The Amsterdam Marathon runs through everyday city life
Editors · 9 October 2026
Amsterdam revolves around the marathon on 17 and 18 October 2026. Saturday’s programme includes children’s runs and a 7.5-kilometre race. On Sunday the full marathon starts at 9 am and the half marathon at 1.20 pm. Starts and finishes are at the Olympic Stadium.
The stadium itself is a viewing point: according to the organiser, grandstand access is free. Marathon runners depart in waves from the stadium and Stadionweg. The start is therefore a flow of runners into the city rather than a single instant.
The route passes through Vondelpark, beneath the Rijksmuseum, along the Zuidas and then for a long stretch beside the Amstel. Runners return through the city to the stadium. Spectators can choose between the large start area and smaller spots along the course.
For residents, the course has another meaning. The organiser lists closures by district for Saturday and Sunday; on Sunday those around the stadium and Amstelveenseweg broadly run from 6 am to 7 pm. The city asks drivers on the route to move their vehicles before 11 pm on Saturday.
Public transport changes on race day too. Amstelveenseweg metro station closes on Sunday from 1 to 6 pm, while trams and buses run altered services. The organiser recommends arrival via Amsterdam Zuid station. The current route and traffic measures may change; published travel times are approximate.