Swimwear sauna day at Thermen Holiday in Schiedam on Sunday 20 September: day entry from 46 euro, 6 euro below Elysium's Monday

Dutch saunas are normally nude, which for many newcomers is a real barrier. BeWellness resorts therefore schedule a weekly swimwear day, a badkledingdag: on that day swimwear is compulsory in every sauna, bath and wellness facility, while on other days it is not allowed at all. Two resorts near Rotterdam schedule it differently. Elysium in Bleiswijk holds it every Monday; Thermen Holiday in Schiedam holds it every Tuesday plus one weekend day, Saturday one week and Sunday the next, and Sunday 20 September is one of them. Their websites list day entry from 52 euro and 46 euro. If you want to try a sauna for the first time, or a friend or partner will not go nude, choosing the right day matters more than choosing the resort, because on weekday swimwear days you cannot get in after 5 pm.

• The rules: on swimwear days only a bikini or tankini, a swimsuit, swim shorts or swimming trunks are allowed; full-body swimwear is not permitted for health and hygiene reasons. Changing rooms are separate for women and men that day. On all other days swimwear is not allowed. (source 1, source 2)
• Dates and prices: Elysium still has 14, 21 and 28 September (Mondays) and 5, 12, 19 and 26 October; Thermen Holiday has 15, 22 and 29 September (Tuesdays) plus 12 and 26 September (Saturdays) and 20 September (Sunday), and in October 6, 13, 20 and 27 (Tuesdays) plus 10 and 24 (Saturdays) and 4 and 18 (Sundays). Day entry starts at 10:00, evening entry at 16:30 from 42 and 36 euro, but neither resort offers evening entry on its weekday swimwear day. (source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4)
• Who it suits: first-time sauna visitors, and anyone going with a friend or partner who prefers not to be nude. Bring a large bath towel, two towels, a bathrobe and slippers, or rent or buy them at reception; a bathrobe is compulsory in the restaurants, lounges and on the terrace. (source 2, source 1)
• Before you go: weekday swimwear days are shorter. Elysium on Mondays and Thermen Holiday on Tuesdays close at 20:00, the last check-in is 17:00 and the facilities close at 19:30; on its weekend swimwear day Thermen Holiday keeps normal hours, with check-in until 19:30 and facilities open until 22:00. The BeWellness group page says its SpaSense, Thermen Barendrecht and De Valkenberg resorts have no swimwear days at all, so do not book the wrong one. (source 6, source 5, source 7)

The sum worth doing is the cost per hour: entry price ÷ (facilities closing time − your arrival time). Arriving at 12:00, on Sunday 20 September at Thermen Holiday the facilities close at 22:00, giving 10 hours, so 46 ÷ 10 = 4.60 euro an hour; on a Monday at Elysium they close at 19:30, giving 7.5 hours, so 52 ÷ 7.5 ≈ 6.93 euro. The websites show starting prices and the price for your day appears when you book, so put in the price you see and the time you plan to arrive.

This is not a discount: neither price list shows a separate swimwear-day price, and both resorts currently list swimwear days up to next February.

Where

Thermen Holiday: Pr. Beatrixlaan 10, 3121 JN Schiedam・Elysium: Kooilaan 1, 2665 KR Bleiswijk

When

Both open at 10:00

Price

Day entry from € 46 (Schiedam)・from € 52 (Bleiswijk)

Note

No entry after 17:00 on weekday swimwear days・Full-body swimwear not allowed

Hokimi field note: if a friend is simply shy, start with Thermen Holiday's weekend swimwear day; you can stay into the evening and nobody has to take time off work to be in before 17:00.