ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruba at Nijmegen Marches was represented during the final day of the internationally recognised walking event as Aruba House attended the celebrations and greeted several Aruban participants.
Aruba House attended at the invitation of the Four Days Marches Foundation and was represented by public relations officer Sidney Kock.
The 2026 event marked the 108th edition of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches, held from July 21 through July 24 in the Netherlands.
Walkers Complete Final Route
From the VIP viewing area, Kock watched thousands of participants complete their final kilometres along the famous Via Gladiola.
Large crowds gathered beside the route to applaud the walkers as they approached the finish after four demanding days.
Music accompanied the celebrations, with performances by civilian bands and marching groups connected to military, police and postal organisations.
International musical groups from countries including England and Sweden also contributed to the festive atmosphere.
The official Nijmegen event attracts more than 45,000 participants from over 70 nationalities. Walkers complete daily routes of 30, 40 or 50 kilometres over four consecutive days.
Aruban Veteran Completes Event Again
During the finale, Kock met Glenny Yarzagaray, an experienced Aruban participant who completed the Nijmegen Four Days Marches for the 38th time.
Yarzagaray had completed the event for the 37th time in 2025, making the latest achievement another milestone in a long history of participation.
Completing the event requires endurance, preparation and consistency because participants must finish their assigned distance on each of the four days.
Successful walkers receive the Four Days Marches Cross, which is recognised as an official decoration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Aruban Customs Officers Participate
Aruba was also represented by customs officers Marlon Ruiz and Gio Davelaar.
The two officers participated alongside members of Dutch Customs, continuing the involvement of Aruban customs personnel in the annual event.
Their participation demonstrated the professional and personal connections between Aruba and organisations in the Netherlands.
The event includes both civilian and uniformed participants, with military personnel, police officers, customs employees and other organised groups walking alongside individual entrants.
Via Gladiola Creates Celebratory Finish
Via Gladiola is the traditional final route through Nijmegen, where walkers are welcomed by cheering spectators, music and flowers.
The street becomes one of the most recognisable scenes of the Four Days Marches as participants complete their last kilometres and celebrate their achievement.
Families, supporters and invited guests gather along the route to congratulate walkers who successfully completed the four-day challenge.
The atmosphere combines sport, international friendship and public celebration, helping the Nijmegen Four Days Marches maintain its reputation as one of the world’s largest walking events.
Aruba House Recognises Participants
Aruba House’s presence provided an opportunity to recognise the island’s walkers and maintain Aruba’s visibility during the major international event.
Kock personally greeted Aruban participants and acknowledged their dedication to completing the demanding walking programme.
The participation of Yarzagaray, Ruiz and Davelaar highlighted Aruba’s continuing connection with the Nijmegen tradition.
Aruba at Nijmegen Marches therefore represented more than official attendance. It celebrated the determination of Aruban walkers, international cooperation and the island’s presence at the 108th edition of the historic event.
