Waalbrug - Nijmegen

On the first day of the Nijmegen Four Days Marches, walkers head north. At the end of the march, the walkers back into the city via the famous Waalbrug.

The Waalbrug is the hallmark of Nijmegen. The arched bridge over the river Waal connects the city centre with the village of Lent. The bridge is no less than 604 metres long and its highest point is about 60 metres above sea level. The bridge was commissioned in 1936, after Queen Wilhelmina first officially opened it. Upon completion that year, the bridge was the longest arch bridge in Europe.

The Waal Bridge is unique in its kind, because unlike many other bridges of the period with similar construction, the compressive forces of this arch bridge literally rest in the two lower arches of the bridge.

During World War II, the Waal Bridge was a key strategic player in Operation Market Garden.

During the first day of the Four Days Marches, this bridge symbolises the end of that first day. The walkers can already smell Nijmegen, but first they have to cross the iconic city gate. It is the last hurdle before the Wedren. Come on, just switch off your mind for a bit, and keep going! The view of the river and the city from the bridge is fantastic.