I hit the trail around 11 a.m.—it’s getting later and later, haha. And then, once I’m walking and that wonderful feeling sweeps over me, I always think: why didn’t I start earlier? The weather is… More
The fatigue sets in
I sleep incredibly well on my first night in the tent, but still, I spend much of the day taking it easy. The exhaustion of the past few months is definitely catching up with me. It’s cold in the morning, but with the right gear, that doesn’t really matter. It’s pure bliss to brew a cup of coffee while still snuggled in my warm sleeping bag, feeling the fresh air on my face.
I’m still figuring out the best way to pack my hiking cart, the Wheelie. It feels a bit cumbersome for now, but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it soon enough. I continue along the stunning coastline. The day starts out sunny, but by early afternoon a sharp wind picks up and the weather shifts completely. It turns misty and raw. Later in the day, as the trail heads inland, things clear up again. I find a beautiful camping spot by a lake full of fish. A man walking by with his dog tells me that’s a sure sign the water is clean. That’s good news, because I plan to make my coffee with it tomorrow.
There’s a bench where I can sit and prepare dinner. I experiment with some instant pasta in a cup, adding fresh vegetables, and it tastes surprisingly good. Why is it that food always tastes better out in nature—even when it’s nothing special?
I pitch my tent in the forest, tucked away where no one can see me. Somehow I still have that feeling in the back of my mind that wild camping isn’t allowed, that I should stay out of sight. But this isn’t the Netherlands—this is Sweden. It’ll take some getting used to. I’m sure it won’t be long before I start pitching my little tent wherever I like, without a second thought.
Malmö – the beginning of my Swedish adventure
After a wonderful night’s sleep in Copenhagen, and a walk through the city’s new harbor district, I catch the train to Malmö. A short 40-minute ride. And just like that—I’ve arrived in Sweden! A country I’ve never been to and know very little about. It feels like this is where the real journey begins.
In the morning, I plan one last city walk, this time through Malmö. Another place well worth exploring. One of its most iconic sights is the Turning Torso, a twisting skyscraper in the Västra Hamnen district, right on the Swedish side of the Öresund, directly across from Copenhagen. My walk takes me around the tower from all different angles. Once again, the weather is beautiful, and the solar panels on my Wheelie are charging perfectly. After visiting the St. Petri cathedral, I feel like I’ve had enough of the city. It’s nearly 4 p.m.—time to head for nature. Two days of urban life is a bit much for me.
First, I have to make it through a painfully long stretch of industrial area—not exactly inspiring—but once I reach the coastline and begin heading north, everything changes. For the first time, I’ll be wild camping in Sweden. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for so long.
In Sweden, you’re allowed to camp pretty much anywhere, as long as you stay at least 150 meters from houses, take all your trash with you (obviously), and don’t harm any plants or disturb animals. And I have to say—people seem to respect that. I haven’t seen litter anywhere. And eventually, I find the perfect spot. I cook my first one-pot meal in my lightweight frying pan, and it tastes amazing. Then I pitch my tent and sit back to enjoy a stunning sunset, surrounded by curious little rabbits hopping around. This is exactly what I dreamed of.
Wandering through Copenhagen
I arrive in Copenhagen at 9:30 a.m. Slept little to none, but who cares. The weather is amazing — 19 degrees Celcius and full-on sunshine. I’ve got the whole day to explore this brand new city. Plenty to see. I’d found a nice walking route beforehand and I’m soaking up every second of my first full day outside.
Overall, the city feels pretty calm, and I can take everything in at my own pace — except at the Little Mermaid, of course. Total madness there. So I move on quickly and sit down at a picnic table by the harbor with a tasty sandwich and some coffee I brewed myself.
Even after a sleepless night, I end up walking the whole day. Around 6 p.m., I check into my hostel, grab a pizza, and not long after — at 8:30 p.m. — I crash hard in my bunk bed at A&O Copenhagen Sydhavn. I don’t even hear my roommates come in, but when I wake up the next morning, five people are still snoring around me. And I slept through it all — without earplugs!
Finally hitting the road!
The day has come — May 1st, 2024. Finally, it’s happening. My big journey is about to begin. I’ve taken a year-long sabbatical and I’m planning to walk across Europe for a whole year. You really don’t need to go far to see beautiful things. My only condition: not too cold, not too hot. So, spring and summer I’ll head north (Sweden and Norway), and once autumn kicks in, I’ll go south. Where exactly? No idea yet — I’ll figure that out along the way.
I’ve been running around all day with last-minute prep, but at 19:07 I catch the train from Alkmaar Noord to Amsterdam. Huge surprise: my dad, my aunt, and my oldest sister are there to see me off. Even bigger surprise: at Sloterdijk, my sweet friend J. is waiting to say goodbye. What a beautiful start!
Around 9 p.m., I hop on the Flixbus to Copenhagen. I’m hoping to get some sleep, but that’s not happening at all. Every time we stop, the lights go on, announcements blast through the speakers, and just for fun, at 4:30 a.m., we get a passport check at the Danish border. But honestly? It doesn’t matter. My trip has started. And this grin on my face? It’s not going anywhere for a while.
