The last kilometer of the Dodentocht

The Dodentocht (Dutch for Death March) is a long-distance march of 100 kilometers organized annually since 1970 in Bornem, Belgium. The grueling march[1] derives its name from its length. Each year since 2009, the event has attracted over 10,000 participants. A scouting group also organises a campsite for the participants, which can hold 500 people.[2]

History

The Dodentocht has become one of the most important hiking events in Europe. It began in 1970 with 65 participants and has since grown into an event with up to 13,000 hikers. Marchers have come from many countries, including the United States,[3] the United Kingdom[1] and Germany.[4]

The Dodentocht is organised by the non profit organisation 100 km Dodentocht® Kadee Bornem. Approximately 600 members of the organisation are involved during the event itself. During the 2012 edition, marchers were followed on the official site via a tracking system, utilizing small RFID tags on badges worn on their clothing that are automatically scanned at each of the 15 checkpoints and at additional random points along the route.[5] Many of the marchers return year after year; in 2019 Hugo Bonnyns finished the march for the 48th time, the current record.[6]

The organizers have adopted a motto, "Walking for a better world"; many of the participants walk for charities.[1][7]

Since the course is closed for non-participants, some of the churches along the route have been forced to reschedule church services;[8] the pastor of the local federation of churches, Pastor Maervoet, participated in the march in 2009, for the fifth time.[9]

Local companies that support the event have led to some unique features. The route passes through the premises of several companies. These include, at 15 km, the factory of a popular sports drink, at 40 km, the Duvel brewery in Breendonk – with free beer for all walkers.

On August 14, 2010, a walker collapsed 300 meters short of the finish line and died from cardiac arrest. The walker had already walked the Dodentocht 5 times and was properly trained. The event was not cancelled, but the festivities celebrating the arrival of the last walkers did not take place.

Since 2018 a limit has been set on the number of participants. The number became too large and the organization wanted to be able to continue to guarantee proper functioning of the event. In 2019 the 13,000 places were sold in a matter of hours.

In the days leading up to the 53rd Dodentocht in August 2022, it was announced by the organisers, at the request of the Belgium government, that the event would not continue in its current format due to the ongoing heatwave at the time. In response, the length of the route was reduced by approximately a 1/3 to 63.6km to be completed by 1pm the following day. All participants who successfully completed the shortened route received the Dodentocht medal and diploma.

Awards

Medal for first completion

There are no rankings or records. If a walker completes the route in under 24 hours then they are awarded a certificate confirming their timings, a medal, badge and a large gingerbread.

Participants

Edition Year Participants
1 1970 65
2 1971 202
3 1972 397
4 1973 782
5 1974 1,047
6 1975 1,408
7 1976 1,844
8 1977 2,057
9 1978 2,102
10 1979 2,487
11 1980 2,508
12 1981 2,848
13 1982 3,136
14 1983 3,208
15 1984 3,125
16 1985 3,828
17 1986 3,920
18 1987 4,518
19 1988 4,567
20 1989 4,761
21 1990 4,366
22 1991 4,930
23 1992 5,084
24 1993 5,091
25 1994 5,203
26 1995 4,826
27 1996 4,967
28 1997 5,509
29 1998 5,310
30 1999 6,644
31 2000 7,096
32 2001 8,053
33 2002 8,131
34 2003 8,717
35 2004 9,033
36 2005 8,595
37 2006 8,413
38 2007 8,958
39 2008 9,597
40 2009 10,793
41 2010 10,605
42 2011 10,507
43 2012 10,957
44 2013 11,157
45 2014 11,861
46 2015 12,017
47 2016 12,608
48 2017 13,952
49 2018 11,752
50 2019 13,045
51 2020 0 – Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
52 2021 0 – Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
53 2022 10,438 – Route shortened to 63.6km due to heatwave
54 2023 11,500 – approx 8,000 reached finish

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wallin, James (2009-08-10). "Friends dare to do the death march". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  2. ↑ Debrouwere, Lotte; Liesbeth Boel (2009-08-06). "Kris Peeters gaat samen met zoon Karel de Dodentocht wandelen: 'Mijn zoon is geen opgever. En ik ook niet'". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  3. ↑ Kamprath, Michael F. "The "Death March" of Bornem, Belgium: The story of five Americans' struggle to finish". Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  4. ↑ "Schnell wie die Feuerwehr". Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 2009-08-10. Archived from the original on 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  5. ↑ "Bornemse Dodentocht omarmt eID en RFID". Datanews. 2009-08-13. Archived from the original on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  6. ↑ Els, Dalemans (2019-08-10). "Recordhouder Hugo Bonnyns (78) heeft 48ste medaille beet". Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  7. ↑ "Dodentocht voor goeie doel (G'bergen)". Radio MiG. 2009-08-11. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  8. ↑ "Dodentocht Gaat Niet Ongemerkt Voorbij". Kerknet. 2009-07-29. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  9. ↑ "Dodentocht stoort kerkelijke hoogdag". RKNieuws.net. 2009-07-27. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
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