Marathon Rotterdam
Rotterdam’s marathon begins at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge and concludes on the Coolsingel, the broad city-centre street historically linked to the event. The NN Marathon Rotterdam takes place annually in April in the Netherlands’ second city, holding the distinction of being the country’s largest and fastest marathon. Its flat course has earned it a strong reputation among runners aiming for quick times; three marathon world records, for both men and women, have been set here. The race ranks among Europe’s largest marathons, contributing to its feel as a significant city occasion rather than a small gathering solely for runners. The weekend centers on the full marathon, but also features a 10 km race, a 4.2 km City Run, children’s races of 1 km and 2.5 km, and walking events covering 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km. The marathon also serves as the Dutch National Marathon Championship, attracting strong domestic competition alongside international elites and mass-participation runners. Rotterdam possesses marathon history dating back to the early twentieth century, with the modern annual race originating after local organizers, inspired by major city marathons in New York, Stockholm, and Cape Town, determined the city was capable of hosting its own.
