How to Enter the Rotterdam Marathon

Held on the second weekend of April in the Netherlands’ second-largest city, the Rotterdam Marathon draws runners from across the globe to one of Europe’s fastest courses. Flat, spectacular and lined with passionate crowds, the race has become a fixture on the continent’s marathon calendar. With its impressive records and iconic route through the heart of the city, Rotterdam has all the ingredients of a major sporting event. But before you can hit the Coolsingel, you first need to secure your race bib.

✓ So, how do you enter the 2026 Rotterdam Marathon? Here’s everything you need to know.

Pre-registration and the public ballot

With its flat, ultra-fast course, the Rotterdam Marathon is one of Europe’s most sought-after races. And when popularity is this high, places have to be allocated. Like the biggest marathons, including the World Marathon Majors, the London Marathon, New York, Berlin, Chicago, Boston, Tokyo and Sydney, the Rotterdam Marathon uses a ballot. Every year, tens of thousands of runners enter in the hope of securing a place. Some will celebrate, while others will inevitably miss out. The ballot remains one of the simplest ways to get a bib for the Rotterdam Marathon, however. Pre-registration generally opens for a few days in September. You officially enter the ballot, receive the results at the end of the month, then have a few days to confirm your registration. In recent editions, just under 20,000 runners have lined up for the race.

Charity places to support a cause

Want to give your marathon a charitable purpose? A charity place is another way to take part in the Rotterdam Marathon. It’s a good fit for runners who want to support a cause close to their hearts. Simply commit to one of the event’s partner charities, then raise a minimum amount in donations to validate your entry. Depending on the charity programme, you may also receive personalised training, kit and access to a dedicated area on race day. In 2026, for example, the Rotterdam Marathon is partnering with KWF Kankerbestrijding, the Dutch Cancer Society. There are 1,400 charity places available, and you need to raise at least €750 to confirm your entry.

Travel agencies: turn race day into a proper trip

Welcome to the land of tulips! Why not make the most of your trip to the Rotterdam Marathon by exploring the Netherlands’ second-largest city? Located in the province of South Holland, Rotterdam is packed with places worth discovering at least once. A tourist’s checklist includes modern architecture, cube houses, the covered market, museums and the unmissable Port of Rotterdam, the largest in Europe. To make the most of your stay and your race, the event’s partner travel agencies offer all-inclusive packages that vary depending on the options selected, including accommodation, transport, race entry and sightseeing. Expect to spend at least €1,000. The agencies take care of the logistics, helping reduce pre-race stress. They may also guarantee you a marathon place after general registration has closed. The number of entries available through each agency is limited, however.

Take part in the Rotterdam Marathon as a relay team

The Rotterdam Marathon offers a four-person relay format for companies. It’s a great way to bring colleagues together and take on the marathon challenge as a team. Several runners share the marathon distance, with four-person teams dividing the course as follows:

Leg 1 → start
Leg 2 → around 9 km (Pascalweg)
Leg 3 → around 21 km (Dorpsweg)
Leg 4 → around 30 km (Mariniersweg), then the finish on the Coolsingel.

All team members register together and appoint a team captain to handle coordination. The relay fee is higher than an individual entry because it is a corporate package. A corporate two-person format is also available, with each runner covering a half-marathon distance. Relay rankings are calculated by adding together all runners’ times. Corporate teams receive dedicated services, including shuttles to the relay points, a dedicated area, a special T-shirt and access to the “Business Runs” lounge.

How do elite runners enter the race?

The Rotterdam Marathon is a major draw for elite runners. Its flat, fast course attracts top athletes looking to chase records. The men’s course record belongs to Bashir Abdi, who ran 2:03:36 in 2021, a European record at the time. In the women’s race, Tiki Gelana has held the best mark since 2012, with 2:18:58. The race organisers have set entry criteria for elite runners. Interested athletes must contact the organisers and provide evidence of recent performances. To qualify for elite status, the standards are 2:25:00 for men and 2:53:00 for women. The Rotterdam Marathon also hosts the Dutch Marathon Championships.

To line up at one of Europe’s fastest marathons, you’ll need to enter the ballot and hope luck is on your side. Other options can guarantee your place, however, including charity entries and travel agencies.

✓ Find all the details on entering the Rotterdam Marathon