Freikörperkultur

Freikörperkultur (FKK) is a social and health culture that originated in the German Empire, with its beginnings historically rooted in the Lebensreform social movement of the late 19th century. Freikörperkultur, meaning 'free body culture', promotes both the health benefits of nudity—such as exposure to light, air, and sun—as well as a broader aim to reform life and society. It is partly associated with the culture of nudity, particularly naturism and nudism, which involve communal nudity among individuals and families during leisure time, sports, and everyday life.

By the 20th century, the culture of communal open-air nudity in the 'great outdoors' emerged in Germany as a response to the unhealthy lifestyles associated with industrial urban living. Recognised for its public health benefits, the movement promoted nudity in light, air, and sun as a means of enhancing physical vitality and mental relaxation, offering relief from the stresses and anxieties of the Industrial Age. Today, there are only a few legal restrictions on public nudity in Germany. Under the terms 'naturism' and 'nudism', it is now internationally widespread, with associations and designated public recreational environments in numerous countries in Europe, North and South America, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. The largest distribution is still found in German-speaking countries and Scandinavia.