Amsterdam Marathon 2024

Meet us at the port of Amsterdam 🌷, on the third Sunday of October for one of the most significant running events in Europe: The Amsterdam Marathon (or TCS Amsterdam Marathon, its official name 😏).

Scheduled annually in mid-October, right after Berlin 🇩🇪 and before Venice 🎭, Dublin 🍻, Frankfurt, and Valencia 🇪🇸 (just to give you a clearer picture of the European marathon calendar this fall 😉), the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, whose inaugural race was held in 1975, offers a rather classic but extremely well-organized race format! 👏 On the agenda of this internationally renowned foot race (the only one in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 alongside the Rotterdam Marathon): 3 distances. You can choose between an 8 km, a half-marathon, and a marathon, the latter being, of course, the crown jewel 👸 of the event.

The event is highly popular and sells out every year, sometimes two to three months before race day. So don't get caught off guard if you've marked this competition in your racing calendar! 💥 Bibs sell out fast, very fast... Right at the opening of sales for certain distances! 😅 Our Dutch friends are very organized and tend to book their precious ticket almost a year in advance! 🙊 In total, around 35,000 runners take on the Dutch capital 🌇. Less than Berlin, London 🎡, or Paris 🥐, you might say 🥸. And you'd be right! For now, the organizing team does not wish to increase the number of participants to keep the event tailored to the city's size, allowing everyone to enjoy an event that's still "on a human scale" 🙌. The streets, lined with canals 🌊 and closed for the occasion, will be your playground (paved all the way, except for the few green spaces 🌳 and parks crossed). You'll see: despite the crowd, you'll have plenty of space to showcase your running skills 🏃‍♂️ without feeling alone in the little "Venice of the North" 🚤.

Let's get down to business and talk about the courses! 🧐 The Amsterdam Marathon is iconic for many reasons. First off, it's worth noting that the 3 races are known for their speed 🚀: it's flat, very flat! 📏 Makes sense, we're below sea level 👇. Yes! The Netherlands is simply the flattest country in the world… So, nothing surprising there 😂. A great opportunity to set a personal record if you're in good shape! ⏱ Then, it should be mentioned that the 3 events focus on the south (even the extreme south, for the marathon) of the city with notable checkpoints: Vondelpark (the city's green lung 🌿), the Olympic Stadium 🏟️ (the legendary finish line for all distances), and the Rijksmuseum (equivalent to the Louvre Museum 👀) as the highlight towards the end of the course 📍. Just like that! The roads will be reserved for you, and you'll have the chance to run on the arteries usually taken by Amsterdam's famous trams 🚋 (fancy outrunning them? 😝). For a bit of history, the course has seen considerable changes over the past few decades, with many updates in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Other hallmarks of the Amsterdam marathon and the Amsterdam half-marathon are the green spaces and parks ⛲ and, of course, the banks of the Amstel (not the beer, the river 😂) with its canals and mostly flat bridges, like the Toronto-Brug. However, since the race isn't in the very center, the bridges are mostly flat, not raised! For marathoners, the passage through the Amsterdam polder, down south, will even offer a glimpse of windmills! 🌬️

As for the weather ☁️, no news to you that Amsterdam isn't Ibiza… 🙅‍♀️ So, you'll need to prepare accordingly and anticipate different scenarios. The most likely? Gray skies and light rain 🌦️, with a slight headwind or tailwind, depending on your position on the course. As you can guess, it's important to be wary of humidity and prepare to face the raindrops 💧. However, it's worth mentioning that in the Netherlands, it's a bit like in Scotland, ultimately! 🙃 The weather is changeable. The sun may quickly make an appearance; as was the case in the 2022 edition, where rain was expected until the evening before, only for the sun to come out at the last minute and take the lead role 🌞.

But no matter the weather conditions, trust us, you'll have a great time! 😌 Because the TCS Amsterdam Marathon ❌❌❌ is also known for the quality of its organization ✔️: welcoming atmosphere, signage, vibe, services, finisher's t-shirt… From bib collection to post-race, nothing is left to chance! Throughout the weekend (starting Thursday with the opening of the expo for bib collection), the city of Amsterdam lives to the rhythm of the Marathon 🏃‍♀️, especially on Sunday. Make sure to enjoy every minute of the race, because it will fly by... And for the debrief of your race, head over to the Olympic Stadium 🤸, where all the finishers meet 🤝.

After experiencing all that the race has to offer, and when everyone has had a chance to collect their thoughts, you can immerse yourself in the palette of Van Gogh 🎨, whose museum is located 2 km from the finish line 🏁. For a trip down memory lane, the Anne Frank House is a must-visit 📖, as is the Rembrandt House Museum 👨‍🎨. Your legs will be heavy 🦿 post-race, with significant difficulty navigating stairs… Lucky for you, there aren't any in Amsterdam! 😂 You can wander and explore the city's canals without suffering (ideally 😉). If you're too tired, you can comfortably sit on a boat 🛥️ to see all the parts of the city you haven't yet explored! We almost forgot the most important part: the culinary experience 😋. To refuel after the race (or to carb-load right before you start, it's up to you 🫄), you must try the Bitterballen (a local classic)! Just like herring sandwiches 🐟 or gouda cheese! As for drinks, the local star, as you might guess, is beer... 🍺 Enjoy responsibly, of course.

Now, it's your turn! At least, it will be if you decide to come to the capital to experience one of the best marathons in Europe 🇪🇺.