Dutch Museum Exhibits History of Pilgrimage to Santiago

Museum Krona in Uden, Netherlands, currently hosts “The Camino. The Journey of Your Life,” an exhibition exploring the historical and contemporary practice of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The exhibit combines medieval artifacts with modern art to illustrate the evolution of the journey, once solely a Christian devotion, into a pursuit encompassing nature appreciation, personal challenge, and spiritual discovery.

The exhibition draws connections between the medieval experience and modern pilgrimages, featuring items like well-preserved 14th-century leather boots and equipment belonging to Saint Birgitta, who walked to Santiago in 1341. Fragments from the 2010 film The Way, starring Martin Sheen, are also displayed, mirroring the themes of loss, reconciliation, and self-discovery often associated with the Camino.

Visitors can participate in an interactive game resembling a traditional goose game, moving through the exhibition as if completing the pilgrimage. While the connection between the game and the Camino is tenuous, the exhibit aims to evoke the feeling of a journey through time and space. The exhibition coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Dutch Society of Saint James, an organization supporting pilgrims.