The Race
| Next Race Date | To be Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop: start and finish about 260 m apart (2026) |
| Registration | The 2027 entry has not opened; an interest list is open |
| Ballot opens | No ballot |
| Start | Utrecht Science Park, P4 on Aarhuslaan (2026: waves at 10:30 and 10:40) |
| Finish | Sorbonnelaan, Utrecht Science Park (2026) |
| Total finishers | 2,595 (2025, results archive) |
| Avg race-day temp | Not confirmed |
| Cutoff time | 5 hours 30 minutes (2026 rule) |
| Free race-day transport | No |
| Course certification | Atletiekunie (national), valid to 2030 |
History
The Utrecht race traces back to the U N Marathon of 1978 and, in some accounts, to earlier Amersfoort links. The Leidsche Rijn marathon in western Utrecht and the main race combined their organising efforts in 2005, and venues, sponsors and courses changed afterwards, with a later Science Park era after an interruption. A result on an older layout belongs to the series and not to the current course.
The 2025 edition, which the organiser called the 41st, returned to a single lap through Utrecht and Houten. The venue partner called 2026 the 42nd edition, and a Dutch half-marathon championship joined the programme. The organiser reported about 14,000 festival entries in 2024 and 18,500 participants across all distances in 2025. The 2025 winners were Jelle Wijnja in 2:29:12 and Bregje Smits in 2:47:12, and the 2026 winners were Yannick van Hoof in 2:34:23 and Jasmijn Sibma in 2:55:33. Series records of 2:09:41 for William Kipchumba Kwambai in 2009 and 2:33:40 for Anne van Schuppen in 1992 were set on older courses.
The course
The race starts and finishes on the Utrecht Science Park campus. In 2026 the start was at P4 on Aarhuslaan and the finish on Sorbonnelaan, with a separate village at P6 on Padualaan. The 2026 line runs south through Zuid and Houten, loops at ’t Goy at km 16, 9.4 km from the start, and winds back through Houten and the edge of Nieuwegein at km 18 to 28. It returns through Zuid at km 31 to 33 and the old centre near the Dom at km 36 to 37, and finishes on the Science Park.
The ground is flat. The profile spans 12 m, from sea level near Houten to 12 m in the old centre, and no kilometre changes by more than 5 m. No official ascent, surface mix or turn list is published, and the 2027 route may differ.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 10: south from the Science Park. In 2026 the full marathon started in two waves, wave 1 at 10:30 and wave 2 at 10:40, on Aarhuslaan at P4. The fast pens were AA for men under 2:25 and A for men under 2:30. The line runs south on Weg tot de Wetenschap at km 1, through Zuid at km 3 to 5 and into Houten along Oud Wulfseweg at km 6 to 7. Water was offered at km 3 and 8.
Km 10 to 20: Houten and ’t Goy. The line follows Rietdijk and the Ka-pad at km 11 to 12, then runs south to ’t Goy on Tiendweg, Hoogdijk and Wickenburghseweg at km 14 to 17, the furthest point, 9.4 km out. It turns back through Houten on Schonauwenseweg and Westrumspad at km 18 to 20. Sports drink was offered at 12 and 16 km and bananas at 20 km.
Km 20 to 31: Houten, Nieuwegein and back. Castellumpad and Houtensewetering at km 21 to 23 lead west along Heemsteedsepad to the Heemsteedsekanaaldijk in Nieuwegein at km 26, then Overeindseweg at km 27 and Ravenseveldweg at km 28. The line returns to Houten on the Koppeldijk at km 29 to 30. Gels were offered at 26 and 33 km.
Km 31 to 42.195: back through the city. The line comes into Utrecht through Zuid at km 31 to 33, along Park Oosterspoorbaan at km 34 and the Maliesingel at km 35, and passes the old centre by the Nieuwegracht and Achter Sint Pieter at km 36 to 37, near the Dom. It then runs east through Zonstraat, ’t Loolaantje and the Wilhelminapromenade at km 38 to 40 and finishes on Sorbonnelaan on the Science Park. The 2026 cut-off was 5 hours 30 minutes, and how the later wave is timed should be checked.
The 2026 aid table had water at 3, 8, 12, 16, 20, 23, 26, 29, 33, 36 and 40 km. It is a 2026 reference and should be rechecked once a 2027 date is announced.
Zuid, then Houten along Oud Wulfseweg. In 2026 the waves started at 10:30 and 10:40 on Aarhuslaan.
Polder roads to the furthest point at ’t Goy, 9.4 km out, then back through Houten. Flat at 2 to 3 m.
Houten paths and the Heemsteedse canal in Nieuwegein. Gels at 26 and 33 km in 2026.
Through Zuid, past the Dom at km 37 and east to the Science Park finish on Sorbonnelaan.
Course Map
The 2026 single lap: south through Zuid and Houten to ’t Goy, back through Nieuwegein and Houten, and home through the old centre to the Science Park. The 2027 date and route are not confirmed. Tap a marker for the start, the finish, the 2026 number-collection site and the station, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the line with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
The 2026 guide listed pacers by wave, supplied by the Dutch Pacing Team with at least two per group and flags showing the target. Wave 1 had 3:00, 3:15 and 3:30, and wave 2 had 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45 and 5:00. A 5:00 group does not set the cut-off, which is 5:30.
The 2026 race was on 31 May, and late May can be warm even at a 10:30 start. If the 2027 date is also late May, plan for a warm finish: a light vest, a cap, sun cream and an early drinking plan. Bring a thin layer for the wait. No clothing-donation scheme has been confirmed. If the date moves to spring, adjust the forecast check.
Entry
The 2027 entry has not opened, and an interest list is open on the organiser’s site. Subscribing is not an entry. In 2026 the marathon cost €85 for the first 1,000 entries and €90 after that, and the event sold out. An optional shirt cost €35, bib postage €3.50 (Dutch addresses only), medal engraving €15 and bag storage €4, with an official transfer for €5. Cancellation cover was optional and requests were due by 12 April, and without it the fee was not refundable. No deferral right is published.
Entry is by expected time and wave. No ballot or general qualifying barrier is published. The KWF charity route offered a start place and a charity shirt for raising at least €750 before 13 April in 2026. Women requesting a fast start were asked to email proof by 30 March.
Fast runner standards
In 2026 pen AA was for men under 2:25 and pen A for men under 2:30. No women’s table is published; women requesting a fast start were asked to email proof.
Official Utrecht Marathon site →Race Weekend
Number collection
In 2026 numbers were collected at Padualaan 99 on the Science Park, in the outside parking area, on Saturday from 11:00 to 16:00 and on Sunday from 07:00 to 12:00. A website table extended Sunday to 16:00, so use the final guide. A friend can collect with your bib-number email. The desk is on the campus and not at Utrecht Centraal, 3.6 km away, so a city hotel needs a journey. Bibs were posted only to Dutch addresses.
Getting to the start
In 2026 the village was at P6 on Padualaan, apart from the start pen at P4. Bag storage cost €4, with the purchase method described differently in the FAQ and the guide. A special Sunday transport notice existed, but it does not prove that a Saturday service runs. Check the Science Park’s bus connections from Utrecht Centraal for the day.
Nutrition on course
The 2026 aid table had water at 11 points and sports drink at most of them from 12 km, with gels at 26 and 33 km and bananas at 8, 20 and 40 km. The 2026 supplier was Amacx, with Amacx Energy Drink Lemon in cups and Amacx Drink Gel, 30 g of carbohydrate in a 60 ml gel. The finish had water, Powerade, a HiPRO product and coconut water. Personal bottle rules, toilets and medical points are not published.
| Km | Water | Sports drink | Gel | Food |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Yes | No | No | No |
| 8 | Yes | No | No | Banana |
| 12 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 16 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 20 | Yes | No | No | Banana |
| 23 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 26 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| 29 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 33 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 36 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 40 | Yes | Yes | No | Banana |
Spectating
Start and finish were close together in 2026, so a campus-based plan is simple. The line passes the old centre near the Dom at km 37. The plans below are proposals only.
- Watch the start and wait at the finish on the Science Park
- Pick one point on the route in the city once the 2027 map is published
- Return to the campus for the finish
- Stay in the city centre during the race
- Take a bus to the Science Park for the finish
Post-race food
Gys and De Zakkendrager are the places to try. Hours and menus are not confirmed, so reserve ahead and order something simple.
Where to Stay
The Science Park is east of the old city, so a city-centre hotel needs a bus or bike ride on race morning. Distances below are from the 2026 start.
Utrecht Centraal and the old canals
The best evening and easy train links, with a longer journey to the start, 3.6 to 4.1 km.
Science Park and De Uithof
The shortest morning, with fewer evening options.
Station and Jaarbeurs
Convenient for arrivals. The collection desk is not here.
Check cancellation terms, breakfast times and luggage storage.
Recommended hotels
A hotel on the east side of the city. Check the route to the start.
A modern, mid-priced option.
A chain hotel beside the station.
A budget option beside the station area.
A chain hotel close to the station.
Booking timeline
Do not book a non-refundable room until the organiser announces the 2027 date and you hold an entry. The 2026 race sold out, so register as soon as it opens. No sell-out interval is published.
See & Do
The old centre is about 4 km west of the Science Park, and the three places below are all within 1 km of the Dom.
Domtoren
A 112-metre medieval tower with 465 steps. Look at it from the square and skip the climb.
Oudegracht
A sunken canal lined with wharf-level cafés. Flat on the upper street.
Museum Speelklok
A museum of mechanical musical instruments. Check opening days.
After the Race
Utrecht is the centre of the Dutch rail network, so day trips are short. Amersfoort is 15 minutes away, Amsterdam 30 and Delft and The Hague under an hour.
A neo-Gothic castle in a wooded park.
A small walled city with a gate across a canal.
Blue pottery and a Vermeer, with the coast nearby.
Museums with lifts, a seated canal cruise and a short link to the airport.