HAPPENING 11–12 April 2026 | The Rotterdam Marathon is one of the largest sporting events in the Netherlands, and has been ranked by Runner's World magazine as one of the top 10 marathons in the world. The event has been held annually since 1981.
One of the fastest marathons in the world
It's time for the 45th edition of the NN Marathon Rotterdam, renowned as the fastest and most beautiful marathon in the Netherlands! Both elite runners from across the globe and tens of thousands of participants from the Netherlands and abroad will cross the finish line on the iconic Coolsingel during this thrilling marathon weekend. Thanks to its flat course, the NN Marathon Rotterdam is one of the fastest marathons in the world. The event's vibrant atmosphere is unmatched in the Netherlands, with hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic spectators lining the streets to cheer on the runners, creating a true citywide celebration.
Course changes for the 2026 Rotterdam Marathon
The 45th edition of the NN Marathon Rotterdam introduces several changes to the course due to construction work in the city centre. The finish line will remain on the iconic Coolsingel but has been moved slightly earlier, near Beursplein by the World Trade Center. This adjustment of roughly 300 metres was necessary because of ongoing work at Hofplein. Despite the change, runners will still experience the famous Coolsingel finish that has defined the Rotterdam Marathon for decades.
The course on the south side of the city also receives an update. Runners will now pass Stadion De Kuip earlier in the race, looping around the stadium before returning to the main route. Organisers expect this section to become a lively spectator hotspot with music and entertainment, and it has already been nicknamed the “Feyenoord-bocht”. Another change replaces the former Zuiderpark loop with a double passage along Oldegaarde. This adjustment allows spectators to see runners twice and creates more opportunities for cheering zones along the route.
Aside from these updates, the marathon remains the fast and flat course that Rotterdam is famous for, attracting elite runners and thousands of participants from around the world.
Do you run a business? RotterdamStyle is looking for a main sponsor. Get exclusive visibility across our website for a fixed fee. Interested? Contact us 🤝
About Rotterdam Marathon
The first Rotterdam Marathon was held in 1981, when just 200 runners lined up at the start. What began as a modest race has since grown into one of the Netherlands’ biggest sporting events and one of Europe’s best known marathons. Over the years, Rotterdam has built a reputation not only for scale and atmosphere, but also for speed, with the flat course and cool spring conditions helping produce world class performances.
Today, the event draws elite athletes as well as thousands of recreational runners from the Netherlands and far beyond. The marathon weekend now includes several race formats, turning the event into a citywide celebration rather than a single Sunday race. Organisers describe it as a weekend that brings tens of thousands of runners to the city, while the crowds along the route create the atmosphere that gave Rotterdam its long standing nickname, #demooiste.
The crowds are a major part of the appeal. Rather than focusing on an exact spectator number that may vary from year to year, it is safer to say that the Rotterdam Marathon attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators and is widely regarded as one of the biggest one day sporting events in the Netherlands. Recent reporting has put attendance close to one million, underlining just how deeply the marathon is woven into the city’s identity.
Rotterdam’s sporting reputation is matched by its competitive history. The race has long attracted leading international marathoners, and the course record remains among the fastest ever run on Dutch soil. Bashir Abdi set the men’s course record of 2:03:36 in 2021, while Tiki Gelana still holds the women’s course record of 2:18:58 from 2012. That combination of elite pedigree and mass participation is what sets Rotterdam apart: it is a race where personal bests, national ambitions and world class performances all share the same streets.
In more practical terms, older participation figures such as the 13,997 finishers recorded in the full marathon in 2018 still show how the event was growing, but they no longer tell the whole story. Recent editions have drawn far larger numbers across the full marathon weekend, which is why it makes more sense to frame the event as a major international running festival with broad appeal, rather than just quoting one older finisher total.
Rotterdam Marathon programme
In 2026, the programme for the 45th edition of the Rotterdam Marathon probably consists of the following races:
Saturday, 11 April 2026
- City Run Rotterdam (4.2K)
- NN Kids Runs (1K and 2.5K)
- The Marathon Rotterdam Walk (5K, 10K, or 15K)
- Your Marathon Challenge (1K)
- Schools and Clubs
Sunday, 12 April 2026
- 1/4 Marathon Rotterdam (10k)
- NN Marathon Rotterdam (42k)
- Business Duo Marathon
- Business Relay Marathon
Do you run a business? RotterdamStyle is looking for a main sponsor. Get exclusive visibility across our website for a fixed fee. Interested? Contact us 🤝
Getting to the Rotterdam Marathon
During marathon weekend, large parts of Rotterdam are difficult to reach by car, so public transport is the easiest option. Rotterdam Centraal, Beurs and Blaak are the main stations for the start and finish area. On Sunday 12 April 2026, no metros stop at Leuvehaven until 15:00, and the station is fully closed until 11:00. Stadhuis is also skipped until 19:00. Expect extra crowds at stations such as Beurs, Blaak and Slinge, and note that bicycles are not allowed on the metro until 20:00 on marathon weekend.
Rotterdam Marathon recap movie
Register for the NN Rotterdam Marathon
Rotterdam Marathon course records
So you think you can run? Speed is actually guaranteed. The Rotterdam Marathon is one of the fastest courses in the world. It's a course where world records have been broken many times before.
The men's record currently stands at 2:03.36 (Bashir Abdi, 2021).
The women's record stands at 2:18:58 (Tiki Gelana, 2012).
Tell you what. Break one of these records and coffee is on us!
Rotterdam Marathon Route
Rotterdam Marathon route for 2022
Watch the Rotterdam Marathon on television
NN Marathon Rotterdam names Shokz as official headphone partner
The NN Marathon Rotterdam has announced Shokz as its Official Headphone Partner for the upcoming edition. The partnership puts Shokz’s open-ear, bone-conduction headphones in the spotlight for runners who want to listen while still staying aware of what is happening around them. Runners will be able to try Shokz products during the Marathon Sport Expo over the marathon weekend. The organisers also expect many participants to use Shokz headphones during the race.
