A total of 44,956 participants completed the opening leg of the 108th Nijmegen Four Days Marches on Tuesday, while 805 walkers dropped out or failed to start.
The dropout count aligns with historical averages after an unusually low number of withdrawals during last year's first stage, according to event organizers.
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Twelve participants faced disqualification on Tuesday.
Two military personnel carried less than the required 10-kilogram pack, and ten civilian walkers cheated on their distances.
Red Cross officials managed localized health issues along the route as weather conditions shifted throughout the day.
"It started out a bit chilly — that will remain the case in the early hours over the coming days —, but later in the day the sun came through nicely and it also became warm in some places," said Bastiaan van Blokland, Red Cross spokesperson.
The organization noted an increase in faintness and heat-related issues among walkers during the warmer hours.
"Regarding dropouts, we know from the 4Daagse organization that over 800 people did not reach the finish line.
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Except for last year, that is a very normal picture," Van Blokland added.
March leader Henny Sackers reported a positive atmosphere among participants, attributing it to favorable forecast conditions free of extreme heat warnings.
Municipal and event leaders addressed safety concerns surrounding the accompanying Four Days Festivities.
Mayor Hubert Bruls expressed concern about youth violence and substance abuse after five individuals were arrested Saturday for assaulting a teenage girl.
Festivities director Joris Bouwmeister acknowledged the challenge of preventing minors from consuming alcohol brought from home.
Local authorities released a suspect's photograph following a severe assault reported on July 18. Police separately reported a fatal shooting near the festival grounds on Tuesday evening.
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Organizers confirmed the tracking application experienced minor network congestion during peak hours. The postponed fireworks display over the Waal River proceeded as rescheduled on Tuesday night.
