Is it called 4Daagse/Vierdaagse or is it The Nijmegen Marches?

The confusion surrounding these two terms is significant, but it’s easy to clear up! Both names refer to the world’s largest multi-day marching event, but they reflect different traditions and perspectives. In this blog post, I explain how the expressions are used and why they have different focal points. And even more confusion is added when the official name is International Four Day Marches Nijmegen.

De 4Daagse/Vierdaagse: Focus on Endurance over Time

4Daagse (or Vierdaagse, which is the full spelling, pronounced approximately fear-dahg-suh) is the official, original, and most commonly used name in the Netherlands. It is simply Dutch for “The Four Days”.

In the Netherlands, the focus is more on the time of the event than on the location, even though it has almost always been organised in and around Nijmegen.

A Historical Note:

• Between 1909 and 1924, the march was organised in locations including Arnhem, Breda, Utrecht, and Amersfoort. It was not until 1925 that the start was permanently moved to Nijmegen.
• The reason for choosing Nijmegen was the city’s central location and proximity to military barracks, as well as its varied and beautiful environment.

More than just marching:

Another reason the Dutch use “De 4Daagse” is to include all the festivities (Vierdaagsefeesten) taking place in the city at the same time as the march. For them, not only the march is important, but also everything that happens during the entire week of celebration.

• The flip side of the coin: Unfortunately, participants who attend as part of the military and instead stay at Kamp Heumensoord miss out on some of those festivities. They spend the majority of their time in the camp.

The Nijmegen Marches: The External Perspective

The Nijmegen Marches (Nijmegenmarschen in Swedish) is, on the other hand, used more by international participants and military personnel.

• Focus on Location: Foreign participants focus more on the place where everything happens – Nijmegen is where they are going!
• Descriptive: The location is immediately more descriptive for someone who doesn’t speak Dutch than the term 4Daagse.
• Military Tradition: Within military circles, the Nijmegen Marches is a major and prestigious goal. Within this tradition, the place-based, informal name has historically been used.

Conclusion: Both are Correct

Both names are therefore correct, but they highlight different aspects of what the event actually is: