Picture this: a 65-year-old man gives up his apartment, sells his stuff, and decides to walk from Berlin to Brussels. No safe choices. No detailed plan. Just a leap, driven by the feeling that sometimes you need to move to hold on to what matters.
So hello, I’m Ruud Hopstaken, and yes, I’m that guy.
On August 1, 2025, my father’s birthday, I begin a months-long walk from Berlin towards Brussels. In 1945, he walked home from forced labour; now I walk through a Europe in search of what binds us. Along the way, I’ll ask people: What connects you to European society? Together with my team of young creators, we will share these stories and my personal reflections online.
Reflecting on what Europe truly means to us. This journey invites pause - to consider our shared values, the freedoms we experience, what genuinely connects us as Europeans. Not the Europe of institutions, but the Europe in your daily life.
Seeking connection with people from all walks of life. Along the way, I ask everyone the same question: "What connects you to European society?" Through genuine conversations, new perspectives emerge and we discover unexpected common ground.
Getting in motion when standing still is no longer an option. This walk symbolizes a choice: do we determine our own fate or let others determine it for us? By literally leaving the comfort zone, I create space for transformation - from observer to participant.
Together with a team of young creators, I'm sharing these stories to spark something bigger. Because let's be honest - I don't have all the answers. My hope is simply that this becomes a journey we take together, discovering what Europe can be when we actually appreciate it. Will you walk with me? Not literally, but by asking yourself: what connects you to the European society?
