Night of the Refugee 2026 raises €2.1 million with record 10,000 walkers

The Nacht van de Vluchteling charity walk on the night of 20‑21 June 2026 attracted a record 10,000 participants across the Netherlands. Runners covered 10, 20, 40 or 50 km routes from cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Groningen, Utrecht and Nijmegen. Heavy rain and thunderstorms forced the cancellation of the Nijmegen‑Arnhem segment, and a heat alert interrupted the Tilburg‑Den Bosch route, but the event still ended with €2.1 million raised for emergency aid.

The funds will support humanitarian programmes in Lebanon, Somalia, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, providing food, clean water, medical care and shelter. Organisers highlighted the strong involvement of young volunteers, notably 17‑year‑old Isabelle Schulte from Apeldoorn, who mobilised a team that alone raised €6 457.

St. Benoit De Gryse, director of Stichting Vluchteling, praised the growing solidarity shown by participants despite the challenging weather, emphasizing the importance of continued support for people forced to flee conflict and persecution.