Rotterdam Marathon

Location: Rotterdam
Country: Netherlands
Website: https://www.nnmarathonrotterdam.nl/
2025 Marathon Date: 13/04/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 12/04/2026
Winning Time 2025: 02:04:33
% Sub-3s: 5-10%
# Sub-3s: 500–999
Total Runners: 10k–20k

The Rotterdam Marathon is one of Europe’s fastest and most prestigious spring marathons, held annually in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam. Known for its flat profile, deep field and enthusiastic crowd support, it consistently attracts sub-elite and amateur runners from around the world aiming to run fast.

The course is almost entirely flat and follows a single-loop design through the city. It begins near the iconic Erasmus Bridge and runs along wide, smooth roads through central Rotterdam and surrounding districts. The layout includes long straight sections and minimal elevation change, allowing for consistent pacing throughout.

Weather in mid-April is typically cool and stable, often providing near-ideal conditions for marathon performance. Wind can occasionally be a factor along the waterfront stretches, but the urban landscape offers some shelter and the risk of heat is low.

The Rotterdam Marathon is known for its efficient organisation and clear on-course support. Pacing teams are well-structured, and aid stations are frequent and well-staffed. The race attracts a deep field of runners aiming for competitive benchmarks, which helps create natural pacing groups for sub-3 runners throughout the pack.

With its combination of speed, structure and international reputation, the Rotterdam Marathon is one of the most consistently reliable options for those targeting a sub-3 finish. It offers a world-class race environment without the congestion or complexity of the World Marathon Majors, and stands out as one of the premier marathons in continental Europe for serious amateur runners.