Marathon d'Amsterdam
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 🇪🇺.
Want to know everything about the Amsterdam Marathon course? Hold tight, we're taking you on a 42 km thrill ride 🎉 through the heart of the Dutch capital!
The race 🚩 kicks off at the Olympic Stadium🔥. To warm you up 🦵, you'll start by crossing the legendary Vondelpark. By km 4, you'll make a turn at the Rijksmuseum (a very famous museum, closely resembling the Amsterdam Central Station), before making a quick detour through the Zuid district (Amsterdam's business district 💼).
Then, by km 10, you'll head towards the Amstel 🌊, which you'll finally reach at km 14. This leads to a long stretch heading to the extreme south of Amsterdam. You'll follow the river for about a dozen km in total 🏃♀️. First on the West bank before turning around 🔄 at the 20th km to head back up the Amstel, East bank this time. Along this part of the race, the course is very green 🌳 and much quieter in terms of atmosphere and supporters (but wait until you "get back to town" at km 26).
Oh, and then, you'll hit the infamous wall... Without necessarily realizing it, you'll have covered a chunk of Amsterdam and now find yourself in West Amsterdam (or "Oost" for the locals 💏) to tackle the "30 km wall". The organizers have planned long straight stretches (4/5 in a row) up until km 35 to help you out 🙏.
Next, you'll enter what some might call the "highlight" ⭐ of the marathon. It's here you'll join the Lozings canal for a few km, before catching up with the Singel canal, which you'll follow right up to Vondelpark. This entire section is a beautiful long straight filled with supporters 📣 (you're already looking forward to it, admit it 😏)! Just a heads up, if you're running with headphones, this is the time to take them off and soak up the electric atmosphere of the final 8/10 km.
The finale? Another pass through Vondelpark to finish in style inside the stadium! 🤩
The Amsterdam Half-Marathon is renowned for its speed 🚀, but also for the quality of its course 👏. It largely follows the marathon's route, naturally with a few sections omitted!
The start 💨, which takes place in the early afternoon, is not at the Olympic Stadium 🏟️ but between the Stadium and Zuid to be precise. And to be as precise as possible, the half is run entirely within the city 🌃 (avoiding the far south, along the Amstel, or past the meadows 🌷).
What makes the Amsterdam half special? Once again, the flat, straight stretches 📏 that are perfect for achieving your personal best, like the first straight (from the start to km 3) 💪. There, you'll make your first turn towards the Amstel, crossing it at km 4.
Afterwards, you'll rejoin the marathon route. You'll tackle 5/6 straight stretches each about 2 km long. Two-thirds into the race, at km 14, you'll run along the Singel Canal 🌊, cheered on by a large crowd! 🥳
You'll make a final turn at km 17, to enter Vondelpark 🌳, crossing it from north to south, before crossing the finish line 🏁 at the Olympic Stadium 🔥.
The 8km race kicks off on Stadionweg. Right at the start, the course takes a left turn heading west towards Vondelpark 🏞️.
The course layout is rectangular, offering you the delightful experience of beginning your race in the Dutch Central Park! You’ll traverse from west to east, exit the park, and head straight south to loop back around. It's a fairly quick 8km course!
After skirting closely around Amsterdam's central canals, you’ll eventually make a straight run towards the Olympic Stadium, the finish line for all races.
🏟️ The semi-lap around the stadium marks the end of your 8km journey! You can collect your medal and head to the refreshment stands! 🍐
You can find all the information on how to get to the race location by clicking here.
Yes, the stadium will be open to spectators. They will have a great view of the race finish from the stands!
Yes, that's absolutely possible. No worries!
Yes, there will be a bag drop area where you can leave your belongings on race day. You can change at Sporthallen Zuid. Lockers will be available for your personal items, which will be supervised.
Yes, there are toilets outside the Olympic Stadium and at every refreshment station.
Limited changing rooms and showers are available at Sporthallen Zuid.
Yes, pacemakers will be available. Find more information on this by clicking here.
In Area A, the start is inside the Olympic Stadium, while in Area B, the start is outside the stadium. Shortly after the start (roughly 3 kilometers), the two groups will merge, and all runners will follow the same route. The start times for both zones are coordinated so that the fastest runners from both areas converge at about the same time.
No, a medical certificate is not required to participate in the race.
Yes, you can pick it up from 7 AM until one hour before the race starts.
You can find the race regulations by clicking here.
The LiveTracking feature allows supporters to see exactly where you are on the course and your estimated finish time.
To download the app, click here.
Yes, headphones are permitted.
Refreshment stations are available throughout the course.
No, you will find ISO Lemon AA Drink at all refreshment stations! It's a great drink to help maintain your energy. Drinks will be served in cups, and you'll receive a bottle of ISO Lemon AA Drink at the finish line.
After the race, you can check your results by clicking here.
Every participant will receive a unique medal after finishing their marathon! You can have your medal engraved at the engraving stand during the event.
Make sure to complete your participant form with all the required information. The deadline to fill it out is August 20, 2024. If your form is incomplete after this date, your participation in the marathon cannot be guaranteed.
Once your personal form is completed, you will be added to the organizer's registration list. Please note that synchronization of the data may take a few days.
You can pick up your race bib at the Marathon Expo at Sporthallen Zuid:
Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 1 PM to 8 PM
Friday, October 18, 2024, from 10 AM to 8 PM
Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 9 AM to 7 PM
Sunday, October 20, 2024, from 7 AM to 1:30 PM
Yes, depending on your level and estimated finish time, several start waves are organized:
Wave 1 (Elites & expected time under 2h40): 9:00 AM
Wave 2 (Expected time between 2h40 and 3h00): 9:00 AM
Wave 3 (Expected time between 3h00 and 3h30): 9:05 AM
Wave 4 (Expected time between 3h30 and 4h00): 9:12 AM
Wave 5 (Expected time between 4h00 and 4h30): 9:25 AM
Wave 6 (Expected time between 4h30 and 6h00): 9:30 AM
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