My Solo Trip To Deventer And 5 Reasons Why You Should Start Doing Things ALONE

One of the highlights of my trip in Europe, was the solo trip I took to one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, Deventer. In this post, I will also share five reasons why you should start doing things ALONE. Enjoy as you read :).

Here's today's verse;

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

It was a Thursday, on the 4th of September 2025. I was almost two months into my trip, and just a few days short before I flew home. At this point, I had toured many places and done many new things, but I hadn't done one thing: touring a new city within the Netherlands, by myself.

The day finally came, and I decided to visit Deventer. In my past post, 'I visited 5 museums in Europe. Here's my ranking of them.', I share a bit more about Deventer. So, Deventer is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands and has been in existence since the 17th century.

Was I scared that I might have gotten lost? Not really. I had saved the city's map on my Google Maps, plus most of Europe's city centers look the same, and there are plenty of signs to follow.

So, after I alighted the train, I followed the signs and walked into the city center.

The town's vibe is slow, chill, and I noted that it has a large senior population. The cobblestone streets and ancient architecture really bring out the 'old' vibe.

Deventer Highlights :)

I then made my way to the Museum De Waag. I wrote about this experience in my past post, 'I visited 5 museums in Europe. Here's my ranking of them.' So you can head there and read about my experience at this museum.

Entrance To Museum De Waag

After the museum, I walked through the city, exploring its nooks and crannies, browsing through shops and cafes, until I found myself by the Ijssel River. Here are more photos of interesting sites I saw :).

There was a restaurant beside me, where you could grab some drinks and food, sit by the river, and enjoy the view. However, I came ready with my snacks, sat on the bench, turned on my music, and enjoyed the view. I sat there for a while and discovered something:

I REALLY LOVE MY COMPANY.

Plus, the ideas for this post started flooding in, and I am sharing them with you now.

So, why do you need to start doing things alone?

1. It deepens the relationship you have with yourself

   Did you know that you spend the most time with yourself in your lifetime? Thus, I think you know yourself the best, aside from God, of course.

   Spending time alone, more so doing things alone, gives you adequate time and space to nurture a personal relationship with yourself.

   You will begin to ask yourself questions like: 'Who am I?', 'What do I like?', 'What don't I like?', 'What makes me happy?', 'What breaks my heart?'

   When you know yourself well, really well, you'll begin to live life in alignment and not performance. Spending time and doing things alone allows you to do that.

   
   

2. It nurtures self-trust

   Before the trip, based on advice and research, I knew that Deventer was a one-way train ride from where I was to there. However, when I got to the train station and was purchasing a ticket, I was told that I had to first take a bus to a town called Hengelo, then take the train to Deventer from there. Keep in mind, I had never been to Hengelo.

   On arriving at Hengelo, I was a bit confused, and it took me a minute to find the correct platform from which I was supposed to board the train. At some point, I wanted to ask someone for guidance, but my intuition gently reminded me to 'trust myself', and I did. Guess what, I made it and the trip was a resounding success.

   
   

   P.S. Btw, it's totally OKAY to ask for directions lol.

   
   

   Doing things alone helps you to trust yourself. It's okay to seek advice, but sometimes something will feel right for you, and only you, and you've got to trust that inner voice anyway.

   
   

3. It creates/enhances confidence & courage within you

   Going to a new place is scary. Moreso, a new place, in a foreign country, by yourself is 100* more scary. But you know what happens when you choose to do scary things? You become confident. You become brave. You become audacious. In this life, it's so essential to embody those traits.

   
   

4. It helps you appreciate the peace that comes with silence and solitude

   Most of us avoid silence because it challenges us to sit with the emotions and thoughts we've been avoiding, but need to process. It's okay to be quiet, it's okay to be alone, sometimes. When you learn to be okay sitting in silence and by yourself, you begin to appreciate the peace and calm it brings.

   
   

5. It teaches you to take initiative and to stop waiting for others

   How many times have you talked yourself out of doing something because you haven't found anyone to do it with?

   How many times will you keep doing that?

   How long will you wait when you should have moved long ago?

   Learning to do things alone teaches you to stop sitting on the sidelines of your own life, waiting for the perfect moment or when you have this and that figured out, and choosing to do things anyway, even when not every box is ticked.

   Is doing things alone easy? no way. But it challenges you to take the first step instead of waiting for others. Surprisingly, this attitude seeps into other areas of your life. You become a person who takes action, instead of one who's always waiting.

   
   

And that was my solo trip experience in Deventer. I hope you enjoyed the recap and the lessons. I hope this post has inspired you to step out of the familiar, embrace the unknown, and be led with faith and courage.

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Till next post,

Miss Kambe.