Airborne March Regulations

The Airborne March at Oosterbeek is a memorial march without competitive elements and held within the scope of the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The march is held on every first Saturday in September. The total net funds raised with the march are donated in support of the Airborne commemorations in and around Arnhem which are held in September each year.

The Airborne March is organised by the Police Sport Association (PSV Politie Sport Vereniging ‘Renkum’) in Oosterbeek. Participation in the march is open to everyone with adequate physical condition. Participation is bound by the regulations described below which apply to all participants.

1. Start and Finish of the Airborne March are at ‘Hartenstein’ Sports Park (J.J. Talsmalaan) at Oosterbeek, which the Municipality of Renkum has designated as the events site for this occasion.

2. The Airborne March has four distances:
10 km for individuals and groups
15 km for individuals and groups
25 km for individuals and groups
40 km for individuals only

3. The routes of the four different distances will start at Hartenstein Sports Park and lead via public roads to woodland tracks and footpaths through the municipality of Renkum and partly through the municipality of Ede.

4. Starting times:
Individuals 40 km 7:30 – 10 am
10, 15 and 25 km 10 am – 1:30 pm

Groups 25 km 11 am – 1:30 pm
10 and 15 km 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

The check points on the routes will be closed at 5 pm.
You can sign yourself out at the finish site until 6 pm.

5. Participation in the Airborne March is entirely voluntary and at your own risk; it is open to everyone with a physical condition adequate to complete the selected distance. The organisation does not accept any liability and is not responsible for physical injuries or other damage suffered by the participant as a result of lack of the participant’s necessary physical health.

6. Participation is open to everyone, either as an individual or in a group.

7. Participation as a group is possible when a group consists of at least 11 persons including the team leader.

8. All Airborne March participants need a starting permit that must be obtained against payment beforehand or on the day of the march. There are group starting permits for participating groups with cards valid for the total number of persons of the group involved. It is not permitted to participate without a starting permit. Having completed one distance, it is not permitted on the same day to march another distance. In case of abandoning participation, there is no right to reimbursement, irrespective of the reasons.

9. Starting permits can be obtained beforehand against payment via the Airborne March website, the advance sales locations in the neighbourhood or at the starting site at the start offices on the day of the Airborne March.

10. The official parade takes place in front of the Airborne Museum between 11 am and 1 pm. Faithful to tradition, many groups of soldiers, police and military police, scouting clubs, civilians and individuals will present themselves after the Chairman’s opening speech and the playing of ‘The Last Post’ and the one-minute silence. The salute is taken by the Mayor and Aldermen of the municipality of Renkum, representatives and members of participating groups, government officials and those invited. Here the participants must conform to the instructions given by the organisation.

11. When passing the Airborne Cemetery on the route, the groups, teams and individuals participating in the march are allowed to leave the track, temporarily to pay their respects to the fallen of the Battle of Arnhem laid to rest here. Visitors of the cemetery are assumed to observe a befitting silence to mark their respect.

12. After having successfully marched the selected distance and possessing the entry card with the proper control marks, participants marching the route for the first time will receive the medal with the Airborne emblem bearing the Pegasus by permission of Major General Urquhart (former Commander of the Airborne Troops). A specially made medal will be given for every fifth participation. The intermediate badges have a metal wing for the number of times that the participant has Marched the Airborne March. Group participants receive this honour in accordance with the list that shows how many times the members of these groups have participated and which is drawn up and presented in advance by the group leader. Each group will also be presented with a memento of the event. Presentation of the medals will take place after midday. Signing out can be done until 6 pm at the starting office.

13. Marching means moving forward in such a manner that the feet are in constant contact with the ground and the body weight is moved by turns from the left to the right leg. It is therefore not allowed to make use of one or several objects that mainly or otherwise a)supplement, b)perform or c)support the physical function(s) needed to march. It is furthermore not allowed to make use of a vehicle or to jog (run).

14. It is allowed to use a marching stick or so-called ‘poles’ used for Nordic Walking, provided and to the extent that this does not cause any nuisance to the other participants. The track is not suitable for wheelchairs. The use of buggies, pushchairs and wagons is strongly discouraged but is allowed if this does not cause nuisance to the other participants.

15. Groups must march together and behave on the route in such a manner that they do not hinder individual participants. Individual participants must not hinder marching groups in such a manner that they have to check their steps systematically or break the formation. Overtaking others is only allowed if this does not cause any hindrance to other participants. Pursuant to Section 9 of the Road Traffic and Traffic Signal Regulations of 1990, a marching column should not be wider than three and not be longer than thirty persons.

16. Taking dogs along is only allowed if they are leashed and kept on a short lead during the entire March. The dog must be socialised and any dog dirt must be immediately removed by the dog’s companion. Considering the the large amount of people in some parts of the track, you are strongly advised against taking any dogs or pets.

17. During the Airborne March, the participants are not allowed:
• To set foot on the route before the official starting times
• To act noisily at commemoration sites, such as the Airborne Cemetery
• To express a political leaning or religious conviction;
• To act or dress offensively or to march stripped to the waist;
• To carry/distribute advertising objects, except when the organisation’s permission is obtained;
• To carry objects that in all reasonability may cause nuisance or danger;
• To cause serious nuisance to other participants;
• To drop waste or litter on the route or adjacent terrains; this must be put in the appropriate refuse containers et cetera placed along the route.

18. It is not allowed to cross or follow the route with bicycles, mopeds, motorbikes, mobility scooters, cars or lorries. Crossing the routes is only allowed where this is clearly indicated with traffic fences and measures.

19. The Municipality or the police will manage traffic measures on the route from 9 am to 6 pm on the day of the Airborne March. Using the route is at the participant’s own risk. The organisation is in no way liable for using the route. It is not allowed to use the route outside the indicated times on account of possible extra dangers as a result of fences not being available, et cetera. The participants in the 40-km March are partly using the route when the traffic measures are not yet in effect. They are notified that the Road Traffic Act is applicable at that time and that they then enter the public road as usual pedestrians.

20. Instructions by staff of the organisation, the police and/or traffic controllers must be followed. The Road Traffic Act of 1994 and the Road Traffic and Traffic Signals Regulations of 1990 will remain in full force during the Airborne March, unless otherwise specified. The traffic controllers and inspectors are recognisably dressed.

21. PSV ‘Renkum’ is in no way responsible or liable for accidents, illness or death suffered by its participants or loss of property prior, during or after the march. The participants themselves must ensure that they are in adequate physical condition, wear proper clothing and footwear, take care of sufficient and suitable food and drink and take the decision to end their participation during the march.

22. PSV ‘Renkum’ expressly points out the risk of hypothermia, overheating and sunstroke due to sitting still (in wheelchairs, mobility scooters, buggies, pushchairs and other wagons) and rejects all responsibility within this scope.

23. During the march, the local First Aid organisations will see to medical care and this is managed by a qualified physician who may be assisted by other physicians or doctors while attention is given to a balanced outlay of these doctors over the various areas of the March. Medical posts are set up at indicated locations on each of the routes but are only meant for treating complications developed during or as a result of participation in the Airborne March.

24. The organiser of the Airborne March, which is PSV ‘Renkum’, reserves the right to deny individuals and/or groups (further) participation in the Airborne March in case (further) participation could disturb proper progress of the march, all this at the March Leader’s sole discretion.

25. The organiser of the Airborne March, PSV ‘Renkum’, reserves the right to change the route, the start and finish times and/or change places or to cancel the Airborne March entirely or partly on the basis of extreme weather conditions or other exceptional circumstances when in all reasonability it is cannot be otherwise expected from PSV ‘Renkum’. In such case, there is no right to refund of the participation fee and/or other expenses made.

26. By receiving the starting permit, each and every participant expresses their unconditional agreement about the provisions under or pursuant to these rules and regulations.

In all other cases not covered by these rules and regulations, the decisions are taken by the PSV ‘Renkum’ Committee. The PSV ‘Renkum’ Committee ensures that these Rules and Regulations are sufficiently known to all participants by publications or otherwise.

Subject to alteration without prior notification.
Oosterbeek, April 2010