Avond4daagse in Utrecht extra festive this year
This year's Avond4daagse in Utrecht will be extra festive. From May 12 to 15, the annual walking festival will once again get hundreds of children and adults out walking together. This edition will be more special than ever thanks to a collaboration between insurer a.s.r. and the Royal Dutch Walking Association (KWbN). As in previous years, exercise and the community spirit are central, but this year extra attention is given to a festive setting, including a DJ, mascot, and cheerful decorations.
With hundreds of children participating annually, the Avond4daagse is a well-known event in Utrecht. This year, the festive atmosphere will be felt everywhere. On one of the evenings, the event will be extra festive, where participants will complete the walking festival underneath a colorful festive arch, a cheerful gateway that sets the tone straight away. Along the way, a walking DJ will provide catchy music, keeping the energy high and motivating children to keep walking. Naturally, there will be singing and dancing to the new official Avond4daagse song, sung by Sarita Lorena. Mascot Fiero, the familiar face of the Avond4daagse, will also join along the route. Fiero waves, gives high-fives, and poses for photos taken with a Polaroid camera, creating tangible memories of the festive walking adventure.
This special edition is part of the broader collaboration between a.s.r. and KWbN. Both organisations are committed to getting children moving in an accessible way, with fun as the main ingredient. ‘For many children, the Avond4daagse is one of the first sporting achievements on which they look back with pride,’ says Hella de Weger, Brand & Marketing Communications Director at a.s.r. ‘We want to make this experience even more enjoyable by adding more fun along the way, without detracting from the walking itself.’ ‘The Avond4daagse allows children to experience in a playful way how walking is both fun and healthy,’ adds Gijs Janssen, Managing Director of KWbN. ‘And they carry that joy with them for the rest of their lives!’
This year, the Avond4daagse will take place in Utrecht from Monday 12 May to Thursday 15 May, initiated by the Walking Sports Association Jong en Vrolijk. ‘We find it important to contribute to this event that brings young and old together,’ De Weger continues. By making the Avond4daagse extra festive, both the local organisation is strengthened and the enthusiasm for walking is increased, ensuring that this important tradition lives on in all corners of the Netherlands. ‘It's great that we can support local volunteers and organisers in this way in Utrecht and hundreds of other places throughout the country. This way, the Avond4daagse grows into an even more enjoyable and local festival that truly connects people,’ concludes Gijs Janssen.
