This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Reigh (talk | contribs) at 13:43, 26 July 2003 (added external links for the national and international organizations, minor rewording for readability, removed circular link). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 13:43, 26 July 2003 by Reigh (talk | contribs) (added external links for the national and international organizations, minor rewording for readability, removed circular link)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Nudism, or naturism, is the practice of going nude or unclothed in social and usually mixed gender groups. It sometimes occurs furtively in secluded places in countries where appearing naked in public is illegal, but enjoys widespread acceptance in other areas of the world. Those who practice nudism are called nudists or naturists and they refer to those that don't as textiles. A minority opinion is that being naked with other people is necessarily always sexual, and that nudism is moraly wrong or pornographic. Naturists universally reject this view.
Naturism should not be confused with naturalism, the study of nature.
Nudists believe that the human body is nothing to be ashamed of, being something that we all possess and ought to cherish.
Although the terms are used interchangably in this article, some would draw a distinction between the terms nudism and naturism. In this view a nudist is one who sometimes chooses to go without clothes. A naturist is one who embraces a philosophy that includes more than occasional nudity. Others would argue that the term naturism implies snobbery, and there is no distinction. A visit to a nude beach may entitle someone to be called a nudist, but does not make one a naturist. Changing and showering in a locker room probably does not qualify for either. Doing housework in the nude might. Many nudists do so casually at home. It might be noted that there is no requirement to be nude all the time. A common thought of nudists is being "always naked under my clothes."
Most nudists and nudist organizations maintain and try to enforce a no sex in public policy, (nude, not lewd) and it is rare to see obvious signs of sexual behaviour at most sites. These are the stereotypical family oriented clubs and beaches. Some fringe groups are more like sex clubs and not considered by most to be examples of true nudism.
Some nudist organisations do not allow people with body piercings on their premises (presumably this rule refers to the foreign objects in the piercings, not to the piercings themselves).
Germany (there called FKK or Frei Körper Kultur), France and the Netherlands are the top nudist movement countries in the world. Nudism is not as generally accepted in countries outside of Europe.
Major nudist organizations
World Wide: International Naturist Federation/Federation Naturiste Internationale (INF/FNI) with member regional organizations in 30 countries.
Canada: the Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN) and La Fédération Québécoise de Naturisme (FQN) are the two national nudist organizations.
Netherlands: has the Naturisten Federatie Nederland (NFN)
United States: the American Association of Nude Recreation (AANR) and The Naturist Society (TNS) are the two major nudist organizations.
Public outdoor nudist areas:
- Bredene, tram stop Bredene Renbaan (Hippodroom): sandy beach.
- Tambaba: sandy beach.
- Hanlans Point, a sandy beach just a 15 minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto, Ontario.
- Wreck Beach is the second largest clothing optional beach in North America with over 100,000 visitors each year. It is located in Vancouver, British Columbia on the north arm of the Fraser River.
- Oka, Quebec
- Munich, part of the Englischer Garten, near the city centre.
- Almere Zilverstrand
- Scheveningen, The Hague, sandy beach 1 km to the north.
- Zandvoort, sandy beach 2 km to the south.
- for more, see
- Morfa Dyffryn, Gwynedd
- Budleigh Salterton, Devon
- Studland Bay, Dorset - most famous UK nudist beach, now officially approved (after years of controversy) by landowner the National Trust
- Brighton, East Sussex
- Fairlight Cove, East Sussex
- Leysdown East Beach, Kent
- St Osyth, Essex
- Corton Beach, Suffolk
- Holkham Beach, Norfolk
- Cleat's Shore, Isle of Arran
- Gunnison Beach, at Sandy Hook National Park, New Jersey (near Highlands; one hour ferry-ride from Manhattan). Biggest legal nude beach on the East Coast.
- Haulover Beach, in Miami-Dade County, Florida (between Sunny Isles Beach, Florida and Bal Harbour). Most popular nude beach in North America.
Nudist area with entrance fee:
- Cap d'Agde, Quartier Naturiste (Nudist Quarter): sandy beach, several swimming pools, but also nude shopping, etc.
Naked Sports
See also Amersfoort, Gennep.