Avondvierdaagse
The avondvierdaagse (four-evenings walk) is an annual Dutch walking event where the participants walk for four days.
History
In 1909, the term 'vierdaagse' was introduced for the first time in the Netherlands. The Dutch Association for Physical Education (NBLO) organised in those days walking marches. During the Second World War these 'walking marches' were prohibited by the occupation forces.
Since there was in the area ‘het Gooi’ a large number of walkers who needed a walking event, the walks developed under the term wandelvierdaagse. These walks were first held in 1940 and this was soon followed in other places in the Netherlands. When the occupation forces found out about this new form of walking events, they were banned because they were seen as assembly against the occupiers.
After the Second World War, the avondvierdaagse was re-established by various municipalities and local associations and shortly, plenty avondvierdaagsen were held again. Currently it is so well established that almost all cities in the Netherlands there are such events and some of these they have grown into major events such as the International Four Days Marches Nijmegen (Nijmeegse Vierdaagse).
Distances
Often avondvierdaagsen are offered in 2 or 3 distances, typically: 5 kilometres, 10 kilometres and 15 kilometres. It is usually not the case that exactly the same distances are walked all the 4 days, but that the total distance in those 4 days represent 4 times that amount of kilometres. In many places, on the last day all participants walk the same distance.
Large walking events (such as the International Four Days Marches Nijmegen) have much greater distances, like 30, 40 or even 50 kilometres.