De 4 van Alkmaar takes place from Wednesday 10 to Saturday 13 June. Four days of walking through the town, polder, woods and dunes around Alkmaar, through the Heart of North Holland. The routes have been announced. And on the final day — Saturday 13 June — there will also be ‘De Vierde van de 4’ for the first time: a one-day walk for those who only want to join in for a single day.

Four days, four themes, four corners of the world

This year’s routes are divided into four themes, each focusing on a different compass direction from Alkmaar. Each day, you can choose from distances of 10, 15, 20, 25 or 40 kilometres.

Heart of the West — Day 1 You set off from the city centre towards the polders, the artists’ village of Bergen and the North Holland Dune Reserve. Sweeping views alternate with dunes. On the longest route, you’ll even walk along the beach. Along the way, you’ll pass the Ruïnekerk in Bergen, a striking piece of heritage right in the heart of the village.

Heart of East — Day 2 Day two takes you through the polder landscape past characteristic villages and historic sites. All routes converge at Luna Beach, where you can take a moment to rest by the sand and water.

Heart of South — Day 3 Friday is all about walking from church to church. You’ll walk through the Alkmaarderhout and the Heilooërbos, heading towards Egmond and Heiloo. Along the way lie Egmond Abbey and the pilgrimage site of Onze Lieve Vrouwe ter Nood — two places with a long history and a unique atmosphere.

Heart of Noord — Day 4 The final day is all about water. You’ll walk along the Noordhollands Kanaal and the Geestmerambacht. On the longer routes, the route passes the BroekerVeiling Museum, the world’s oldest auction house built on water. On this day, participants from ‘De Vierde van de 4’ will also join the walk. Together, you’ll walk towards the finish line on Waagplein in Alkmaar.

View the routes

More than kilometres

Along the routes, there are stamp points run by local clubs, catering establishments and special venues. Each point has its own unique character, ranging from sports clubs to cultural venues and nature reserves. On the final day, Scouting Graaf Daron from Alkmaar will provide a stage for budding artists – a fine example of how the region has embraced the event.

Golden Walking Buddy: out and about together

During ‘De Vierde van de 4’, Le Champion and Bever are launching the Golden Walking Buddy initiative. The idea is simple: not everyone has someone to go for a walk with. With this initiative, that’s no problem. You register in advance via the registration form. You’ll then receive a little golden walking shoe with your stamp card — a badge that you wear visibly. This way, you can recognise other participants who are also looking for a walking buddy. A meeting point has been set up at the start on Canadaplein. Here, you can meet other walkers before the start

Go for a walk together
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