{"id":2623,"date":"2026-03-22T21:31:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T20:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T23:03:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T21:03:38","slug":"setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Day 1: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia<\/h2>\n\n

#throwback September 5, 2025<\/p>\n\n

Exciting: a new route, new countries<\/h2>\n\n

Finally. I’ve been looking forward to this so much; my journey has begun. A new route, new countries. On the agenda: a section of the Sultans Trail<\/a>, from Belgrade<\/a> to Sofia<\/a>. About 550 kilometers ahead of me. A beautiful new adventure in unknown places. <\/p>\n\n

I find it exciting. Perhaps mostly because of the languages\u2014Serbian and Bulgarian, written in the Cyrillic script<\/a>\u2014I can’t make heads or tails of it. It’ll probably all be fine, of course. These days you solve everything with a bit of googling and Google Translate. And yet… those first few days in a new country always make me nervous. I have to get used to things. To the language, the money, the people, the customs. And afterwards? Afterwards, it’s always better than expected. <\/p>\n\n

By train and bus<\/h2>\n\n

Because I want to fly as little as possible, I’m traveling by train and bus. Actually, that’s a gift in itself. Slowly disconnecting and slowing down. Especially after an emotionally intense period where I was barely keeping my head above water. This trip feels not just like something fun, but like something necessary. <\/p>\n\n

It is starting with a heavy headache and a protesting body, though. A touch of burnout, perhaps. Hopefully it fades quickly, step by step. The media training from Wandelnet,<\/a> on the day of departure and something I was really looking forward to, I unfortunately have to cancel; it’s just too much right now. My body is hitting the brakes and this time I’m listening\u2014quite a victory. <\/p>\n\n

The night train to Vienna<\/a> is an experience in itself. Out of (misplaced?) frugality, I booked a seat. Real sleep is hard to come by, but between the swaying I manage to catch some catnaps. At seven in the morning, a fellow passenger brings me a cup of coffee. One of those small gestures that suddenly feels huge. I’m less tired than expected. <\/p>\n\n

Slowly it sinks in: the holiday feeling. My shoulders feel lighter. My head quieter. <\/p>\n\n

The adventure has begun. Serbia<\/a>, here I come!<\/p>\n\n

But first: an afternoon and an evening in Budapest<\/a>, Hungary.<\/a><\/p>\n\n

The Sultans Trail is a long-distance hiking trail from Vienna (Austria), via Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece to Istanbul in Turkey. It roughly follows the journey made by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent<\/a>, ruler of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. The total length is approx. 2,400 km and the trail runs through eight countries and eight nature reserves. The path is developed and promoted by volunteers from the Dutch Sultan’s Trail Foundation, A European Cultural Route.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Departing for Belgrade from Amsterdam via Vienna and Budapest to hike the Sultans Trail long-distance path from Belgrade to Sofia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[251,236,234],"class_list":["post-2623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs-en","tag-austria","tag-long-distance-hike","tag-sultanstrail"],"yoast_head":"\nSetting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail - FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Travel along on the Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia. A personal account of slowing down, the night train to Vienna, and the start of a 550 km adventure.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail - FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Travel along on the Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia. A personal account of slowing down, the night train to Vienna, and the start of a 550 km adventure.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-22T20:31:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-17T21:03:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Marnix van der Lijn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marnix van der Lijn\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Marnix van der Lijn\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3378b8c210d8e714eabad2dc1764e0db\"},\"headline\":\"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-22T20:31:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-17T21:03:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":459,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3378b8c210d8e714eabad2dc1764e0db\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"Austria\",\"long-distance hike\",\"SultansTrail\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Blogs ENG\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/\",\"name\":\"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail - FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-22T20:31:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-17T21:03:38+00:00\",\"description\":\"Travel along on the Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia. A personal account of slowing down, the night train to Vienna, and the start of a 550 km adventure.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":1600},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM\",\"description\":\"Hiking & writing\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3378b8c210d8e714eabad2dc1764e0db\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3378b8c210d8e714eabad2dc1764e0db\",\"name\":\"Marnix van der Lijn\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/logo_fof.svg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/logo_fof.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/logo_fof.svg\",\"width\":1160,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"Marnix van der Lijn\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/logo_fof.svg\"},\"description\":\"Ik ben Marnix (1964), schrijver, langeafstandswandelaar en minimalist in hart en nieren. Na een loopbaan in de commerci\u00eble 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 \u2013 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 \u2018Wheelie\u2019 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 b\u00e9n onderweg. En daar voel ik me thuis.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/marnix_footsteps_of_freedom\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\\\/en\\\/author\\\/cheersmarnix\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail - FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM","description":"Travel along on the Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia. A personal account of slowing down, the night train to Vienna, and the start of a 550 km adventure.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail - FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM","og_description":"Travel along on the Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia. A personal account of slowing down, the night train to Vienna, and the start of a 550 km adventure.","og_url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/","og_site_name":"FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM","article_published_time":"2026-03-22T20:31:41+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-17T21:03:38+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":1600,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Marnix van der Lijn","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Marnix van der Lijn","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/"},"author":{"name":"Marnix van der Lijn","@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/3378b8c210d8e714eabad2dc1764e0db"},"headline":"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail","datePublished":"2026-03-22T20:31:41+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-17T21:03:38+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/"},"wordCount":459,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/3378b8c210d8e714eabad2dc1764e0db"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg","keywords":["Austria","long-distance hike","SultansTrail"],"articleSection":["Blogs ENG"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/","url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/","name":"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail - FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg","datePublished":"2026-03-22T20:31:41+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-17T21:03:38+00:00","description":"Travel along on the Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia. A personal account of slowing down, the night train to Vienna, and the start of a 550 km adventure.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg","width":1200,"height":1600},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/setting-off-on-a-new-adventure-the-sultans-trail\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Setting off on a new adventure: the Sultans Trail"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/","name":"FOOTSTEPS OF FREEDOM","description":"Hiking & writing","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/3378b8c210d8e714eabad2dc1764e0db"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/3378b8c210d8e714eabad2dc1764e0db","name":"Marnix van der Lijn","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/logo_fof.svg","url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/logo_fof.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/logo_fof.svg","width":1160,"height":250,"caption":"Marnix van der Lijn"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/logo_fof.svg"},"description":"Ik ben Marnix (1964), schrijver, langeafstandswandelaar en minimalist in hart en nieren. Na een loopbaan in de commerci\u00eble 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 \u2013 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 \u2018Wheelie\u2019 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 b\u00e9n onderweg. En daar voel ik me thuis.","sameAs":["https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/marnix_footsteps_of_freedom\/"],"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/author\/cheersmarnix\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2260,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/the-great-magic-trick-and-other-bumps-on-the-road-to-belgrade\/","url_meta":{"origin":2623,"position":0},"title":"The great magic trick and other bumps on the road to Belgrade","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"24 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs ENG"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs ENG","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/category\/blogs-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sultans Trail Hungary - Serbia Border","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2603,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/from-wage-slave-to-nomad-my-path-to-ultimate-freedom\/","url_meta":{"origin":2623,"position":1},"title":"From wage slave to nomad: my path to ultimate freedom","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"12 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Footsteps of Freedom: the path to a writing and hiking life Resignation and cold feet It's been quiet on this blog for a while, but that's about to change. The time is almost here: I've handed in my notice. March 31 is my last day at work, and I hope\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs ENG"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs ENG","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/category\/blogs-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-09-at-19.29.57.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2548,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/grens-oversteek-servie-bulgarije-diesel\/","url_meta":{"origin":2623,"position":2},"title":"Diesel on the highway: coffee stains and the crossing into Bulgaria","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"15 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Day 18: The Sultans Trail from Belgrade to Sofia #flashback: September 22, 2025 Startup problems and an unwanted shower After two nights of fantastic sleep in my green room in Dimitrovgrad, I set off again in good spirits. At least\u2026 that\u2019s what I think. My body just doesn't want to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs ENG"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs ENG","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/category\/blogs-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-15-at-15.27.30.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-15-at-15.27.30.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-15-at-15.27.30.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-15-at-15.27.30.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2238,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/hazenslaapjes-en-hongaarse-vibes-de-aanloop-naar-de-sultans-trail\/","url_meta":{"origin":2623,"position":3},"title":"Hazenslaapjes en Hongaarse vibes: De aanloop naar de Sultans Trail","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"23 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dag 2: De Sultans Trail van Belgrado naar Sofia #terugblik 6 september 2025 Bijzondere gesprekken in de nachttrein Wonder boven wonder ben ik best uitgerust na mijn hazenslaapjes op mijn zitplaats in de nachttrein. Voordat ik aankom in Wenen heb ik nog een aangenaam gesprek met mijn tafelgenoten. Ik zit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs NL"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs NL","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/category\/blogs-nl\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_5230-e1774245228449.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_5230-e1774245228449.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_5230-e1774245228449.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_5230-e1774245228449.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2179,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/op-pad-naar-een-nieuw-avontuur-de-sultans-trail\/","url_meta":{"origin":2623,"position":4},"title":"Op pad naar een nieuw avontuur: de Sultans Trail","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"22 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Vertrek naar Belgrado vanaf Amsterdam via Wenen en Budapest om de langeafstandswandeling de Sultans Trail te gaan wandelen van Belgrado naar Sofia.","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs NL"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs NL","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/category\/blogs-nl\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2620,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/es\/rumbo-a-una-nueva-aventura-el-sultans-trail\/","url_meta":{"origin":2623,"position":5},"title":"Rumbo a una nueva aventura: el Sultans Trail","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"22 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Salida hacia Belgrado desde \u00c1msterdam v\u00eda Viena y Budapest para recorrer a pie la ruta de larga distancia Sultans Trail de Belgrado a Sof\u00eda.","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs ESP"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs ESP","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/es\/category\/blogs-es\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-22-at-20.08.35.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2623"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2625,"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623\/revisions\/2625"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}