Marathon races near Lelystad

The Isoniq Urk Marathon begins and ends at the harbor in Urk. Runners depart beside the IJsselmeer during autumn. This road race offers a full marathon and a half marathon. The full marathon is presented as Flevoland’s sole marathon. The course is paved, certified, and designed for speed, not trail running. The route follows Urk’s historic boulevard toward the dike, then consists of repeated laps: four for the marathon and two for the half. Loopgroep Urk, affiliated with Atletiekunie, organizes the event. Entry limits are 500 marathon runners and 200 half marathon runners, making it a focused local race instead of a large city marathon.

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.

The Hafkamp Groenewegen De Ronde Venen Marathon starts and finishes in the center of Abcoude, a village about 3 km south of Amsterdam. It is a November running event in the municipality of De Ronde Venen, with a full marathon, a duo marathon, a 10 km race, and a mini-marathon. The full marathon is a paved, single-loop course through the Groene Hart, the green rural area between major Dutch cities. The duo marathon gives two runners one marathon to share, with partners alternating between running and cycling. The course visits all eight villages in De Ronde Venen and mixes village roads with open countryside. Runners pass rivers, meadows, a former railway line, a cattle farm, and the Botshol nature reserve. The official description calls the route fast and varied, which fits a course that keeps changing without leaving the flat Dutch landscape. The De Ronde Venen Marathon Foundation organizes the event, and the race is aimed at both recreational runners and more competitive runners who want a full-distance road marathon close to Amsterdam.

The Gaasterlan Run is a road race held in late December in Gaasterland, Friesland, based in Balk. It offers runners a choice of distances, from approximately 7.5 km or 12 km up to the half marathon and full marathon, accommodating local joggers, club runners, and marathoners. Previous editions included a 4-mile option, but the current offerings focus on the 7.5 km, 12 km, half marathon, and marathon. The route crosses the Gaasterland landscape, passing through its forested areas, a feature frequently mentioned by locals. The race was initiated by Voetbal Vereniging Balk, with a participant limit of 2,000. It is a straightforward, community-organized event: late registration is permitted if spots are available, and participants unable to compete can transfer their entry to another person for the same distance. The Gaasterland running schedule also features the Gaasterland Trail, a relaxed forest trail event where timing is applied only to the 50 km distance and it supports nature conservation.

The Midwinter Marathon Apeldoorn begins and ends on the Loolaan, leading runners into the wooded, hilly outskirts of Apeldoorn during the Dutch winter. Taking place in January or February, it has been held annually since 1974, establishing it as the second oldest running event in the Netherlands. The weekend features multiple distances, including a full marathon, a 25 km Asselronde, a 10 English mile race, an 8 km race, and shorter options like kids' races and a night run. The course primarily crosses forest and heathland rather than city streets, with some routes ascending to approximately 100 meters above sea level. The marathon is now presented as a trail run. Winter weather is integral to the race's character; past editions have included snow on the course, yet the event has never been canceled due to winter conditions. The Asselronde is a long-standing event in its own right, and the shorter races attract participants seeking the Apeldoorn atmosphere without committing to the full marathon. A summer counterpart event occurs in June, but the original race retains its cold-weather identity.

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.