s if Amsterdam isn’t already a mashup of Disneyland and Alice in Wonderland, imagine an Art Deco spa in the center of the city that offers an oasis of hot saunas on cold winter days or cool dipping pools in the middle of the summer. Welcome to Sauna Deco, a spa that’s been in the same building on Herengracht 115A for the last 30+ years and serving up a healthy if slightly hedonistic experience for your senses.

There’s NO chance of modesty at Sauna Deco as this sauna is mixed gender and everyone is fully nude. No carrying around a towel to cover up your bits – it’s all about an authentic and relaxing experience – in your birthday suit.

1. About the spa

It’s a relatively compact sauna. Once you’re through the beautifully carved doors and are greeted by the receptionist (who IS clothed by the way), you’ll pay your dosh, then head off to the changing area – which is an unassuming room full of stacked old school lockers and benches.

This is probably where you’ll first start with the furtive glances left and right, breaking out in a sweat and wondering why In the hell you’re here – as the locker room is mixed-sex and there’s no room for shyness as everything comes off your body and hangs sadly in your locker.

Next up is the mixed shower where powerful nozzles spray you with water, by this time you’re feeling a bit better about being nude, because hey – it’s getting kind of fun. Then through another ornate door, this time of elaborate etched glass – and you’re in the sauna itself, free to explore the Finnish hot sauna, infrared sauna, and steam room. A cold dipping pool greets you in the back with some seriously freezing water. There’s also an outdoor private area where you can relax under an open sky and watch the steam lift off your body if you just came out of the hot sauna. There’s a second floor that serves as meditation or ‘quiet area’ where you can lay on mats, a chill-out room downstairs by the bar that serves juices and light snacks. Off to the right are some small rooms that deal in massage therapy and facials (for an extra fee).

One of my favorite offerings is a foot-soak area where you can sit on a tiled bench, put your feet in a shallow bath and alternate the water from scalding hot to ice-cold, and then repeat. After doing this four or five times my whole body just feels rejuvenated.

The staircase to the solarium

2. But… being nude?

The nudity aspect is a big issue at first (if you’ve not experienced it), then all of a sudden it becomes a non-issue as you notice that no-one cares, you adapt quickly. As much as you’ll read that nude sauna are just a way of life in Europe and that ‘no-one looks’. Well, I’ve been to several now in different EU countries – that’s not quite true… Of course people look, we’re human.. It’s impossible to stand at the bottom of a hill and NOT want to know what’s over that hill. It’s the same in the spa – sure, there will be quick glances to check out other people. Humans are just curious. It’s not everyday you get to see other people wandering around naked. I think what they mean is that it’s NOT a sexual situation, it’s just a place where you go to focus on detoxing, being healthy, unwinding from the city and enjoying a spectacularly designed sauna in the heart of Amsterdam. After a half-hour, you realize that there are all types of body shapes, all ages and that being nude is our normal state. If nothing else you’re able to free yourself from your insecurities and enjoy the experience.

I’ve been to Sauna Deco a few times and there’s typically a slightly higher ratio of women to men, and I’ve never been leered at or made to feel uncomfortable, it’s a safe, clean and unique experience.

The cold dipping pool

3. Note on photos

So far on this site, I’ve used my original photos 100% exclusively. However, since cameras aren’t allowed inside many of these images are taken directly from Sauna Deco’s website and their Facebook page – just to give you a quick look at their delightful interior. (I hope they don’t mind)

Before I went in and photos of the interior

4. A memory is better than a magnet

Out of all the many things you’ll do in Amsterdam, most of them will be forgotten or blurred into one quick snapshot named ‘Amsterdam’ – this is one memory you’ll bring home with you and remain crystal clear – probably because it’s one of the few times you’ve been vulnerable, but still safe. It might even encourage you to seek out other European spas (like Friedrichsbad in Baden-Baden, Germany). Sauna Deco is great for recovering after a night of drinking, or just something you can do alone or as a special treat as a couple. They’re open late almost every night (until 11 pm) and at around 25euro for a day pass it’s affordable. I’ve found the late afternoon and evening better than the day time.

Outside, open-air patio

Sitting area

Staircase

A few more views

Eye candy

When you come out of the sauna it’s easy to be tempted into some homemade chocolates from Puccini Bombini – only one block over as you walk back into the heart of the city (Singel 184). They serve up some of the most exotic chocolate bonbons filled with things like Fig Marzipan, Cointreau, Rhubarb, plum, coffee, ginger, mint, cranberry, and cognac – a fantastic way to top off a day of decadence from Sauna Deco.