[3] The Cross is awarded by the Royal Dutch Walking League (KWBN or Koninklijke Wandel Bond Nederland) who organise the Nijmegen Marches.

As well as the Vierdaagse at Nijmegen, the cross was also awarded to those who completed the four day marches organised in various locations in the Dutch East Indies between 1935 and 1939.

[6] Although it is awarded by a non-governmental organisation, the Cross has received Royal approval and is therefore an official decoration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

As the March established itself, this authority widened with, for example, sailors of the Royal Netherlands Navy granted permission to wear in 1919, and army and naval officers from 1928.

These include: Denmark,Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden (since 1977), South Africa and the USA.

All medals were made by Koninklijke Begeer of the South Holland town of Voorschoten until 1976, when the contract moved to W. van Veluw of Zeist, near Utrecht.

In recent years further distinct crosses, with crown, have been added for a walker’s fortieth, fiftieth, sixtieth and seventieth successful march.

[9] The cross for seventy years has been awarded only twice, to Bert van der Lans in 2017[12] and to Dick Koopman in 2019.