Frequently asked questions

In 2023, the Vierdaagsefeesten will be held from 15 to 21 July!

In regular years, the outdoor stages start, depending on the location, between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. or between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The acts on the outdoor stages end on Saturday to Thursday at 12.30 am. On Friday this is at 1 a.m. After the acts on the outdoor stages, the terraces will remain open without music until 2 a.m.

At night, indoor programming continues in some entertainment venues, the opening hours are the same as the regular appointments throughout the year. This indoor programming is included in our programme.

Vierdaagsefeesten 2023: 15 July till 21 July! Save the date!

Yes! The Vierdaagsefeesten take place in the centre of Nijmegen in the public space and are freely accessible. But beware: some parts of the programme are not free or require a reservation. If applicable, this is indicated in the Vierdaagsefeesten 'programme'. This also applies to the subsequent night programme of the entertainment venues in Nijmegen.

Even though the Vierdaagsefeesten are free, the event however is expensive to organize. Obviously, the largest freely accessible event in the Netherlands does cost money. We earn a part of this money through the drinks that you buy at the bar! This income is used to pay artists, acts, equipment and décor, among other things. So if you make sure to buy a drink or two at the bar, we will take care of everything else 😉. Deal?

No. The Vierdaagsefeesten are always organized by Stichting Vierdaagsefeesten, while the Internationale Vierdaagse Afstandsmarsen are organized by Stichting DE 4Daagse. We do work together in many different areas, to make sure the week runs as smoothly as possible.

Starting from the first edition in 1970 our event was called the Zomerfeesten (Summer Festival). In 1998 we changed the name to Vierdaagsefeesten, to emphasise the link with the Four Day Marches and the festival’s unique character. So our event hasn’t been called ‘the Zomerfeesten’ anymore for over twenty years!

If you have downloaded our app, you will receive a push notification in the event of an emergency or heavy traffic. Moreover, you will automatically be kept up to date with the latest information. You can download the Vierdaagsefeesten app in the Google Play Store or the App store.

News and updates can also be followed on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

During the Vierdaagsefeesten there will also be a number of illuminated signs throughout the city centre. Whenever important announcements or calamities occur these will be announced.

The Vierdaagsefeesten is the busiest time of the year in Nijmegen, as thousands of people make their way to our beautiful city. When visiting the city center, we therefore recommend traveling by bike, foot or to use public transport whenever possible.

For more information on the accessibility of the city during the Vierdaagsefeesten, click here.

Yes, in most locations in the city center you are able to pay by card. Many locations — such as the Joris Ivens Plein, Matrixx live at the Kade (the dock), Matrixx at the Park, Festival op ‘t Eiland (on the island) and Valkhof Festival — moreover make use of the coin tokens system, where you can use almost any pay method to buy tokes to spend at the bar.

Restrooms can be found at the following locations:

• Waalkade (The dock; at Matrixx at the Kade)
• Kelfkensbos (at the Valkhof bridge)
• Klein Marienburg
• Bisschop Hamerstraat
• Gruitberg – Koningsplein
• Sint Jorisstraat (at the Gerard Noordstraat intersection)

Restrooms suited to people with a physical impairment can be found at:

• Waalkade (The dock; close to Matrixx at the Kade)
• Klein Marienburg
• Kelkensbos

Yes, the city is accessible to wheelchairs. No traffic is allowed in the inner city during the Vierdaagsefeesten, meaning that parts of the pavements and streets that will be specifically designated for wheelchairs can be kept obstacle-free.

For questions, suggestions and complaints, you can go to the official website for the city of Nijmegen and download a form. You can also contact us at:

• Stichting Vierdaagsefeesten 024-3233163 or info@vierdaagsefeesten.nl
  Business hours: Saturday-Friday between 08.30-17.00.
• Gemeente Nijmegen (city of Nijmegen) 14024 or vierdaagse@nijmegen.nl
  Business hours: Saturday & Sunday between 17.00-01.00, Monday-Thursday between 08.30-01.00 and on Fridays between 12.00-01.30.

After 01.00 (and after 01.30 on Fridays) you can directly contact the local Police for emergencies at 0900-8844.

For questions, suggestions or complaints about the Internationale Vierdaagse Afstandsmarsen Nijmegen you can contact Stichting DE 4DAAGSE at secretariaat@4daagse.nl or you can contact the city of Nijmegen directly.

There are many canopies providing shadow and cool areas. Additionally, there are free water taps throughout the city center, indicated on the map, our app and the sign posts. Here are some extra tips that might help:

• Wear a cap or hat
  
• Use sunscree
  
• Drink enough water and be careful with alcohol
• Find cooler, more spacious areas when it is crowded

Check out additional tips by GGD and red cross.

We support the campaign 'Ben je oké?' (are you okay)

With this campaign, unwanted sexual behaviour in nightlife is made debatable. An opinion survey by EenVandaag in collaboration with Festileaks (June 2018) shows that 48% of female festival visitors have experienced sexual harassment. Also 9% of the male festival visitors indicate to have had negative experiences with this kind of behaviour. We want to put a stop to this. People should be able to feel free, comfortable and safe at festivals. Because unwanted sexual behaviour is not okay, also not during the Vierdaagsefeesten.

Do you see someone being harassed and do you not trust the situation? Ask 'Are you okay?' and make the behaviour discussable. This way we take care of each other and of a nice environment for everyone.

De hele stad is ons evenemententerrein, dus op de Vierdaagsefeesten vind je veel vaste horecagelegenheden. Diverse restaurants en cafés hebben binnen een ruimte waar je, in overleg met het barpersoneel, prima kunt kolven.

We are working on sustainability in many areas. The energy is almost entirely locally generated green power. In the few places where the fixed power connections are not sufficient, we use batteries (charged with sustainable electricity) or bio-diesel generators.

Furthermore, this year for the first time we have some circular toilet facilities and a circular cup system to reduce the amount of waste. All collected waste is separated for recycling. We encourage and facilitate our visitors to come by bicycle or public transport.

We are affiliated with the Green Deal Circular Festivals and Plastic Pact. Read all about our sustainability initiatives here and how you can help!

Wij werken standaard met minder milieubelastend vuurwerk. Dit ecologische vuurwerk is beperkt in fijnstoffen en zware metalen. Daarnaast wordt de CO2-uitstoot van het vuurwerk volledig gecompenseerd middels een duurzaamheidscertificaat bij Trees for All.

Maar liever zien wij het dat compenseren niet nodig is en we minder CO2 uitstoten. Daarom hebben wij geïnventariseerd of er alternatieven voor vuurwerk voor handen zijn, bijv. drones of lasershows. Dit bleek op dit moment echter nog ontzettend duur. Wij hebben geprobeerd om hier sponsoren voor te vinden, maar wegens de coronanasleep kwamen de partnerships ook erg laat op gang, en bleek dit niet meer mogelijk. De technologie op dit vlak gaat echter hard, dus we hebben wel de hoop dat bijvoorbeeld een droneshow op termijn betaalbaarder wordt én dat zich partners en sponsoren melden om dit met ons mogelijk te maken.

No, this is not allowed and checks are made at various locations on whether event-goers can bring their own drinks.

During this free event, everyone is welcome to come and party and enjoy live performances at special locations. But of course, the event is not completely free of charge. The drinks you buy at the bar are used to pay for artists, acts, stages and decor. You buy your drink at the bar, and we take care of the rest. Good deal, right?

When you buy your first drink, you pay a one-time contribution of €0.50 as an environmental contribution for the cup. For each subsequent order, you only pay the consumption price when returning your used cup. The same cups will be used throughout the city, recognizable by the Vierdaagsefeesten logo in the border. You can exchange your cup for a new one at an outdoor bar or terrace.

We ask you to bring your last cup to the bar as well, so we can recycle them to new ones. Cups cannot be exchanged for money. You can take your cup home and exchange it the next day for a drink in a new, fresh cup. It does not matter if the cup is folded or torn, as long as it is not covered in sand or other dirt. When this is the case, it can no longer be recycled properly. View the infographic.

In order to significantly reduce the ever-growing waste stream and meet our sustainability ambitions, we are now switching to one clear system for the entire city. In recent years we have done many small-scale pilots to collect more cups, but without great success.

By switching to one clear system, we are anticipating upcoming legislation, which will prohibit the use of single-use plastic cups without a circular system from January 2024 onwards. It is unique in the Netherlands and a great achievement that so many different entrepreneurs at such a large, open event are all going to use the same system!

During the Vierdaagsefeesten 2022, all stages and terraces in the city will participate in this system. The 4Daagse also participates, which means that this cup will also be used at the Wedren and in Heumensoord. At the Wedren a token is used, unfortunately, this is only valid at the Wedren and not exchangeable in the city. There are several terraces that use re-usable hard cups, these cups remain on the terrace and are washed there for new use.

The circular cup at the Four Days Festivities is made possible by, among others: Gemeente Nijmegen (city council) , CircularPET, DAR, Paardekooper.

We like to offer something extra especially to our loyal Vierdaagsefeesten visitors. We asked what we could do to make them happy and came up with two wishes: a special extra experience and not always having to pay separately at the toilets. We have incorporated this into a nice offer of something fun to do every day of the Vierdaagsefeesten and to skip the payment line at the toilets. Access to the special programme for the day and walking through the toilets is possible on presentation of both wristbands: a festival wristband and a wristband for friends.

We noticed in the panel discussions that many of our visitors are very fond of us and are prepared to contribute something extra to the Vierdaagsefeesten. In doing so, we are working towards our objectives of having parties that are as climate neutral as possible and organising a party for everyone, including target groups for whom this may not be obvious. To show our gratitude to people who would like to contribute to this, we have developed a special golden bracelet for them. This also gives you a discount on merchandise during the parties!

The easiest way to become a Friend or buy a festival wristband is via the webshop.

The easiest way to become a Friend or buy a wristband is through the webshop. You can choose whether you want to have your wristband sent to you, pick it up on the Thursday or Friday before the festival or pick it up during the week itself.

Thanks to you, we can make the Vierdaagsefeesten climate neutral and inclusive. This year, 5% of the proceeds of the Friends Programme will go to Stichting Vincentius, a Nijmegen volunteer organisation that aims to alleviate poverty and loneliness and to promote health. Read more.

First check the AFAC website to see if your bike was confiscated by them. You can also consult www.verlorenofgevonden.nl.

If you think your bike got stolen, you should contact the police.

Check out www.iLost.nl when you have lost an item. If you cannot find your item on this website, you can register it as lost on there. Lost valuables that are turned in will be put up on the website the following day.

Do you think your item was stolen? Then please contact the police.

When you have found a valuable in Nijmegen, the best course of action is to register it on www.iLost.nl. You can temporarily keep the item at home, where it is safe. If all goes according to plan, the person who lost the item will find the item online or will register it as missing.

Another possibility is dropping the item off at the Stadswinkel (City store) of Nijmegen (Mariënburg 30), which is open Monday through Friday, from 9.00-17.00.

Yes, even during the Vierdaagsefeesten the market will be set up as always. On Saturday July 13 and Monday July 15, the market booths at the Augustijnenstraat, the Grote Markt, the Burchstraat and the St. Jorisstraat (at Kelkensbos) will be operated between 09.00-16.00.

Yes, the shops will be open daily, even on Sunday. The only day the shops will be closed is on Friday, due to the finish of the 4Days March. Visit intonijmegen.nl to find the opening hours of your favorite shops.

General opening hours:

Sat 09.00 – 17.00
Sun 12.00 – 17.00
Mon 11.00 – 18.00
Tue 09.00 – 18.00
Wed 09.00 – 18.00
Thu 09.00 – 21.00
Fri 09.00 – 21.00 (some shops may be closed)