In 1924 the event was held in Nijmegen, and from 1925 this became the permanent centre for the event. In 1919 the first woman completed the route. įrom 1910 the Vierdaagse became an annual event, based in a different town each year, although mobilisation during World War I meant that no marches took place in 1914 or 1915. Military participants who completed all four days received the newly instituted Vierdaagse Cross. In total, 306 soldiers and ten civilians took part. Four of the routes were however cancelled at short notice, three due to an outbreak of cholera in Rotterdam and one due to poor road conditions. Planned primarily as a military training event, fifteen separate four-day routes were prepared across the country, each route totalling 140–150 km (87–93 mi).
In September 1909 the NBVLO organised the first Vierdaagse. In April 1908 the Dutch League for Physical Education, ( Nederlandsche Bond Voor Lichamelijke Opvoeding, or NBVLO) was established to promote participation in physical activities across the Netherlands, including organising sports events. The finish is broadcast on Dutch television.Ĭanadian participant Xavier talks to a WW II veteran involved in the liberation of Nijmegen (2019) Early years As far as a week ahead of that Friday, people will reserve spaces alongside the Via Gladiola by placing chairs and even couches. Annastraat, is for that reason called Via Gladiola during the event. The entry into the city and towards the finish, along the St. On Fridays of the event, as participants near the finish, the public presents walkers with gladioli, a symbol of victory since Roman times, when gladiators were likewise showered with these flowers. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, both the 20 Vierdaagse events were cancelled. The 2016 centenary event responded to unusually hot conditions by adjusting starting times and/or increasing the valid finishing time to reflect the difficulty of the course.
Following the 2006 cancellation, it was decided that the organising committee would adjust the start time/distance/finish time to manage the event, instead of outright cancellation. The 2006 march was the first to be cancelled in 90 years (apart from 1940 due to World War II) when extreme heat during the first day's march caused thousands of drop-outs and two deaths. This happened in 2007 (route changed in 2006 but cancelled) when the walkers went along the Waalkade, beside the River Waal, on Wednesday for the first time due to congestion on the original route. The routes always remain the same unless there is a specific need to change. Tuesday is the day of Elst, Wednesday the day of Wijchen, Thursday the day of Groesbeek and Friday the day of Cuijk. Įach day of the marches is named for the biggest town on the daily route. The record is held by Bert van der Lans, who completed his seventy-first march in 2018, at the age of 86. Many take part every year, including several who have taken part in over 60 annual marches. Due to possible congestion on the route, since 2004 the organisers have limited the number of participants. Numbers have risen in recent years, with over 40,000 taking part annually, including about 5,000 military, and is the world's largest walking event. Originally a military event with a few civilians, it now is a mainly civilian event. In 2016 it celebrated the 100th edition (reflecting that the marches were curtailed during the two world wars). Based at Nijmegen since 1924, it now takes place in the third week of July. The Vierdaagse (Dutch for "four days event") is an annual walk that has taken place since 1909.
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