The official start is at 10 a.m., but the first walkers are ready at 9 a.m. There is great interest in the new walk. Some participants even come from outside the region, for example from Veghel, to walk the route.
Impressive stories along the way
The walk starts in the wooded Loosdrecht. The participants soon pass the Youth Dalijah monument in Nieuw-Loosdrecht. There, Jewish young people who fled to the Netherlands without their parents, but did not survive the war, are commemorated. The names on the monument made a great impression.
“You get to know the area better and hear things you didn’t know before,” says a participant along the way. “It puts you back on the ground with both feet.”
The route then continues to Zonnestraal Estate. This former sanatorium played a special role during the war. During a German raid, Jewish patients managed to escape there, partly due to a clever action by a sick fellow patient.
The Polar Bears Monument in Hilversum is also an important point on the route. This monument commemorates the British scouts who were the first to enter the city in May 1945, announcing the liberation of Hilversum.
Persevere in the sun
The walk is not only impressive, but also difficult. The bright sun and the distance of 22 kilometers make it difficult for some participants. The last kilometers through the forest and on the asphalt are particularly disappointing.
Still, the atmosphere remains good. Some participants do note that a few monuments along the way are difficult to see due to vegetation or the way they are located along the route. “It’s a shame if you walk past such places, but can’t get a good look at them,” says a walker.
Together to the finish
There is hardly any discussion about political topics, such as the possible merger between Hilversum and Wijdemeren. The participants are mainly concerned with walking, commemorating and reaching the finish line.
