Nudists Sweat It Out at Dutch Gym

A dozen middle-age and elderly men were game enough for a Dutch gym's invitation to work out nude. But they were vastly outnumbered by the dozens of journalists watching them lift, row and cycle in the buff.

Fitworld owner Patrick de Man allowed the media in for the first session of "Naked Sunday" after receiving inquiries from as far away as Russia and Australia.

The response from nudists was more lukewarm.



A smattering of men trickled in and out throughout the day at the gym in the small town of Heteren, 60 miles east of Amsterdam. They found the exercise room packed with photographers, TV crews and reporters who jostled for interviews and pictures while the nudists hit the machines and free weights.

No women showed up for "Naked Sunday", even though eight were among the 100 people who had signed up for the event.

"It's always the same, the first ones to shy away are the women. You see that at nudist camps too," said Henk.