How the marathon connects the city
The NN Marathon Rotterdam is far more than a spectacular sporting event with tens of thousands of participants. All along the route, hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic spectators turn it into a true street party. Volunteer Bo Koopmanschap is immensely proud of his city. ‘Rotterdam embraces the marathon. In other places, people prefer to get away for the weekend when the marathon comes around. Here, everyone is out there cheering you on.’
Every second weekend of April, it happens again: Rotterdam transforms into the most beautiful marathon city in the world. Along the 42-kilometre route, flags, banners, and grandstands appear. Spectators pour into the city from trams and metros
Those are images that go around the world, all those runners crossing the Erasmus Bridge, the boats spraying water.
Countless Rotterdammers line the route to cheer on the runners. Bands take up position to fill the air with music and energy. A stunning and fast course carries 17,000 participants through the heart of the city. It’s what makes the NN Marathon Rotterdam #themostbeautiful, according to many.
Volunteers
1,500 volunteers make #themostbeautiful possible. They are the beating heart of the marathon. ‘In your own city, with your own people, no moaning, and always willing to go the extra mile for each other. That’s what I love about it,’ says Rotterdam volunteer André Hoogendijk.
As finish coordinator on the Coolsingel, he stands alongside the mayor and makes sure everything runs smoothly and safely. The marathon, in the city where he was born and raised, is the most beautiful in every sense. ‘On the Coolsingel, the crowd lines up ten rows deep to cheer on the runners. You genuinely feel carried all the way to the finish line.’
Erasmus MC
Volunteer Bo Koopmanschap is also at the finish line. This Rotterdam sports physiotherapist works with a medical team to look after runners as they cross the line. ‘They’re patched up on the spot or head into the tent for medical care. There are people from Erasmus MC and other hospitals there who know exactly what to do.’ The marathon also has a protocol for detecting and treating heat stroke. There’s even a cooling bath ready and waiting at the finish.
Lifestyle
Sports physiotherapist Bo sees another reason why the marathon moves him so deeply. ‘Half of all adults are overweight. A healthy lifestyle is no longer something you can take for granted. I see that in my practice too. The marathon gives you the satisfaction of setting a big goal and actually achieving it.’ Not waiting around for things to happen, but lacing up your shoes and going all out.
In other places, people prefer to get away for the weekend when the marathon comes around.
A city walk in marathon atmosphere
That’s why anyone can take on their own sporting challenge, alongside the 17,000 marathon runners on the Sunday. You can run the 4.2-kilometre City Run or take on the quarter marathon.
And on Saturday there’s The Marathon Rotterdam Walk, for everyone who wants to take it at their own pace but still soak up the marathon atmosphere. This city walk takes you past several live music acts, gives you a taste of the marathon story, and brings you all the way to the finish on the Coolsingel.
Reduce waste
An event of this scale generates a lot of waste. The municipal cleaning service follows right behind the runners to collect cups and sponges. And because Rotterdam wants to be waste-free by 2050, event organiser Golazo is working to reduce waste and make the event more circular.
The start and finish area is kept waste-free by collecting everything in containers and sorting it afterwards. And the clothing that participants take off and leave behind just before the start is collected and recycled.
People with a disability save up running metres all year and complete the final stretch on the Coolsingel on race day.
All kinds of runners
‘Rotterdam embraces the marathon,’ says Bo. ‘The crowd stays until the very last runners cross the finish line. They’re met by the winner and the mayor, complete with confetti and police motorcycles.’
André adds to this with real admiration for a very special group of runners. ‘People with a disability take on the Your Marathon Challenge. They save up running metres throughout the year and complete the final stretch on the Coolsingel on race day. I’m genuinely so proud that we make space for that too.’
There are other runners with a special mission too. Participants can sign up to run or walk against cancer, raising money for KWF.
And through the Erasmus Charity Run, students, academics, and staff make sure that students with limited financial means can also study at Erasmus University.
In your own city, with your own people, no moaning, and always willing to go the extra mile for each other. That’s what I love about it.
Shoulders to the wheel
It all adds up to making the NN Marathon Rotterdam #themostbeautiful. For volunteer Bo, the Marathon Rotterdam is in a class of its own. ‘Those are images that go around the world, all those runners crossing the Erasmus Bridge, the boats spraying water. An incredible sight.’
‘All those spectators cheering on the runners. That energy carries runners forward. It’s very Rotterdam to give people that kind of ‘lift’. This is a city that believes in rolling up its sleeves together and pulling each other through. Hard work is valued here. That’s what Rotterdam is all about.’
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