Second City Walk: Medieval Nijmegen, Power and Faith

During our second City Walk, we explored the medieval history of Nijmegen together. This time, the focus was on power, faith and city walls. Guided by Adnan, the participants walked past places that still tell the story of how the city was shaped, protected and governed centuries ago.

After a shared lunch at JongerenLab, the group headed towards Kronenburgerpark. At the Kronenburgertoren, we reflected on Nijmegen’s medieval defences and the way the city expanded over the centuries. The city walls were not only stone boundaries, but also symbols of safety, power and urban pride.

The group then continued to the Stevenskerk. Here, we discussed the central role of the church in medieval society. It was not only a place of faith, but also a place of prestige, income, encounter and influence. The conversation touched on relics, pilgrimage, the construction and expansion of the church, and the special meaning of the Stevenskerk for Nijmegen.

At the Grote Markt, the economic power of the city came into focus. At the Waag, Adnan explained how the weighing of goods was an important source of income, and how trade, taxation and city rights were closely connected. At the Blauwe Steen, it also became clear how visible power and justice were in the medieval city. The walk ended at the old city hall, where participants looked at the architecture and the historical figures decorating the façade.

After the walk, the group returned to JongerenLab via the Lange Hezelstraat for a round-table discussion. There, the conversation continued around the differences between rich and poor in the Middle Ages and the parallels with our society today. Who took care of people who were left behind? What role did the church play? And how do we look today at solidarity, poverty, care and the future of the welfare state?

This is where the real strength of the City Walk became visible. History did not remain something from the past, but became a way to talk about the world we live in today. From medieval city walls and churches, the conversation moved towards social security, inequality, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and possible future visions for our society.

The second City Walk once again showed how rich the history of Nijmegen is, but above all how valuable it is to walk through the city together, ask questions and connect different stories. By bringing places, people and perspectives together, the walk became more than a historical tour. It became a conversation about power, faith, care and community, then and now.