The evening four-day event was canceled tonight in various places in Drenthe due to code yellow. The thunderstorms in particular mean that the organizations do not dare to continue the walk.
In any case, the evening four-day event will not take place tonight in Coevorden, Meppel, Borger, Smilde and Zuidlaren. The KNMI has issued a code yellow for Drenthe from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. due to thunderstorms, gusts of wind and heavy rain.
The board of the Avond4daagse Coevorden took the decision this afternoon. When it became known that the weather would change in Drenthe, consultations began for the board. “We already talked about it last night and since then we have had very intensive app contact,” says board member Esselien de Groot.
And so the organization took the decision. “We have followed all the weather forecasts. Just as the evening starts, there is a peak of thunderstorms. You just have to make a decision at some point, otherwise it will be too short of a day.
About a thousand hikers need to be informed. “We don’t want to expose them to thunderstorms. That’s a bit risky.”
That’s why it was all hands on deck for the organization this afternoon. “The schools have now been approached, we have sent out a press release and created a newsletter.”
Mayor Renze Bergsma would kick off the four-day event in Coevorden. “We had to cancel that too.”
Also in Meppel, the Meppeler Walking Evening Four Days Marches Foundation took the decision this afternoon to cancel the second evening of the four-day event in the city. “We can get through a rain shower, but a thunderstorm is coming. We are not going to take any risks,” says secretary Alexander Koster.
Such a decision is not easy, says Koster. “It’s always a difficult thing. You disappoint people, it’s a fun event for children. But safety comes first.”
Just like in Coevorden, the Meppel organization is trying to announce on as many channels as possible that walkers cannot start tonight. “We will go to the starting location on Kerkplein with the board. Because there are always people who miss the news.”
Just like the other places that canceled the four-day event tonight, the risk was also too great for the board of Avondvierdaagse Borger, says chairman Bé Kuipers. “We don’t dare to send five hundred children out with the risk of thunder. We do not want and cannot take that responsibility. A difficult decision, but it does give a safe feeling.”
The organization made the decision mid-afternoon. “This gives people the time to anticipate and everyone can take it into account. Also for the volunteers, photographers, first aid and traffic controllers.”
The evening four-day event in Smilde is also canceled tonight. According to Marieke Lopers of the organization, the risk is too great because of the expected thunderstorms.
A missed evening of the four-day event does not mean a missed medal, emphasizes Kuipers of the four-day event in Borger. “You still get a medal. The weather should not be the reason that the children do not get a medal.”
The organizations expect that the four-day event can continue as normal for the rest of the week.