Location
Netherlands
Status
Unofficial / Tolerated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Grass / lawn
Best season
June to August
About Naaktstrand Maarsseveense Plassen
The Maarsseveense Plassen are two former sand-extraction lakes of about 20 and 70 hectares, dug in the 1960s, between Utrecht and Maarssen. The paid Strandbad on the north-west side of the Grote Plas has a fenced naturist section of about 1.2 hectares with its own entrance next to the SpaSereen thermal complex. It consists of sunbathing lawns sheltered by trees and a small sandy beach with children's play equipment; swimming is limited to a roped-off area, about 1.6 m deep, reached from jetties, and there is a separate children's zone. A local association, the Naturisten Vereniging Maarsseveense Plassen, is linked to the site. Separately, two small lawns hidden in the woods on the north-east side of the lake have been tolerated for nude use for years; they have no facilities and the lake bed drops away steeply there. Bathing water quality has been classed as poor in recent seasons, so check the advice before swimming.
Getting there
Buy a ticket at the Strandbad ticket office on the Westbroekse Binnenweg side; online tickets must be exchanged for a barcode at the till before entering. Walk through the sauna car park to the naturist entrance. Free parking is about 300 m away and there is bicycle parking about 150 m from the entrance. The nearest bus stop is a long walk away, so most people cycle from Utrecht or Maarssen. The fenced area is described as suitable for wheelchair users.
What visitors say
Naturist guides describe the fenced section as a well-kept, sheltered lawn area popular with regulars and families, with the small beach and roped swimming zone as the main draw. Complaints focus on the ticket process, the very busy summer weekends and recurring warnings about water quality. The tolerated woodland lawns are quieter but basic, and visitors warn that the bottom shelves steeply there.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Dutch law allows nudity at places suited to it, and the Strandbad sets aside a fenced, signposted naturist section. We could not open the operator's own page to confirm the current arrangement, and the two north-east lawns are only tolerated (gedoogd), not designated.
Naturism at Naaktstrand Maarsseveense Plassen sits under Netherlands's rules for de facto tolerance — usually left alone if you keep it non-sexual and low-drama.
Full country law: Netherlands public nudity guide.
Researched 24 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 52.1417, 5.0867
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there an official nude area?
Yes, the Strandbad has a fenced, signposted naturist section with its own entrance, according to naturist guides; two other lawns on the north-east side are only tolerated.
Can I use an online ticket?
Only after exchanging it for a barcode at the till; it does not open the naturist gate directly.
Is swimming safe?
Swim only in the roped area. The water has had a negative bathing advice for poor quality in recent seasons, so check before going.
Is it family-friendly?
Yes, the fenced section has a small beach, play equipment and a children's area.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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