Medals of the Nijmegen Vierdaagse.
From 1909 to the present day.
Vierdaagse Cross 1909-1958, Gold
Bronze & Silver Crosses.
These are dealt with on a separate page:
Gold Cross: tenth and eleventh successful march.
Awarded without a crown for the tenth sucessful march. For the eleventh year a separate crown was awarded for attachment to the suspension of the ten year cross.
Obverse. The design of the cross remained consistent throughout this period.
Reverse. The main types are shown below.
Version awarded from 1926 to to the 1950's.
Made of gilded silver and hallmarked [†], usually in the same way as the silver cross.
The reverse is plain, with many crosses stamped with the maker’s name ‘Kon Begeer Voorschoten’.
Real gold version.
Made of solid gold, with an oakleaf hallmark (denoting 14 carat gold) above the top arm of the cross. This style of hallmark was in use from 1906 to 1953.
The maker's name, ‘Kon Begeer Voorschoten’ is stamped on the reverse.
It is identical in size, although slighltly thinner, than the gilded version.
These medals were mainly made for private purchase by those awarded the silver gilt cross, although a small number may have been awarded to early recipients by NBVLO before 1940.
These pictures shows the position and design of the gold hallmark.
Version awarded from the mid 1950's to 1958.
By the mid 1950's the gold crosses were struck with a roundel at the centre of the reverse, bearing the inscription ‘Kon Begeer Voorschoten’.
Otherwise the design was as before. They were made of hallmarked silver gilt.
The first Gold Cross was awarded to Ritmeester (captain of cavalry) Van der Goes in 1926. He could only officially wear the decoration in uniform from 1928 when the regulations were amended to permit officers to wear the Vierdaagse Cross.
In 1934 Mrs Kley-Vrijenhoek became the first woman to receive the Gold Cross. She had accompanied her husband on the marches every year since 1925. The first non Dutch recipient was Mr Robert Martin of England. This north London accountant had captained one of the four British teams in 1928, the year the Vierdaagse went international. He received his gold cross in 1938.
Ribbon numbers.
For the twelfth and every subsequent completed march, a silver gilt number was attached to the ribbon. This type is shown on the gold medal above.
In 1949 Mr P.J. van der Kaay of Arnhem became the first walker to complete 25 marches, followed by a number of others from the early 1950’s.
To note this milestone, a wreathed number was introduced from the twenty-fifth march, to be worn on the ribbon of their original gold cross. It is of silver gilt and enamel and is 25mm widest at its widest point.
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