Last Updated: March 21, 2024

Points

Please note: due to abundant rain, it is high tide and very soggy. For special points of attention at high tide, see below. Do you walk with a dog? At three points of the route you have to make a detour: link.

Roadmap 1: Getting Started
Those who leave will no longer be added to the pilgrim register in the Stevenskerk. This only happens upon arrival. You are welcome to start in the church, e.g. in the chapel of silence or at the 2.2-metre-high statue of our icon Pilgrim. Lake.

Roadmap 3: Public sex spot
The beach in the far upper corner of Bison Bay is used as a public sex spot for gay men. Usually only in good weather and in the afternoon. You walk a bit away from it, but it is still experienced as confrontational by some hikers. Walk if necessary. in an arc around the corner. Prefer to avoid the whole place? Turn right at map 3, dot 3 and you will walk under the Bison Bay to the Oortjeshekken stop.

Route map 4: barbed wire for footpath and maintenance of the pedestrian ferry
At dot 3, the path to the right after the ditch is sometimes closed off by barbed wire. This is because of the crossing of cows. Just bend down (for the barbed wire)!
FOOT FERRY IN MAINTENANCE. The pedestrian ferry after ball 5 is still partially under maintenance. The pulleys are very laborious. It’s a work in progress. Are you on your own and it doesn’t work? Then go back to the church of Persingen. Keep following the paved road until you reach a road with a bike path next to it. Turn right here. Take the next exit to the right again. You will then automatically arrive at the pedestrian bridge over the motorway (dot 7) and are back on the route.

Route map 4: nuisance caused by walkers and dogs
At bolletje 8, a local resident has complained about walkers. Kindly request to keep a dog on a leash here and not to relieve yourself or at least cover the result with soil/leaves (a good idea everywhere actually).

Roadmap 9: Biting dog (situation seems resolved, but stay alert)
In 2021 and 2022, there were complaints about an aggressive dog at Bolletje 2. The situation seems to be solved (dog in kennel), but if you want to exclude any risk, don’t turn left at map 8, dot 6, on the cobblestone road, but go straight ahead. You will then automatically arrive at the disused railway line. Turn left here. After the second railway crossing you are back on the route: map 9, dot 2 and 3. Keep following the railway track and follow the description of polka dot 3. Encountered any problems? Mail us.

Route map 24: detour to Wijchen
The municipality of Wijchen came up with a detour for those who want to visit the historic center or have to go to Wijchen station. Start from dot 6: look here. Highly recommended for pilgrims who occasionally walk a day trip. For pilgrims who walk the entire route, it probably feels like a detour. You do get something in return in the form of two lakes, a ‘love lane’, a chapel to burn a candle, cozy terraces and an old castle. After Wijchen station, you return to the route via a new housing estate.

Only in case of high tide or heavy rain

Roadmap 1: flooding in Ooijpolder
The Ooypoort bridge at route map 1, dot 11 is flooded at high tide. Now, in the winter of 2024, an area after the Waal beaches will also be flooded.
– Therefore, turn right at the Ooypoort, up the stairs to the road. Turn left at the top. The houseboats are on your left.
– Then take the first exit on the left. You walk over a lock (Hollands Duits Gemaal) that turns into the Ooyse Bandijk.
– Keep walking on the Ooyse Bandijk. Ignore turns. On your left will be a group of houses.
– Keep ignoring turns. After 500 meters there will be a large pool of water on your left. After the puddle of water, there is another small group of houses on the right. Keep walking straight ahead.
– After 200 meters, turn right at Langstraat. You are back on the Walk of Wisdom route map 2, dot 5.
– Please note: around Bison Bay it is flooded again. Turn right on the dike and follow it to our stop Oortjeshekken.

Route map 3 and 4: chance of mud and slipperiness
Has it rained a lot for a few days in a row? Then there is often mud in the Ooijpolder and a chance of slipperiness. For some a hilarious adventure, for others reason for a detour. You can usually go via a dike or a parallel street around it. Prepare yourself for dirty shoes and possibly make sure you have a stick for support.

Route map 19: Nederasselt fishing pond
At bolletje 9 you will pass a fish pond. In case of prolonged and abundant rain, it can flood, making the path impassable. Continue for 200 meters and take the first exit to the right. You will then automatically arrive at the dike. Turn right and almost immediately left. You are now back on the route: map 20, dot 1.

Route map 26: behind Hernen Castle
The paths from bolletje 5 to 10 are passable, but swampy.

Roadmap 31: flooded floodplains
The Waal beaches (walking route) just after the Ewijk motorway bridge are sometimes blocked by high water. After the highway bridge, you can then follow the trail of the cattle that goes around the water until you can stroll along the Waal again. The walking route is highly recommended instead of the main route via the asphalt dike!

Latest news staging points (bird rings)

Bring your pilgrim’s
lace
Several stops ask for your pilgrim’s lace when picking up a bird ring.

Start and end point the Stevenskerk
Please note that you can only sign up here at the end of your tour, not at the beginning (opening hours). Church closed ? Ring the bell at the white door, which you run into when you walk under the gate from the Markt. Sometimes there is a rental and the volunteers don’t have time, please respect this. For missing bird rings, go to Lunchen bij de Bruijn or Foodbar de Pelgrim (see route guide). Mail [email protected] to be added to our register of participants with your arrival date.

Bird ring Mook-Middelaar: the Hunting Lodge is open again! But our birdhouse with the rings is located on the information board of the greenhouses behind the Hunting Lodge, opposite the picking garden. Recently, there is also a birdhouse with rings next to the office of the Mookerheide Nature Cemetery , a little further on. Address: Heumensebaan 18, 6584 CL Molenhoek, The Netherlands.

Bird ring grave: If you can’t get rings at the Gouden Leeuw or the VVV, there is a birdhouse with rings at the monastery Bij de Capuchins in Velp, after Grave (route map 21, dot 6).

Bird ring Oss: The bird rings can now also be picked up at the Tourist Information Point at Donato’s in the middle of the historic city (Sint Luciastraat 2). Or walk a bit further to Fiezie Homestyling on Mgr. Zwijsenstraat 3. The latter has cordial owners where you can also have a drink and even get a foot bath.

Bird ring Wijchen: There is a house at café de Leurse Hof in Leur, to the right of the entrance.

Bird ring Druten: In Afferden there is a house at Tabaksplant opposite the entrance to the miniature golf. Please note: this will be hidden behind a construction shed in the fall of 2023. In Deest you can get a ring at Italian restaurant ‘la grande Nonna’ or in Het Dorpshuis opposite, but they are regularly closed. So get your ring at Tabaksplant.

Bird ring Beuningen: many pilgrims miss the beautiful ‘Dijkmagazijn’. You can find the exit just before dot 1 on map 32. Missed? Get your bird ring in the Waalgaard in Weurt. This is located on the dike at the beginning of the village just before you get a large puddle of water on your left. The ‘pick-your-own orchard’ has a large information board below the dike with a birdhouse with our rings.

Please note: Café het Centrum in Weurt is closed.

  • Beforehand: check your route guide to see which edition you have. Below are the changes for editions 1 to 4.
  • Always: when in doubt, always follow the markings on the route itself. It follows the latest version.

Roadmap 10
At dot 9, the overgrown path between memorial signs is closed.
Take the next road on the left and then the sloping path on the right. You’re back on the route.

Roadmap 12
Work Koningsven completed, route slightly changed.
The bench at ball 1 has disappeared. Now follow the markings straight ahead and turn right at the end towards the forest.
At ball 4, the picnic table has disappeared. Follow the marking.

Roadmap 14
Busy new mountain bike route! To avoid them, the route has been adapted to this and the following map:
– At dot 10 after the gate, turn right and immediately right again. Follow the sandy path along fence and heather.

Roadmap 15
– Turn left at the T-junction at dot 1, cross the mountain route and turn right at the next junction.
– At ball 2 straight ahead, past greenhouse on the left. At the end of the stairs go down and left (Hunting Lodge is on your right).
– At ball 3 in a bend to the right, left and immediately right again. After water (l’eau d’amour) keep right, straight on until the asphalt road, then left.
– At the end of the 4th sign, cross the busy road and turn right into the forest before the railway pit. Continue route.

Roadmap 27
At dot 9 the path is closed. The marking and new guide have therefore been adjusted:

– Turn right at the asphalt road at dot 7 and immediately left into the parking lot of the chapel mountain.
– At the gate of the chapel mountain, turn left (visit recommended, freely accessible). A windmill will appear on your right.
– Ignore the exit until you reach the street (Elzendweg). Turn right and follow this road for a few hundred meters until you can turn left, into the Elzend nature reserve. Continue route.

Roadmap 28
Route has been adjusted due to nuisance. The path along the campsite at dot 5 is now closed.
– At dot five on the Bredeweg, take the first exit to the right.
– Turn left at the T-junction (Strengstraat). Walk all the way down this street. On your right hand side large meadows and in the distance a busy road.
– Next T-junction on the right. You will soon arrive at the five-way junction of ball 8. Continue route.

Roadmap 32
The area here has been redesigned.
– at bolletje 1, the tunnel has been replaced by a walking route to Weurt. You don’t have to go up the dike now, but unless it’s high tide, you can stroll through to Weurt, including through the historic “Weurtsche Straatje”.

Roadmap 33
Route has been changed to reduce the need to walk on asphalt.
– From bolletje 4 you go left down the stairs immediately after the lock bridge. At the bottom right and then left through the gate, this gate is closed with a string (close again after opening).
– Via grass dike to fence of old power plant / future energy park. To the right, follow the dike all the way along the fence.
– At the end through the fence (same kind of string), on the cobblestone road on the right and on the T-junction on the left.
– At the next T-junction turn right towards the bridge De Oversteek.
– Under the bridge, turn left via the stairs onto the bridge and at the top right across the Waal. Continue your route

  • Beforehand: check your route guide to see which edition you have. These are the changes for edition 5.
  • All the time: Our route markings follow the change, so if in doubt: follow the markings!

Roadmap 10
At dot 9, the overgrown path between memorial signs is closed.
Take the next road on the left and then the sloping path on the right. You’re back on the route.

Roadmap 12
At ball 4, the picnic table has disappeared. Follow the marking.

Roadmap 14
Busy new mountain bike route! To avoid them, the route has been adapted to this and the following map:
At dot 10 after the gate, turn right and immediately right again. Follow the sandy path along fence and heather.
(If you want to go to the railway station, turn left after the gate, go down the stairs to the left).

Roadmap 15
– Turn left at the T-junction at dot 1, cross the mountain route and turn right at the next junction.
– At ball 2 straight ahead, past greenhouse on the left. At the end of the stairs go down and left (Hunting Lodge is on your right).
– At ball 3 in a bend to the right, left and immediately right again. After water (l’eau d’amour) keep right, straight on until the asphalt road, then left.
– At the end of the 4th sign, cross the busy road and turn right into the forest before the railway pit. Continue route.

Roadmap 27
At dot 9 the path is closed. The marking and new guide have therefore been adjusted:

– Turn right at the asphalt road at dot 7 and immediately left into the parking lot of the chapel mountain.
– At the gate of the chapel mountain, turn left (visit recommended, freely accessible). A windmill will appear on your right.
– Ignore the exit until you reach the street (Elzendweg). Turn right and follow this road for a few hundred meters until you can turn left, into the Elzend nature reserve. Continue route.

Roadmap 28
Route has been adjusted due to nuisance. The path along the campsite at dot 5 is now closed.
– At dot five on the Bredeweg, take the first exit to the right.
– Turn left at the T-junction (Strengstraat). Walk all the way down this street. On your right hand side large meadows and in the distance a busy road.
– Next T-junction on the right. You will soon arrive at the five-way junction of ball 8. Continue route.

Roadmap 33
Route has been changed to reduce the need to walk on asphalt.
– From bolletje 4 you go left down the stairs immediately after the lock bridge. At the bottom right and then left through the gate, this gate is closed with a string (close again after opening).
– Via grass dike to fence of old power plant / future energy park. To the right, follow the dike all the way along the fence.
– At the end through the fence (same kind of string), on the cobblestone road on the right and on the T-junction on the left.
– At the next T-junction turn right towards the bridge De Oversteek.
– Under the bridge, turn left via the stairs onto the bridge and at the top right across the Waal. Continue your route

  • Beforehand: check your route guide to see which edition you have. Here are the changes for edition 6.
  • All the time: Our route markings follow the change, so if in doubt: follow the markings!

Roadmap 10: At dot 9, the overgrown path between the forest rangers’ reminder signs is permanently closed. Instead, take the next road on the left and then the sloping path on the right. You’re back on the route.

Route Map 12: At ball 4, the picnic table has disappeared. Follow the marking.

Roadmap 14: Busy new mountain bike route!
To avoid them, the route has been adapted to this and the following map:
At dot 10 after the gate, turn right and immediately right again. Follow the sandy path along fence and heather.
(If you want to go to the railway station, turn left after the gate, go down the stairs to the left).

Roadmap 15
– Turn left at the T-junction at dot 1, cross the mountain route and turn right at the next junction.
– At ball 2 straight ahead, past greenhouse on the left. At the end of the stairs go down and left (Hunting Lodge is on your right).
– At ball 3 in a bend to the right, left and immediately right again. After water (l’eau d’amour) keep right, straight on until the asphalt road, then left.
– At the end of the 4th sign, cross the busy road and turn right into the forest before the railway pit. Continue route.

Latest news hospitality industry

In many places you will run into restaurants or you will see a symbol on the map in the route guide. However, there is very little to be found on some stretches. So here are some additional tips.

Route map 1 and 34: new catering Stevenskerk
In the Stevenskerk there is a new catering location in the Noorderkapel: Droom. A very nice location with a social objective.

Route map 7: coffee/tea at B&B d’n Hoaf
Just after dot 10 you will find B&B d’n Hoaf on the right at Waldgraaf 3. Owner Annet makes coffee or tea with love for a voluntary contribution.

Route map 7 : petrol station with refreshments
On route map 7 you can turn left after dot 10 at the Waldgraaf for gas station Argos at the end with food, drinks, ice cream. Breiter Weg 13, Wyler.

Route map 9: bakery terrace
When café stop Niederrhein is closed, many pilgrims know where to find Bakkerij Dercks in the center of Kranenburg, near the (Catholic) pilgrimage church. With terrace and indoor café. Grosse Strasse 73-75.

Route maps 14 and 15: Mookerheide Hunting Lodge open again
After a long renovation, the Mookerheide Hunting Lodge has catering facilities again. Special location: it was once the headquarters of the Waffen-SS and then of dear sisters. Click here for opening hours.

Route maps 18 and 19: ‘honesty bar’ 7 days a week
On maps 18 and 19 you can see ‘ The Treasure Pit’ on the left. A self-service farm terrace in the middle of the fields, swallows fly in and out. April – November, open every day 08.00 am – 9.00 pm. Schatkuilsestraat 7. At Route Map 19, turn left at dot 1 instead of to the right. Take the next exit to the right and then keep left and you almost run into it.

Route map 23: Tourist Office, Donatos and Fieziete
In Ravenstein, the Keurvorst city inn is often closed. Opposite is now Donato’s and the VVV (official Tourist Information Point), where you can ‘score’ a bird ring in addition to a drink. Many enthusiastic messages from pilgrims about this. At Fieziete a little further on Monseigneur Zwijssenstraat 3 you can get a foot bath.

Route map 24: detour to the center of Wijchen and farm terrace
Please note: the farm terrace marked in your guide is now closed. If you want to have a drink in Wijchen, walk the alternative route that the municipality has mapped out for us. This leads to a beautiful terrace near a centuries-old castle: link.

Route map 27: Bergharen and Afferden
The supermarket is closed (after dot 10). But fortunately, there are some alternatives!

  • Go to the trout pond Trout at Dorpsstraat 39 with a large terrace for coffee and snacks. Open many days between 08.00h/09.00h and 16.00h/17.00h. Check the website: link.
  • The village hall de Zandloper in Bergharen has Wed, Fri and Sat from 08.30 am to 12.30 pm fresh bread and coffee/tea. The address is de Weem 1 in Bergharen. To do this, at route map 27 at dot 4, do not enter the Wijksestraat, but walk two streets further. Opposite the beautiful church you can turn right and you will come to the village hall.
  • B&B de Donk on route map 28 (after dot 6) often has an honesty bar with coffee/tea for a voluntary contribution, there is a sign along the road. Strengstraat 5.
  • The next address for groceries is in Afferden at the gas station on the left opposite the Tabaksplant stop with homemade sandwiches from the owner.
  • In Afferden you will also find something from the route country shop de Zandroos with lunch café which is warmly recommended by several people: https://zandroos.nl/, Van Heemstraweg 48.

Route map 30: restaurant, café and snack bar Deest
In Deest you will find restaurant Nonna and community center Het Dorpshuis. Dense? The snack bar on the Kerkplein is open almost every day and has everything. At 250 meters from the dike and our route.

Route map 31: terrace and supermarket Winssen
In Winssen, near the dike temple of Kortekaas (bolletje 1), there is a café terrace and restaurant: the Arend. A few hundred meters away is a supermarket.

Route map 32: catering at bus stops Beuningen and Weurt
Dijkmagazijn Beuningen has a pop-up terrace on weekends during the summer months. Unfortunately, Café het Centrum is closed due to the sad death of the owner. There is a snack bar in Weurt.

Route map 33: at the bridge the Crossing
At bolletje 1, next to the bridge de Oversteek, there is an old factory hall: the Vasim. The culture spinning mill has a hip café and terrace.

Latest ‘sleep news’

Are you looking for the most recent and complete list of accommodation options? A link to this digital list can be found in the confirmation email of your registration as a pilgrim. Please note: the route guide and our website do not mention the host families and only the B&Bs that sponsored us. For the complete overview, see the digital list.

Registered, but not a digital list? Please email us with your registration number.

Public transport schedule: walk the route consecutively and not in stages: that’s our advice. Then you can free yourself from your daily routine and get into the rhythm of being on the road. If you want to do it differently, look here for the public transport schedule of Patricia Akkermans of D’ankh : link. The schedule is from 2016, updates welcome!

Sign alert! Ticks are very small, black bloodsuckers that can be infected with unsightly diseases such as Lyme. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t fall from trees. They crawl up your legs through tall grass and bushes. Therefore, when you walk through this, it is good to check yourself. On this route this is at the ‘Ooijpolder’ (maps 3 and 4), the ‘Duivelsberg’ (7 and 8) and the ‘Reichswald’ (9 and 10). Wear protective clothing such as long pants or zip-off legs. Or tuck your pants into your socks. Season: April-October. More: RIVM

The oak processionary caterpillar can also cause problems (itching!). The caterpillar is active between mid-May and mid-July. The hairs of the caterpillar can cause severe itching. For more information, click here: link.

Other corrections: the route guide to route map 6 in the information block states that the mural was made by a teenager. That is not correct. The painting was made by local resident Nicole Aarts.

Mail us for additions