The Dutch Mountain Trail is a 100 km hike, lasting 4-5 days, starting in the south of the Netherlands, Eygelshoven and ending in Maastricht, passing through Vaals, Gulpen, and Mheer.
We hiked along the borders of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. We chose to sleep in tents to build a stronger connection with the surrounding nature. Initially, tent building was a challenging hurdle, but we overcame it by turning it into a speed-building competition.
“It’s been a while since I went outside my comfort zone like this. I never thought that something as simple as walking could bring me so much joy as it did.” – Lennart Groenendaal
Along the way, we encountered a multitude of different landscapes such as forested areas, rocky “mountainous” climbs, small streams and rivers and of course, agriculture. Undoubtedly, our wildlife sighting experience was trumped by farm animals such as cattle, sheep and horses. We were fortunate enough to get sightings of some insects and smaller critters, but nothing showstopping.
Unfortunately, while the hike was beautiful, some of the longer/less enjoyable sections were entirely taken up by agriculture. It was disappointing to see so much beautiful land being hollowed out and ruined for monoculture crops to sustain our livelihoods. One of the hardest parts was reaching the peak of a mountain only to be greeted with acres of ploughed dirt.
By far the most exciting sections of our hikes, other than keeping each other company, were meeting other hikers, some of whom were braving the Dutch Mountain Trail as well. We met a few strangers on the first day and encountered them again on one of the last days of the hike, often staying in the same campsites without even realising it. We were especially grateful for the kindness of many strangers we met, who got us out of tough situations like providing us with water and transporting us to the campsite after a gruelling 30 km day when our legs wouldn’t cooperate. Meeting these many strangers on a similar pilgrimage allowed us to really form much-appreciated social connections, something we can all agree has been slowly dwindling in modern society. Unplugging from our devices and just enjoying nature and each other’s company.
“The Dutch mountain trail let me forget my everyday life for a while, let me spend time with my friends outside of school and stress. Why can’t life always be like that?” – Ariane Franken
Overall, we had a lot of time to stay together and get to know each other better. We shared tradition, culture and different perspectives and world views. We developed an understanding of each other and that everybody experiences challenges in their life. This hike gave us time to dive deep and connect with another person, making us feel seen and heard, almost like a family away from home. Ultimately, we supported each other to arrive at the destination together.
“A good friend knows when to listen, when to help, and when to give someone space.” – Alessio Poloni
On a lighter note, one of the toughest obstacles was the blisters. However, with some precautions and operation, we managed it. Additionally, stinging nettle along the walk tried unsuccessfully to stop us, but we overcame that, too.
“This was a really eye-opening hike, and I’m glad I got to experience it with the people I did.” – Isyha Ilantharini
To conclude, all of us would strongly recommend this hike to enthusiastic students, experienced hikers, ESSET teachers, and anyone looking for something to do during the holidays.
This is so lovely:)))