Is it true that Germans love the outdoors?

DW (English)

One of the biggest German stereotypes is that they love the outdoors: hiking, swimming, cycling, whatever the weather. Is it true? And where does the passion for the outdoors come from?

Transcript

00:00It's no secret that Germans love the great outdoors, but do they all really love sleeping

00:07in tents?

00:08How long is the German hiking route?

00:10And are they all really sitting naked at the beach?

00:12Let's find out.

00:2721% of Germans occasionally go camping, and over 10 million of them own some kind of camping

00:32or outdoor equipment.

00:33A camping vacation is seen as a cheaper alternative to the traditional beach holiday, and a way

00:38to connect with nature.

00:44Looks like they're getting the tent out.

00:57Indeed the need to strip back the complexities of modern life are important for Germans.

01:02The main reasons they pitch up a tent is to enjoy nature, to switch off from everyday

01:05life and to feel free.

01:08Julia and Michael are at a campsite.

01:11Camping is illegal in Germany, so you can't actually stay overnight in the middle of nowhere.

01:22Looks like Julia's had enough.

01:36Looks like our Michael is going shopping.

01:45Germans are famously known for their love of high fashion.

01:48Okay, not quite, but Germans do love clothing that's practical, versatile and ready to take

01:54on any alpine trek that comes their way.

01:56Because when you cycle, hike and swim as much as Germans, it makes sense that functional

02:00clothing is extremely popular.

02:0531% of Germans own outdoor clothing, and one in four plans to stock up on it soon.

02:15Functional clothing isn't just for sports and outdoors, it's become a way of life.

02:26Hiking is the most popular sport in Germany.

02:29In 2023, 39 million Germans went hiking, which is almost half the country.

02:34But hiking is more than just a sport, it's a form of natural meditation.

02:43Michael isn't worried about the weather.

02:45As the German saying goes, there's no bad weather, only bad clothing.

02:59Germans value the closeness to nature that hiking brings.

03:02They also use hiking as a way to de-stress and relax.

03:05Although I'm not feeling very relaxed right now.

03:14German's ideal hike length is between two and four...

03:21Two and four hours?

03:22I thought it was kilometres.

03:27I need a pay rise.

03:32Lakes are where Germans immerse themselves in nature, quite literally.

03:36There are over 12,000 natural lakes in Germany, and they're deeply woven into the country's

03:41social fabric.

03:46Lakes are generally free to use and open to the public, and because it's Germany, water

03:50quality is taken very seriously.

04:07Especially in the north, Germany has a history of winter bathing, which gained popularity

04:12during the Covid pandemic.

04:14Last winter, our Michael tested his Teutonism and tried ice swimming.

04:18He didn't like it.

04:32Germans have a reputation for nakedness, and 28% of German adults feel comfortable on a

04:37nudist beach.

04:45You didn't think we were actually going to show you that, did you?

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