Dodentocht: First Runners Cross Finish Line After 100km; 800 Drop Out Overnight
The first runners have crossed the finish line at the 57th edition of the Dodentocht, Belgium’s legendary 100-kilometer endurance walking event in Bornem. The leading runners completed the grueling course in approximately 10 hours, arriving at the finish as it officially opened at 7:00 AM on Saturday morning, according to VRT NWS.
About 25 runners who completed the course by running arrived at the finish area before it officially opened and had to wait for the line to become accessible. The Dodentocht is explicitly not a competition, with organizers emphasizing that finishing itself is the goal.
A Night of Endurance
All 13,000 tickets for the event were sold out, with 12,759 participants actually starting the walk on Friday evening at 9:00 PM. Of those, approximately 800 officially dropped out during the night, scanning out at control points along the course.
“All in all, the night passed without significant incidents,” said spokesperson Ilse Robyn. “It was ideal weather for walking or running. Everything went smoothly.”
The favorable conditions came as a relief given the forecast heat. Friday temperatures were expected to reach up to 35°C, though the evening start meant cooler conditions during the night. The organization had decided earlier in the week not to shorten the course, unlike in 2022 when extreme heat forced a reduction to 66.6 kilometers.
Heat Management Measures
Since the 2022 edition, the Dodentocht organization has developed a comprehensive heat plan based on temperature and humidity parameters. For the 2026 edition, the safety cell decided on code yellow, meaning the full 100 kilometers could be completed, as VRT NWS reported.
“In recent years we have developed a concrete framework with guidelines we use during a warm edition,” Robyn explained. “That framework contains measures linked to a combination of temperatures and humidity.”
Extra measures for this edition included additional shade and rest areas at the start, misting devices, extra drinking water points, and an increased Red Cross presence with an additional ambulance. Organizers also called on local residents to help refresh walkers with buckets of water or garden hoses along the course.
Ticket Resale Platform Grows
More than 2,200 of the collected start badges — roughly one in six participants — were purchased through DotoSwap, a platform where participants who could not attend could sell their tickets, RTV reported.
What’s Next
Most walkers are expected to arrive from 5:00 PM on Saturday afternoon, with the last participant typically crossing the finish line around 9:30 PM. Participants have 24 hours to complete the course, meaning the final finisher is expected just before the deadline.
Robyn noted that the number of dropouts is currently in line with previous years. “Of course, there are probably also many people who stopped without immediately thinking about that,” she said. “In any case, the number of dropouts is currently in line with other years.”
The organization expects more than 70% of participants to finish, based on better preparation among walkers in recent years and the favorable weather conditions.
The Dodentocht, first organized in 1970 with just 65 participants by walking club Kadee, has grown into one of Belgium’s most challenging endurance events. The name, literally translating to “Death March,” reflects the grueling nature of the 100-kilometer course through Klein-Brabant, which participants must complete within 24 hours. The event has drawn participants from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Great Britain, according to Wikipedia.
With the finish line now open and walkers streaming in throughout the day, the 57th edition is well on its way to adding another chapter to the event’s storied history. All eyes now turn to the final deadline at 9:00 PM Saturday, when the last of the night’s walkers will either cross the line or fall short of one of Belgium’s toughest endurance challenges.