07/30/2026
👟🌍 THE NIJMEGEN EXPERIENCE
The 4-Day March — 2026
Part 2 of 3
A very special shout-out must go to our teammate Michel, a member of the Royal Dutch Marines. Michel did so much more than walk alongside us. He became our guide, our cultural ambassador, and our connection to the Dutch military community. Every day, he walked with us and explained the culture, history, sights, and significance of the places we were passing through. His knowledge added a completely different dimension to the march and allowed us to experience the Netherlands in a way we never could have on our own.
Michel also arranged access for our team to the Royal Dutch Marines rest area, which was an incredible privilege. There, we had the opportunity to meet Dutch military leaders and were treated with an extraordinary level of respect. We were provided with food and drinks and had a comfortable place to sit, relax, and recharge away from the tens of thousands of people using the regular event rest stops. After walking for hours, having a quieter place to recover was incredibly valuable and very much appreciated by everyone on the team. It was another example of the generosity and hospitality that we experienced throughout our time in the Netherlands.
The support did not stop there. Michel's wife, Marijke, along with friends and family members, would meet us at various points along the route after long periods of marching. They would arrive with coffee, cookies, water, and other Dutch snacks, along with huge smiles and encouragement. Imagine walking for hours, tired, sore, and wondering how many kilometres were still ahead, only to see friendly faces waiting for you with refreshments and encouragement. Those moments provided an extra boost exactly when we needed it. The kindness shown by Michel, Merika, their family, and friends was truly unmatched and helped make us feel welcomed and supported every step of the way.
After each day of marching, the team made time to stretch and recover in the pool at the hotel. After walking 40 kilometres, those recovery sessions became an important part of our daily routine. The pool allowed us to loosen up, stretch our legs, relax, and prepare ourselves mentally and physically for another consecutive day of marching. It became a simple but important rhythm: walk, recover, reset, and do it all again.
Then came the final day and the legendary Via Gladiola. The last 10 kilometres leading to the finish line are unlike anything else. The crowds seemed even larger, the music louder, and the energy more intense. Participants were surrounded by enormous crowds of Dutch people celebrating the achievement. Flowers filled the streets, and marchers were showered with flowers as they made their way toward the finish. The love of the Dutch people for the participants — and especially the connection between the Netherlands and Canada — was on full display. It was impossible to take it all in at once. The Via Gladiola was more than the final stretch of a 160-kilometre challenge. It was a celebration of perseverance, friendship, community, and international respect. It is a memory that will stay with us forever.
After four days, four consecutive 40-kilometre marches, countless hours on our feet, sore muscles, fatigue, and more than a few blisters, our team crossed the finish line together. Six members registered. Six members started. Six members finished. Every single person earned the Vierdaagsekruis, the Cross for the 4-Day March. That means a 100% completion rate for our team, with every member completing 160 kilometres over four days. The medal represents much more than distance. It represents preparation, determination, resilience, commitment, and the willingness to keep moving when your body is telling you to stop. Most importantly, it represents finishing together.
(see following post for part 3)
