Less enthusiasm Nijmegen Four Days Marches: 11,000 places still available

This summer, the Nijmegen Four Days Marches can be run again for the first time since 2019, but the registrations are not yet running smoothly. Registration closes on Friday and at least 11,000 places are still available. There may be a late registration.

49,000 walkers can register for the 104th edition of the Four Days Marches. The counter is now at almost 38,000.

Henny Sackers, as ‘march leader’ who is primarily responsible for the event, is not very concerned about that, he tells Broadcasting Gelderland. “Our target number was always to have 45,000 people actually start. There are always 4000 to sometimes 5000 people who do register, but ultimately stay away. That’s quite a number. But at the same time, no reason not to live up to that fantastic week.”

Despite the disappointing number of registrations, the march leader also sees an advantage: “Our goal is of course to get as many people as possible to participate in the event. But if we don’t reach the maximum number, we will also be spared that terrible draw this year.” With more than 49,000 registrations, a lottery has to be done; in the years before the corona pandemic, this was always necessary.

Also less income

A quick calculation shows that 10,000 fewer subscribers, which also means more than a million euros less in income for the organization. The march leader says he is not too worried about this either. “We will see how we are going to deal with that. Our organization is financially healthy. We eventually got through the corona period reasonably well thanks to government support.”

Sackers cannot yet say whether there will be fewer facilities such as toilets or blister posts for the runners with fewer walkers. “We may need to deploy a little less capacity. But let’s face it: the counter is now at almost 38,000. By the end of the week there will probably be 40,000. That is still a huge number of participants, which, of course, we all want to receive and guide optimally during the Four Days Marches.”

The 104th edition of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches is from 19 to 22 July.

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