Enschede Marathon

The Enschede Marathon is a spring road race held in Enschede, in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It features a fast, paved course with four distances: marathon, half marathon, 10 km, and 5 km. First run in 1947, it is the oldest marathon in the Netherlands and Western Europe. Originally starting with 51 runners, it now attracts nearly 21,000 participants, with continued growth. The current marathon route is a single loop designed for fast times, with aid stations strategically placed. Enschede ranks among the top Dutch marathons, alongside Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Eindhoven, and is a spring option to Rotterdam. Approximately 80,000 spectators attend annually, supported by about 950 volunteers. The event also backs the Run Against Cancer initiative and provides runners with year-round training advice.