While walking, only the here and now on my mind

A beautiful story of Pilgrim Ben Bekkers who had completely prepared himself with rituals to walk the path. Below is his story.

First of all, I have to go back to last year in May/June. I then walked a multi-day hike for the first time, the Pieterpad. I did that in 27 consecutive days from May 19 to June 13. During my walk I got into conversation twice with hikers who pointed out what they thought was the beautiful Walk of Wisdom. That walk was not known to me until then. Last summer I provided myself with information, registered as a pilgrim (no. 17.279) and attended an online meeting.

Initially, I wanted to run in November 2024, but that ended up being April 13, 2025.
I had figured out to run it in 8 days. My approach would be different from my Pieterpad walk, I had agreed with myself. No longer actively addressing people, but being addressed. No photo camera with me, but only my iPhone. Phone unreachable and only used for navigation and contact with guest addresses and occasionally the home front. No newspapers, news, music, podcast, etc. So basically as the WOW recommends. While walking, only the here and now on my mind. And I really liked that.

During one of my preparation walks, I find a beautiful straight willow branch along the way that I appropriate. I debark the branch, attach a sturdy tip and engrave my pilgrim number in it with a soldering iron. Voilà, my pilgrim stick.
And to top it all off, in the first week of April I will be in Schruns, Austria with my other half. We walk into the church to take a look and it just so happens that small bottles of Weihwasser with the inscription Pilger der Hoffnung are sold for a youth project. I bought a bottle and with its contents I ‘dipped’ my stick. WOW is separate from religion and so am I, but still, I thought that couldn’t hurt. I’m ready.

On Sunday 13 June I leave Best station by train via Den Bosch to Nijmegen. At 11.30 am I am at the Stevenskerk, which is still closed and where there is already a long queue in front of the gate because of a performance of the Matthäus-Pasion. As soon as the church is open, I shuffle in and take a picture with the seedling. And then I set off.

My first ‘stage’ goes to Beek and I use the suggestion to take a bath in the Bison Bay, stripped of everything. As expected, the temperature of the water is quite chilly but because the sun is shining I am quickly dry, warm and on the road again. I don’t have more than a cold memory of it.

I have already booked my overnight stay in advance, hotel in Beek, above the bakery in Kranenburg, Friends on the Bicycle in Mook, Malden, Emmausklooster in Velp, VodF in Niftrik and finally a B&B in Afferden. The overnight stay in the Emmaus Monastery in Velp is the only one not yet confirmed.

The walks are beautiful, the first days are sunny. The third day is partly cloudy and ends in a cloudburst for me just before Mook. I hadn’t seen it coming and before I had put on my raincoat I was already soaked. Can happen. Wednesday and Thursday I walk in the rain but I am well protected. It doesn’t bother me.

On Thursday I want to spend the night in Velp but I did not manage to get a confirmation in advance. So I walk to the monastery at random and in the pouring rain I ring the bell. Nobody opens the door. After five minutes a lady comes around the corner, Saskia, who has a ceramics shop there. She wants to help me and calls a number known to her. After trying for a while, she gets in touch and after another 5 minutes the door is opened by brother Theo.

Nothing is known about an overnight stay request and the monastery no longer offers accommodation for the time being. The brothers have been back in the monastery for two months and have to settle down before that activity is resumed. Brother Theo withdrew for further consultation and after some time Brother Christopher appeared. He confirms Brother Theo’s story, but he also thinks he cannot refuse a pilgrim who reports to the door in the rain.

Eventually a room is made available and I have accommodation. The next morning we have breakfast together in the refectory and we talk about the latest state of affairs regarding the monastery and the future plans. At half past 10 I set off again with hat, backpack and stick, like a real pilgrim.

During my walk from Niftrik to Afferden I pass the Kapelberg in Bergharen and walk the signposted Stations of the Cross. Timing is perfect, it’s Easter Saturday. It is during that tour that 2 words come to mind, in fact an action point. Without reason but entirely in line with the intention of the WOW. I intend to keep those two words in mind every day. Gives peace of mind. And that alone makes this WOW a success for me. But there is so much more.

On Facebook I write the following summary on Monday:
Yesterday afternoon at half past three after 8 days of walking back in the Stevenskerk. Eight more or less silent walks. Sometimes a conversation with other (WOW) hikers or nice people at my overnight address. Thank you for that! Positive energy. Beautiful nature, sun, chirping birds, greening nature, flowering shrubs and trees, but also 2 days with rain and 1 day just before arrival in Mook a huge downpour/thunderstorm without shelter. Down to the wire. But still keep singing. It was a wonderful WOW for me. Glad I walked it in one go. And yes, it has also brought me something. I found that surprising. Pleased. I highly recommend this ‘pilgrimage’. Enjoy it!

And with that, I can call my Walk of Wisdom very successful.

Thank you for this modern pilgrimage.
I enjoyed it and take something from it with me that will be of lasting use to me.

With kind regards,

Ben Bekkers
Pilgrim 17,279