Medals of the Nijmegen Vierdaagse.

Qualification.

Awarded to each registered group who successfully completes all four days of the March.
Registered groups must consist of at least 11 members (a leader and 10 other walkers). They are required to start together each morning and be together at checkpoints and the finish. Originally, all had to complete the marches for the group to receive the award. Since 1973 a group can qualify if no more than 10% of walkers retire during the march. This 10% is rounded up. For example if a team has 13 participants at the start, 10% equates to 1.3, and up to two group members can withdraw and the group medal still be awarded.
Both civilian groups and military detachments qualify, one medal per group. The Group Medal is awarded in addition to the Vierdaagse cross that is awarded to each individual group member.

Early awards.
The Group Medal was being awarded as early as 1913 to military detachments and was known as the 'korpsprijs'. Civilian groups were first allowed to register for the Vierdaagse in 1923. They became eligible for the Group Medal on the same terms as military groups, civilian groups out-numbering military ones by the early 1930's.
In 1928 four groups from Great Britain took part for the first time. The four Group Medals they earned were mounted on what was titled the ‘Nijmegen Shield’. This is still awarded as a trophy for a 20 mile race organised by the British Race Walking Association.
As well as the Vierdaagse at Nijmegen, the Group Medal was also awarded to groups who took part in the four day marches organised in various locations in the Dutch East Indies between 1935 and 1939.
The medal is sometimes seen with the name of the military unit or walking club engraved on the reverse along with the year of award. An example is shown below for the design of medal awarded from 1951 to 1958.

Medal.

There have been a number of changes over the years, with six main variants. All have a diameter of 53 mm. Until 1976 all were manufactured by Koninklijke Begeer, those awarded since 1977 by W. van Veluw.

The portrait of Wilhelmina dates from 1900, when the Queen was nineteen years of age. As an example, the identical obverse was used on a medallion made by Begeer to commemorate the Queen's visit to Utrecht in July 1900.

Wilhelmina. Up to circa 1930. In ungilded bronze, with a top ring. This example has stamped on the edge. It was awarded without a ribbon and was not designed to be worn. Earlier versions were awarded with a suitable inscription inscription on the reverse side. On the example below, 'Afstandsmarschen Korpsprijs' translates as 'unit award for distance marches'.

BRONS