Blog Post

Pelgrimstocht

yvonnemos • Jun 18, 2022

‘Ik leerde al een hoop de afgelopen dagen.’

‘Dat is ook de bedoeling, het is een pelgrimsroute.’

Een van de gesprekjes die ik op het Pieterpad had met mede-wandelaars die me tegemoet kwamen lopen. Ik liep verder met de gedachten dat die lessen vast dieper zou moeten zijn dan echt op tijd moeten starten als het 25 graden wordt en hoe je je blaren moet tapen.

In 2010, ergens op een berg in Argentinië ontdekte ik hoe fijn ik wandelen vind.

Het bleef in eerste instantie wel een vakantie-activiteit, maar in gezelschap vond ik Nederland toch ook best de moeite waard. En toen kwam de burn-out. Waar ik begin 2019 er nog op los wandelde in Nieuw-Zeeland, was nog geen jaar later 10 kilometer wandelen door de Loonse en Drunense Duinen een martelgang. Mijn lichaam was op. Dat hardlopen niet meer lukte had ik al schoorvoetend geaccepteerd, maar dat ik na een kilometer of 7 wandelen eigenlijk al echt niet meer kon, dat ging er bij mij niet in. Ik klemde mijn kaken op elkaar en stapte door. Hier ging ik niet aan toegeven.

Begin 2020 durfde ik het langzaam weer aan. Ik begon met de kortere NS-wandelingen en liet de afstanden elke keer een stukje oplopen. Wandelingen werden therapiesessies met mezelf. Al stappend ordende ik mijn gedachten, herkauwde een gebeurtenis. Niet op een vervelende, maar een verhelderende manier. Ik liep boos, huilend, analyserend, relativerend en lachend door de bossen. Het wandelen ging steeds beter en mijn hoofd werd steeds opgeruimder.

Terug naar de afgelopen dagen. Ik ging vier dagen Pieterpad lopen. Een stukje pelgrimsroute, kennelijk. En eigenlijk leerde ik helemaal niets over mezelf. Ik maalde niet en analyseerde niet. Ik wandelde gewoon. Keek om me heen, maakte foto’s en liep. En ik besloot dat het genoeg was toen ik het de laastste dag om 8 uur al veel te warm had en wist dat ik heuvels en 30 graden tegemoet liep. Ik maakte de geplande route niet af en stapte op een bus. Ik kwam niet tot een groot inzicht, maar ik paste een van de dingen die ik de afgelopen jaren leerde toe in de praktijk. Opgeven is niet altijd erg. Soms is het gewoon wat nodig is om goed voor jezelf zorgen.

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Tired yet recharged after a long weekend with chosen family 🤍
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In love with these colors 🧡💚 • #mushroomhunting #wanderlust
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Touristic Conwy on a sunny Saturday was a bit of a shock after 12 days of hiking, camping and sheep. But after stuffing myself with fresh food and ice cream, I decided to ignore that I clearly stood out from the crowd (being a filthy backpacker and such) and join in the fun. So I spent the afternoon walking on top of the city walls and visiting the castle, which of course was preparing for a rendition of a Shakespeare play, because: British. • #welshadventure #castle
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The last stretch. I may have underestimated this trail, but I loved it no less. A little sad that it’s ending, but happy and a little proud that I did it. • Day 10: Llanfairfechan - Conwy • #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #snowdonia #hikinguk
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Friendly rolling hills with a sea view and some moody weather. • Day 9: Bethesda - Llanfairfechan • #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #snowdonia #hikinguk
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Sunk a boot all the way into the mud, followed by some big steps and small jumps to navigate a rocky part and a walk through a green valley. I loved all of it. The only blemish was the little ache in my shin grew and turned out to be more persistent that I’d hoped. • Day 8: Llyn Ogwen (south) - Bethesda • #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #snowdonia #hikinguk
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By this point I’d gotten so spoiled that I complained the path was a bit boring, because it was a wide gravel path leading straight on.. But this was the view. • Day 7: Dolwyddelan - Llyn Ogwen • #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #snowdonia #hikinguk
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I picked up the trail where I left it, meaning that after I dragged myself up the steepest field I’d ever seen, I was stood on a familiar road and watched the bus I’d been on the two days before pass me by.. Unsurprisingly though, the surroundings were worth the effort. Happy to be back to ‘cross the field, then cross the stile to the next field’. • Day 6: Beddgelert - Dolwyddelan • #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #snowdonia #hikinguk
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Enjoyed the luxury of a bed, left all my heavy stuff behind for the day and hiked to the top of the Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon. Swipe to see the view disappear about 30 minutes before reaching the summit. • Day trip: ⬆️ Pyg ⬇️ Miners - 🚌 Beddgelert • #yrwyddfa #eryri #snowdon #snowdonia #welshadventures #hikinguk
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More green valleys and the joy of being on a bus before the rain hit. The initial plan for this holiday was to hike the standard route with full pack and do day hikes to the peaks and there was no reason not to go back to that.. • Day 5: Penrhyndeudraeth - Beddgelert - 🚌 Pen-y-Pass • #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #snowdonia #hikinguk
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The guide suggesting a 30km day seemed okay when when I was at home on my couch, but a bit excessive when I woke up on day 4.. Shifting the plan from long days/rest days to shorter days/all days. • Day 4: Trawsfynydd - Penrhyndeudraeth • #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #snowdonia #hikinguk
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While I decided to switch from mountain route to standard route, the weather switched from relentless sun to overcast and high humidity. A green valley and Roman road brought me to the next stop. • Day 3: Dolgellau - Trawsfynydd • #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #snowdonia #hikinguk
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The absolutely stunning views at the top of Cadair Idris are one of the highlights of my trip. Feeling good and strong and loving the hike at this point. The full day kicked my ass though and after running out of water (again), having trouble finding the path and thinking I was almost there while I really wasn’t, I deserved some rest and used the next day to reassess. • Day 2: Abergynolwyn - Dolgellau • #snowdoniaway #eryri #snowdonia #welshadventure #hikinguk
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Started the hike in a heatwave, uphill, being attacked by horse flies and slipping in the mud as soon as it turned downhill. Save to say I was wondering why I was doing this and if I should bail within half an hour. And then the views got pretty and all was good. • Day 1: Machynlleth - Abergynolwyn • #snowdoniaway #eryri #snowdonia #welshadventure #hikinguk #wanderlust
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When normal life feels normal again, it’s time to look back on a lovely trip. Starting with an ode to the friends that kept me company during my hike 🤍🤎 • #bêêêh #snowdoniaway #eryri #welshadventure #hikinguk #wanderlust
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Guttation; the exudation of drops of xylem sap on the tips or edges of leaves of some vascular plants, such as grasses, and a number of fungi. • #mushroomhunting #hikingnl #wanderlust
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The atrocious premise is the same. The stories are different. The Dutch markings blatant and numerous. • We cannot change history, but we must acknowledge and learn from it. Apologies are a nice gesture, but words are never enough.
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Castles generally make me think of queens and knights, but some of the pretty buildings called “castle” have an purely horrid past. Ghana and The Netherlands will always be linked by the abomination of the slave trade. Reading about it left me speechless before. Listening to the stories and standing at a place where people were purposefully stripped of their last bit of humanity knocked the wind out of me.
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Leveling with the birds. • #ghana #wanderlust
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The lively local harbor. • #ghana #wanderlust
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Six months into a new job and they send me to Ghana! After a week at an industrial site in Tema, Cape Coast was a lovely change of scenery. • #workperks #ghana #wanderlust
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The final stretch of the hike I really wanted to do. I’m happy I could complete it before getting sick. This coastline and Sagres (at the very end there) have captured my heart. • Day 5: Zambujeira do Mar - Odeceixe • #trilhodospescadores #fishermanstrail #alentejo #portugal #wanderlust
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The longest day (22km) and not a cloud in sight. Luckily a nice beach and a lovely cold ocean were waiting for me at the end of the hike. • Day 4: Almograve - Zambujeira do Mar • #trilhodospescadores #fishermanstrail #rotavicentina #alentejo #portugal #wanderlust
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High cliffs and empty beaches. Wind and sun on my face and loads of space for my thoughts. • Day 3: Vila Nova de Milfontes - Almograve • #trilhodospescadores #fishermenstrail #rotavicentina #alentejo #portugal #wanderlust
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In 2016 I hiked one day of the trail, trudging through the loose sand carrying a pack that was way to heavy, but still loving it. I promised myself I would be back and do it right. Packed solely for hiking this time it was an easier walk and still as beautiful as years before. Happy I could keep my promise to myself. • Day 2: Porto Coco - Vila Nova de Milfontes • #trilhodospescadores #fishermanstrail #rotavicentina #alentejo #portugal #wanderlust
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With the trip ending in isolation and diving straight back into work I haven’t taken much time to look back on my hike last September. Yesterday I finally uploaded the pictures taken with my camera to my laptop and two things stood out; 1) I basically had the same view for 4 days but it never became any less stunning, and 2) I miss daylight already. • Day 1: Sines to Porto Covo • #trilhodospescadores #fishermanstrail #rotavicentina #alentejo #portugal #wanderlust
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We went looking for shade this weekend. • With @eveline_mos • #hikingnl #tragetocht #laagsoeren #wanderlust
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“You’re supposed to learn from this experience, it’s a pilgrimage route.” *learns how to tape blisters* (I just learned that it’s in fact not a pilgrimage route, so I guess the lack life lessons learned can be forgiven ;)) • Day 3: Holthees - Ven-Zelderheide, 21km • #hikingnl #pieterpad #wanderlust
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The day I got too much sun.. • Day 2: Swolgen - Holthees, 21km • #hikingnl #pieterpad #wanderlust
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Things may appear softer than they are. • Day 1: Venlo - Swolgen, 21km • #hikingnl #pieterpad #wanderlust
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That’s a lot to carry girl, he better be worth it. • #paddentrek #hikingnl #nswandeling #nhduinreservaat #wanderlust
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Head cleared, hot chocolate well deserved. • #hikingnl #nswandeling #elsterberg #wanderlust
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When you plan a hike two weeks in advance and, against all odds, the weather turns out great. • With @mos_projectfacilitator. • #hikingnl #eropuit #wanderlust
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Well hello little fellow, thank you for sitting still for a photo shoot. • #frog #tragetocht #schoonloo2 #middendrenthe #hikingnl #wanderlust
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💚 • #groenewissel #schoonloo #middendrenthe #hikingnl #wanderlust
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Pretty as porcelain. • #fungus #tragetocht #sleenerzand #middendrenthe #hikingnl #wanderlust
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Last hints of summer. • #butterfly #atalanta #tragetocht #orvelte #middendrenthe #hikingnl #wanderlust
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I thoroughly enjoyed my view the past couple of evenings. • #sundown #middendrenthe #natuurhuisje #hikingnl #wanderlust
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2 days, 35 kilometers, a tent and the decision to stop counting my blisters. • #collectblistersnotthings #farmland #nswandeling #mookerheide #hikingnl #wanderlust
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When your plans get canceled.. • #heather #nswandeling #mookerheide #hikingnl #wanderlust
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Sea view • #dutchcoast #lovezeeland #groynes #paalhoofden
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Sail away with me • #dutchcoast #sunset #lovezeeland
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2 days, 52 kilometers, 4 blisters and the best company. Thank you for letting me tag along @mos_projectfacilitator • #romeinselimespad #hikingnl #wanderlust
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A fluffy bit of happiness. Made possible by @justineve14 😘 • #alpacaselfie #vorstenbosch
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Cold and sunny weather, a nice route, my big sis and a deer hopping past. Not a bad day. • #klompenpaden #hikingnl #wanderlust
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Wavy fungi • #mushrooms #forest #hikingnl #groenewissel #tharde #wanderlust
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I always feel just a little bit better when I’m surrounded by trees. • #forest #ovstapper #zandenbos #hikingnl #wanderlust
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We walked along the beach until the cold made our ears hurt and we deserved hot chocolate. • #dutchcoast #lovezeeland #uitwaaien
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Longing for the forest. • #forest #tragetocht #amerongen #utrechtseheuvelrug #hikingnl #wanderlust
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Bursting out of its skin. • #mushroom #autumn #tragetocht #amerongen #utrechtseheuvelrug #hikingnl #wanderlust
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Just some twins enjoying the sunshine. • #mushrooms #autumn #tragetocht #amerongen #utrechtseheuvelrug #hikingnl #wanderlust
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The forest never bores me. • #forest #ermelobuitenleven #hikingnl #tragetocht #leuvenum #wanderlust
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Also in my front yard last week.. Or maybe I was in their back yard? • #woodpecker #natuurhuisje #ermelobuitenleven #wanderlust
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My front yard during last week’s getaway 💜💚 • #natuurhuisje #ermelobuitenleven #heather #foggymorning #wanderlust
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Found some small beauties. • #mushroomhunting #hikingnl #groenewissel #garderen #wanderlust
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When you can smell the heather 💜 • #hikingnl #groenewissel #ermelo #heather #wanderlust #ermelobuitenleven
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Sunshine & farmland. • #hikingnl #nswandeling #limburgsplateau #wanderlust
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I traded the boiling city for the shady forest for a few hours. • #hikingnl #forest #ferns #wanderlust
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Hints of spring. • #hikingnl #nswandeling #meijendel #blossom #wanderlust
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Sorting my thoughts on a sunny winter’s day 🖤 • #hikingnl #nswandeling #devuursche #forest #wanderlust
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There will always be a part of me that longs for a little home far away from everything except mountains and waves. • #whenigrowup #daretodream #escapism #wanderlust #alicante #casteldeguadalest
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I know that 2020 has some adventures in store for me. I hope some of them will involve mountains and sunshine. • #lines #horizon #clouds #backlight #nofilter #wanderlust #traveling #alicante #spain #winterescape
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Sunny days in autumn 🖤 • #autumn #heather #wanderlust #loonseendrunenseduinen
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Apparently I only take pictures at the beach nowadays. • #beachlife #dutchcoast #pastels #scheveningenpier #scheveningenbeach
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I’m leaving the seaside and am heading back to the city for a while. • #homeiswheremybackpackis #changeofscenery #dutchcoast #beachlife #lovezeeland #blogindutch #linkinbio
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Stay on the intended path or take a turn? • #carreerplanning #daretochoose #winterwanderung #hiking #switzerland #wanderlust #traveling #blogindutch #linkinbio
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I have a love/hate thing going on with the weather here lately. • #blowmeaway #comerainorshine #changingseasons #sundowner #windinmyhair #beachlife #cloudporn #lovezeeland #dutchcoast #skyline
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A breath of fresh air. • #storm #waves #hightide #beachlife #windinmyhair #kopindewind #uitwaaien #dutchcoast #lovezeeland
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Prickly. For the past years I’ve loved living in a larger city, but I find that I’m appreciating space, peace and quiet more and more. • #peaceandquiet #hustleandbustle #villageversuscity #rustenruimte #prikkels #dorpvsstad #blogindutch #linkinbio #salardeuyuni #bolivia • 📷: Bolivia, 2011.
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From new to old. • #zealand #zeeland #whatsinaname #beachlife #windinmyhair #blogindutch #linkinbio
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Road tripping 🖤 • #roadtripping #sunrise #beachlife #northland #newzealand #aotearoa #wanderlust #traveling #blogindutch #linkinbio
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The best sights aren’t caught on picture. • #divetrip #scubadiving #blowingbubbles #poorknightsislands #divetutukaka #newzealand #aotearoa #wanderlust #traveling #blogindutch #linkinbio
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I’m not a fan of big crowds, but often these people are there for a good reason. While hiking in a line of people sucks, this was absolutely totally worth it. • #tongarirocrossing #tongariro #trampingnz #hiking #newzealand #aotearoa #traveling #wanderlust #blogindutch #linkinbio
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I took the wheel yesterday and drove myself along the Whanganui River. • #whanganui #whanganuiriver #whanganuiriverroad #newzealand #aotearoa #wanderlust #traveling
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I took a little break from traveling and posting the last days, because I was enjoying the company of friends 🖤 Today it was time to move on again, starting the second part of my New Zealand trip: the North Island. But not without sharing a picture of my last stop in the South. • #anchoragebay #abeltasman #trampingnz #hiking #friendsinfarawayplaces #newzealand #aotearoa #wanderlust #traveling #blogindutch #linkinbio
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Rest day. • #palmtree #goldenhour #newzealand #aotearoa #traveling #wanderlust
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A quiet summer evening. • #beachlife #waves #moodygram #punakaiki #nzwestcoast #newzealand #aotearoa #wanderlust #traveling
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I passed by this beauty some days ago. • #hookervalleytrack #mtcook #newzealand #aotearoa #wanderlust #traveling #blogindutch #linkinbio
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I ended 2018 on a high. • #obligatorytravelpic #summithike #trampingnz #arthurspass #newzealand #aotearoa #traveling #wanderlust
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Just enjoying the peace and ‘quiet’ of Stewart Island. • #stewartisland #rakiura #rakiuratrack #trampingnz #oystercatcher #newzealand #aotearoa #hiking #traveling #wanderlust #blogindutch #linkinbio
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Found it. • #kiwibird #luckyme #ulvaisland #newzealand #aotearoa #wanderlust
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Another beautiful great walk. • #routeburntrack #trampingnz #newzealand #aotearoa #hiking #wanderlust #traveling #blogindutch #linkinbio
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What a lovely home base this place has been for the past days. • #cloudporn #newzealand #aotearoa #traveling #wanderlust
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Some places are so hyped up that it’s hard to still be impressed. So initially I was quite underwhelmed, but with the clouds parting and a viewpoint on land, I’ve got to admit it’s a beautiful place. • #spoiledtraveler #milfordsound #newzealand #aotearoa #traveling #wanderlust
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A wanderluster’s paradise. • #keplertrack #newzealand #aotearoa #trampingnz #hiking #wanderlust #traveling #blogindutch #linkinbio
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An incredibly scenic flight landed me in Queenstown. Ready to explore the South Island. • #birdseyeview #newzealandalps #aotearoa #moodygram #wanderlust #traveling
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This country has a temper! From friendly green hills to angry crushing waves. From scorching sunshine to pouring rain, both making you want to hide and to go out at the same time 🖤 • #moodygram #exploring #traveling #wanderlust #beachlife #newzealand #aotearoa
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Just close your eyes and take a leap. • #soundssimple #butimalittlescared #andrestless #blogindutch #linkinbio #oneweekout #lifechanging #newadventures #fernweh #wanderlust #traveling #backpacking #jobhunting #expatting
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It’s hard to believe that this period of my life has come to an end and I’m still overwhelmed by all the loving words that I received yesterday. When you’re at a loss for words, your captions are full of cliches, but no less straight from the heart. I feel blessed that I had these awesome ladies by my side 🖤💙 • #phdlife #thefinal #blackandblue #girlpower
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Making plans 🖤 • #fernweh #wanderlust #wishlist #friendsinfarawayplaces #keepingapromise #justgo #traveling #backpacking
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The venue upstaged the event (unfortunately). • #metaalkathedraal #klimaatfestival
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A very well-timed weekend of being outdoors. • #greenrace #heuvelrugtweedaagse #2x20km #opdeheuvelrug #watdeheuvelrugmetjedoet #wanderlust
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The architecture of Berlage combined with the symbolism of Helene Kröller-Müller 🖤 • #berlage #krollermuller #departmenttrip #phdlife #hogeveluwe
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That’s what friends are for. They help you to be more of who you are. –Christopher Robin • #friendsandfamily #askingtherightquestions #kasteeldehaar
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A change of scenery. • #clearingmymind #kopindewind #beachlife #cloudporn #moody #vlissingen
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I’ll go back to work when summer ends.. #summertime #lazytime #phdlife #postconceptthesis #maarsseveenseplassen #staycation #choosingme
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Believe it or not: this was some delicious seafood. #perceves #pollicipes #seafood #sagres #portugal
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Sand between my toes, (a little too much) sun on my face and salt in my hair 🖤🏄🏼‍♀️ #lovinit #beachlife #surfsup #waves #surfingsagres #surfcamp #sagresnaturasurfcamp #portugal
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Concept thesis ✔️ #itsawrap #finishline #phdlife
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Bye #noordwijk, you’ve been good to me. Now let’s go back to the real world and finish this thing. #beachlife #writingweek #finalsprint #phdlife
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