A memorable 104th edition of the 4Days Marches

After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, the 104th edition of the 4Days Marches was completed on Friday 22 July. A total of 34,934 walkers reached the finish line on “Via Gladiola”.

3Days Marches

The tens of thousands of walkers were told on Sunday that this would be a 3Days Marches instead of 4Days. Due to forecast extreme heat on what should have been the first day of the event, Tuesday, the committee decided to cancel the walk on this extremely hot day. As a result, Pink Wednesday became the first walking day.

Extreme weather conditions

With plenty of sun and summer heat, masses of enthusiastic walkers, dressed all in pink, crossed the finish line at Wedren after the first day of the 4Days Marches in three years. On Thursday, the day of Groesbeek, the walkers braved the hilly terrain of Zevenheuvelenweg under grey clouds with more than a fair share of rain.

One big party

During the Entry on Friday, the weather gods finally looked down kindly on the walkers. Under pleasant weather conditions and cheered by tens of thousands of spectators, a large group of walkers reached the finish after passing the exuberant celebrations along Via Gladiola.

At the end of the 104th 4Days Marches, the organisers awarded 34,934 walkers with an official decoration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the 4Days Cross. On the last day 531 participants dropped out.

March coordinator Henny Sackers had this to say: “It’s fantastic to be standing here again after three years. It’s one big party today. Even though it was only three days, due to the weather conditions the participants more than deserve this cross. This was truly an endurance walking event.”

The 105th edition of the 4Days Marches will take place from 18 to 21 July 2023.