Some 47,000 walkers have signed up to take part in this year’s Nijmeegse Vierdaagse, the four-day march which is now in its 106th edition and starts at 4am on Tuesday morning.

Walkers will cover either 30, 40 or 50 kilometres a day through the Betuwe fruit-growing region, depending on their age and ambition.

In total, 86 different nationalities are taking part, including first-time delegates from Burkino Faso and North Macedonia.

The average age of the walkers is almost 48 and 60% are men, the organisers said. Some 17,200 people are taking part for the first time and 14 aim to complete the distance by wheelchair. In total, five of the marchers are over the age of 91.

The group also includes over 6,400 soldiers from 34 different countries. 

The first Vierdaagse took place in 1909 when 306 (male and mostly military) participants started from 10 different army garrisons around the country to walk 35k a day for four days – four-day events being very popular at the time.

Key facts about the four day marches

In 2022, the walk was shortened to three days because of the heat. The walk did not take place in 2020 and 2021 because of coronavirus.