EuropeNetherlands

Rotterdam Marathon

One of the world's fastest marathon courses — Rotterdam's flat streets and incredible atmosphere make it a premier PB destination.

Good for PB Destination Race
3.7/10 Difficulty
17,000 Field Size
1981 Founded

Course Map

Elevation Profile

Indicative — verified figures shown above.

About this Race

The NN Marathon Rotterdam is one of the fastest marathon courses in the world, renowned for its flat profile and electric atmosphere. Starting at the foot of the iconic Erasmus Bridge, the route winds through Rotterdam's striking modern cityscape — a city rebuilt after World War II with bold architecture and wide boulevards that make for superb running. Runners pass landmarks including Feijenoord Stadium, the Cube Houses, and the Markthal before finishing on the legendary Coolsingel. With world records set on this course and consistently fast times year after year, Rotterdam is the destination of choice for runners chasing personal bests.

flat fast city pb point-to-point destination undulating

Difficulty Breakdown

3.7/10

A balanced marathon with no single defining challenge.

Elevation
5.0
Hill Placement
3.0
Weather
5.0
Altitude
1.0
Turns
3.5
Surface
1.5

How we calculate difficulty →

Course Details

Course type
Loop
Certified
AIMS / World Athletics
Start
Foot of the Erasmus Bridge, Wilhelminaplein
Finish
Coolsingel, near City Hall

Course Records

Men
2:03:36
Bashir Abdi
Belgium — 2021
Women
2:18:58
Tiki Gelana
Kenya — 2012

Race History

The Rotterdam Marathon was first held in 1981 and quickly established itself as one of Europe's fastest courses. Three world records have been set on the route, and it has produced some of the fastest marathon times in history. The race attracts tens of thousands of runners across all distances and is the largest one-day sporting event in the Netherlands.

Plan Your Trip

Nearest airport
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) — 8km from city centre, or Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) — 75km
Best area to stay
City centre near Erasmus Bridge or Coolsingel — both close to start and finish
Getting to the start
Metro or tram to Wilhelminaplein for the start — public transport strongly recommended as roads close early
Race expo
WTC Rotterdam, Beursplein 37 (Friday and Saturday before race day)