Avondvierdaagse - The four evenings walks

Every late-spring, groups of schoolkids, some 500000 in total, walk the Avondvierdaagse and stay up late til the evening. What is this strange tradition and is it worth spending time on while staying late in the evening?

What is the Avondvierdaagse?

It’s basically a community walk that takes place over four evenings. Thousands of children, and some of their teachers and parents, walk either 5, 10 or 15 kilometers per evening. The majority parents decide to walk along behind each other for 5 kilometers so that children actually get to bed before midnight.

It is worth noting that, because of the sheer volume of bodies moving in the same direction at one time, it feels like you walk at least twice the 5km distance.

Many children are accompanied by one parent, whilst the sane one enjoys the peace and quiet at home.

Who takes part in the Avondvierdaagse?

Schools, families, sports clubs, walking groups, random people and their dogs.

What’s the point of the Avondvierdaagse?

The idea is to be the first one from your school to reach the finish point, dodging and weaving your way through the crowds; anything goes to get ahead, so long as you don’t run or injure more than three other people along the route.

Of course, that is not in the slightest bit true, but at times it felt like that was indeed the case. The real purpose is gezelligheid. What else would it be living in the land of the Dutch? A lovely walk after dinner with a few thousand strangers is gezellig, right? That, and it promotes exercise.

How can I enroll?

The enrollment is usually done via your school. You then walk with the school, usually behind the flag of the school. The school (with the help of some parents and teachers) also arranges for refreshments during the walks (more on this later)

How much does it cost?

The association that organizes the event charges Euro 5 per event, per child. The school might ask for a small contribution in addition to this amount for the refreshments mentioned later in this article. In my school, the total charge has been Euro 6 per event, per child. This includes Euro 1 for the contribution towards the refreshments.

What do I get for my money, apart from gezelligheid?

You get a drink and something to eat at the halfway point provided by the school you signed up with. In the case of my child's school, it includes water, lightly sweet drinks, fruits, snoep tomatoes, cucumber, carrots biscuits and tea and coffee. In addition to that, on the last day, your child gets what they eagerly wait for; a medal. But your child needs to walk everyday in order to get this medal.
And yes, you get some health benefits of the walk in the open.

How did this Avond4daagse lark start?

It’s an offspring of the Nijmegen four-day international marches. In 1940, the Nijmegen march didn’t take place because of the mobilisation of Dutch troops. As a result, there were lots of restless walkers milling about in het Gooi. Some bright sparks therefore decided to throw together an evening walk spread over four days in het Gooi.

Is it fun?

Of course it’s fun. You spend time with your kid(s) and get some exercise in return. Why would thousands of people in one town alone do it if it wasn’t fun?

I’m not a fast walker. Can I still participate in an Avondvierdaagse?

Yes, slow walkers can join in. Since there are hundreds, if not thousands of people walking together, the pace of the walk is always slower than it can be.

Do I have to scream in every tunnel or subway I walk under?

It’s only obligatory if you are under ten years of age. Ear plugs are handy for accompanying parents and teachers.

Can I walk the Avondvierdagse with a pram?

Yes. As long as you know how to manage the pram with kids wanting to get in and out of the pram. And can avoid potholes and other rough

Are the roads/cycle paths closed off to traffic during the Avondvierdaagse?

In some towns they are. In our town,, they are not cordoned off, but people are patient enough to understand that the safety of kids is paramount. Heck, this is how the Dutch got their cycle paths.

Aren’t the kids a little tired as the week goes on?

Yes, they do. Late to bed, school all day, and then a 5km walk. Four days long. Children do get progressively tired, but when it is 6 pm, they become energized again and go through the walk. Sometimes, they just have to be reminded of the medal they will get; sometimes you need to put them in the pram again for a while. No one is policing the walk. And our child gets to eat at the McDonalds at the end of the last day. But the Avondvierdaagse is still gezellig, right?

Do crowds line the finish point on the last night, adorned with flowers and sweets for the children who have completed their four evenings of walks?

Why, yes they do. Some children had more bouquets of sweets given to them as a reward for walking 20 km in four evenings than my children have seen in their short lives so far. Nothing says ‘well done for getting all that exercise this week’ like a couple of kilos of snoepjes.