Leiden Marathon

The Leiden Marathon is known for its good organization, personal attention for every runner, enthusiastic spectators and fine atmosphere. With the most beautiful course in The Netherlands with start and finish in the heart of an 900-year old city (where Rembrandt was born and the Pilgrims Fathers lived for 12 years). The marathon of Leiden (also called Leiden Marathon) is a running race over 42,195 km, held annually in Leiden since 1991. For the full marathon with a time limit of six hours applies.

The 42,195 km is one round that combines ancient Leiden with nine beautiful villages in the Green Heart where the marathoners run through a typical landscape of polders, windmills and cows. The Leiden Marathon had in 2019 more than 14.000 runners (1.000 on the full marathon) and on Saturday two thousand walkers who walked on the same route. And is still growing.

Leiden Marathon, Since 1991

The Leiden Marathon was started by the Leiden Road Runners Club, the first members of which gained their first experience of a marathon in New York. When they returned, they decided to organize their own marathon. The Leideners were so impressed by the atmosphere and organization that they took New York as an example. The first team of 48 runners who went to New York came from 3M Netherlands, and was therefore known as the 3M Marathon Team.

The Leiden Road Runners Club was set up as an independent club after the New York trip. The Leiden Road Runners then presented a plan for a local marathon to the management board of 3M. The plan was approved, and 3M sponsored the event for the next 10 years. When – according to the headline in the Leidsch Dagblad – the inhabitants of the city of Leiden and surrounding municipalities ‘embraced’ the very first Leiden Marathon (16 June 1991), it was clear that a wonderful sporting event had been born, which would grow to become a mature marathon.