Question about casual nudity in Germany

I think while there may be a cultural element to this, the issue more lies in whether or not you trust your girlfriend or not.  Either way, it seems like you're insecure and you should probably have a discussion with her and let her know you're uncomfortable with the situation.

When I lived in Germany, my landlord lived beneath me in a multi-level house.  More than once I knocked on her door to ask something, and she answered the door naked.  It was no big deal, nothing sexual was going on, though the first time it was quite a surprise to say the least.  She was engaged by the way, while I was still single...but again, it was no big deal.  We behaved like respecting adults towards each other.

I know it's not a direct comparison to your situation, but maybe it gives some perspective.  You can accept your situation and say nothing, or talk about it with her and handle your fears one way or the other.

Romaniac
Expat.com Experts Team

In Scandinavian countries, which have a strong sauna culture, public nudity is quite normal and nobody think much about it (which is quite natural: We were all born naked and until a few thousand years ago, mankind had no clothes).
In Germany, some people follow this approach, some others are more squeamish and avoid places of public nudity.
There are also regional differences: I am surprized you bring this up, although having lived in Munich, which is the most open city in Germany in this respect, with public nude bathing and sunbathing in inner city parks.
In any case, you should tolerate your girlfriend's wishes, as she probably does yours. You do not need to follow her if you feel uncomfortable in the nude.
If however, as Romaniac pointed out above, this is a matter of trust, then please treat it as such and don't talk of nudity!

Well yeah I know I am insecure in a way but I totally trust my girlfriend. She was totally forthcoming about it and never hid anything from me. I am no prude either, having gone to nude beaches with her all over Europe. It is just the context of the nudity that disturbed me. I find that for me, being nude in front of strangers is okay, being nude with your coworkers (opposite sex) seems too intimate.

I have asked some of my expat friends (men and women). The general consensus is that with the German culture, people don't mix business and pleasure... and that work relationships USUALLY don't extend outside the office. So it comes off a little weird to invite a female coworker to such an intimate outing.

Maybe they're wrong, so I thought I'd just get some opinions here from local German people.

It is not that I distrust my gf, I distrust her male coworkers (just an instinct), though I should give them the benefit of the doubt. I am concerned some of them may have ulterior motives... potential stalkers etc... you know what I mean.

Brennan82 wrote:

It is not that I distrust my gf, I distrust her male coworkers (just an instinct), though I should give them the benefit of the doubt. I am concerned some of them may have ulterior motives... potential stalkers etc... you know what I mean.

In my opinion, you don't have to trust her male-coworkers.  Who are you in a relationship with, the gf or the co-workers?  If you trust her, then trust her to make the right choices towards your relationship, including dealing with any unwelcome advances or inappropriate behavior of her co-workers......but it seems as if there has been no issue of that.  Show her the trust and respect that you would want her to show you.

On a side note...I routinely met my German co-workers outside the office for drinks, bbq's on the weekends, birthdays.  So it isn't unheard of to have some social contact outside the office in Germany.

Romaniac