Naked in Amsterdam

WNBR Amsterdam 2009

We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity
and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians plus all the negative
effects of oil, cars, war, consumerism and non-renewable energy.

That is the official message the World Naked Bike Ride is trying to convey through their
(m)ass action of riding bikes naked or as their dress code says:”Bare as you Dare”.

And bare they did.. at the first Northern Hemisphere WNBR which was held
in Amsterdam last Saturday 6 June 2009.

The World Naked Bike Ride group was created by Conrad Schmidt to help coordinate a
large international naked bike ride between many different activist groups across the World.

The World’s first international naked bike ride in 2004 was a collaboration between the
WNBR group which rode on 12 June and Manifestacia in Ciclonudista in Spain which rode on
19 June.

The following are excerpts from the official report of the Amsterdam WNBR 2009.

“The first Northern Hemispere WNBR 2009, Amsterdam, was successful and fine.
Although the weather was not so nice, with sun but also a strong cold wind and even frost
in the night before, some thirty people came and made a tour of about one hour through
the center of Amsterdam, riding along and crossing the wonderful Amsterdam canals
with trees, bridges and historical houses reflecting in the water, along the river Amstel
with the famous bridge “Magere Brug”, passing some crowdy places, including the heart
of the Netherlands, the Dam.

Most people who saw us, reacted very cheerful, joyful and encouraging, just a few people
looked disapproving. Many times people seeing us were calling lively to us, people on the
streets, groups “making Amsterdam by bike”, and people on round trip boats on the canals,
bike and boat being the two best ways to see Amsterdam. We were calling as well and
ringing our cycle bells. It is fine to see that most people get a good feeling from the WNBR.

Before the ride we had good contact with the Amsterdam authorities who showed to have
a broad vision on this colourful city. They were really cooperative in order to make it a tour
without problems and adviced us very well about the route.

Nevertheless we were glad to have portophones with us in some parts of the route with
narrow streets, crossing streets with much traffic or many pedestrians or traffic lights.

It was the second WNBR in Amsterdam and the first time through the center of Amsterdam.
The previous one was in 2005 with bad weather and only a few courageous riders.

Many of us carried WNBR slogans with papers attached to the bike or painted on the body.
Almost all of us were naked, some of us being glad when we finished with a content feeling-
and could put on warm clothes.

We hope that we have contributed to make people think about the matter-of-course use of
cars and scooters, of dependency of and addiction to oil and gas, the joy of moving on your
own power and at the same time wonder why we should conceal parts of our fantastic body.”

*Pictures are courtesy of The Netherlands’ daily newspapers : Telegraaf, Spits, Metro, and
nu.nl , parool.nl and gespot.at5.nl

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