We Make It Spark B.V.
We invite you to the port of Amsterdam 🌷, the third Sunday of October for one of the most important running events on the European continent: the Amsterdam Marathon (or TCS Amsterdam Marathon by its official name 😏).
Scheduled each year in mid-October, right after Berlin 🇩🇪 and before Venice 🎭, Dublin 🍻, Frankfurt and Valencia 🇪🇸 (there, now we have a clearer view of the European autumn marathon schedule 😉), the TCS Amsterdam Marathon, whose first edition took place in 1975, celebrates its 50th edition this year! This marathon offers a fairly classic but extremely well-organized race format! 👏 On the program of this internationally renowned road race (the only one in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 with the Rotterdam Marathon): 3 distances. You can choose between a 7.5 km, a half-marathon and a marathon, the latter being, of course, the queen event 👸 of the competition.
The event is highly sought after and sells out every year, sometimes two to three months before the date of the race. So don't be caught off guard if you've marked this competition on your race calendar! 💥 The bibs go fast, very fast... As soon as sales open for some distances! 😅 Our Dutch friends are very organized and usually book their precious entry almost a year in advance! 🙊 In total, nearly 35,000 runners set out to conquer the capital of Holland 🌇. Fewer than in Berlin, London 🎡 or Paris 🥐, we might say 🥸. And you'd be right! The organizing team does not wish, for the moment, to increase the number of participants to keep the event to the city's scale, allowing everyone to enjoy an event that's still "human-sized" 🙌. The canal-bordered streets 🌊, closed for the occasion, will be your playground (tarmac throughout, except for the green spaces 🌳 and parks crossed). You'll see: despite the crowd, you'll have enough space to show your runner skills 🏃♂️ without feeling alone in the little "Venice of the North" 🚤.
Let's dive into the heart of the matter, let's talk about the courses now! 🧐 The Amsterdam Marathon is iconic for many reasons. Firstly, note that the 3 races are known for their speed 🚀: it's flat, very flat! 📏 Logical, we are below sea level 👇. Indeed! Holland is simply the flattest country in the world… Nothing surprising then 😂. Enough to set a record if you're in good shape ! ⏱ It should also be noted that the 3 events concentrate in the South (or extreme South, for the marathon) of the city with remarkable passage points: Vondelpark (the city's green lung 🌿), the Olympic Stadium 🏟️ (iconic finish location for the 3 distances) or the Rijksmuseum (the equivalent of the Louvre 👀) as a highlight near the end of the course 📍. That's quite something! The roads will be reserved for you, and you'll have the chance to run on the avenues usually used by the famous Amsterdam trams 🚋 (can you go faster than them? 😝). For your information, the course has fluctuated greatly over the past decades, with many changes in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Other markers 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 drink, the river 😂) with its canals and mostly flat bridges like the Toronto Bridge. However, since the race is not in the hyper-center, most of the bridges are not elevated, but flat! For marathoners, the passage at the Amsterdam polder, far south, will even allow you to spot some windmills ! 🌬️
Regarding weather ☁️, we won't surprise you by saying that Amsterdam is no French Riviera… 🙅♀️ You have to prepare accordingly and anticipate different scenarios. The most likely? Grey skies and light rain 🌦️, a light headwind or tailwind depending on the position on the course. You understand that beware of humidity and be ready to face the raindrops 💧. However, we must recognize that in the Netherlands, it's a bit like Brittany, after all! 🙃 The weather changes often. The sun can quickly appear and show its face ; as was the case in the 2022 edition, where rain was expected until the night before, and the sun came out at the last moment to take center stage 🌞.
No matter the weather conditions, trust us, you'll have a good time! 😌 Because the TCS Amsterdam Marathon ❌❌❌ is also known for its excellent organization ✔️: welcome, signage, atmosphere, amenities, finisher t-shirt… From bib pickup to post-race, nothing is left to chance! Throughout the weekend (it starts Thursday with the opening of the expo for bib pickup), the city of Amsterdam lives the rhythm of the Marathon 🏃♀️, especially on Sunday. Enjoy every minute of the race, because you'll see it will go fast… And for the debrief of your race, it will happen on the Olympic stadium side 🤸, where all the finishers meet 🤝.
After experiencing all sorts of things during the race when everyone has regained their senses, you can lose yourself in the Van Gogh palette 🎨, whose museum is 2 km from the finish line 🏁. For a memory recap, the Anne Frank House is to visit 📖, as well as the Rembrandt House Museum 👨🎨. You will have heavy legs 🦿 after the race, with great difficulty in climbing or descending stairs… Luckily, there are none in Amsterdam! 😂 You can stroll and explore the city's canals without suffering (at least that's the plan 😉). If you're too tired, you can comfortably sit on a boat 🛥️ to see all the parts of the city you haven't covered yet! We almost forgot the most important part: the gastronomic section 😋. To regain strength after the race (or to fuel up just before starting, it's up to you 🫄), you must absolutely try the Bitterballen (a local classic)! Just like sandwiches with herring 🐟 or gouda! As for drinks, the local star, as you might expect, is beer... 🍺 To be consumed in moderation, of course.
It shouldn't surprise you, you know the song: "in the port of Amsterdam, there are sailors dancing, rubbing their bellies". Come on, 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 route of the Amsterdam Marathon? Hold on tight, we're taking you on a 42 km wild ride 🎉 through the heart of the Dutch capital!
The starting signal 🚩 for the Amsterdam Marathon is given at the Olympic Stadium 🔥. To get warmed up 🦵, you'll begin by crossing the iconic Vondelpark. At km 4, you'll make a turn right at the Rijksmuseum (a very well-known museum that closely resembles the Amsterdam Central Station), before making a mini-detour in the Zuid district (Amsterdam's business district 💼).
You will then reach km 10 and head towards the Amstel 🌊, which you'll finally join at km 14. This will be followed by a long stretch heading towards the extreme south of Amsterdam. You'll follow the river for about twelve 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. On this stretch of the race, the route is very green 🌳 and much calmer in terms of atmosphere and supporters (but wait until you "get back to town" at km 26).
Speaking of which, you'll arrive at the infamous wall... Without necessarily realizing it, you'll have covered a part of Amsterdam and now find yourself in the West of Amsterdam ("Oost" for those in the know 💏) to face the "30 km wall". The organizers have planned for long straight lines (4/5 successive) up to km 35 to help you 🙏.
Next, you'll enter what some describe as the "highlight" ⭐ of the marathon. It's at this exact spot that you'll join the Lozings canal for a few km, before joining the Singel canal, which you'll follow until the Vondelpark. This whole stretch will take the form of a beautiful long straight line packed with supporters 📣 (you're looking forward to it already, admit it 😏)! Be warned, if you run with headphones, it's time to take them off to enjoy the amazing atmosphere of the last 8/10 km.
The finale? Another crossing of the Vondelpark to finish in style in the stadium! 🤩
The Amsterdam Half Marathon is renowned for its speed 🚀 but also for the quality of its course 👏. It mostly follows the marathon route, with, of course, a few sections less!
The start 💨, which takes place early in the afternoon, does not occur at the Olympic Stadium 🏟️ but between the Stadium and Zuid to be precise. And to provide maximum precision, the half marathon is 100% in the city 🌃 (no passage through the extreme south, along the Amstel or along the meadows 🌷).
The uniqueness of the Amsterdam Half? Once again, with magnificent flat straight lines 📏 to perform, like the first straight line (from the start to km 3) 💪. You will make a first turn here towards Amstel, which you will cross at km 4.
Afterward, you will rejoin the marathon course. You will continue with 5/6 straight lines each with a length of 2 km. Two-thirds into the race, at km 14, you will run along the Singel canal 🌊, where the crowd is amassed! 🥳
You will make a final turn at km 17, to enter Vondelpark 🌳, which you will cross in its entirety, from North to South, before crossing the finish line 🏁 at the Olympic Stadium 🔥.
The TCS 7.5K route will be announced soon 🗺️.
You can find all the info regarding accessibility to the race location by clicking here.
Yes, the stadium will be open to spectators. They will be able to take a seat there and have a perfect view of the race finish!
Yes, it is entirely possible. No problem at all!
For runners starting from zone A, clothes can be stored in tents around the Olympic stadium, opening hours: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
Runners from start zone B can store their clothes in tents on Stadionplein, opening hours: 7:45 AM - 5:00 PM.
Yes, there are toilets outside the Olympic stadium and at each refreshment station.
Limited changing rooms and showers are available at Sporthallen Zuid.
Yes, pacemakers are planned. Find more information on this topic by clicking here.
Starting in Area A is inside the Olympic stadium and in Area B is outside the stadium. Shortly after the start (approximately 3 kilometers), the two streams of participants merge and all runners follow the same course. The start time for both areas will be such that the fastest runners will arrive at the convergence point at about the same time.
No, a medical certificate is not necessary to participate in the race.
Yes, it's possible from 7 AM until 1 hour before the start of the race.
Find the race regulations by clicking here.
With the LiveTracking feature, supporters can see exactly where you are on the course and what time you cross the finish line.
To download the app, click just here.
Yes, headphones are allowed.
Refreshment stations are set up all along the race.
Once the race is over, check the race results by clicking here.
Each participant will receive a unique medal after completing their marathon! You can have your medal engraved at the engraving stand during the event.
It is necessary to complete your participant form with all the required information. You will have a deadline to fill it out. If your registration is still incomplete after the deadline, your participation in the marathon cannot be guaranteed.
You will be properly integrated into the organizer's site registration list once your personal form is completed. For your information, once the form is completed, synchronization will take a few days.
You can collect your race bib at the Marathon Expo at RAI Amsterdam:
Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday, October 17, 2025 from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Yes, based on levels and estimated times, several start waves are set up. Each corral has its own color:
Wave 1 - White (Elites & estimated time under 2h45): 9:00 AM
Wave 2 - Yellow (Estimated time between 2h45 and 3h05): 9:02 AM
Wave 3 - Pink (Estimated time between 3h05 and 3h30): 9:05 AM
Wave 4 - Orange (Estimated time between 3h30 and 4h00): 9:13 AM
Wave 5 - Green (Estimated time between 4h00 and 4h30): 9:23 AM
Wave 6 - Blue (Estimated time between 4h30 and 6h00): 9:31 AM
Yes, based on levels and estimated times, several start waves are set up. Each corral has its own color:
Wave 1 - White (Estimated time under 1h40): 1:00 PM
Wave 2 - Yellow: 1:10 PM
Wave 3 - Pink (Estimated time between 1h40 and 1h50): 1:20 PM
Wave 4 - Orange (Estimated time between 1h50 and 2h00): 1:30 PM
Wave 5 - Green (Estimated time between 2h00 and 2h15): 1:40 PM
Wave 6 - Blue (Estimated time over 2h15): 1:50 PM
Yes, based on levels and estimated times, several start waves are set up. Each corral has its own color:
Wave 1 - Red: 9:50 AM
Wave 2 - Black (Estimated time over 45'): 9:52 AM
Marathon AREA A: Olympic Stadium Olympisch Stadion 2, 1076 DE Amsterdam, Netherlands
Marathon AREA B, Half-Marathon, 7.5km: Stadionweg
You can check the race rules here
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