The Rotterdam Marathon is more popular than ever. For a few years now, all starting tickets have been sold out. That moment is also being reached earlier and earlier. Where a few years ago you had a few weeks or a few days to make a decision, you now only have a few hours. Registration opened yesterday afternoon and within 2.5 hours all starting tickets were sold out.
The marathon is booming
One of the main reasons that the Rotterdam Marathon is starting to resemble Lowlands or Zwarte Cross in terms of ticket sales is that there is simply more demand. We have seen that for years. People want to run a marathon, and preferably a really big one. That is also the reason that Rotterdam and Amsterdam have always sold out in recent years. The organization of the Rotterdam Marathon previously announced that there are plans to expand. This year, however, that has not happened yet. Of the 35,000 runners on the interest list, 17,000 enthusiasts eventually managed to get a ticket.
How can you still get a starting ticket for the Rotterdam Marathon?
If you really want to run in Rotterdam, you can of course keep an eye on sites like Marktplaats for a starting ticket. However, you will pay a lot more, you run the risk of being scammed and you ensure that practices that no one wants are rewarded.
Another way to get a starting ticket was via KWF. If you raise at least €750 for cancer research, you could get a free starting ticket. But that is also completely full. You can only register for the waiting list. As a result, only the business run is still open.
For people who see no option to participate in the business run and do not feel like selling their soul to commerce, there is no other option than to hope that people will still decide not to participate and hand over their starting number to you.
What are good alternatives to the Rotterdam Marathon?
Rotterdam of course advertises itself as #themostbeautiful, but fortunately there are other very beautiful options. Here are a few alternatives at home and abroad.
Enschede
The most logical option for an alternative marathon is probably the one in Enschede. This takes place on April 13, just like Rotterdam. The nice thing is that you can simply train towards April 13 and also switch to Rotterdam at the last minute if you still manage to get a starting ticket. In Enschede you also don’t have to worry about running alone. Last year, no fewer than 1,500 people completed the marathon there and an estimated 80,000 people were standing along the side of the road. An additional advantage of Enschede is that it is a lot more affordable. Where you pay around €130 for a starting ticket in Rotterdam, you can be done with €55 in Enschede. This way you have saved the costs of fuel or a train ticket to the Far East!
Amstelveen
For all the Randstad residents who find Enschede far away, Amstelveen is a good option. Then you’re only running a few kilometers outside the A10 ring road, so no reason to be homesick. You will have to be in shape four weeks beforehand, because the Lentemarathon Amstelveen is already held on Sunday March 16. Last year, more than 500 participants were at the start. There was also a surprisingly fast run with 37 participants within 3 hours!
Leiden
The Leiden marathon is known as one of the most enjoyable marathons in the Netherlands, with a course that takes you through all sorts of villages in the polder and the green heart. Lots of support and fun are guaranteed. It is useful to prepare yourself for the heat, though. Leiden takes place on 11 May, four weeks after Rotterdam or Enschede. This year, it was the first warm weekend of the year, and many participants dropped out.
Other fun options
Around the same time as Leiden, the Utrecht marathon is also organized. The date of this next year is not yet known. On our marathon calendar you can find more marathons in the Netherlands. In the spring, for example, you can also run in South Limburg , Zaltbommel of Holly.
Options abroad
If you really want to run a really big marathon with thousands of people this spring, you can try your luck abroad. A few options that are still doable in terms of distance are:
Paris: Also in Paris, on April 13, there will be a run. With 50,000 participants, the Paris Marathon is the largest in Europe and after New York, the largest in the world in terms of participants.
Brussels-Leuven: This year, the open European marathon championship will take place in Belgium on April 13. The course starts in Brussels and runs over a rolling course to the center of Leuven, where you finish at the same place as the 2021 World Cycling Championship. It is a championship, but participation is open to everyone and the time limit is set at 6 hours.
Vienna: A week before Rotterdam you can already run in Vienna. The course is fast and is praised for all the beautiful views along the course. In total there is room for 35,000 participants on the day of the event.
Hamburg: Two weeks after Rotterdam you can also run in Hamburg. The German port city has room for 14,500 marathon runners. The disadvantage of this marathon is that you have to skip King’s Day. That falls on the same day.
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