Early medals of the NBVLO
The NBVLO (Nederlandsche Bond Voor Lichamelijke Opvoeding) was set up in April 1908 to encourage participation in sport and other physical activities, they organising events across the Netherlands, including the first Vierdaagse in September 1909.
Medal for civilian participants, 1909
The ten civilian participants of the first Vierdaagse in 1909 received a bronze medal, not the cross. A representation of this medal appears on page 11 of De Wereld Wandelt, (below, right). In 1910 civilians were eligible for the gilded bronze cross if they walked the full 55km distance. They received a medal, similar to that of 1909, if they completed one of the optional shorter 35 or 45 km routes. Award of these medals for completing shorter distances had ceased before 1920, to be replaced by the Vierdaagse Cross in ungilded bronze.
This medal was introduced shortly after the NBVLO was established in April 1908 as a general prize for sports events sponsored by the NBVLO. The example below was given for a Vuistbal (handball) competition in August 1908, (below left). It is of bronze and has a diameter of 53mm. This medal, including the Vierdaagse civilian medal of 1909, was probably originally awarded without a ribbon and was not intended to be worn. This medal was also adopted as the Vierdaagse group medal.
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The NBVLO sports medal established in 1908.
This example was awarded for second place in a Vuistbal (handball) competition on 31 August 1908.
The medal awarded to civilians who participated in the 1909 Vierdaagse. [De Wereld Wandelt]
The Hague sports medal, 1910
This is another example of the general prize medal for sports events sponsored by the NBVLO.
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There were two types, both in silvered bronze:
- the same 53mm diameter as the general NBVLO prize medal; and
- smaller, with a diameter of 23mm.
Both have the reverse inscription in embossed letters, not engraved. They were presented in a white cardboard box bearing the maker's name, Koninklijke Begeer. They were awarded without a ribbon and were not intended to be worn.
The medal was given to participants of a 1910 national sports event organised by the NBVLO and held at Houtrust in The Hague. The games included football, basketball, athletics, fencing and equestrian events. The event was repeated in 1911 at Assen, near Groningen, and a similar medal was awarded.
The smaller Hague medal in silvered bronze. The reverse inscription reads ''Bonds Wedstrijden s-Gravenhage 1910''. Wedstrijden translates as 'sports event'.