Avond Vierdaagse

Avond Vierdaagse is a major event for primary school children, all over the Netherlands, and takes place sometime between May and July, depending on the region.  It literally means walking for four days in the evenings, 10 kms for older children, and 5 kms for younger children, each night.

It is based on a major event, which started at the beginning of the 20th Century,  This event consists of a gruelling four day walk in Maastrict during July.  I think it was a military activity initally, and military personnel still take part, but they walk with backpacks, for 40 kms per day.  There are otber options for people, such as 40 kms or 30 kms per day.   As the walk is very popular, people have to apply to go on it.

In Houten, the evening event takes place during the third week in May.  During the past three years we have walked with the children on some of the evenings but have never stayed for the final walk, which is spectacular, to say the least.

The preparation for the adults organising the walks, involves marshalls on roads, leaders for each school, people to organise refreshments for the half way break, and the route plan, which remains the same each year. 

The preparation for the parents is very involved, early dinners as the walks start between 5.30 and 6.30 pm.  But the most difficult part is organising an adult to walk with their child/ren.  It is especially difficult if the family has an older child, a younger child and one too young to walk.  It also means parents have to come home  early from work, and not all firms are keen to allow this.  But parents are committed and juggle work, meals and parenting in order to ensure their children take part in the walks.  Parents give each other support and grandparents are invaluable.  

The children put on their school tshirts, and in the case of Mia and Abi, obs De Brug blue t shirts.

They organise their half an orange, with mints, wrapped in a cloth, to suck as they walk.  Mind you an awful lot of sweets are also consumed, which negates the healthy activity.

On the Tuesday and Wednesday I walked with Mia, on the 10 km walk.  The pace was reasonably fast, and the children walked purposefully and quietly, and time went by very quickly, also helped by the interesting conversations with other walkers.  Of course they had to speak English, which was easy for me, but more tiring for them.

On the Tuesday, I took my poncho out of my bag before I left, even though storm clouds were gathering fast on the horizon.  According to the more enlightened members of my family it would not rain until 9 pm.  Well at 8 pm the clouds opened up, and it poured, together with thunder and lightening.  A little scary too.  But the Dutch are a hardy lot and carried on, although we all did try to seek cover under the eaves of a building for a few minutes.

Mia and her friend, loved it all.

On the first two nights we walked through fields and woodland.  All very picturesque.

On Thursday I walked with Abi and Walter on the 5 km walk, which was much slower and noisier.  The children covered twice as many kms as they dashed around, in and out of people, over grassy mounds, and along walls.  There are always accidents with this group, although nothing very serious, thank goodness.

Abi taking a breather.  Now where did Abi get thoe bag of sweets from,  not from home, certainly.

More country walking, although Houten has such a lot of parkland, which makes walking around the suburbs very pleasant.

The big night.  Friday evening.  The last walk, and it appeared that the whole of Houten took part, either by walking or lining the streets,  the atmosphere was electric.  The sweets were there, in an over abundance.  They had been parcelled up and sold in fancy packets in the shops.  Hundreds of them. There were also ribbons, flowers and balloons everywhere.   It is tradition to give the children sweets and flowers as a recognition of their achievement in walking for four evenings.

Initially Aaron and I walked with the older children for 6 kms.  After this all the schools in Houten met in the sports grounds to walk the final 4 kms.  Older and younger children combined.

A much needed rest before the next walk.

The refreshments, organised by the staff and parents of each school, are always appreciated by the walkers.  Filtered coffee and biscuits for the grownups, and juice and fruit or biscuits for the children.

But first, the giving out of medals,

including a special home made one for juf Emma, who rode her bike to various points along both routes so that she could cheer the children on. A much loved teacher at De Brug.

Mia and Abi proudly showing their medals.  On the final evening the children wore their medals from the previous years, and then got a new one for that year.

Finally, all ready to go but there were thousands of children, and adults, to get organised to walk.  There were also bands, loudspeakers and plenty of noise.  Our feet were very sore, due to standing. A long wait.  De Brug was the 10th school to leave, at least they were not the last to go.  Excitement abounds.

One of the bands, assembled and ready to leave.

And out onto a bicycle path, lined with people, many with fancy packets of sweets, and flowers to give to their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.   The pace was very, very slow.  Oh my feet ached.  But so exciting.

Ah, Kylie cheering us on, and Raphy looking for Mia and Abi.  Kylie very generously gave Aaron, Walter and me an orange garland of fake flowers.   Very patriotic.  She had sweets in long packets to give to the girls.

We shuffled through The Rond, past all the drinkers sunning themselves outside the bars and cafes, and through the throngs of people lining the path.  The atmosphere was amazing.

The walkers separated a bit, and it was time to 'hi five' the mayor, who did not wear as much regalia as a mayor in the UK.  He must have become a bit tired of 'hi fiving' so many children.

And the one solitary policeman, a young recruit I think.  The only policeman we saw the whole of Friday evening, even with the huge crowds. Says something positive about the Dutch culture.

Then a slightly faster walk back to the sports park. My feet no longer  belonged to me.  Standing still, followed by a slow shuffling walk, equalled very sore yet numb feet.  And finally, our bicycles came into view.  The relief to be sitting and peddling again.

Back home and time for a photograph of the happy walkers.

The eight medals, belonging to two girls, numbered in the years they have been taking part in the Avond Vierdaagse.

Raphy, who still needs to be in bed early on school nights, did not take part this year.  But he has a very sweet tooth.  He got up very early on Saturday morning, saw the girls' sweets, and helped himself to an assortment, which he put into a bowl.  He was found sitting in front of the TV having quite a feast.  Poor Raphy got into so much trouble.

But next year Raphy will be able to walk too and then he will get his own sweets.
Something to look forward to.  Roll on 2015.