REPORTAGE
The making of the iconic 4Days Marches Cross
The W. van Veluw company
The W. van Veluw company in Zeist has been making the medals for the 4Days Marches for many years. The 4Days Marches Cross is an iconic award for walkers that symbolises pride, perseverance and remembrance. In this article, we will take a look behind the scenes at the company where these special decorations are made.
The production process starts at the engraving department, which those working at the company refer to as the ‘Breeding Room’. This is where the engraving and milling lines are marked digitally, creating a blueprint for what will ultimately be a die. As soon as they have the design just right, the die is milled using a machine. The rest is done by hand, as the finishing touches are carefully put to the die under a microscope.
Making dies is a high-precision job. Even the tiniest mistake can lead to a sub-standard end result. For example, if you fail to consider that it is a mirror image, the medal will literally come out the wrong way round.
Van Veluw keeps the dies for all the 4Days Marches Crosses and pins in their archives, along with around 80,000 other dies. ‘That’s our treasure trove,’ says one employee proudly. Without those dies, the company cannot manufacture anything. If a die gets lost, it is not straightforward to make a new one.
From die to medal
When the dies are ready, the real work starts: making the medals. An enormous press simultaneously strikes the front and back of the medal onto a single square plate made of gold, silver or bronze. Placing the dies requires great precision, as it has to be perfectly aligned, otherwise you get crooked medals.
After the medal design has been struck into the plate, the next step is what the makers call ‘knocking’, which is the process of pushing the medals out of their metal frame, much like cutting cookies out of dough. What remains are rough medals that are ready for the next step.
Crowning the work
At the assembly department, other elements are attached by hand, including the distinctive crowns. Placing these die-cast crowns on the medal is a painstaking job that requires close attention and skill. Tweezers in one hand, soldering torch in the other. Every joint must be both strong and invisible. Once the crowns are attached, the medals are polished until they shine like new coins.
After polishing, it is time to add a touch of colour. That is how every medal, depending on the reward, gets its vibrant and unique look. Applying the enamel, i.e. a layer of molten coloured glass, requires precision, patience and a steady hand. Each colour layer has to be applied and harden separately.
The final steps
The production process continues with the silver or gold plating, the finish that gives each 4Days Marches Cross its distinctive appearance. After that, the medals are attached to the ribbons and carefully packaged, ready to be handed out to walkers at De Wedren.
A unique company
W. van Veluw BV is the only company in the Netherlands that makes medals on this scale. Making the 4Days Marches Crosses is a process that requires craftsmanship, precision and dedication. From designing the dies to tying the ribbons, each step is completed with great care and attention. This makes these medals not only a symbol of walkers’ performance but also a proud product of Dutch craftsmanship.
