I’ve always wanted to do a longer walk through my own country. I don’t know why, but I guess after traveling so much through other countries, I wanted to find beauty in my own backyard. The idea of being outside and seeing the country at a slow pace just really appealed to me. When I saw a guide of a long distance walking path in the book shop, I decided to go for it. The path goes through my home province, Noord-Brabant, and the neighbouring province of Limburg. Although I lived here for a long time, I’ve barely spent any time exploring.
Two weeks later I took a train to Den Bosch and started my walk. I would start with 5 days, which would bring me back home. The trail goes very close to my home town. Since I didn’t have more time, the rest will have to wait till later.
The first day I walked way too fast. I had no idea how long it would take me or how long a distance I could walk every day. So I’d planned to walk 20 – 25km each day. It all depended on where I could find accommodation. Instead of paying for expensive hotels, I found places to stay through ‘vrienden op de fiets, an organisation where you can contact individuals who offer cheap accommodation to people walking and biking through the country.
My first day went past a canal and through the forest at Vught. In the middle of the forest I came across some old train tracks. It turned out I was close to Camp Vught, a concentration camp from the second world war. Standing on the tracks remains a bizarre experience. Not too long ago these tracks carried wagons full of people who were being driven to their death.
The second part of the day I walked over a lot of country roads. I was looking for a nice place to sit down and have a drink, but there were no bars, cafés or restaurants. Luckily the weather was good and I could sit outside in the grass or on a bench.
I spent my first night in Haaren, where I’d found a family with a B&B. I slept in a beautiful room and received a delicious breakfast in my room. In the evening I went to the local Chinese restaurant and had a look around the town. I loved staying in these towns I would otherwise never explore!
Day two went from Haaren to Middelbeers and I decided to take some more breaks and adjust my pace a bit, so that I wouldn’t arrive in Middelbeers way too early. First I had to go past a castle, which seemed to still have people living in it. Not long after, I found myself in quiet moorland. There were lots of fens and all I heard was the splashing of the occasional bird.
I would find a lot of moorland during my five days. It turns out my province is filled with fens, including the biggest fen of my country, the Beuven, which is very close to my home. The landscape looks as if it could be in Africa. I half expect cheetahs or giraffes to pop out from the tall grasses.
Besides that I walk through forest and small country towns. I have my lunch at picnic benches and have ice cream or tea when I see a café. Occasionally I see other walkers, but I only meet two ladies who are walking the same path, although they are only on a day trip.
My second night I spent in a caravan in someone’s backyard. In the morning I have breakfast with the couple that’s rented it to me. Every single place where I stay in different. Night three is in a big farmhouse that has been transformed into accommodation for school or sports camps. The owner has a bar downstairs where a big band is rehearsing that night. When I get back from my dinner in the town of Eersel, I join the band members for a drink. For my last night, which I spent in Heeze, I have a little garden house with kitchen and bathroom all to myself. I was a bit hesitant and didn’t know what to expect staying at regular houses, but it turns out to be a great and affordable way to do long distance walks.
From Middelbeers I walk to Steensel. I have to go a little further since I couldn’t find accommodation in Steensel. All up I walked over 35km that day, although not all with my big backpack. I hadn’t really packed for walking. I’d just thrown in all my stuff, including big bottles of shampoo etc. that I only used once. So it wasn’t the lightest pack. I started to feel my shoulders and hips, but I didn’t have that much further to go.
From Steensel I walked to a place very close to home: Heeze. Once again I arrived early and I probably could have walked over the Strabrechtse heide and finished in my own bed if someone could have picked me up where the trail ended. But I had already reserved a bed for the night. It was nice to be able to take my time anyway, since the weather was absolutely stunning!
I loved having the chance to test my new camera and take some photos of the landscapes I grew up in. My province has a lot of beauty, from the black and white ladies grazing in the fields, to quiet little chapels and big farm houses. I also learned some more about the places close to home, like about the practise ground for the German military in WW2 and the triangular communal squares they have in the smallest villages. I got to see places I never would have visited without this walk.
But the walk isn’t finished yet. I still have about 8 days of walking to do. When is a mystery, as I’ve started my work season as a tour leader again. But even if I have to wait till October, I will finish all the way in Maastricht this year. I can’t wait to find out what the province of Limburg has got to offer!