One of the biggest German stereotypes is their love of the outdoors. Hiking, swimming, cycling — whatever the weather. What's the truth? And where do they get their passion for the outdoors?
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00:00It's no secret that Germans love the great outdoors, but do they all really love sleeping
00:07in tents?
00:08How long is the German hiking route?
00:10And are they all really sitting naked at the beach?
00:12Let's find out.
00:2721% of Germans occasionally go camping, and over 10 million of them own some kind of camping
00:32or outdoor equipment.
00:33A camping vacation is seen as a cheaper alternative to the traditional beach holiday, and a way
00:38to connect with nature.
00:44Looks like they're getting the tent out.
00:57Indeed the need to strip back the complexities of modern life are important for Germans.
01:02The main reasons they pitch up a tent is to enjoy nature, to switch off from everyday
01:05life and to feel free.
01:08Julia and Michael are at a campsite.
01:11Camping is illegal in Germany, so you can't actually stay overnight in the middle of nowhere.
01:22Looks like Julia's had enough.
01:36Looks like our Michael is going shopping.
01:45Germans are famously known for their love of high fashion.
01:48Okay, not quite, but Germans do love clothing that's practical, versatile and ready to take
01:54on any alpine trek that comes their way.
01:56Because when you cycle, hike and swim as much as Germans, it makes sense that functional
02:00clothing is extremely popular.
02:0531% of Germans own outdoor clothing, and one in four plans to stock up on it soon.
02:15Functional clothing isn't just for sports and outdoors, it's become a way of life.
02:26Hiking is the most popular sport in Germany.
02:29In 2023, 39 million Germans went hiking, which is almost half the country.
02:34But hiking is more than just a sport, it's a form of natural meditation.
02:43Michael isn't worried about the weather.
02:45As the German saying goes, there's no bad weather, only bad clothing.
02:59Germans value the closeness to nature that hiking brings.
03:02They also use hiking as a way to de-stress and relax.
03:05Although I'm not feeling very relaxed right now.
03:14German's ideal hike length is between two and four...
03:21Two and four hours?
03:22I thought it was kilometres.
03:27I need a pay rise.
03:32Lakes are where Germans immerse themselves in nature, quite literally.
03:36There are over 12,000 natural lakes in Germany, and they're deeply woven into the country's
03:41social fabric.
03:46Lakes are generally free to use and open to the public, and because it's Germany, water
03:50quality is taken very seriously.
04:07Especially in the north, Germany has a history of winter bathing, which gained popularity
04:12during the Covid pandemic.
04:14Last winter, our Michael tested his Teutonism and tried ice swimming.
04:18He didn't like it.
04:32Germans have a reputation for nakedness, and 28% of German adults feel comfortable on a
04:37nudist beach.
04:45You didn't think we were actually going to show you that, did you?