Half Marathon races near Gouda

The Leersumse Veld Trail begins near Molecaten Park Landgoed Ginkelduin in Leersum, Netherlands, and takes place on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug during autumn. It is a trail race offering 11 km and 21 km distances, though the shorter option has been noted to be closer to 12 km. Both distances commence and conclude at the same point, with the race confined to natural landscapes managed by Staatsbosbeheer and Recreatiepark De Ginkel Duin. The initial loop guides all participants through the Leersumse Veld, incorporating narrow trails, sandy sections, woodland paths, and sufficient elevation changes to distinguish it from a simple flat run. The shorter course features aid stations around the 7 km and 11 km marks before returning via sandy terrain to the finish. The longer course includes a second loop extending towards the Amerongse Bossen. Course designer Chris van Beem, who frequently runs between De Ginkel and the Leersumse Veld, ranks this route among his personal favorites.

The Dordtse Biesbosch Trailrun begins and ends at the organizer's grounds on Schenkeldijk in Dordrecht, South Holland. This trail race crosses the Nieuwe Dordtse Biesbosch, offering distance options from short Family Runs to a half marathon. Participants can select 3 km or 5 km Family Run courses, a standard 5 km, 10 km, 10 English Miles, or a 21.1 km half marathon, catering to children, novice runners, and those seeking a longer off-road challenge. The courses feature narrow paved paths, unpaved tracks, sandy stretches, and dikes, leading through the Nieuwe Dordtse Biesbosch, the floodplains beside the Nieuwe Merwede, and the Elzenbos. The trail surface may present puddles, streams, branches, and tree trunks, making the race a test of adaptability to varied terrain rather than a pursuit of speed on a smooth road. The start-finish area provides baggage drop-off and changing facilities. The event maintains a relaxed outdoor atmosphere with campfires, marshmallow roasting for children post-race, and refreshments including coffee, tea, soft drinks, satay, and beer.

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 BAX Halve Marathon van Doetinchem begins on the recently renewed athletics track in Doetinchem, featuring five race distances from 1 km up to the half marathon. Participants can select from the 21.1 km half marathon, 15 km, 7.5 km, 2.5 km, or 1 km. This variety accommodates adults, youth runners, business teams, and adapted-sport participants. The event is affiliated with the Atletiekunie and has a participant cap of 1,500. All distances follow routes through De Slangenburg, the nature reserve near Doetinchem, instead of solely using town streets. The shorter races make the event accessible for children and newer runners, while the 15 km and half marathon provide experienced runners with a longer route starting from the same athletics venue. This race marks its 41st edition and includes practical race-day facilities such as public transport access, parking, changing rooms, showers, first aid, and AEDs.

Droomtijdloop Delft is a half marathon held in Delft, covering 21.10 km on a late October night. Runners aim to achieve a "dream time." The participant limit is 1,200, making it resemble a club-organized Dutch road race more than a large city marathon. AV De Koplopers is the organizer, and the event is affiliated with Atletiekunie, the Dutch athletics federation. The start is on Rijksstraatweg in Delft, with a single distance for men and women, not multiple shorter races. Practical race-day amenities contribute to its appeal: the venue is accessible by public transport, parking is provided, and runners have access to changing rooms, showers, first aid, AED support, and a supervised cloakroom. Late entry is unavailable, consistent with the controlled field size and planned logistics. This is the thirteenth edition of the race, giving it a history beyond a single local event.

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.

Vestingstad Run Woudrichem is a paved running event starting at Atletiekpark Altena in Sleeuwijk. The half marathon route extends into the historic fortress town of Woudrichem. The event offers seven distances, including short youth races of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 km, alongside 5.2 km, 10.5 km, and 21.1 km options, catering to children, recreational runners, and half-marathon participants on the same afternoon. All distances follow a single loop on roads with controlled traffic through the countryside surrounding Altena, Woudrichem, and Sleeuwijk. The half marathon has a 2.5-hour time limit, and its participants and recreational runners are grouped in the same classification. Altena Road Runners organizes the event, which is affiliated with the Atletiekunie and acts as the concluding race of the Blankers & Van Vark Altena Road Circuit. Pre-registration is mandatory, with a limit of 500 participants. Previous editions have featured close competition, such as a course record being improved by only two seconds in wet weather.

The Vestingstadrun Woudrichem is an annual road race held in and around Woudrichem, a historic fortress town in North Brabant, Netherlands. Taking place in November, it is organized by Altena Road Runners, with the start located at their club building, De Inloper, in Sleeuwijk. The event offers various distances, from youth races to a half marathon, attracting participants from children and beginners to club runners aiming for personal bests. The half marathon, which lends the event its name, spans 21.1 kilometers through parts of the Altena municipality and the historic fortified center of Woudrichem. The course also extends into the countryside surrounding Woudrichem and Sleeuwijk, offering views of the Maas river and local natural areas. Shorter races of 5 and 10 kilometers are also featured, alongside competitive age-category events. The Vestingstadrun is part of the Altena Road Circuit, which the organizers state is the oldest running circuit in the Netherlands, and this year marks its 25th edition.

TrechoTEAMrun is a three-person relay held in Vleuten, west of Utrecht. The start, finish, and exchanges are located at the DESTO Pavilion, sportpark de Vryheit. Each team collectively runs 21.1 km, a half marathon distance, with no single runner completing the entire course. The structure is straightforward: each runner completes two 3.5 km loops, returning to the pavilion for exchanges. The race takes place on Het Lint in Máximapark, a lengthy paved path designed for cycling, skating, walking, and running through the park. Teams can register as mixed, women’s, or men’s. The event prioritizes club and community enjoyment over intense competition. Hardloopvereniging Trecho organizes the race with the help of volunteers and is affiliated with the Atletiekunie. Prizes are awarded, including one for the best team name, encouraging participants to bring both competitive spirit and humor. Supporters, sponsors, volunteers, and the DESTO Pavilion contribute to the day's atmosphere. Each registration includes a donation to Stichting Vrienden van het Máximapark.

The KPN Halve Marathon Gouda takes place in Gouda on the second Sunday of November, starting on the Markt in the historic city centre. The event offers adults a half marathon or a 10 km race, and children's races for younger runners, catering to multiple distances. The precise routes will be disclosed by the organizers nearer the event. This race is designed as a local mass participation event rather than a large-scale city marathon, with a limit of 3,500 participants. Recent events have seen over two thousand runners, and late entries are not permitted, so participants must register by the standard deadline.

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.