My long-distance walks in the Netherlands are a curious blend of unfinished journeys. My trails crisscross the Netherlands; like spilled ink on the map, they form irregular lines that leave the question of their ultimate destination tantalizingly open.
What a lovely reverie of a refreshing winter walk!
Even in bleak winter you find exquisite beauty of a different sort in your magnificent home country.
As a true Dutch son who knows his country from every aspect, as a seasoned walker, hiker, journeyer and lover of nature, as a skilled geographer, you are well positioned to sing the praises and attributes of this unique country. You do it justice.
So descriptive in details and preserved in gorgeous images, your subject shines in your capable hands. You even found budding blossoms!
The photo of frozen sea water is fabulous and I always love those Dutch sunsets.
Thank you for this wonderful article and extraordinary walk. I needed this today.
I don't know if it was my own unfinished (hiking) journeys and yet to be told stories, your beautiful pictures or how wonderfully this was written; whatever it was, this one touched me. Thank you.
“The beauty of unfinished journeys and unwritten tales” ; that’s the story of life, isn’t it? Your “nomadic” existence is fascinating as is your devotion to your cherished and ancient homeland. Our country feels so very young in contrast, testing boundaries in community and other ways so juvenile, but perhaps expected as we mature to a nation more evolved and compassionate. Perhaps the fires 🔥 of dissonance die down as we grow toward maturity. It seems that may happen but birthing pains are prolonged. It will be a while in coming; wonder how much I will observe/ engage during my journey. Your story is lovely, photos exquisite as always. How very diverse our homes. Thank you for the walk along, virtual travel is a marvelous development. And on my thoughts go just having read about the extent of Starlink making all this possible.
Thank you Judith, it's a pivotal year in the history of your country. I wish for wisdom and maturity for all those that will cast their votes this autumn.
Warm joy after a chilly day. These photos are some of my favorites of your offerings. Your eye for detail, and I'm not describing the photos alone, is impeccable. The amber light emitting from the horizontal housing of the razor clam surrounded by its rounder cousins is a happy contrast on the winter sand. Rough hewn wood leading to the beach flanked by swooping snow fence and copying cloud above. The meandering frozen sea water path, much like your unfinished journeys. Marvelous.
Thank you Louisa, I had planned to write about this planet's challenges but I made a full turnaround soon after I started. It's good to know what's at stake while raising awareness of the threats to our existence, like climate change and biodiversity loss.
The attraction of the islands, especially when like you, you have a very deep attachment to your island, has a very special, exhilarating side!
It’s really a very pleasant reading that you are offering us, a reading that makes us feel lighter, like a bubble of oxygen! 🙏🙏
I often go to the islands surrounding France, such as « Île de Ré » or Corse…
And how many times I have traveled the same paths on foot without getting bored with the same impatience, and even today I discover new paths (and landscapes) that do not appear on the maps.
These are known comings and goings . I don't see any weariness but I feel a form of enthusiasm, of well-being.
It’s limited space on all sides and that’s probably what contributes to its charm.
For me, it's like a game, a form of freedom, of spontaneity: l walk around the island on the sea side, always so beautiful.
Or l walk “inside” deeply, but without ever really getting lost, so we choose new paths, loops, less spontaneous detours for hikes in very vast and limitless spaces.
In a journey, it is not necessarily just the destination that counts but (often) the path traveled, the contemplation of unexpected landscapes, our thoughts, our reflections during this journey.
I find that the path is a profound source of well-being, especially when walking.
The term “nomad” that you chose is so just , nomadism is not only about moving often, but it is also synonymous with traveling “off the beaten track”…Again this feeling of freedom, independence, spontaneity, discoveries astonishing or exhilarating.
Especially compared to the “tailor-made” trips that are now offered by travel agencies… without much appeal apart from the destination!
And thank you also, Alex, for all these beautiful photos 👌😌
Thank you for the beautiful words. I recognize a lot. All my life, I have been fascinated by islands, a theme I should write more about. Not many people know by head the land area of Nauru or the rediscovery date of Pitcairn Island. My head is filled with seemingly worthless island data since my high school days. And my family roots lie on islands too. I have visited many islands and knew early in life I wanted to live on one. When I was young, I dreamed about living on a warm tropical, exotic island; posters of Gaugin's best known paintings decorated the walls of my small bedroom. But later in life I knew I wanted to return to this island. And I enjoy it every day when I'm here. Like you, either walking on the sea side, or exploring the interior with its many diverse landscapes, changing in each season. Alas, some quick words that I may return to and work out in an article on Patreon or Substack. Enjoy Île de Re, Corsica, and other beautiful French islands, all still on my list. :-)
I just finished a lovely day of alpine skiing, and your beautiful story was just what I needed as I relaxed and rehydrated. Thanks for the photos and the mental images conjured by your words.
Some lovely walks and captured photos, Alex.... the razor clams are an example of how light dances with objects in nature so gracefully. I like to watch Paperbark Maples illuminated by the sun. Your piece reminds that so many journeys are more about the process than the destination. Hope 2024 brings rewarding walks and explorations!
Thank you, Jo. I agree on the process being far more improtant than the destination. At the moment, I'm still on the Dutch island and there is enough to explore here for a lifetime. Every walk brings me new views and discoveries, and I'll share more of these on Substack. Like my walks and travels, the writing is often a journey too. You may like what I wrote about it last night on my other publication on Patreon (I just removed the paywall, so you can read it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/brief-history-of-97198140?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link)
What a lovely reverie of a refreshing winter walk!
Even in bleak winter you find exquisite beauty of a different sort in your magnificent home country.
As a true Dutch son who knows his country from every aspect, as a seasoned walker, hiker, journeyer and lover of nature, as a skilled geographer, you are well positioned to sing the praises and attributes of this unique country. You do it justice.
So descriptive in details and preserved in gorgeous images, your subject shines in your capable hands. You even found budding blossoms!
The photo of frozen sea water is fabulous and I always love those Dutch sunsets.
Thank you for this wonderful article and extraordinary walk. I needed this today.
Thank you Lizzie!
I don't know if it was my own unfinished (hiking) journeys and yet to be told stories, your beautiful pictures or how wonderfully this was written; whatever it was, this one touched me. Thank you.
Happy to hear this, Evelyne :-)
“The beauty of unfinished journeys and unwritten tales” ; that’s the story of life, isn’t it? Your “nomadic” existence is fascinating as is your devotion to your cherished and ancient homeland. Our country feels so very young in contrast, testing boundaries in community and other ways so juvenile, but perhaps expected as we mature to a nation more evolved and compassionate. Perhaps the fires 🔥 of dissonance die down as we grow toward maturity. It seems that may happen but birthing pains are prolonged. It will be a while in coming; wonder how much I will observe/ engage during my journey. Your story is lovely, photos exquisite as always. How very diverse our homes. Thank you for the walk along, virtual travel is a marvelous development. And on my thoughts go just having read about the extent of Starlink making all this possible.
Thank you Judith, it's a pivotal year in the history of your country. I wish for wisdom and maturity for all those that will cast their votes this autumn.
😘
Warm joy after a chilly day. These photos are some of my favorites of your offerings. Your eye for detail, and I'm not describing the photos alone, is impeccable. The amber light emitting from the horizontal housing of the razor clam surrounded by its rounder cousins is a happy contrast on the winter sand. Rough hewn wood leading to the beach flanked by swooping snow fence and copying cloud above. The meandering frozen sea water path, much like your unfinished journeys. Marvelous.
Thank you Rena, beauty is everywhere, we just have too look for it :-)
Ah! Lovely respite on a busy Monday 😊
Thank you Louisa, I had planned to write about this planet's challenges but I made a full turnaround soon after I started. It's good to know what's at stake while raising awareness of the threats to our existence, like climate change and biodiversity loss.
The attraction of the islands, especially when like you, you have a very deep attachment to your island, has a very special, exhilarating side!
It’s really a very pleasant reading that you are offering us, a reading that makes us feel lighter, like a bubble of oxygen! 🙏🙏
I often go to the islands surrounding France, such as « Île de Ré » or Corse…
And how many times I have traveled the same paths on foot without getting bored with the same impatience, and even today I discover new paths (and landscapes) that do not appear on the maps.
These are known comings and goings . I don't see any weariness but I feel a form of enthusiasm, of well-being.
It’s limited space on all sides and that’s probably what contributes to its charm.
For me, it's like a game, a form of freedom, of spontaneity: l walk around the island on the sea side, always so beautiful.
Or l walk “inside” deeply, but without ever really getting lost, so we choose new paths, loops, less spontaneous detours for hikes in very vast and limitless spaces.
In a journey, it is not necessarily just the destination that counts but (often) the path traveled, the contemplation of unexpected landscapes, our thoughts, our reflections during this journey.
I find that the path is a profound source of well-being, especially when walking.
The term “nomad” that you chose is so just , nomadism is not only about moving often, but it is also synonymous with traveling “off the beaten track”…Again this feeling of freedom, independence, spontaneity, discoveries astonishing or exhilarating.
Especially compared to the “tailor-made” trips that are now offered by travel agencies… without much appeal apart from the destination!
And thank you also, Alex, for all these beautiful photos 👌😌
That's beautiful 💚
Thanks very much, Rena ! 🥰
Thanks, Judith !
Thank you for the beautiful words. I recognize a lot. All my life, I have been fascinated by islands, a theme I should write more about. Not many people know by head the land area of Nauru or the rediscovery date of Pitcairn Island. My head is filled with seemingly worthless island data since my high school days. And my family roots lie on islands too. I have visited many islands and knew early in life I wanted to live on one. When I was young, I dreamed about living on a warm tropical, exotic island; posters of Gaugin's best known paintings decorated the walls of my small bedroom. But later in life I knew I wanted to return to this island. And I enjoy it every day when I'm here. Like you, either walking on the sea side, or exploring the interior with its many diverse landscapes, changing in each season. Alas, some quick words that I may return to and work out in an article on Patreon or Substack. Enjoy Île de Re, Corsica, and other beautiful French islands, all still on my list. :-)
I just finished a lovely day of alpine skiing, and your beautiful story was just what I needed as I relaxed and rehydrated. Thanks for the photos and the mental images conjured by your words.
Thank you, Mike, how wonderful to go alpine skiing, a distant thought in this flat country ;-)
Some lovely walks and captured photos, Alex.... the razor clams are an example of how light dances with objects in nature so gracefully. I like to watch Paperbark Maples illuminated by the sun. Your piece reminds that so many journeys are more about the process than the destination. Hope 2024 brings rewarding walks and explorations!
Thank you, Jo. I agree on the process being far more improtant than the destination. At the moment, I'm still on the Dutch island and there is enough to explore here for a lifetime. Every walk brings me new views and discoveries, and I'll share more of these on Substack. Like my walks and travels, the writing is often a journey too. You may like what I wrote about it last night on my other publication on Patreon (I just removed the paywall, so you can read it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/brief-history-of-97198140?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link)