KICKED OUT OF THE SAUNA FOR WEARING A BURKINI — AND WHAT THAT SAYS ABOUT HOSPITALITY
A woman visited a wellness resort in the Veluwe region wearing a burkini and was asked to leave after four hours. The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights ruled on September 17 that this constituted discrimination. The case touches on a question the entire wellness sector is grappling with: who is relaxation actually meant for?
What happened
It was a swimwear-required day at Zwaluwhoeve in Hierden. The visitor wore a full-coverage swimsuit made of swimwear fabric — headscarf, long-sleeved shirt, and long trousers — in accordance with her Islamic faith. She had already been inside for four hours when a staff member instructed her to leave because the house rules do not permit this type of swimwear.
Zwaluwhoeve argued that the dress code is necessary for the health, safety, and hygiene of visitors. The Institute did not agree. In ruling 2026-124, it concluded that there was indirect distinction based on religion and gender — intersectional discrimination, as a burkini is worn primarily by Muslim women. The hygiene argument proved untenable: according to the Institute, research shows no difference in hygiene between various types of clothing made from swimwear fabric. Furthermore, other Dutch saunas do permit burkinis.
A ruling by the Institute is not a judicial verdict and is therefore not legally enforceable, but it carries significant weight: businesses generally comply with it, and it counts in the event of legal proceedings.
What this means for those who wish to relax while covered
For many women, the barrier is not the clothing rule itself, but the uncertainty. Am I allowed in here as I am? Will I be stared at? Do I need to ask in advance? That doubt costs more than an entrance fee.
Modesty as the highest form of luxury
At Landgoed Nardinclant, that question does not exist because there is no public audience. The sauna is entirely private: you book it with your own party and share it with no one else. No house rules about who wears what, no glances, no explanations.
We believe that privacy is the highest form of luxury. Not the largest space or the most expensive interior, but the freedom to retreat and decide for yourself who you see. Discretion is not an accommodation for a special request — it is the standard.
Those who wish to relax while covered do not need to ask us anything. The door closes behind you, and the rest of the world remains outside.
SOURCES
1. Netherlands Institute for Human Rights — "Zwaluwhoeve discriminates against woman by not allowing her to wear a burkini", ruling 2026-124, September 17, 2026
https://www.mensenrechten.nl/actueel/nieuws/2026/09/17/zwaluwhoeve-discrimineert-vrouw-doordat-zij-geen-burkini-mag-dragen
2. NOS — "Woman in burkini wrongfully sent away from Hierden sauna", September 17, 2026
https://nos.nl/artikel/2631395-vrouw-in-boerkini-ten-onrechte-uit-sauna-hierden-gestuurd
3. DutchNews.nl — "Sauna wrong to toss out woman wearing a burkini", September 18, 2026
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/09/sauna-wrong-to-toss-out-woman-wearing-a-burkini/
