Leading public events in the Netherlands 2018, by number of visitors

As of 2018, the most visited public event in the Netherlands were the International Four Day Marches festivities in Nijmegen. Approximately 1.61 million people visited the largest multiple day marching event in the world. The funfair in Tilburg, the largest funfair of the Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), attracted roughly 1.3 million visitors, whereas the Flower Parade of the Bollenstreek welcomed one million people in 2018.

Number of registered and finished participants Four Day Marches Nijmegen

The Four Day Marches in Nijmegen is an annual event held mid-July every year. Participants walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers, depending on their age and gender. Military participants are obliged to walk 40 kilometers with weight on their back. On completion, people receive a royally approved medal (Vierdaagsekruis). In total, 44,702 people were registered two days prior to the event. Most of the registered participants were walking the 40 kilometers (19,305), whereas nearly 8,700 did the longest distance. Observing the results, most of the people did not start/drop out on day two and three, as 1,350 and 1,111 participants did not make the finish. By day four, 41,235 people completed the Four Day Marches.

Vierdaagsefeesten Nijmegen the leading free festival

The leading free festival with the most visitors were the Vierdaagsefeesten in Nijmegen in the Netherlands. This is a festival that is held the Saturday prior to the start of the Four Day Marches and ends on the Friday when the participants finish. It was originally called the ‘’Zomerfeesten’’ (Summer festivities), but due to promoting the Four Day Marches to outsiders it has been changed to Vierdaagsefeesten (Four Day Marches festivities). In 2018, just over 1.61 million people visited the event in Nijmegen.