Walking barefoot, at least outdoors, is strange to most people. This is despite the fact that walking barefoot is even healthier than wearing shoes. In the Barefoot Park in Brunssum Can you walk four kilometres barefoot? And it's surprisingly fun and challenging!
Leuk en gezond
Walking barefoot through mud, sand or grass first and foremost brings you closer to nature. If you're not used to it, it's a special sensation. What's more, it's incredibly healthy for your circulation, coordination and digestion, among other things. The benefits of walking barefoot are similar to those of foot reflexology.
Varied course
On your trek along the four-kilometre barefoot path, your feet will encounter diverse surfaces. You'll walk
over woodland paths and sandy tracks. Sometimes cold, sometimes warmed by the sun. Along the entire route, you'll find boxes containing items such as pebbles and pine cones. You'll also encounter various obstacles along the way, such as balance beams.
Physical and spiritual challenge
Thrill-seekers can try their hand at the obstacle course over the pond. You'll make your way to the other side over poles placed upright in the water, with only a slack rope to hold onto. Quite a challenge, we can tell you! We only just stayed dry ourselves. Want to avoid the risk of getting soaked? You can also walk around this obstacle course and pond in a wide arc.
Following this challenge is a more philosophical part of the route, as you walk through various pathways with different proverbs. Then, a number of circles and triads follow, which provide food for thought. The next stilted path is then again primarily a physical challenge.
With your feet in the clay
You stand knee-deep in the healing mud in the mud bath. A little later, after jumping from boulder to boulder on the Obelix trail, you can rinse off most of the mud at the water cascade. Finally, you scrub off the last remnants of mud at the foot wash station with a dish brush. If you wish, you can then pamper your feet at the wellness area or enjoy a bite to eat and a drink on the natural terrace.
Practical information
The BloteVoetenPark is located on the edge of the Schutterspark, at the Ganzenpool, where you can park for free.
In April, May, June, September and October, the park is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. In July and August, the park is open every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The park is closed during the winter months.
The entrance fee for adults is €6.50. Children up to 12 years old pay €3.50. (Our experience is that children under three years of age may enter for free, but this is not explicitly stated on the website. So please don't hold us to that!)
There are also various packages for children, adults, and special reflection packages.
Finally
As strange as it feels to take off your shoes at first, it's just as odd a sensation to put them on again later. Walking barefoot gets surprisingly accustomed to quickly. Don't think the barefoot path is a doddle, because you'll easily spend an hour and a half to two hours covering the ‘mere’ four kilometres. Quite a few calories lighter and spiritually enriched, we got into the car, tired but satisfied. Read more about it here Day trips met Adrem.
