Half Marathon races near Alkmaar

The TCS Amsterdam Marathon is an October race weekend in Amsterdam with a full marathon as the main event, plus a half marathon and a 7.5K. The marathon starts and finishes inside the Olympic Stadium, which gives the day a very specific feel: thousands of runners begin either on the stadium field or nearby on Stadionweg, then return to finish back in the arena. It is a World Athletics Platinum Label race, and the course is flat and fast enough to draw runners chasing quick times as well as people who want a big-city marathon with a clear six-hour limit. The route sends runners through Amsterdam and along the Amstel, using part of the old Olympic marathon course without turning the race into a city-center loop only. That stretch passes stately houses, windmills, open views, and working river traffic before the course comes back close to the center. Start waves are sorted by expected finish time, with bib colors matching wave colors, so the large field is managed in a fairly structured way.

Runners begin and end inside Amsterdam’s historic Olympic Stadium, connecting the TCS Amsterdam Marathon to the city’s Olympic history. This annual road race in Amsterdam features the TCS Marathon as its primary distance. The course is flat and fast, appealing to participants seeking swift times and a major city race atmosphere. The marathon course traces a section of the 1928 Olympic Games route along the Amstel River. It passes notable sights such as stately homes, windmills, the Rijksmuseum underpass, and the Heineken Experience, before looping through Vondelpark. The broader race weekend covers a half marathon, a 7.5 KM race, a Kids Run, a Heroes Run, Mini Marathons, and a Good Morning City Run. Additionally, there is a Marathon Expo, Pasta Party, a Business Run option, a charity program, and volunteer assistance coordinated by Le Champion.

The Gooi Half Marathon debuts in the Dutch region of Het Gooi, starting and finishing at Het Arsenaal in the fortified town of Naarden Vesting. Scheduled for November, it includes more than just a half marathon: participants can opt for a quarter marathon or a kids run, and a walking tour is also available. The event originated from organizer Mees Kremer's relocation to Naarden and his appreciation for the local forests, heath, river landscape, and historic surroundings. The half marathon course highlights well-known locations near Naarden, such as Muiderberg, the Naardermeer, and Valkeveen. The majority of the route is paved, with some forest path segments, meaning trail shoes are unnecessary. Kremer is organizing the event with Tempo AV from Bussum, receiving support from the municipality of Gooise Meren. The race is being developed as a community day for Naarden, Bussum, and neighboring villages, utilizing traffic-calmed roads and minimizing road closure times at intersections.

The Hollands Duin Trail begins at Vrijstaat Nederzandt in Noordwijk, on the Dutch coast. Routes are set within the protected Hollands Duin nature reserve. This trail running event offers four distance options: 6 km, 10 km, 21 km, and 30 km. The shortest route includes 15 meters of elevation gain, and the longest route has 100 meters. The challenge stems more from sand, turns, and narrow paths than from significant climbs. The course guides runners through Noordwijk's dune area, onto the beach, and along forest paths featuring ample single track. All routes are marked, and aid stations are situated at fixed locations. Trail Events organizes the race, now in its fourth edition. The primary appeal is the location: runners navigate between coastal dunes, open sand, and woods, all within the Noordwijk area.

The Halve Marathon van Haren is a spring road race held in Haren, Groningen. The main half marathon begins at Geertsemaweg. The event also offers 10 km and 5 km races, alongside a short adapted-sport FrameRun. This setup accommodates regular runners, younger participants, and athletes using running frames. Entry is limited to 2,000 participants, with no late registration permitted. The half marathon route winds through the Haren area, utilizing the Scharlakenhof sports centre as a nearby base. Participants should anticipate a walk of just under a kilometre from the sports centre to the start line. Parking may require extra time because of the area's popularity. ATC '75 is the organizer for this event, now in its fortieth edition. Available facilities include changing rooms, showers, massage services, first aid, AEDs, and parking.