You are here: / / A Dutch pilgrimage route

A Dutch pilgrimage route

The Walk of Wisdom is a modern pilgrimage route inspired by nature. The big plan is a route around the world. This is the beginning: a pilgrimage route of 147 kilometers around Nijmegen.

Hills, forests and rivers

The Nijmegen route connects different nature reserves and is therefore very diverse. Most of it is unpaved. You will walk through two countries, three provinces and eleven municipalities. Prepare yourself for un-Dutch height differences. From the center of Nijmegen you can dive into nature almost immediately. Almost the entire route is well marked. Pilgrims who register will be given an overnight list to suit every budget. A pilgrimage route that doesn’t require you to fly.

In 2018, this Dutch Walk of Wisdom was awarded the audience award at the Gelderland Landscape Election. Tip: watch the 9-part TV series about the journey through Klaas Drupsteen.

Description of the pilgrimage route: see below.
More about registering.
pelgrimsroute
pelgrimsroute

Description of the pilgrimage route

The start and end point of this Dutch pilgrimage is the
Stevens Church in Nijmegen
. This 750-year-old building is Nijmegen’s most beloved monument. It stands on top of a hill and in the Middle Ages the city rights were kept here. Nowadays there are special ceremonies of the University of Nijmegen and the Four Days Marches Festivities. Nailed to the inner wall is a large statue of the symbol of the Walk of Wisdom.

From the Stevenskerk you quickly enter the Ooijpolder via an old part of Nijmegen. It is one of the largest restoration projects of the Dutch Cultural Landscape Association. Farmers, conservationists and governments work together here in beautiful areas with thicket hedges, flowery ditch edges and new wilderness. From the Ooijpolder you walk to the Elyzeese Velden in the Heerlijkheid Beek, an old noble estate near the town of Beek-Ubbergen. This area is sometimes called the ‘inner world’ because of the un-Dutch height differences.

In the Duivelsberg nature reserve you cross the famous
N70 route
 and the Pieterpad towards Kranenburg (Germany).

Continued description: see below.

pelgrimsroute

Vreugdeberg

After Berg en Dal you pass through the old pilgrimage town of Kranenburg with the immense Reichswald. More than 10,000 soldiers died in this vast forest area during Operation Véritable during WWII. Via a Vreugdeberg and a real Hemeldal you arrive in the Koningsven, where Nature Moments is working on the restoration of an old swamp area.

After this you walk into one of the most beautiful forests in the Netherlands: the Sint-Jansberg. Meandering streams, beech cathedrals and hills create a fairytale atmosphere. The area borders the Mookerheide, where two of William of Orange’s brothers were killed during a famous battle. The pay for their soldiers would still be buried here in a coffin (don’t go looking for it).

At the end is
Mookerheide Hunting Lodge.
 It is said to have been built to impress – in vain – a sweetheart. For a short time, the castle was the country residence of the Waffen SS, but also the residence of a progressive order of sisters.

UNESCO cultural heritage

From the Mookerhei you reach the marshes of the Hatertse Vennen via the forest of Heumensoord and a former estate.The route has now become flatter and takes you to the old fortified towns of Grave and Ravenstein (a real “free state”). From here you walk through the ancient village centers of Leur and Hernen to the pilgrimage site of Bergharen. Via rural Afferden, the pilgrimage route turns into the floodplains of Beuningen. You can stroll for hours on the Waal beaches (if a herd of cows doesn’t get in your way).

The finale of the route starts over the new city bridge the Oversteek in Nijmegen. Here you can participate in a sunset march every day in honor of deceased Allied soldiers (the sunset march, UNESCO cultural heritage).

The Dutch Walk of Wisdom pilgrimage route ends exactly where you started: the Stevens Church in Nijmegen (beware: before you enter, you will pass a statue of the devil).

pelgrimsroute Walk of Wisdom

Pilgrimage route independent of any religion

So you walk around and that is exactly our intention. The essence of ‘modern’ pilgrimage is the experience of the journey itself and not the achievement of the goal. The Walk of Wisdom is separate from any religion. Our inspiration is nature and life itself. We hope you have a great trip, however you choose to spend it.

For the development of the rituals, we are indebted to the ritual creativity of the camino to Santiago de Compostela. Professor Ronald L. Grimes advised us on the set-up.

Read more about our rituals and symbols.

Regional Path Nijmegen

The route of this Nijmegen walking route is inspired by the Streekpad Nijmegen. During our preparation, we have walked this path many times. In four years’ time, this resulted in countless new ideas for improvement, often after tips from hikers, local residents, farmers and nature lovers. We then decided to develop our own trajectory. Our pilgrimage route now deviates for 2/3 of the Regional Path.

Photos: Bart Kouwenberg, Stevenskerk Nijmegen, Jachtslot Mookerheide, the Waldgraaf in Berg en Dal and the Mookerheide. The route was adjusted at the end of 2023 and is now 147 kilometers instead of 136.

pelgrimsroute Walk of Wisdom

Do you want to walk the Walk of Wisdom pilgrimage route around Nijmegen? You can register by making a donation for our starter kit

Lake