Along the way On the road: Jan Veltman (pilgrim nr 2) on the Walk of Wisdom

Jan Veltman is the second pilgrim to register for the Walk of Wisdom in mid-2015. And when he returned, he turned out to be the second arrival. During the departure ceremony where the 999th pilgrim recently started his journey, Jan told about his experiences. Below you will find his story.

Dear pilgrims and attendees

Apart from the fact that I had known Damien for several years, the characteristic character of the Walk of Walk of Wisdom ‘The path of your own wisdom’, was certainly a reason for me to walk as a fairly experienced pilgrim, as one of the first. 

For me, pilgrimage is more than walking, namely meaningful walking, but also meeting, letting your thoughts go and connecting words, adventure, often not knowing where you sleep at night and also enjoying everything you see and feel that happens to you.

For me, some quotes from famous people are a regular part of my pilgrimages, such as ‘You don’t choose the way, but the way chooses you. So the choice is not the way, but the way you go that way’ and ‘my existence’ is a fact, but ‘life is an art’. That’s how I create art.

With these thoughts and the philosophical lecture by Désanne van Brederode, the poem by Froukje and the thunderous speech by Jan Terlouw, on Sunday morning 21 June 2015 at the opening ceremony in the Stevenskerk in Nijmegen, I started the Walk of Wisdom. 

On the first afternoon I had many encounters with people unknown to me. On the second and third day I walked partly together with a pilgrim, and then continued alone the following days.

Along the way, I have experienced that the Walk of Wisdom and the environment around Nijmegen are connected, despite some contrasts. Of course I also enjoyed the different landscapes. It couldn’t have been better. Although it is a contemporary pilgrimage, independent of any religion, Nijmegen and the surrounding area was already known during Roman times, so it was one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Pilgrimage is also an ancient activity.

Upon my arrival on Friday 26 June 2015 at around 1.45 p.m., I was registered as the 2nd pilgrim in the register, very special, first as the 2nd registrant, with the particularity, after six days of ‘even more wisdom’ through self-reflection, sharing and involvement.

Thanks to Damien. 

Jan Veltman 

Photo: Jacinta Kogelman