International Four Days Marches Nijmegen

The International Four Day Marches Nijmegen (or Vierdaagse) is the largest marching event in the world. It is organised every year in Nijmegen in mid-July as a means of promoting sport and exercise. Participants walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily, and, on completion, receive a royally approved medal (Vierdaagsekruis). The participants are mostly civilians, but there are also a few thousand military.

Summary

The "vierdaagse" (Dutch for "Four day Event") is an annual walk that has taken place since 1909, being based at Nijmegen since the 1920's. Depending on age group and category, walkers have to walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers each day for four days. Originally a military event with a few civilians, it now is a mainly civilian event. Numbers have risen in recent years, with over 40,000 taking part - including about 5,000 Military. It is now the world's largest walking event. Due to crowds on the route, since 2004 the organisers have limited the number of participants. Those who complete the march receive the 'Vierdaagse Cross', an official Dutch decoration that can be worn on uniform. Many participants take part every year, including several that have taken part in 50, and even 60 different annual marches. The first day of walking is always the 3rd Tuesday in July.

Each day of the marches is named after the biggest town it goes trough. Tuesday is the day of Elst, Wednesday the day of Wijchen, Thursday the day of Groesbeek and Friday the day of Cuijk. The routes always stay the same unless there is a specific need to change, as it will do in 2006 when the walkers will go through the Waalkade on wednesday for the first time since the origional route got too crowded and walkers had to wait for over an hour at some times.

History

The Vierdaagse was first organised in 1909. the Vierdaagse has been held every year, except when war has prevented it. Since then, the number of participants has increased gradually until the current figure of around 45,000. Although many people register for the marches and fail to begin them. Several thousand people also begin the four day marches but fail to walk all four days.

The Marches were first devised as a means of keeping the Dutch Army fit, after the advent of motorised vehicles. Only afterwards was it made open to civilians and foreigners.

Vierdaagsefeesten

During the week of the Vierdaagse the accompanying festivities (known as the Vierdaagsefeesten) always draw a large crowd. It is known as one of the biggest festivities in the netherlands, drawing a crowd of 1 million visitors. It starts on the saturday before the marches, and ends on the friday. There is free music during the week, and special events on each day, such as the famous fire work display on tuesday night. During the Friday, thousands upon thousands of people line last few kilometers of road before the finish to cheer on the walkers. That street, the St. Annastraat, is dubbed "Via Gladiola" for the day (the gladiola is the offical flower of the marches, and it is tradition to give them to the participants). As far as a week ahead people will reserve spaces alongside the Via Gladiola by placing chairs and even couches. The finish is also shown on tv.

Military Participation

Armed forces from all over the world send contingents to take part in the marches. In recent years the military participants have numbered approximately ten thousand. Although some military personnel march as individuals, they usually march in teams. Military teams can contain as few as twelve members or as many as thirty. Military teams typically march as a unit and sing marching songs, and as a result are very popular with the crowds. Military teams follow a slightly different route to other participants, this is because they do not start in Nijmegen but in the military camp Heumensoord which is built every year just south of Nijmegen. On Friday military participants change uniforms just a few kilometers before the finish, and their superiors will be waiting for them in the stands at the finish. Military participants have a choice of two options; they either walk 50 km a day or 40 when they have at least ten kilos of carry-on.

Recent

In 2005, the 89th Vierdaagse, there were 43,206 participants of which 38,225 completed the march.

The 90th Vierdaagse will be held from July 18 until July 21, 2006. Registration starts in February 2006. See the official Vierdaagse site.

External links

Sport in the Netherlands