A naked hike in the Schoorl dunes.

Once you’ve tried it, you want to do it more often. That’s been my experience with naturist hiking as well. After my first, very short walk in the Dijkgatbos, I was hooked. Experiencing the freedom of being naked in nature is truly wonderful, but come September it always starts to get a bit chillier again. Not always ideal for a naked walk.

A week after my first walk, my husband had a morning shift. Since it was Sunday, I had the day off, and I decided to cycle with him to his work and then continue for a ride through the Noordkop. It was still before half past six when we left and fairly cool. After dropping my husband off at work I continue cycling to the start of the Westfriese Dike near Schagerbrug. I’ve cycled here before, and at this hour on a Sunday morning I know the chance of meeting anyone is very small. As soon as I’m on the dike, I stop briefly to take off my cycling shorts, and naked I cover the 9.5 kilometers to Krabbendam. It stays a bit misty and crisp, but thanks to the cycling I’m certainly not cold.

At Krabbendam I put my cycling shorts back on. From there it goes through built-up areas for a while, before reaching the dunes via Schoorl and Groet. It’s now a quarter to eight. The sun is increasingly beating the mist, and the temperature is slowly rising. In the shelter of the woods it’s even fair to call it pleasant already.

On an earlier bike ride I had passed the Groeter Zandgat, and that’s where I’m parking my bike now. There’s a small lake here, and I decide to go for a walk through the surrounding forest. I take off my cycling shorts and enjoy the silence around me. Apart from the sounds of the forest and myself, I hear nothing. Through the trees the first rays of the rising sun are already coming in, and naked I start exploring the area around the little lake.

Again, it’s not a very long walk, but the surroundings are beautiful and I take all the time I need to let it sink in. When I get back to my bike I put my cycling shorts on again and hop on to finish my loop. Quickly home for coffee and a relaxed Sunday.