participate in healthy activities to connect with the natural world. It promises a physical and mental boost in a community of like-minded individuals.

Johan joined the Helios Club only recently, at the behest of his daughter after she visited with a friend's family.

“My daughter rang me one day after school and said, ‘Oh, you know, we're in this club and it's quite cool. You should come and check it out.’”

When he arrived, he was immediately struck by the location. “It is fantastic,” says Johan. The club is inside a fenced-off piece of land about the size of three football pitches in the middle of the Grunewald - a 3,000-hectare forest in Berlin and the city's largest green space - which means children can't run out and strangers can’t get in.

The club has excellent facilities: along with changing rooms and lockers there is a cafeteria and a bar inside. And then there’s the sports area, with six tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, basketball hoops and a track and field area. Johan explained that most members do not play sports naked, but there are some diehards who do.

There are also occasional camping weekends where people bring their tents and stay overnight. “And then everybody goes for a midnight dip in the pool. These are fun little events where there is also music, dancing and a barbecue,” says Johan.

But this wasn't Johan's first naked rodeo. In