Pori permanently closes Yyteri nude beach

Pori has ruled out reopening its nude beach at Yyteri, shutting the door on a decades-long tradition despite calls from Finland’s naturist community, Yle reports.

The beach, established in the early 1990s on the dune-backed shores of Yyteri, operated officially until 2021, when the city closed it following reports of sexual misconduct and other disturbances. Complaints, particularly from families with children, cited incidents of public nudity in the water—violating the beach’s own rules requiring swimwear.

Lauri Kilkku, director of Pori’s vitality and environment sector, confirmed the closure is final, stating the city sees no need for a designated nude beach.

Juha Jonsson, chair of the Finnish Naturist Association, called the decision disappointing. The group, with around 300 members, has abandoned efforts to revive the beach, noting Pori’s unwavering stance. Jonsson lamented the loss of Yyteri’s long sandy shores, a prime location for naturists, and highlighted the economic impact: a nearby hotel, now vacant, once hosted the association’s winter carnivals.

Though the beach is closed, some naturists continue to sunbathe nude in the area, now without an official zone.