Foundation - Walk of Wisdom

Walk of Wisdom Foundation

The Walk of Wisdom Foundation is a small foundation with big plans based in Nijmegen.

We are independent of any religion and work with volunteers as much as possible. In addition, we think it is important that the route remains accessible to people with a small budget. The foundation does not receive any subsidy and is entirely dependent on donations for the starter packages, among other things.

Our inspiration is the life force of nature and the connection between people and with the world. As a symbol of that connection, we dream of a pilgrimage route around the world with the same symbols and values.

Read the Charter with our basic principles.
Photo: clean-up action Hatertse Vennen, Marja Hakkoer

Damiaan Messing was the creator of the Walk of Wisdom based on a bachelor’s thesis in Ritual Studies at Radboud University. He developed the route together with Manja, but left the foundation at the end of 2024. More about him via broederdamiaan.nl.

Broeder

Employees

The coordination is in the hands of Manja Bente.

Manja has been co-developer of the Walk of Wisdom since 2011 together with pioneer Damiaan. Manja came up with, among other things, the characteristic pilgrim’s lace and bird rings. She is now a part-time coordinator and works as a nursing teacher at an R.O.C.

Manja Bente door Monica Boschman

Board of the foundation

Statutes Walk of Wisdom dated 12 April 2021

Volunteers

Dream Team Starter Kits

The Walk of Wisdom could not exist without all the volunteers who make it possible:

Pilgrim’s Office
Tineke Hendriks and Salima Schipper. Replacement: Anja Steenbergen.

Starter packs (packing, tying shoelaces)
Maria Ludikhuize, Vivian Cremers, Lidia van Engeland and Henk-Jan de Vos, Ryon Groenen, Marliz Hustinx, Sytske Zwart, Bodorien Dubbens, Claartje Bos, Birgit van Onna, Joke Greep, Anja Steenbergen, Nellie Direks, Annemieke Dister, Marlies van Schaijk, Jacky Versteeg, Anja van Wegen, Nia van der Burgt, Nico Kroon, Ingrid Jansen, Jon Wouda, Anne Louman and Petra Bloemendaal (Louman & Friso Design Agency)

Route keeper Monique

Markings and GPS
Route management general (our “route keeper”) Monique Zoon.
Markers: Jan Alers, Jasper Koedam, Martijn Pel, Lidy van Lie Peters, Wim and Marianne Groos, Paul and José Noort, Stefan Schoofs, Marlou Elsen and Evert, Karen and Marlene Gloudemans, Riet van Koningsveld, Heli and Drikus Sanders, Anja van Wegen and Gerard van der Wielen.

Thanks to Frank van Soest for the GPS tracks, Conny van Beelen, Ryon Groenen and Ronald Baksteen and Machteld Meij for minor maintenance.

Wim: “It is satisfying to be able to help as a small cog, ‘n’ dot of humanity, in “giving direction” to their lives.

Accompaniment and music departure ceremonies
Valkhof Chapel

Departure ceremony Walk of Wisdom

Musicians: Mark Schilders, Jan Willem van Opstal, Marjolein Pieks, Janneke van Dijk (Goudreinet), Frank Drijvers. Masters of ceremonies: Lidia van Engeland (www.questieconsult.nl), Birgit van Onna, Manja Bente and Lieneke Akkerman.

With thanks to the Valkhof Society for making the 10th century Nicholas Chapel available free of charge.

Stevenskerk:

Ton Reijnders and Jeroen van Zuylen (Stevenspedel). Constantly changing readers. Thanks to our start and end point, the Stevenskerk, for the hospitality.

Accounting
Willy Kokke. Advice: Ger Peters.

Website design and technical management
Ivan Beemster: development and technical management of the website (lijndiensten.com). With the support of the Klei collective (Geertje Roling and others).

Silent walks
Marja Hakkoer and Vivian Cremers: coordination.
Guides: Hans Peerden, Geert Bos, Olga Bakers and various others.

Manage stay list
Olga Bakers, with the support of Gerard Gerritse (technician), manages the overnight list. Thanks also to Mieke Klaver for setting up this list.

Final editing
Damien Brass

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE STEVENS CHURCH FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY!

Founding Board

The Walk of Wisdom Foundation was founded on 10 October 2011 in Nijmegen by not only Damiaan, but also Huub and Adelheid Kortekaas and Martijn Messing. All three are no longer involved in the board.

Huub and Adelheid are visual artists and designers of the symbol of the
Pilgrim
route.

Martijn is a pioneer in sustainable energy and focuses on the energy transition in Brabant.

Kunstenaarsduo en ontwerper van ons symbool Pelgrim

Martijn Messing

Advisors

Our very first advisor and inspiration was Professor Ronald L. Grimes. The idea of the Walk of Wisdom was developed based on the work of Grimes, specifically Deeply into the Bone: Re-inventing rites of passage (2000), Beginnings in Ritual Studies (1984) and Rite out of Place (2006).

Read the Bachelor’s thesis with a review of his work here and the Dutch summary here.

prof. Ronald L. Grimes

Main partners

Huub and Adelheid Kortekaas (visual artist)
Theo van Stiphout and Sytske Zwart (Intermedi-Art Art Affairs)
Anne Louman (Louman & Friso Design Agency)

Funding

For information on funding and remuneration see link.

Future plans

Strategic plan International pioneering and deepening phase Walk of Wisdom 2021-2024: dangerous.

Foundation details

Business address: Pater Brugmanstraat 33, 6522 EH Nijmegen
Email: [email protected]
Bank account: NL56 TRIO 0254 4007 36
Chamber of Commerce: 53744829 Nijmegen
Tax number/RSI: 850999674 (exempt from VAT)

For more information, please contact the foundation and ask for co-coordinator Manja Bente (06 109 48 951).