If you've ever been to the Netherlands, you've probably noticed something that feels different from back home: people are just... chill about bodies. Nudity in saunas is the norm, not the exception. Sex education starts early and talks about pleasure, not just biology. Conversations about sexuality happen openly, without the whispering and awkwardness that characterizes so many other cultures. And the results speak for themselves — the Netherlands consistently ranks among the top countries in the world for sexual health, low teen pregnancy rates, and overall sexual satisfaction.
My partner and I spent time exploring this aspect of Dutch culture, and what we found challenged a lot of our own assumptions. Here's what we learned.
It Starts With Education
Dutch sex education is often held up as a gold standard, and for good reason. Children begin learning about bodies, boundaries, and relationships in primary school — not in a fear-based "this is what could go wrong" framework, but in a positive, health-affirming way. By the time they're teenagers, topics like consent, pleasure, and emotional communication within relationships are part of the curriculum.
The philosophy is pragmatic rather than moralistic. Instead of pretending that young people won't become sexually active, the Dutch approach acknowledges that they will and focuses on making sure they have the tools to do so safely and respectfully. This doesn't lead to more sexual activity among teens — it actually leads to less risky behavior, later first sexual experiences, and higher rates of contraceptive use.
Nudity Without Shame
One of the most striking things about Dutch culture is the complete normalization of non-sexual nudity. Saunas are clothing-free by default. Changing rooms at pools and gyms are communal. Beaches have designated nude sections that families walk past without a second glance. There's a cultural understanding that a naked body is just a body — not an invitation, not a scandal, not something to be ashamed of.
For someone coming from a culture where nudity is almost always linked to sexuality or shame, this takes some adjusting to. The first time you walk into a naked sauna surrounded by strangers of all ages, shapes, and sizes, there's a moment of "Is this really okay?" But within minutes, you realize that nobody cares. Nobody's looking at you critically. Everyone is just there to relax. And that feeling of normalcy does something profound to your relationship with your own body.
Openness About Sexuality
The Dutch approach to sexuality extends far beyond education and nudity. Amsterdam's Red Light District, while often treated as a tourist spectacle, is actually part of a broader regulatory framework that treats sex work as legitimate labor deserving of protection and rights. Whether you agree with that approach or not, it reflects a culture that would rather engage honestly with the realities of human sexuality than pretend they don't exist.
In everyday Dutch life, conversations about sex are remarkably straightforward. Parents talk to their children about it without extreme discomfort. Couples discuss their desires more openly. And there's less judgment around sexual choices, orientations, and lifestyles than in many other Western countries. The prevailing attitude seems to be: as long as everyone involved is a consenting adult, it's nobody else's business.
What We Can Learn
I'm not suggesting that every country should copy the Dutch model exactly. Every culture has its own history, values, and complexities. But there are elements of the Dutch approach that I think are universally valuable:
- Honest, age-appropriate sex education that includes pleasure and emotional health, not just disease prevention
- Normalizing bodies in non-sexual contexts to reduce shame and improve body image
- Pragmatic approaches that deal with reality rather than idealized versions of how people "should" behave
- Reduced stigma around sexual choices, preferences, and conversations
See It for Yourself
In the video below, I share our full experience exploring Dutch attitudes toward sex and nudity, including some moments that challenged my own comfort zone and changed how I think about body positivity and sexual culture. It's one of those episodes that reminded me why traveling and exposing yourself to different perspectives is so valuable.
