Ceremonial saunas in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Centre du Lac
Centre du Lac is a small-scale sauna and beauty centre in Pijnacker, between Rotterdam and The Hague, running for more than 35 years. It has seven saunas, among them a Kelo sauna for Aufguss, a Maa sauna, a Finnish lounge sauna, infrared and a Turkish steam bath, plus heated pools, plunge baths and a garden. Visits are nude on every day, and Monday is a women-only day. Free löyly sessions run daily; the sauna is open 10:00 to 23:00.
Elysium
Elysium is a large wellness resort in Bleiswijk by the Rottemeren lakes, north-east of Rotterdam, with an Oriental feel and around 25 saunas and steam rooms, among them a Marrakech sauna, a Havana sauna, a Russian banya, a Kelo sauna with daily Aufguss by sauna masters and a garden of reflection with outdoor cabins. Pools include a salt-water bath, a lagoon with waterfall, a heated outdoor pool and a plunge bath. Nude except on swimwear days. Day entry from €52.
Sweet Lake Wellness
Sweet Lake Wellness is a wellness resort in Zoetermeer with fourteen saunas set in two hectares of garden with natural ponds. They include a five-level tiered sauna, a salt crystal grotto, a forest of infrared cabins inside hollow tree shapes, a treehouse sauna, a koi sauna and two Kelo Aufguss saunas, the outdoor one seating up to a hundred people, with daily infusions included in entry. Swimwear is not allowed; minimum age 16. Open daily 9:00 to 22:00.
Thermen Barendrecht
Thermen Barendrecht is a boutique wellness resort just south of Rotterdam whose saunas are each themed on a famous painting, from Botticelli's Venus in the infrared cabin to Van Gogh in the meditation sauna. There are seven saunas plus a steam bath, Aufguss sessions in the Kelo sauna, a birch-whisk banya ritual, indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools and a plunge bath. There are no swimwear days. Day entry from €52; open daily 10:00 to 22:30.
Thermen Holiday
Thermen Holiday is a wellness resort in Schiedam, on Rotterdam's western edge, with eleven saunas and steam rooms ranging from a 55°C infrared Hobbit sauna and a film sauna to a tower sauna, a Siberian banya, a lavender sauna, a Kelo sauna and a 90°C 'diehard' sauna. Indoor and outdoor pools, an Oriental bath, a herb temple and plunge baths complete it. Saunas are nude except on scheduled swimwear days. Day entry from €46, evening from €36.
Centre du Lac
Centre du Lac is a small-scale sauna and beauty centre in Pijnacker, between Rotterdam and The Hague, running for more than 35 years. It has seven saunas, among them a Kelo sauna for Aufguss, a Maa sauna, a Finnish lounge sauna, infrared and a Turkish steam bath, plus heated pools, plunge baths and a garden. Visits are nude on every day, and Monday is a women-only day. Free löyly sessions run daily; the sauna is open 10:00 to 23:00.
Elysium
Elysium is a large wellness resort in Bleiswijk by the Rottemeren lakes, north-east of Rotterdam, with an Oriental feel and around 25 saunas and steam rooms, among them a Marrakech sauna, a Havana sauna, a Russian banya, a Kelo sauna with daily Aufguss by sauna masters and a garden of reflection with outdoor cabins. Pools include a salt-water bath, a lagoon with waterfall, a heated outdoor pool and a plunge bath. Nude except on swimwear days. Day entry from €52.
Sweet Lake Wellness
Sweet Lake Wellness is a wellness resort in Zoetermeer with fourteen saunas set in two hectares of garden with natural ponds. They include a five-level tiered sauna, a salt crystal grotto, a forest of infrared cabins inside hollow tree shapes, a treehouse sauna, a koi sauna and two Kelo Aufguss saunas, the outdoor one seating up to a hundred people, with daily infusions included in entry. Swimwear is not allowed; minimum age 16. Open daily 9:00 to 22:00.
Thermen Barendrecht
Thermen Barendrecht is a boutique wellness resort just south of Rotterdam whose saunas are each themed on a famous painting, from Botticelli's Venus in the infrared cabin to Van Gogh in the meditation sauna. There are seven saunas plus a steam bath, Aufguss sessions in the Kelo sauna, a birch-whisk banya ritual, indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools and a plunge bath. There are no swimwear days. Day entry from €52; open daily 10:00 to 22:30.
Thermen Holiday
Thermen Holiday is a wellness resort in Schiedam, on Rotterdam's western edge, with eleven saunas and steam rooms ranging from a 55°C infrared Hobbit sauna and a film sauna to a tower sauna, a Siberian banya, a lavender sauna, a Kelo sauna and a 90°C 'diehard' sauna. Indoor and outdoor pools, an Oriental bath, a herb temple and plunge baths complete it. Saunas are nude except on scheduled swimwear days. Day entry from €46, evening from €36.