Shutters close the windows to the outside world, while inside couples are just starting to get to know each other. They are seated on colourful sofas, leather sofas and on stools spread out over pieces of tacky red oriental carpets. A friend of mine had earlier told me about this club and I thought it would be an interesting experience to do some research on swinging, the phenomenon that started in the s as 'wife swapping'.
I did not tell them I wanted to write an article, and went there as a curious onlooker. As I entered the hidden world behind the shutters, some women were dressed in nightgowns, some men wore leather pants, but the atmosphere in general seemed too relaxed for my own anxiety. The club's door is open three nights a week for couples, singles, straight, gay, bi and transsexuals, who are allowed to have sex on the premises with others who share their preferences.
I was told that with the advent of spring, the club is increasing the number of thematic evening programmes to meet demand. I felt that people knew each other, but I could see some other couples' eyes innocently or not so innocently wandering around the room, waiting to be approached or to steel themselves before approaching other couples. One conversation I overheard was a couple telling another couple how they like to be dominant in their little master-slave swinging endeavours.
Swapping men with her is year-old Elinor, who says she will not take more than 10 men at a time. The room has a big cross on the wall with handcuffs attached to it.
According to him, there are free condoms for everyone's use and men are encouraged to use them by the club's owners. They told me that different evening programmes are arranged by member couples, but often there is limited access for hetero-, bi-sexual, and single men and women, with the latter offered free membership. There are separate gay programmes. Some of the other rooms consist basically of large mattresses on which multiple couples can have sex at the same time.
