REUNION

Bhaktimarga Swami
4 days ago
2 min read

Sunday, October 19th, 2025

Kwintsheul, The Netherlands

My last full day in Holland, the Netherlands, was very very special. The very expert team of Nama, Vaibhavi, and Rabin, arranged for a family reunion at the Kastanjehof Hall in Kwintsheul. They arranged the venue, the food, the promotion for members of the Vis and Persoon family, the clans of my dad and mum. From a low stage level, I welcomed all in an appreciation for their coming. I gave a quick overview of the eight-day walking marathon from the north west to the south east which borders at Germany.

Most of this time became interactive with a Q and A. I wanted to know what they wanted to know. And concerns, based on their questions, involved the purpose of walking and what life is like from a monk’s perspective. I let my relatives sitting before me know, who have Catholic backgrounds, that I never left Jesus and that I added Krishna to my devotional life. It was never meant to be a black and white scenario.

There was prasadam served after, food made with love. It was not spicy, but tasty. They loved it. In fact, there was so much warmth in the atmosphere. The bonding that happened was so endearing. The Dutch do have a touch.

After the great and curry-less meal, I had the pleasure of honouring two interviews from two media sources. On this whole venture of “Walk for Devotion,” the interaction with various media outlets reporting about the walk of a renunciant with blood roots in the Netherlands, was a charming piece of news.

One more mention; just across the street from the hall is the church that Dad used to go to over 75 years ago. I went inside and paid respect.