1/3 Hedwig (third from left) comes to Grave from Australia every year. (Photo: Leon Voskamp)
From Australia to the grave is a huge journey. Hedwig and her husband Kelly Hickmott have been coming from Melbourne to Brabant every summer for fifteen years. For family visits, but also to attend the four-day Nijmegen parades each day. This year they saw a different passage through the grave, as only soldiers marched through the city. “But the atmosphere is still good, and everyone has a good time,” says Hedwig.
Her father is 90 years old and lives in Graaf. Since Hedwig emigrated to Australia fifteen years ago, she tries to come back every year for a holiday. “We always look for the period around the four-day Nijmegen parades. We love this event very much. My husband and I go everywhere by bike. For example, Cuijk is very nice, just like Groesbeek. The grave is usually like that, but this year it will be much less crowded because only military personnel take part.
“You shouldn't want to risk people dying.”
Her husband understands the organization's decision to shorten the routes by ten kilometers. This does not apply to the soldiers, although they do not have to walk with their packs today. Which, by the way, many people do. “It's not that warm in the morning yet, but the temperature is rising quickly. Yesterday we saw six ambulances driving away. You don't want to risk people dying.
Read also: Four days are shortened due to the heat, and not many pedestrians come to the grave.
Good friend Adele dances in the street, cheering on the soldiers. “This is a highlight every year. We are doing our best today. Many soldiers are still walking, but we have a group who have come to rest for a while. Afterwards they can sit here quietly and have a cup of coffee. With something delicious.”
“This is just an abandonment of what the organization does.”
Soon after, Yemi is teaching soldiers from all sorts of countries. High fivesHer father Michael doesn't understand why the 50km run isn't going through Greve this year. “The weather is good, isn't it? You run at your own risk, and that's just giving up on what the organisation does. Unfortunately it's much less busy along the way. I hope the 40km walkers go back to the grave next year. That's been the case in the past and many find that this is the best solution.”
Businesswoman Jacqueline Van Ham has a table with flags in front of her shop. “Every year we look at the countries the pedestrians come from. It’s a kind of tribute,” she says with her husband Leon. “We usually also have the flags of the provinces, but that’s not so important now that regular pedestrians don’t pass through Greve. It’s a pity that it’s quieter, in previous years people would come here to chat. We miss that fun a bit.”
“These soldiers deserve our support.”
Elvi from Greve carries her daughter in her arms. The girl admires many of the soldiers. “It’s different than usual today. I heard many people in my neighborhood say that they will skip the four-day marches this year. I thought about it too, but I’m here anyway. These soldiers deserve our support too. Fortunately, it’s still very busy in Greve.”
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