Enschede Marathon

The Enschede Marathon began with 51 runners and now attracts nearly 21,000 participants to Enschede in the eastern Netherlands for its spring race day. First held in 1947, it is the oldest marathon in the Netherlands and Western Europe. The event includes a full marathon, a half marathon, a 10km, and a 5km, catering to serious marathoners, club runners, and those opting for shorter distances. The marathon course is a single loop designed for speed, placing Enschede among Dutch marathons like Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Eindhoven. The start and finish are at H.J. van Heekplein, with music and approximately 80,000 spectators lining the route. Around 950 volunteers assist in running the event, offering participants clinics, running advice, tracking, merchandise, and race photos. The race also supports KWF, the Dutch Cancer Society, via its Run Against Cancer program.