Nijmegen wakes up early to wave off 44,000 four-day marchers
The 103rd edition of the Nijmegen Vierdaagse, or four day march, kicked off in the early hours of Tuesday with a total of 44,000 walkers from 73 different countries taking part.
The event involves walking between 30 and 55 kilometres a day – depending on your age and sex. This year the youngest participant is 11 and the oldest 92.
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.
This year the organisers have been busy ensuring that trees along parts of the route are not infested with the oak processionary caterpillar, which is a plague in the Netherlands this summer.
This year 5,900 members of the armed forces from 31 different countries are taking part.
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