Een spoorwegreis in Korea De Aarde en haar Volken, 1908

A European observer sets out in the early 1900s to explore Korea’s fledgling railway, a line still half‑finished between Seoul and the distant inland towns. Armed with a passport stamped by Japanese military officials, he and three companions embark on a train that soon stalls on a sudden landslip, forcing them to improvise a trek across rice fields and steep hills to rejoin the line. The narrative captures the raw excitement of a continent‑crossing journey where every mile feels like a triumph over rugged terrain.

The travelogue soon moves through the lush valleys and wooden bridges of Song‑do, describing the dramatic scenery of craggy mountains and winding rivers that the iron rails now traverse. Encounters with Japanese administrators, makeshift river crossings, and modest lodging reveal the uneasy blend of colonial authority and local life. Through vivid detail and a hint of humor, the account invites listeners to experience the challenges and marvels of an era when railways were reshaping a nation’s landscape.