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Top 8 places to watch the marathon

Watching the marathon on television just isn’t the same – if you want to absorb the electric atmosphere, and cheer on the runners you need to find a good point. Here's where to get the best views along the NN Marathon Rotterdam route.

1) Erasmusbrug
Metro: Wilhelminaplein

The city and the NN Marathon Rotterdam’s icon. Just before 10 o’clock the runners gather full of high expectations at the foot of the Erasmusbrug. The countdown begins. There’s the sound of the gunshot. Rotterdam’s heroes take off. After 25 km, the marathon runners turn around head back here, so you have more than one chance to show your runner some support.

AA Drink 1/4 Marathon Rotterdam sold out

The AA Drink ¼ Marathon Rotterdam is sold out and is breaking a record with 15,000 registrations. For this event, there is no ‘waiting list’.  If you don't have a bib number, but still want to finish on the Coolsingel in the marathon weekend, then the AD City Run Rotterdam (4.2K) could be the thing for you.

2019 course maps now online

We proudly present our NN Marathon Rotterdam 2019 courses. The famous NN Marathon Rotterdam course begins at the foot of the iconic Erasmusbrug and runs through the city, passing the most beautiful highlights of Rotterdam. The AA Drink ¼ Marathon Rotterdamroute runs through the streets of Rotterdam and passes some of Rotterdam’s most famous highlights. The finish is after 10.55 kilometer on the bustling Coolsingel. The courses of the AD City Run Rotterdam and NN Kids Runs begin at a new start location on the Coolsingel. The energy and support along the course are second to none – you have to experience it to understand.

Dutch record holder Abdi Nageeye at the start of 39th NN Marathon Rotterdam

Dutch marathon runner Abdi Nageeye will be at the start of the most beautiful marathon in the Netherlands for the 3rd time on Sunday 7 April. The 29-year-old top athlete is no stranger to Rotterdam. In 2015, he made his debut in Rotterdam and finished 9th overall in a time of 2.12.33. He was crowned Dutch Champion with this fantastic performance. In 2017, he was the first Dutch athlete ever to dive under the 'magical' limit of 2.10.00 (2.09.36) on the Coolsingel. Half a year later, on a sunny day in Amsterdam, the Somali-born man claimed the national title in a Dutch record of 2.08.16.

The talented Nageeye returns to Rotterdam, partly to take revenge after the European Athletics Championships in Berlin where he had to stop in the final stages after suffering from cramps. Earlier that year, he ran the Boston Marathon where he finished 7th in very harsh weather conditions. The athlete himself said this was his toughest marathon ever.

Khalid Choukoud opens new attack on his personal best at the NN Marathon Rotterdam in 2019

Khalid Choukoud will be at the start of the NN Marathon Rotterdam for the sixth time on Sunday 7 April 2019. The 32-year-old athlete from The Hague's AV Sparta ran his PB of 2.10.52 in 2014 during his debut in Rotterdam and wants to finish as close to two hours and ten minutes as possible on Sunday 7 April. Choukoud has the opportunity to set the second fastest time ever run by a Dutchman in Rotterdam on this international stage. 

However, the two previous editions did not suit the top Dutch athlete. In 2017, he had to stop because of blisters and in 2018 he didn't make it to the finish because of an unfortunate fall at the start. In the upcoming edition, Choukoud wants to do everything possible to improve his best performance of 2.10.52. Choukoud is receiving all possible support from the organisation to surpass himself. A strong group of pacers has been formed to help him.

Koen Naert on the hunt for a personal best at 39th NN Marathon Rotterdam

The 29-year-old Koen Naert will be at the start of the 39th NN Marathon Rotterdam next spring. In August this year, the Belgian athlete from Roeselaere won the gold medal in the marathon at the European Championships in Berlin. He finished in 2:09:51 and beat his personal best by twenty-five seconds. Earlier this year at Valencia he also improved his PB on the half marathon by more than two minutes. His time was a very quick 1:01:42.

The European Champion is working hard to build up his condition in the run-up to next year in which he wants to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. That is one of the reasons why he chose the fast track at Rotterdam. 

First 5.000 early bird bib numbers for the marathon and AA Drink 1/4 marathon distance are sold out

In less than three days, all 5.000 early bird bib numbers for the marathon distance were sold out. The early bird bib numbers for the AA Drink 1/4 marathon distance were sold out a week later. The sale of the regular bib numbers has already started. Will you be at there on Sunday the 7th of April, 2019? The event remains undiminished in popularity year on year so do not wait too long to register! 

All race results and pictures are now online

Good news! All races results are now online! Also take a look at our Facebook album for our first pictures.