DAY EIGHT IN HOLLAND

Bhaktimarga Swami
3 days ago
2 min read

Thursday, October 16th, 2025

Babberich, The Netherlands

Mission completed. After 20 kilometres and maybe a few more steps, our team reached the German border at Babberich. From Arnhem (pop. 200,000), our core group trailed through swervy streets and came to a more straight line when we met a smiling Lia, another cousin I didn’t know I had. Because of the competent organizers, I was able to link up with kith and kin on this journey and I felt a relief thanks to my navigators, Nam and Rabin. Behind the scenes was Vaibhavi, who chalked out the path. Kudos to them.

The ultimate free-spirit in our group was Amala Bhakti, a very balanced middle-aged woman who follows us by bike and slept in a tent each night on a farmer’s turf or shack. Jayden was a great companion, a lawyer-in-training. He was my Canadian link. Helga was our petit walker, steadfast and strong, filming away in preparation for a documentary.

But what about Lia, the cousin? She’s in her late 60s, a retired nurse, and is more or less of my generation, totally relatable – a mix of fun and gravity.

Nancy, 79, today’s journalist, was like that, too. When I mentioned to her that I caught on to a wave of interest in Indian culture like celebs, The Beatles, Peter Sellers, Mia Farrow, and Shirley MacLaine, she knew what I was talking about. We were all sitting at a petting farm with goats, deer, geese, asses, when Nancy’s questions flowed. From the city Ebe, Isabel sent us her interview. It was nice.

On this trip, The Netherlands, the media reciprocated well, hence, Krishna’s name got out there.