Walk of Wisdom

The first stage, which runs from Nijmegen to Beek-Ubbergen, really feels like a symbolic starting point. You leave the hectic city behind and walk straight into the Ooijpolder, where water, dykes, and fields help you feel the space and tranquility of the trail. Just as you’re starting to enjoy it and relax, the first challenges will pop up. All that water around you makes for muddy paths, the streams you have to cross get wider, and at one point you will even have to use a real tugboat to get to the other side. The climb that follows shortly after, heading toward Beek-Ubbergen, is a massive physical test, but also a mental transition. This is where letting go really begins.

From Beek-Ubbergen, you’ll hike through the forests of the “Duivelsberg” toward Kranenburg in Germany. This is a stage with plenty of elevation change and winding paths. The woods around the “Duivelsberg” are also known for a ghost story about witches, so it’s definitely worth stopping by the pond called “De Heksendans” to take a look.

After challenging the Duivelsberg, you will head to Plasmolen through the Reichswald in Germany. It’s beautiful and will feel completely different from the forest surrounding the Duivelsberg. Leaving the Reichswald, you will head over the watery grasslands of “De Diepen” towards the “Mookerheide.” The Mookerheide is an area of unparalleled beauty by Dutch standards: beautiful open heaths with purple flowers, huge hills that allow you to see for miles, and highlanders walking around freely. Seeing these amazing animals with the purple heaths behind them gives an amazing view and is almost fairytale-like.

After the Mookerheide, the terrain flattens out a bit, but you continue walking through the woods. You walk all the way around Malden, and as you approach Nijmegen, the route takes you back to Malden via the Maas-Waal Canal, where you’ll cross the bridge.

On the other side of the bridge, you will walk towards the Overasseltse and Hatertse Vennen. Yet another amazing and quiet place to explore and enjoy a different beautiful aspect of nature. Here you can walk past tranquil ponds, heathland, and woods. Especially at sunrise or when it’s foggy, it feels really magical. The flora and fauna here are again unparalleled. You feel as though you’ve stepped into a completely different world. This will take you to the fortified town of Grave, where history and water come together. Here, you can wander the old small streets with little bars and some terraces where you can enjoy a drink or a snack. It is a nice place to recharge before you head back into your adventure.

The walk from Grave to Wijchen is a completely different experience. You walk across open, flat fields until you see Ravenstein coming into view in the distance. Ravenstein itself is charming and compact; it feels like time stands when you arrive. But it’s also the perfect spot to take a break, especially since it’s located halfway through this stage.

The landscape changes again when you leave Ravenstein behind you and head towards Afferden. It’s quieter and simpler: fields, farm roads, and small villages. In Afferden, there’s also a real Buddhist temple located in the former St. Victor and Gezellen Church.

The only thing left to do now is head back to Nijmegen. But not before you enjoy yet another beautiful and special day. The route brings you alongside de Waal and shows you the little villages of Deest, Winssum and Weurt. This helps you ease back into civilization again. Not only do you return to the place where you started, but you return with a completely different perspective. It all feels different now. The moment you see the Stevenskerk in the distance might even feel magical and emotional, something that can only be explained if you’ve experienced it yourself.

The Walk of Wisdom is a pilgrimage and, as such, has a contemplative nature. In principle, the walk can be done year-round. However, the best times are in the spring (April–June) or in the fall (September–October). Temperatures are pleasant during both periods. If you’d rather walk in the summer or winter, keep in mind that it can get very hot in the summer, especially in open fields. During the Four Days Marches week (July), it’s best to avoid this hike due to extreme crowds, which don’t fit the contemplative nature of this walk. And in winter, the days are much shorter, which isn’t pleasant in the woods, and the trail can also be much muddier, making it slippery and treacherous in the forests.

Although the route is located in the Netherlands and it’s always well-marked, you shouldn’t underestimate the challenge or the weather.

When you’re packing, you’ll want to bring shoes with enough traction, especially due to the hilly sections around the Duivelsberg and wet trails near the fens. Additionally, pack layers because the rain and sun can alternate quickly in the Netherlands. If you’re camping on the trail, you’ll need to pack your kit for cooking and camping, and if you’re planning to sleep indoors during the trail, then your pack will be much lighter.

Bring lots of snacks and water, download the official GPX, and you should be good to go!

The Walk of Wisdom is an easy trail. The Netherlands doesn’t really have mountains, but this area, Berg en Dal, has the most hills. The route also includes long stretches of paved roads, but these are interspersed with fun, narrow, winding paths through the woods.