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Author: Marnix van der Lijn

Ik ben Marnix (1964), schrijver, langeafstandswandelaar en minimalist in hart en nieren. Na een loopbaan in de commerciële wereld, coaching en training, en jarenlange inzet in de vluchtelingenopvang, koos ik op mijn zestigste voor een radicale wending: ik gaf mezelf een sabbatical en trok de wereld in – te voet. Wat begon als een plan om 10.000 kilometer door Europa te wandelen, groeide uit tot iets veel groters: een nieuwe manier van leven. In negen maanden legde ik meer dan 5.500 kilometer af, met alleen mijn tent, schrijfboek, wandelkar (die ik liefdevol ‘Wheelie’ noem) en mijn barefoot schoenen. Al lopend ontdekte ik dat dit mijn pad is: een nomadisch bestaan, schrijvend onderweg. Ik geloof in het ritme van de voeten, in eenvoud, traagheid en aanwezigheid. Reizen zonder haast, leven met weinig, en onderweg de verhalen vangen die zich aandienen. Mijn missie? De schoonheid van vertraging, vrijheid en verbondenheid tastbaar maken in woorden. Ik bén onderweg. En daar voel ik me thuis.
Sultans Trail: geen toeristische trekpleisters, maar het leven van alledag

No pain, no gain: how AZ Alkmaar helped me get extra grapes in Serbia

Published on 27 March 202611 May 2026 by Marnix van der LijnLeave a comment

Day 6: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia #reflection September 10, 2025 The body is a wonder It’s amazing how quickly my body recovers. I thought I wouldn’t be able to move at all,… Lees meer…

Tags langeafstandswandeling, Servië, SultansTrail

Breakfast in heaven, walking in hell: the heat on the Sultans Trail.

Published on 26 March 202611 May 2026 by Marnix van der LijnLeave a comment

Day 5: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia #reflection September 9, 2025 Early up, late on the road The intention to leave early due to the heat fails miserably. After a perfect night’s sleep… Lees meer…

Tags langeafstandswandeling, Servië, SultansTrail
Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade

A night of horror, blood, and thorns: my difficult departure from Belgrade

Published on 25 March 202618 April 2026 by Marnix van der LijnLeave a comment

Day 4: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia #throwback September 8, 2025 Horror night in the hostel Listen and shudder—the life of a hiker isn’t always a bed of roses. Or maybe it is;… Lees meer…

Tags long-distance hike, Serbia, SultansTrail, wildkamperen
Sultans Trail Hungary - Serbia Border

The great magic trick and other bumps on the road to Belgrade

Published on 24 March 202618 April 2026 by Marnix van der LijnLeave a comment

How is the journey from Budapest to Belgrade on the Sultans Trail? Discover the challenges with a hiking trailer, customs troubles, and first impressions of Serbia in this blog.

Tags Hungary, long-distance hike, Serbia, SultansTrail, Wheelie

Catnaps and Hungarian vibes: The lead-up to the Sultans Trail

Published on 23 March 202618 April 2026 by Marnix van der LijnLeave a comment

Day 2: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia #throwback September 6, 2025 Special conversations on the night train Miraculously, I feel quite rested after my catnaps in my seat on the night train. Before… Lees meer…

Tags Austria, Hungary, Serbia, SultansTrail

Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail

Published on 22 March 202617 April 2026 by Marnix van der LijnLeave a comment

Departing for Belgrade from Amsterdam via Vienna and Budapest to hike the Sultans Trail long-distance path from Belgrade to Sofia.

Tags Austria, long-distance hike, SultansTrail

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About Marnix

Marnix Footsteps of FreedomFrom May 2024 through January 2025, I hiked for nine months and 5,500 km across Sweden, Norway, Spain and Portugal. I came to the conclusion that this is how I want to live.

And so it happened… As of mid-May 2026, I am living a nomadic writing and hiking life in my tent, with my walking trailer and in barefoot shoes.

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