Dutchwoman Yvonne Van Hoogenhuyze, a 56-year-old IT technical analyst who has lived in Auckland for the past 51 years, is returning home to compete in the event for the first time.
"It has been going for 98 years and the whole of Holland follows it," she said. "It is about the journey, not the destination or the time. Every completer gets a medal and usually friends or family give you gladioli."
A record 53,844 people from all over the world have registered for the 98th four-days marches and 42,000 to 46,000 are expected for the Nijmegen Vierdaagse as the event only has space for this number.
Van Hoogenhuyze explained that if you have done the Vierdaagse before you can register - if not it is a lottery to do it.
Here in New Zealand she says it has been hard to find time to train for the walking ultra-marathon.
"I am trying to get as many kilometres walking in a week as I can," she said. "I walk and train to work most days but this is getting tricky as the days are now short."
The expatriate is completing about 13-16km walking a day. She is not sure how well she will handle the challenge of the testing distance and the European summer heat.
"But it is not in one go and it is not in the heat of the day. At the weekend I try to fit in a long walk or an event. Time is a factor."
Football tournaments and better fitness "through after school sports and games" laid the foundation for the Nijmegen international four-days marches.
In 1904, sergeants from the 6th Infantry Regiment in Breda founded a football club. On the first anniversary of the club, they organised a tournament, which became the 1906 and 1907 field army sports days.
The success motivated various sports associations and social organisations to set up an umbrella organisation. For years, physical education in the Netherlands had been organised by teachers and former soldiers who provided instruction in school gymnastics and basic military training.
Van Hoogenhuyze is looking forward to connecting with her roots. She said she would love to see a similar walking event in New Zealand.
"In Holland most [people] train by doing 25km walks - these are fantastic. There are several walks like this every week. For 4 ($6.20) you go on an organised walk through really interesting places - the 4 includes coffee and something to eat at 15km and a stamp in your book.
"Lunch is usually at a club or bar that will offer soup for 6. The walks are very social and people do them at their own pace."
