Clothes Free Travel

A-Z TRAVEL — Naturist Edition: E is for Elysium Wellness Resort, near Rotterdam, Netherlands

So much naked indulgence! Who knew that taking your clothes off could be this much fun?

I could have called this post “E is for EVERYWHERE” in the Netherlands when it comes to naked bathing and sweating.

TEXTILE TIP: Unlike the thermal spas in Germany, most of which have an area where swimsuits are required and another area that is textile-free, Netherlanders seem to be even less inhibited than their southerly neighbors.

That said, if you scour these websites carefully — typically in Dutch — you’ll find that most have either a “ladies-only day” or a “swimsuit-required day.” Those are both important to note as you’re planning your visit, as the potential for disappointment is great on either side of that fence. Just don’t plan to show up on a “naked day” and expect to wear a swimsuit. That’ll be the biggest disappointment of all!

The pressure’s on!

I’ve been publishing my A-Z NATURIST DESTINATION SERIES on Globetrotters, but their editorial team is about to unplug for a week of well-deserved rest and relaxation.

In the meantime, I have yet to publish the redux of my spa-exploration tour of Northern Europe from a couple of months ago. Seems that piece will need to wait until the new year, but maybe I can at least squeak out this piece on Elysium Wellness Resort near Rotterdam.

My wife and I first visited Elysium about ten years ago upon the recommendation of a friend from Austria. Our requirements were succinct: Warm pools for a good soak, and the freedom to be naked whether sweating or swimming.

We had already been to Therme Erding near Munich and assumed this would simply be more of the same, but right from the start, it was an entirely different experience.

How, you might ask?

Nudity and demographics!

I don’t know if Netherlanders are simply less inhibited than the Germans — hard to imagine, I know — but simply the layout of the place, with the close proximity of various pools, saunas, and other attractions for unrelenting self-indulgence means you’re also going to be in close proximity to a lot of naked people.

It fact, it’s not uncommon to see people simply move from one place to the next without as much as wrapping in a towel.

Ironically, we had friends visit a spa in Germany who got scolded by the staff for trying that stunt. Imagine, walking around naked in a place full of naked people.

Since that first visit, I returned to Elysium back in November for a day visit with my daughter. If those two visits represent any statistical reliability at all, I can also report that the median age of the clientele is also a bit younger than what we’ve seen at most German spas. Lots of 20 and 30-somethings out for a nice day at the therme leads one to believe that social nudity is not going out of style as some would wish to allege. At least not in Northern Europe.

In terms of amenities, there is a wide array of saunas and steam rooms all at various temperature and humidity levels, but they are scattered throughout the complex, so it’s something of a scavenger hunt to find them all.

If you google images from the archives, you’ll see there’s a large indoor L-shaped pool in the middle of the complex surrounded by reclining loungers where people tend to nap and read. (As did I!) It’s apparently only recently that they’ve redone that area to create a jungle of hanging vines that come down within a meter or so of the water. Hanging amidst the vines are large wicker bucket chairs that suspend you right at water level as you dangle your feet in the warmth.

Total decadence.

In fact, there are pools around every corner at various temperatures, including a small cavern with waterfalls that will give you a refreshing back massage. It simply doesn’t get better than that.

As I write this, it suddenly occurs to me that I already posted a story about the amazing salt pool at Elysium, along with a few more details about the pool with the hanging wicker chairs. If I’ve piqued your interest, you should go back and read that here….

Truthfully, while Elysium was lovely, I could have called this post “E is for EVERYWHERE” in the Netherlands when it comes to naked bathing and sweating.

To that end, I should give one additional shout-out to Elaisa Wellness Center just across the southern border into Belgium. Perhaps that should have been my “E place!” But I think I’ll save that for my big SPA TOUR REDUX as it was an experience like we’ve had nowhere else. Sort of like walking onto the set of Eyes Wide Shut, but with your eyes wide open.

That said, I’m going to wrap up this post and send it off to the Globetrotter gods hoping I make their pre-holiday cut-off.

Once back from the holidays, I’m eager to take you to naked places in Spain, Los Angeles, and Mexico, — those will be F, G, and H — in addition to finishing up my “Blow through northern Europe Spas Tour.”

So much naked. So little time.

I wish you all a joyous Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating this time of year, and send you early greetings for a happy nude year.

I’m especially thankful for the editorial team at Globetrotters — JoAnn Ryan, Adrienne Beaumont, Anne Bonfert, and Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages for keeping us all dreaming of a world beyond a white Christmas.

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