~~~
The interest I have in Maria has grown over the course of my life. After writing texts about my feelings for Her, publications followed. The publications are written in the Dutch language.
Jan van Wijk
~~~
IMPORTED, Dutch-language books:
-Roundabout through West Brabant
Maria in thought
— Maria and Bernadette
A thousand Hail Marys
Thoughts of Mary
Lourdes pilgrimage full of experiences
Our Lady in Bergen op Zoom
Fatima touches me
Strength Through Lourdes
Christmas Thoughts
-Nine days Santiago, Fátima, Lourdes
~~~
“The ”Mariaronde door West-Brabant" takes you on a journey past many chapels, Lourdes grottos, churches, and images of Our Lady. The Mariaronde starts at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bergen op Zoom, then visits several statues of Mary in the town. Afterwards, the tour continues with stages to the towns of Hoogerheide, Woensdrecht, Ossendrecht, Huijbergen, Wouwse Plantage, Nispen, Schijf, Achtmaal, Zundert, Rijsbergen, Sprundel, Sint-Willebrord, Rucphen, Etten-Leur, Hoeven, Zegge, Roosendaal, Oudenbosch, Zevenbergen, Langeweg, Zevenbergschen Hoek, Moerdijk, Dinteloord, Oud-Gastel, Kruisland, Wouw, Moerstraten, Welberg, Steenbergen, De Heen, Nieuw-Vossemeer, Lepelstraat, and ends at the Sint-Gertrudis Church in Bergen op Zoom. The total distance is 330 kilometres with 34 stages and two rest days. Each ride visits a place where Mary can be found. The Mariaronde can also be completed in smaller sections by foot, bicycle, motorbike, or car. The rides pass through many tourist attractions.
The publication includes more than 100 depictions of Mary with texts and colour photographs.
Charity: the proceeds will go in their entirety to the Sports for the Disabled Fund.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 120
Format: 21 cm by 14.8 cm
Cover: in colour with photo of the statue of Our Lady in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Bergen op Zoom
Language: Dutch
Publication of Mariakamer: 2026
Price, including postage, per item: €12.00
Order?
Send a message to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com with name, address, postcode, book title and number of copies.
~~~
In “Maria in my thoughts” you will find poems about Mary with themes such as testimony, mantle, hand, pilgrimage, silence, gratitude, heart, closeness, prayer, following, mother, simplicity, path, candle, conversion, salvation, wonder, anchoring, bond, meaning, devotion, fear, revelation, and hope.
Charity: the proceeds go in full to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre; a Roman Catholic knightly order to support their project of creating a safe playground for nursery school children in Fuheis, Jordan.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 100
Format: 24 cm by 16.5 cm
Cover: in colour with photo of Maria in Rue du Bac, Paris
Language: Dutch
Mariakamer Release: 2025
Price, including postage, per item: €12.00
Order?
Send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com with name, address, postcode, town, book title and number of copies.
~~~
~~~
~~~
The book contains many themes, including rosary, grotto, spring, processions, sheepfold, convent, infirmary, shrine and relic. These are divided among the places Lourdes, Bartrès, Nevers and Bergen op Zoom. For each section, there is a prayer to Mary and a letter to Bernadette.
Colour photographs have been placed with the themes.
Charity: the proceeds will go entirely to the Parish Church of Our Lady in Bergen op Zoom to enable less fortunate individuals to go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 80
Size: 24 by 17 cm
Photos: colour
Language: Dutch
Publication of Mariakamer: 2024
Price, including shipping, per copy €14.00.
Order?
Send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com with name, address, postcode, town, book title and number of copies.
~~~
Lourdes devotion
Over the past fifteen years, author Jan
van Wijk has published a steady stream of books, sometimes as many as three a year, on subjects close to his heart. In his list of publications, the themes of Saint Nicholas, cycling, but especially the Holy Virgin Mary stand out. This booklet is another one in the latter category. Van Wijk opts here for an alternation of prayers addressed to Mary and letters addressed to Saint Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes. They are arranged around places of significance within the Lourdes devotion: alongside
The world-famous French pilgrimage city
zelf zijn dat Bartrès (waar Bernadette haar jeugdjaren doorbracht), Nevers (waar ze in
the monastery and also died) and Bergen
The author's hometown of Op in Dutch is the author's place of residence, where a Lourdes grotto with a relic can also be found. With the many colour photographs included, the whole is a very pleasant piece of devotional literature. Also sympathetic: the proceeds go to Van Wijk's local parish to enable Lourdes pilgrimages for the less fortunate.
ANTON DE WIT
Jan van Wijk,
Maria and Bernadette
Publication: Maria Room
Pages: 80 | € 14
(incl. shipping costs)
Order via mariakamer.nl/ publications
Katholiek Nieuwsblad, issue 01/02, 8 January 2025, page 20.
~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~
With a thousand pronouncements on over a hundred themes, the writer further elaborates on the belief in Mary. After receiving inspiration, it is a play on words to arrive at pronouncements, thus creating testimonies that pay tribute to Mary.
The themes covered include pilgrimage, protection, gratitude, simplicity, hearing, goodness, hope, knots, light, love, cloak, mother, pilgrim, spirituality, comfort, friendship and warmth.
The proceeds from the book sales go to Comité Pro Maria, Diocese of Breda, to make pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Beauraing possible.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 48
Dimensions: 24 x 16.5 cm
Photos: black and white
Language: Dutch
Publication of Mariakamer: 2023
Price, including postage, per copy € 9.00
Order?
Send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com with name, address, postcode, town, book title and number of copies.
~~~
The meaningful thoughts are contributions to Marian poetry with always three words per line and are personal experiences of the author.
The “thoughts about Mary” concern topics such as pilgrimage, images, animation, repetition, hope, help, looking after, refuge, salvation, respect, rosary, and longing.
Through the sale of the book, the charity “War Child” is supported; defenceless children suffer so much from wars.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 64
Dimensions: 24 x 16.5 cm
Photos: black and white
Language: Dutch
Publication by Mariakamer: 2022
Price, including postage, per item: €9.00
Order?
Send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com with your name, address, postcode, town, book title, and number of copies.
~~~
A book for pilgrims to Lourdes and for those who wish to experience the pilgrimage in spirit from home.
A visit to Mary in French Lourdes has led to the writing of texts and the making of matching photos. The impressions are expressed in the author's characteristic style, namely three words per line.
The impressions gained include pilgrim, tour, Mary, grotto, spring, candles, devotion, praying, rosary, procession, miracles, apparitions, chapel, candles, giving thanks, devotional objects, feeling, and memory.
Through the sale of the book, the charity KiKa, Children Cancer Free, is supported.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 56
Dimensions: 24 x 16.5 cm
Photos: black and white
Language: Dutch
Publication: 2021
Price, including delivery, per item €8.50
Order?
Send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com.
~~~
The book offers a tour of the city, focusing on the Marian heritage in Bergen op Zoom. More than 100 locations are included in the work, along with over 150 colour illustrations. Impressions of images of Our Lady relate to depictions, paintings, tiles, and names in churches, chapels, and on house facades. The images are discussed in terms of size, colour, type of representation, and dating. The history of buildings where images of Our Lady can be discovered is also addressed. This provides an inventory that offers a fairly accurate representation of what can be seen of Mary in Bergen op Zoom. The book provides a clear tour for the reader, allowing the images of Our Lady in the city to be admired.
With the sale of the book, a good cause is supported, and that is the Maria Ommegang in Bergen op Zoom.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 96
Format: 24.0 x 16.6 cm
Photos: full colour
Language: Dutch
Publication: 2021
Price, including postage, per copy: €15.00
To order, send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com.
The book launch on 12 September 2021 was graced by Marjan van Rooij on recorder, Sandra Remeijn on accordion, Wim de Veth on saxophone, Wim van Bladel on harmonica, Tom van Eekelen gave a speech, Ad den Braber asked the author questions, Jan van Wijk gave a recital and Jim Bernaards hosted the event. The book launch was attended by almost 200 people.
Below is the speech that Tom van Eekelen gave during the book launch on 12 September 2021.
Below is the review of the book “Onze-Lieve-Vrouw in Bergen op Zoom” by Anton de Wit, editor-in-chief of the Katholiek Nieuwsblad of 24 September 2021, issue 38, page 16.
~~~
Fatima touches me
This publication is about Jan van Wijk's visits to Fatima, the most visited Marian pilgrimage site in Portugal. The book highlights what he feels are important aspects. Clarity is also provided on the apparitions of Mary in Fatima, Portugal. This is placed in the context of 1917, the year of the apparitions. The author experiences Fatima and is moved by it. The impressions and experiences that the author has had in Fatima are shared with the reader. Jan van Wijk lets his feelings speak, thereby testifying to his faith in Mary.
The book discusses, among other things, “pilgrimage,” “apparitions,” “seers,” “Immaculate Heart,” “basilica,” “coronation of the statue,” “procession,” “apparition chapel,” “canonizations,” and the places Fatima and Aljustrel.
The sale of this book supports a good cause, namely the parish church of Our Lady in Bergen op Zoom.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 80
21 x 14.8 cm
Language: Dutch
Publication: 2018
Price, including postage, per copy: €8.00
To order, send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com.
~~~
STRENGTH THROUGH LOURDES
In this book, Jan van Wijk shares his experiences in Lourdes, in the South of France. At this largest Marian pilgrimage site in Europe, he gains many memorable impressions. The author meets Mary there, receives the warmth of the Sanctuary, and feels welcomed at the Grotto. He considers every visit to Lourdes a precious, wondrous event. In Lourdes, the author receives strength to reflect on himself and to take the next steps.
The writer highlights many of his pilgrimages to and in Lourdes, such as “journey,” “arrival,” “Grotto,” “apparitions,” “Bernadette,” “water,” “miracles,” “candles,” “processions,” “basilicas,” “parish church,” “Nevers,” “volunteers,” and “crowned statue.”.
The proceeds from the sale of this book support a good cause, namely the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bergen op Zoom.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 80
21 x 14.8 cm
Language: Dutch
Publication: 2017
Price, including postage, per copy £8.00
To order, send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com.
~~~
Christmas thoughts
When reading “Christmas Thoughts,” Jan van Wijk takes the reader on a journey. He contemplates a multitude of thoughts about Christmas. In this book, the author addresses the reader, reveals his inner self, and offers Christmas thoughts for consideration. His words touch the heart and encourage the reader to reflect. The entire work forms a sincere testimony in its many Christmas thoughts. As a result, the words serve as a starting point for the reader at Christmas and provide strength for the entire year.
This book elaborates, among other things, on “stillness,” “faith,” “Mary,” “annunciation,” “inn,” “star,” “angel,” “manger,” “newborn,” “nativity scene,” “shepherds,” “wise men,” and “future.”.
The sale of this book supports the Maria Ommegang Foundation in Bergen op Zoom.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 82
21 by 14.7 cm
Language: Dutch
Publication: 2015, second edition 2016
Price, including postage, per copy £8.00
To order, send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com.
~~~
NINE DAYS
In “Nine Days”, Jan van Wijk shares with the reader his experiences during visits to Santiago de Compostela, Fatima and Lourdes. The “Nine Days” form a novena with the journey to and stay in the three pilgrimage sites.
The impressions of beauty in images and conversations are challenges to portray. Expressing this with feeling, warmth, devotion, and love gives voice to a rich experience. What happens when the night is seen as an adventure? What effect does a profound conversation with a strikingly beautiful little sister have? What does it unlock within your body when love comes so close and seeps into you? How far can you go in your devotion to a special woman?
In “Nine Days,” much is revealed. Everything happened for real. Nothing is made up. This reality does not come about by itself.
The sale of this book supports a good cause, namely the parish church of Our Lady in Bergen op Zoom.
Author: Jan van Wijk
Number of pages: 102
21 by 14.7 cm
Language: Dutch
Publication: 2009
Price, including shipping, per copy €5.00
To order, send an email to janvanwijk1010@gmail.com.
~~~
Nederlands Nederlands 
English (UK)
Deutsch
Français
