Nallikari beach, Baltic Sea, Oulu, Finland. Image: Popova Valeriya / Shutterstock.com.
As of last summer, women in Helsinki can now enjoy the beach without wearing bikini tops if they choose.
Remarkably, the city implemented this change without making an official announcement, allowing residents to discover the update on their own.
City officials explained that this approach was chosen because there had been no significant complaints regarding toplessness on the beach.
Complaints typically involved full nudity, and, as a result, bikini bottoms and swim trunks are still required at Helsinki beaches.
Policy Change
Nevertheless, there appears to be an unspoken aspect to this policy change, as the authorities have remained notably silent about their progressive move.
In Finland, public acts that cause distress to others may be considered sexual immorality, though what precisely qualifies as such is not always straightforward.
While topless sunbathing is accepted at nudist beaches, it might still be seen as inappropriate in other public settings.
This issue reflects a somewhat ambiguous area in an otherwise progressive society, known for its sauna culture.
Broader Concerns
The change is linked to broader concerns of equality. Kerttu Hynni, head of the City of Helsinki’s recreation team, acknowledged that there had been previous inquiries about this matter.
In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, Hynni referenced the period between 2019 and 2021 when feminist activists held topless flash mob events to push for the ban s removal.
Helsinki has responded to these demands, aligning with the city’s commitment to equality for all residents, according to Hynni.
While this development is a positive step, the situation in other Finnish cities remains less clear.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our
Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Originally from Derbyshire, UK, Anna has lived in the middle of nowhere on the Costa Blanca for 20 years.
Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE!
Covering the Almeria, Axarquia, Costa Blanca North, Costa Blanca South, Costa del Sol , Costa Calida, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home.
With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close.
Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Close
