After a successful test in 2023, six new legs were added to the Ziltepad pilgrim route by the Wadden coast, a world heritage site, in Groningen and Friesland.
The Ziltepad (salty path) is a years-long project which will eventually connect 22 churches between Den Helder and Termunten, near the German border. This will happen in steps. Next year 7 new routes in North Holland will be added. The last step is to add another 6 routes and churches in Friesland and Groningen, organisers said in a statement. People walking along the Ziltepad can collect 22 unique stamps, one for every route.
The Ziltepad will bring you past the rough edge of the north either by bike or walking. Participants will go past the coastline, can look inside historic churches, and even stay the night in some. The goal of these mini-retreats is reflection and tranquillity. This means it’s also suitable for trips lasting longer than a day.
The interest in the test was very big – instead of the expected 150 participants there were 500 who showed up. They tested 3 different 17km legs of the route between Oostrum and Hornhuizen.
The test walkers were surprised by the differences of landscapes, towns, and churches existing so close to their homes. “It slows you down, you only now see how special it really is,” one of them commented.
The driving forces behind the project are ecstatic with the interest. Their goal is to show people different places in the north of the Netherlands.
“You immediately feel different in the north of Friesland or Groningen,” Atze Jan de Vries, director of foundation Alde Fryske Tsjerken, said in a press release.
“Close to nature and the sea, quiet landscapes, picturesque towns, and church towers at the horizon” he added.
Patty Wageman of Groninger Kerken (Groningen Churches) adds to this that landscapes and heritage, calm and wind, and art and culture are the perfect ingredients for connection and tranquillity.
“Our churches are time machines, with every visit you see a different layer of the history of the place, the town, land, and its people,” she said.
The Ziltepad is a joint initiative of the Groninger Kerken (Groningen Churches) and Alde Fryske Tsjerken, in collaboration with Visit Wadden. More information about the routes and the path can be found here. Those walking the route can also listen to podcasts (Dutch only) about the churches they visit.
Photo: Niels Knelis
