Netherlands' Night of the Refugees Walk Raises Over €2 Million

The 17th edition of the Night of the Refugees (Nacht van de Vluchteling) charity walk took place across Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Nijmegen, Groningen and other Dutch cities. Around 10,000 participants covered routes of 10, 20, 40 and a special 50‑kilometre trail added for Stichting Vluchteling’s 50th anniversary, raising roughly €2.3 million for emergency aid.

Funds will be directed to humanitarian projects in Lebanon, Somalia, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Organisers reported some route adjustments because of heat and rain, including the cancellation of the 40‑km stretch between Tilburg and Den Bosch and the Nijmegen‑Arnhem leg.

Participants highlighted the symbolic nature of the walk, with statements such as Marina Zieleman’s “I walk out of respect for refugees” and other volunteers stressing solidarity against rising anti‑immigrant rhetoric. The event continues a tradition that began in 2010 with 350 walkers and has grown into one of the Netherlands’ largest mass‑solidarity actions for displaced people.