The fifth edition of the TREK® Antwerp Marathon will welcome almost 20,000 runners on Sunday. Participants can choose to run the full marathon distance, a half marathon or 10K. The shortest distance has been fully booked since summer. You can still register online for the two longest distances until Saturday.
There will be 5,500 participants at the start of the marathon. They will begin their 42 km journey through the city on Sunday at 9 a.m. Once all the marathon runners have set off, at 9:15 a.m., it will be the turn of the 1,800 participants in the 10K. In the afternoon, at 2 p.m., the half marathon runners will take their turn. The intermediate distance is booming with no fewer than 12,500 participants.
That makes a total of 20,000 runners for the fifth edition of the TREK® Antwerp Marathon, a thousand more than the record edition of 2024. The field of participants is also particularly international, with no fewer than 54 different nationalities represented on Sunday. In the marathon distance, 22% of the participants come from abroad, mainly from neighbouring countries the Netherlands and France.
New: The Trek® Antwerp Marathon app
The new TREK® Antwerp Marathon app ensures that participants now have all the important race information at their fingertips. This free app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS), is also super handy for spectators. On Sunday, they can follow the split times of their favourite runner(s) and their location on the course. The estimated finish time is also displayed, so supporters can get to the finish line in time for the final cheers.
Course
The marathon consists of two slightly different loops. After the start from the Rijnkaai and a passage by the Port Authority Building, the course runs via the Meir, Central Station, Zurenborg, Groen Kwartier, the Palace of Justice and the Kaaien back to Eilandje. The second loop briefly enters the port down to the Noordkasteelbrug and adds extra kilometres to the south. The half marathon follows the second loop; the 10 km remains largely on Eilandje. The finish line for everyone is at the MAS.
Cheering Zones & Areas of Entertainment
Thanks to the loops, spectators can see their favourite runner in action several times. The best places to cheer along the route are the Cheering Zones at the Port Authority building (TREK® Cheering Zone), on Dageraadplaats (Antwerp Running Crew Cheering Zone), on Markgravelei (Port of Antwerp-Bruges Cheering Zone) and on Kloosterstraat (TREK® Cheering Zone).
But there will be something to experience almost everywhere in the city on Sunday. Organiser Golazo is providing 52 entertainment areas along the marathon route: DJ towers, Japanese drums, Brazilian drums, bagpipers, etc. Runners will also get a musical encouragement several times along the half marathon route (27 entertainment areas) and the 10K route (7 entertainment areas).
“Positive vibe is infectious and motivating”
“The atmosphere last year was incredible. The compact route through the city centre and past all the highlights is easy for supporters to follow,” says Greg Broekmans of Golazo. “The many live acts turn the marathon and half marathon into a party. It’s definitely comparable to the Baloise Antwerp 10 Miles. And for those many supporters, there is now also an app to follow their favourite runner.”
Antwerp’s Mayor Els van Doesburg: “This Antwerp Marathon promises to be another exceptional experience for all participants and supporters. The course through the heart of the city gives runners a unique view of some of our Antwerp icons. I am already looking forward to feeling our city buzzing with sporting energy on 19 October!”
Antwerp’s Councillor for Sport Stijn De Rooster: “The figures speak for themselves: with a new record edition, the Antwerp Marathon remains hugely popular. I would be surprised if it were otherwise. This year, the Antwerp Marathon offers all runners and supporters a fast, atmospheric course through the heart of the city, which is overflowing with eye-catching sights and beats. I’ve had to scale back my personal ambitions a bit, but my desire to go all out in the 10K remains intact. I’m really looking forward to joining those 20,000 runners and showing once again that Antwerp is by far the running city of Flanders.”
Isabelle Maes, CEO Natural Foods & CMO Lotus Bakeries: “I am extremely proud that TREK® will be the title partner of the TREK® Antwerp Marathon for the next three years. This iconic event brings together thousands of runners and supporters who consciously choose natural energy and an active lifestyle – completely in line with our TREK® community. We are doing everything we can to make this running event an unforgettable experience for both runners and supporters. Of course, every participant will receive a TREK® Protein bar at the finish, but there will also be TREK® cheering zones including a DJ booth, banners, flags and samples. And not only in Antwerp: we will also attend numerous other running events in Belgium, the Netherlands and France with our brands TREK® and nākd. The positive vibe of these events is both infectious and motivating for us. I am therefore really looking forward to being at the start together with Jan Boone, CEO of Lotus Bakeries, and many colleagues!”
Mobility
With a record number of runners and a multitude of spectators, Sunday promises to be busy in Antwerp. Organiser Golazo advises participants to pick up their start numbers at the Waagnatie on Friday or Saturday.
The most efficient way to reach the start and finish areas is on foot or by (shared) bike. Additional bicycle parking facilities will be available at Tavernierkaai (Loodswezen), the MAS, Napoleonkaai and Londenbrug. The start and finish are also easily accessible by public transport. If coming by car, use one of the Park & Rides around the city.
Important for supporters and residents: cyclists are not allowed on the course on Sunday, but pedestrians may cross the course when possible. Many streets in the city centre will be closed, so residents should be aware.
Find out everything about how to get there, accessibility and parking at Slim naar Antwerpen and click here for full details about the impact on Antwerp residents.
Finally, the TREK® Antwerp Marathon route crosses the Mexico Bridges. These have been closed to all traffic since the summer, but the eastern tram bridge will be temporarily opened to runners on Sunday. This temporary opening does not pose any risks to participants. The day after the event, on Monday 20 October, the final repair works on the Mexico bridges will commence.
