Amsterdam Marathon charity places for 2026

Overview

The Amsterdam Marathon route blends speed, history and stunning city scenery in one unforgettable experience. Starting and finishing inside the historic Olympic Stadium, runners head out through Amsterdam’s elegant streets, passing the Vondelpark, Rijksmuseum, and the city’s famous canal belt. The course is almost entirely flat, making it ideal for personal bests while still offering plenty to admire along the way.

Beyond the city centre, the route follows the River Amstel, offering open countryside views, windmills and traditional Dutch villages before looping back into the heart of Amsterdam. As you re-enter the city, cheering crowds and lively bands create an incredible atmosphere that builds towards a triumphant finish inside the Olympic Stadium — a fitting finale to one of Europe’s most iconic marathons.

Route highlights

• Start and finish inside Amsterdam’s historic Olympic Stadium
• Flat, fast and officially measured course – perfect for PBs
• Scenic stretch along the River Amstel with classic windmills and open views
• Run beneath the world-famous Rijksmuseum and through the vibrant Vondelpark
• Pass iconic canal houses and lively city landmarks
• Incredible crowd support and energetic finish inside the stadium

Map

Start areas

• Start Area A | Olympic Stadium (15,000 runners)
• Start Area B | Stadionweg (15,000 runners) 

Cut off

6 hours.

Event HQ

Olympic Stadium Amsterdam
Olympisch Stadion 2
Amsterdam
1076 DE
Netherlands

Every year thousands of runners take part in this event and fundraise for charity. While this is hugely beneficial to the charities it gives the runner advantages too, from supporting a cause that is close to your heart to securing a place in this highly sought-after event and much more.

Benefits of running for charity

Committing to raising money for charity gives you motivation to get outside and run, plus all of these extras which will elevate your event experience:

• Fundraising support

  Charities know that raising money is all part of the challenge, which is why they provide advice, branded materials and a personalised online fundraising page to help the donations roll in. Think videos for social media, branded imagery and testimonials from previous runners.

• Training support

  Whether this is your first run or your fifth, you'll need to train for it! You'll receive an in-depth training plan with guidance, plus many charities have access to expert coaches and elite runners too, who can provide exclusive tips for your race preparation. Experts include Runningwithus, Full Potential and Olympic champs.

• Branded running kit

  When you show up on the day, people need to be able to see clearly that you're supporting a charity. Most charities will give you a branded and personalised t-shirt or vest to run in on the big day, and often a training top too.

• Overseas runners may find it reassuring to join a ready-made charity team who will help secure your place in the event, advise on travel, accommodation and put you in touch with teammates.

• Post-race recovery

  Refreshments and an indulgent post-race sports massage are often provided by charities for their runners. This is the perfect way to recover alongside other people who have run for that cause.

• Exclusive social groups

  You won't be the only person running for that charity, so it's well worth meeting other runners through the charity's invite-only social media pages! You can organise to meet up for training runs, chat with the charity's expert coaches and share tips and stories with each other to keep the motivation levels running high.

What are charity places?

Charities buy places in this event, then give them to runners who agree to raise money for the charity – these are called charity places. Charity places are a great way to support a good cause and get a place in the event, especially if general entries are closed.

Marathon running and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you run for?