Step up to the Challenge: UK Cadets Head to the 2026 Nijmegen Marches

The historic International Four Days Marches Nijmegen are returning for their 108th year from Tuesday 21 July to Friday 24 July 2026, and youth teams from across the UK Cadet Forces are preparing to tackle the ultimate test of endurance.

Known internationally as the “Walk of the World,” this massive annual event in the Netherlands sees tens of thousands of participants take on grueling long-distance routes. For the Sea Cadets, Army Cadet Force, Royal Air Force Air Cadets and Combined Cadet Force, the event represents one of the most prestigious milestones an individual can achieve during their time in uniform.

What are the Nijmegen Marches?

The Nijmegen Marches are the largest multiple-day walking event on the planet. It is not a race, but rather an extreme test of physical and mental stamina where participants must complete a set distance every day for four consecutive days.

The Distance: Under the British Military Contingent guidelines, cadet teams must march a daunting 40 kilometres (roughly 25 miles) each day.

The Total: By the end of the final day, the teams will have covered 160 kilometres, which is exactly 100 miles.

The Routine: Teams wake up well before dawn, often stepping out onto the roads by 04:00 AM to beat the summer heat.

The Atmosphere: More than one million spectators routinely line the streets to cheer on the walkers with music, dancing, and high-fives.

The History and Background

The tradition started in 1909 as a way for the Dutch military to increase the physical fitness and stamina of its infantry soldiers. In the early years, the march moved between various barracks across the Netherlands, but by 1925, the event permanently settled in the historic city of Nijmegen.

While it has evolved over the decades into an event dominated by tens of thousands of civilian walkers, the international military presence remains massive. The UK Armed Forces have been officially participating since the 1950s. Military personnel and cadet units walk the routes in full uniform, marching in strict formation while singing traditional marching chants to keep up team morale.

Why UK Cadets Take Part

Taking part in Nijmegen is an unforgettable experience that stretches a young person well beyond their comfort zone. It requires months of intense training and weekend qualification marches back in the UK just to secure a spot on the coach.

Building Character: Navigating blisters, muscle fatigue, and early mornings fosters incredible personal resilience and determination.

Ultimate Teamwork: You cannot finish Nijmegen alone. Cadets must look after their teammates, match each other’s pacing, and keep spirits high when the physical toll gets heavy.

International Friendships: Cadets live in military style camps alongside troops from over 70 different nations, creating a unique environment for cultural exchange.

The Royal Reward: Every cadet who crosses the finish line on the final day receives the highly coveted Four Days Marches Cross (Vierdaagsekruis). This is a royally approved Dutch military decoration that cadets are permitted to wear with pride on their UK uniforms on certain parades.

The Grand Finale: Via Gladiola

The event culminates on the Friday with a spectacular final march down the famous Via Gladiola. This is a dedicated stretch of the route where massive crowds hand out bright gladioli flowers, the traditional Roman symbol of victory and strength, to the finishing walkers.

For the UK cadets proudly representing their home units on the world stage, marching down that final straight to the sound of cheering thousands makes every single painful mile completely worth it.

Watch UK cadets as they take on the 2015 challenge https://youtu.be/lw_Bi_gc5Sg