Beaches that allow nude sunbathing are often described as “clothing-optional,” but clothing is not an option on the nude beaches of Rostock, Germany (the city’s Warnemünde Strand is pictured above).
Clothed visitors could reportedly get kicked out of the naturist-only sections of beaches along the destination’s 9-mile-long Baltic Sea coastline for violating the (un)dress code.
The take-it-off-or-take-it-elsewhere measure, to be enforced by the area’s beach wardens, follows “numerous complaints” from nude sunbathers who “felt harassed” by clothed beachgoers, tourism official Moritz Naumann told The Independent.
Sounds like some vacationers should read up on our tips for practicing nude beach etiquette—though some of the rules should be pretty obvious, starting with prohibitions against gawking, taking photos, saying rude things, or otherwise being creepy.
If you’d rather not strip down on the strand, you have other options in Rostock. In addition to naturist-only areas, there are clothed and mixed (i.e., truly clothing-optional) portions as well.
And even in the naked places, according to Naumann, clothed visitors are likely to be banned only “in case of conflict.” He added, “The main focus is to protect those who genuinely feel disturbed.”
Public nudism in Germany—known as “Freikörperkultur” (free body culture)—has a long history but appears to be on the wane among younger generations, Naumann notes.
That’s one reason why Rostock officials have decided to reduce the number of spots along the shore where nude sunbathing is allowed.
Going forward, travelers can either join the naturists’ dwindling number or move along to a more restrictive stretch of sand.