Netherlands
Rotterdam Marathon 2027
Sunday 11 April 2027 · confirmed date
170 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 11 April 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 10:00
- local time
- Course
- Flat · Loop
- Foot of the Erasmus Bridge to Coolsingel
- Course record, men
- 2:03:36
- Bashir Abdi, 2021
- Course record, women
- 2:18:56
- Mekides Shimeles, 2026
- Finishers
- 16,837
- in 2023
- Time limit
- 5h30
- First held
- 1981
The race
About the Rotterdam Marathon
The Rotterdam Marathon, first run in 1981, is one of the best-known spring marathons in Europe and has long had a reputation for fast times. Bashir Abdi's 2:03:36 from 2021, run as a European record, is still the men's course record, and in 2026 Mekides Shimeles broke a 14-year-old women's record with 2:18:56.
The race is also known for its crowds, especially around the start by the Erasmus Bridge and the finish on the Coolsingel. It suits runners chasing a spring personal best on a flat course, and first-timers who want a big-city atmosphere without hills.
Course
The Rotterdam Marathon course
You start at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge and cross towards Kop van Zuid. The route passes the Feijenoord Stadium and has a long straight section from about 10 to 15 km where it is easy to settle into rhythm, then loops around the Zuiderpark before heading back towards the Erasmus Bridge.
The second half goes out to the Kralingse Plas, with a loop around the lake and the Kralingse Bos, before returning to the centre for the finish on the Coolsingel. The course is flat; the bridge and the wind along the river and around the lake are what cost time, so stay sheltered in a group where you can.
Race-day weather
Mid-April mornings in Rotterdam are usually cool, around 8–14°C, and wind off the water is the variable that matters most.
Train
Training for the Rotterdam Marathon 2027
24 weeks to go. A marathon plan runs 12 to 24 weeks and ends on race week. Here is when each one starts.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 26 October 2026 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 23 November 2026 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 21 December 2026 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 18 January 2027 |
For this course
Rotterdam follows a winter build-up, so your long runs fall in the cold and dark of January to March; plan them in daylight where you can. The course is flat and the main enemy is wind, along the Maas and around the Kralingse Plas, so practise running in a group and holding effort rather than pace on windy days. The 10:00 start is relatively late: rehearse breakfast timing and fuelling on long runs at the same hour.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Rotterdam Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Marathon bibs are allocated by random draw among everyone who pre-registers, so watch the official site for the pre-registration window. The shorter races are not part of this ballot.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Rotterdam Marathon B.V.
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Rotterdam Marathon 2027?
The Rotterdam Marathon 2027 is on Sunday 11 April 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Rotterdam Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 21 December 2026, a 20-week plan on 23 November 2026. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Rotterdam Marathon fast?
Yes. The course is flat and has produced a 2:03:36 men's course record and a 2:18:56 women's record. Wind is the main factor on the day.
How do I get a place in the Rotterdam Marathon?
Pre-register on the official website when the window opens. Marathon bibs are then allocated by random draw among all pre-registrations.
What is the time limit?
5 hours 30 minutes. There is also a checkpoint on the Erasmus Bridge, which in 2026 had to be passed by 14:15.
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