ROTTERDAM, 1 February 2026 – Roparun has closed registrations for its 35th edition, and 203 teams are now set to take part, including a record 22 new teams. The finish is returning to Rotterdam’s Coolsingel, where thousands of participants are expected to cross the line in front of large crowds.
Image: Roparun. Photo: Marco de Swart.
Record number of new teams
In total, 203 teams will be at the start this year, including 22 new teams. The organisers describe that as a sign of growing involvement around the event. Across the country, participants, volunteers, sponsors, clubs, neighbourhood committees, hospitality businesses and local entrepreneurs along the route are already preparing fundraising actions and community welcomes.
35 years of fundraising for palliative care
The coming months will also mark 35 years of Roparun, with stories and reflections on what the event has contributed to palliative care for people with cancer. Roparun has spent 35 years supporting palliative care for people with cancer. The foundation supports, among other things, hospices, wish ambulances, wigs, and holidays for people with cancer and their loved ones. It says more than 150 organisations receive support each year. The funds are raised during the annual Roparun in the Pentecost weekend (pinksterweekend), when thousands of participants run, cycle and support teams travelling from France and the Netherlands to Rotterdam.
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The finish line returns to the Coolsingel
The finish is returning to the Coolsingel in central Rotterdam. The organisation describes the final stretch as a moment where sport, emotion and connection come together as teams arrive after days of running, cycling and supporting.
Lesly Wolters, director of Roparun, said: “That 22 new teams are taking part this year, and we are reaching 203 teams in total is incredibly special. It shows how many people want to commit to our mission. For months now, you’ve seen actions popping up all over the country, preparations getting underway, and communities organising themselves. That collective effort, from participants to volunteers, and from entrepreneurs to local residents, that is the strength of Roparun.”
Target of five million euros
Wolters also repeated the ambition to raise five million euros this year. “That has to be possible. Our profile across the country has grown enormously in recent years. We’re going for the best Roparun ever!”
The organisation notes that in 2025, Roparun raised more than €4.7 million.
Dates and practical info
The 35th edition of Roparun takes place from 23 to 25 May 2026. More information is available via www.roparun.nl.
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How to get there
If you want to watch the finish on the Coolsingel, you’re in the heart of the city centre, with Rotterdam Centraal, Beurs and Stadhuis all within easy reach on foot and by metro or tram. Cycling is often the quickest option on a busy event day, and you can lock up around the centre and walk the final stretch to the crowds.
