Walking influencer Roos Freije on the power of walking in autumn
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Finding peace
on the Ziltepad
Walking in autumn is different. The air is crisp, the path muddy, the light short. Yet that’s exactly what draws walking influencer Roos Freije to this season. She walked four stages of Het Ziltepad – from Sint Jacobiparochie to Peins, from Peins to Zurich, from Zurich to Stroe, and from Stroe to Oosterland – and spent the night in the village church of Zurich. Her story shows how the landscape in autumn offers a special kind of peace to those who walk the path.
Saturday morning, just after sunrise. The wind picks up, the sky feels heavy. Still, Roos sets off from Sint Jacobiparochie. “That mix of storm, sunshine and more storm – that’s what makes it adventurous,” she says. In the distance, villages disappear behind the mist, the water turns dark grey. A few minutes later, the light breaks through and everything seems to stand still for a moment.
For Roos, the weather is never decisive. “Rain is just part of walking. It belongs to it.”
She’s used to the rhythm of days spent outdoors, in motion. “Good shoes, a backpack, and just go.” As she heads towards Peins, the clouds begin to open. In the distance, a flock of sheep walks along the dike. The wind whispers through the grass. It doesn’t get more peaceful than this.
Space in your mind
After a few days of walking, Roos notices what the movement does to her. “Once I reach this point in my journey, the worrying thoughts fade away—or I can see them from a distance.” She says it calmly, as if it’s obvious. “Life becomes very simple when you walk. All you have to do is take one step forward.”
The landscape helps. The sky hangs low, the land lies open. Rainbows briefly appear over the fields, the water in the ditches moves slowly with the wind. Walking brings calm, but also clarity. “It puts things in perspective. Everything feels smaller when you’re outside.” She stops for a moment, looking at the horizon. No rush, no distractions. Just the rhythm of her steps. “That’s enough,” she says.
A night in the church
In Zurich, a volunteer greets her with a key and a smile. Together they unfold the camp bed between the blue walls of the village church. “When she left, I did think: I’m completely alone in a church, next to a graveyard,” Roos says, laughing. “But it felt good. I left a few lights on—that was enough.”
Outside, the storm rages; inside, it’s quiet. Occasionally the wood creaks, the wind whistles through a gap in the window. “You hear everything: the wind, the trees, the building itself. Not scary, more… special.” The next morning, she has breakfast on a church bench—yoghurt and tea—as the first light filters through the stained glass. “People like that you’re walking through their village, sleeping in the church, showing interest in the area. They love to tell you about where they live.” Those encounters complete the route for her.
The power of autumn
For many, the walking season starts in spring. Roos feels differently. “In autumn and winter it’s quiet—that’s what I like. Sometimes you have nature all to yourself.” She pauses, takes a deep breath. “Along the water, with the wind in your face, you really feel alive.”
Her tips are simple: bring good clothes and something warm to drink. “In the middle of nature, coffee or tea tastes twice as good.” The pure, sober quality of autumn makes walking even more meaningful. No crowds, no heat—just air, water and clay. “You don’t have to go far. The Netherlands still has places that are real.” Het Ziltepad—and the Wadden coast—is one of them.
About Roos Freije
Two years ago, she walked the Pieterpad. That’s where her love for walking began. Since then, she’s shared her journeys with over 40,000 followers. “Many people want to walk solo but don’t dare to. I show them how I do it, and that helps.” For Roos, walking is more than movement—it’s freedom. “Even if you’re away for two days, it feels like you’ve been on holiday for a week.” She looks at the horizon, where the light is changing again. “I want to continue walking Het Ziltepad. In the end, I want to complete the whole route.” She says it with the same calm she walks: step by step.
