What time can I start?
Each distance has its own starting times. Participants walking the 50km route start first, followed by those walking the 40 kilometres, and finally those who have registered for the 30 kilometres. In this way, we ensure the best possible spread of participants along the route.
New starting times
In recent editions, the number of participants for the 50km has been approaching the number of participants for the 30km, while registrations for the 40km have slightly decreased. Therefore, for the 106th 4Days Marches three starting times have been chosen:
- 50 km: 04:00 – 04:50 hrs CET (50 minutes)
- 40 km: 05:00 – 06:50 hrs CET (1 hour and 50 minutes)
- 30 km: 07:00 – 08:00 hrs CET (1 hour)
No more starting groups
Due to the shift in the number of registrations per distance, it is no longer necessary to maintain the traditional starting groups for the 40km and 30km, formerly known as 'Wandelschoen' and 'Gladiool.' These groups will therefore be discontinued, allowing participants to always start at the same time as their walking companions. It is no longer necessary to exchange starting times among participants, which previously often caused unrest. Additionally, this change allows 40km and 30km participants to check in and out at any checkpoint.
With the aforementioned starting times, each participant has enough time to finish before the 17:00 hrs CET deadline, with an extra hour until 18:00 hrs CET on Friday. The number of participants allowed on the course per minute can be adjusted at the start to regulate congestion. Points along the route where potential stagnation might occur will be continuously monitored. We advise 40km participants to be mindful of potential congestion at the 5:00 hrs CET start. For a quieter start, it is recommended to arrive at the start/finish area around 6:00 hrs CET. Another tip is to use the starting gates at the Vierdaagseplein (Omroep Gelderlandplein), which are often less crowded than those at the Wedren itself.
Civilian groups
The starting times for a civilian group depend on the distance to be walked, and are located between:
- 50km: 04.00 - 04.30 hrs CET
- 40km: 04.45 - 05.30 hrs CET
- 30km: 06.45 - 07.15 hrs CET
Military participants
The starting times for military participants with the starting location Heumensoord are:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 04:30 - 07:00 hrs CET
- Friday: 03:30 - 06:30 hrs CET
How much time do I have to finish?
You need to sign off by a certain time on each walking day. You do this by having your wristband scanned at one of the registration desks at the start- and finish location. Once you have signed off, you will receive your checkpoint card for the following day, except of course on Friday, because then you will be handed your well-deserved reward after you sign off!
Digitale registration
When you sign in on Sunday or Monday, you will receive a wristband from us. This is scanned every walking day when you sign out. This will register whether you have finished.
Finish
How to sign off can be found in the table below
| Afstand | Afmelden individuelen | Afmelden groepen |
| 50km | Tue-Thu: 12.00-17.00 hrs CET Fri: 12.00-18.00 hrs CET | Tue-Thu: 12.00-17.00 hrs CET Fri: 11.00-16.30 hrs CET* |
| 40km | Tue-Thu: 12.00-17.00 hrs CET Fri: 12.00-18.00 hrs CET | Tue-Thu: 12.00-17.00 hrs CET Fri: 11.00-16.30 hrs CET* |
| 30km | Tue-Thu: 12.00-17.00 hrs CET Fri: 12.00-18.00 hrs CET | Tue-Thu: 12.00-17.00 hrs CET Fri: 11.00-16.30 hrs CET* |
| 40km MIL | Tue-Thu: 12.00-17.00 hrs CET Fri: 11.00-16.30 hrs CET** | Tue-Thu: 12.00-17.00 hrs CET Fri: 11.00-16.30 hrs CET** |
*Sign off on Friday is not at Julianapark, but at Sportpark de Kluis
** Sign off on Friday is not at Heumensoord, but at Charlemagne
How do I sign off?
Individual participants with start location de Wedren
From Tuesday to Thursday, you can sign off between 12:00 hrs CET and 17:00 hrs CET at Julianapark at one of the desks corresponding to your distance. The signs with the distance in kilometers are attached to the desks. Participants can spread out over different desks and join the shortest queue. When you unsubscribe, you will receive your control card for the next day.
On Friday, after completing the 4Days Marches, you can sign off and collect your well-deserved reward between 12:00 hrs CET and 18:00 hrs CET at one of the desks for the distance you have walked. Above the registration desks, there are signs with the numbers of the rewards being distributed there.
Military participants with start location Heumensoord
From Tuesday to Thursday, you can unsubscribe between 12:00 hrs CET and 17:00 hrs CET at one of the registration desks at Heumensoord. There are desks for individual participants and for detachments. Individual participants receive the control card for the next day upon unsubscribing.
On Friday you will not sign off at Heumensoord, but at Charlemagne. After receiving your reward, you will proceed with the glorious parade along the Via Gladiola.
Civilian groups
From Tuesday to Thursday, civilian groups can unsubscribe between 12:00 hrs CET and 17:00 hrs CET at the registration desk in Julianapark. The group must be complete when unsubscribing. After each group member has scanned their wristband, the control booklet of the group leader will be signed.
On Friday civilian groups will not sign off at Julianapark but at Sportpark de Kluis. After each group member has received their reward, the festive parade along the Via Gladiola will follow. You made it!
More info
The organisation is trying to spread the flow of walkers over the route in order to prevent congestion just after the start. Therefore the participants are not allowed to start all at once.
Of course, when tens of thousands participants have to start within in a timeframe of a couple hours it is not unlikely that participants will hinder each other. So, just like travelling with public transport or when in the supermarket, we would like to ask you to show some consideration for each other, and that you do not cut in line and that you wait your turn. Kindly address each other regarding inappropriate behaviour and try to arrange matters justly.
Your wristband is indispensable during the 4Days Marches, as you need the barcode both at the start in the morning and at the finish in the afternoon. The scanners must be able to read the print on the wristband. If you are unsure of your wristband code's legibility or if your wristband is broken, please go to the Service Desk at De Wedren. After verification of your details, you will receive a new wristband.
Participants starting from Heumensoord who have problems with the wristband prior to the start, can report to one of the starting team members. They will give you a temporary replacement wristband. At the end of the day, report to the Service Desk at Heumensoord, where - after verification of you details - you will receive a new wristband.
