Saving ourselves and saving the Earth : new circular pilgrimages routes in the Netherlands

Abstract

This chapter treats the foundation principles and some principal operating philosophies (re)applied to the conceptual circularity of two contemporary pilgrim routes in the Netherlands, namely the Gelukkigerwijspad (lit.: Happier Ways) and the Walk of Wisdom. In the Western context, most pilgrim trails were historical, linear and finite, a network of paths and roads leading to a shrine of importance. In the realm of pilgrimage research, a linear pilgrimage trail is regarded to be conceptually different from pilgrim routes, which are usually considered to be circular and thematically linked to natural, religious or cultural features. In general, as a black and white statement, one may say that circular routes are more often found in Asia and linked to Hinduism and Buddhism, such as spiral paths along mountain sides or circular pilgrim routes on islands, like the Shikoku Henro (the word henro refers to circular), the famous 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Japan (Reader 2014: Reader and Schultz 2021), and that linear pilgrimage trails, notwithstanding some circular aspects, belong more to Christianity and Islam, represented, among others, by the Camino the Santiago and the Hajj (Eiki 1997). In the Netherlands, two contemporary, circular pilgrimage routes of substantial length have been developed in the 2010s. Investigated here are two such initiatives. The Gelukkigerwijspad (c. 125 km) and the Walk of Wisdom (c. 136 km) have rather similar conceptual structures and themes, namely saving ourselves and saving the Earth, although there are some significant differences. The point of departure of the Gelukkigerwijspad is with the mundane and every-day life and concentrates on achieving personal and societal well-being, keeping environmental sustainability in mind. The Walk of Wisdom starts with the lofty ideal of saving the world’s environment, from which pursuit personal and societal well-being may ensue. In the bigger picture, both routes claim to be independent of, but not averse to religion. They also have global aspirations of environmental sustainability and personal happiness, such themes transcending all borders of culture and nationality.