Maria Krebbers organises walks for Walk of Life: ‘Slowing down gives you new energy’
After her work as a workshop coordinator at the Lorentz Center, Maria Krebbers regularly heads out into nature. As a volunteer coach for Walk of Life, she organises monthly walks where participants can share their stories – or simply say nothing at all.
Maria Krebbers has been working at the Lorentz Center for almost eight years. Since early 2025, she has also been involved in an activity that gives her a great deal of energy: as a volunteer coach, she organises Walk of Life walks in Warmond. ‘I really enjoy being part of this movement,’ she says.
‘You can share anything here’
During the walks, it is not the number of kilometres that matters, but the space participants are given to talk, listen and, above all, feel. Maria takes care of the location and the practical arrangements. After that, the walk takes on a life of its own. ‘It’s about being able to step out of everyday life for a while. Into nature. Together with someone who is there for you, walks alongside you for a while and listens.’
The stories she hears can sometimes be intense. People talk about losing a loved one, loneliness or relationships. Others share something about their identity and find recognition in participants who have been through similar experiences. ‘You don’t know each other. You can only see what’s on the outside. And then suddenly there are three people who feel a deeper connection with one another.’ Maria is very clear that she does not see herself as a therapist. ‘For me, it’s simply about being there for people and giving them the space to share whatever they need to.’
From your head to your heart
A walk usually begins with a short meditation. Sometimes participants are given an exercise in which they look for something in nature that reflects how they are feeling at that moment. There are also exercises involving movement or dancing. ‘I try to help people get out of their heads, so they can feel more,’ Krebbers explains. This ties in with her own personal development. About five years ago, Maria began exploring personal development after realising that she wanted to feel more connected to herself. ‘For me, it was always very difficult to feel things, too.’
Her childhood plays a major role in this. Maria grew up on a farm in Germany, where working hard and carrying on were simply part of life. ‘Sitting still was a no-go. At some point I thought: I want to do things differently. I discovered that slowing down gives me new energy and new strength.’
‘People need people’
That is precisely why she believes it is important for people to keep seeking each other out. ‘These days, we talk to AI. But a personal conversation is so different from talking to a computer. People need people.’ She sees the same thing at work. During the Covid-19 pandemic, much of their work moved online, whereas Maria believes face-to-face encounters are particularly valuable. ‘New ideas emerge by the coffee machine, not online.’
Walking helps with that, too. Not only because people are literally moving, but also because there is less distance between them than when they are sitting opposite each other at a table. ‘You don’t necessarily have to make direct eye contact. You can choose where you look. And you have nature, the wind and the sounds around you.’
After a walk, Maria consciously leaves the stories behind. ‘Then I tell myself: none of this is mine, and I go home “clean”.’ What she does take with her is the energy. ‘I feel a great deal of gratitude and pride that I do this. It’s a wonderful initiative that is accessible to everyone.’
Join Walk of Life’s three-day walking event during World Mental Health Day – 10–12 October 2026
As part of World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October, Walk of Life is organising a three-day walking event from 10 to 12 October. Walk of Life organises walks throughout the Netherlands. Maria organises her monthly walks from Warmond. ‘You don’t need to have a personal reason for joining a walk; everyone is welcome,’ says Krebbers.