The first finisher in this year’s Nijmegen four-day march was British national Simon Brownlee, making it two years in a row for the fanatical walker.

Brownlee, 45, crossed the finishing line at 09.17 after completing a 50 kilometre route. It is the 13th time he has take part in the event. Brownlee was so early finishing, the streets had not yet been closed to traffic, RTL news said.

In total 39,755 walkers set off on the final day’s stretch in the early hours of Friday morning.

Among the others to complete the walk were 81-year-old Bert van der Lans, who was talking part in his 67th Vierdaagse.

The first Vierdaagse, or four-day march, was held in 1909 as a way of keeping the army fit after the introduction of motor vehicles. Walkers cover 30, 40 or 50 kilometres every day for four days.

There are all sorts of variants on the Vierdaagse theme, such as the Avondvierdaagse, which involves walking in the evening and is mainly done by primary school children.