Port of Antwerp ties its name to Antwerp Night Marathon

8 January 2020

Port of Antwerp will become the title partner of the new Antwerp city marathon, which will take place on Saturday evening 12th September. The course has been announced already too. The first edition of the Port of Antwerp Night Marathon will start from the Vlaamse Kaai, cross four Antwerp districts, pass by numerous iconic buildings and finish on the event square by the Scheldekaaien Sint-Andries.

The organisers of the Antwerp Night Marathon and the Port of Antwerp have engaged themselves for the event for several years. “We are proud to be partners”, says Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of the Port of Antwerp. “Sports events like these bring people together and that marries perfectly with our identity as Port of Antwerp. Moreover, it showcases our city and port in a beautiful and sporting light to an international audience. It goes without saying that I am very pleased that the run will pass by our Port Authority building, which has grown into one of the iconic buildings of our city.”

In addition to title partner Port of Antwerp, AA Drink, INEOS and Q8 have also entered into a partnership with the Antwerp Night Marathon.

COURSE RUNS STRAIGHT THROUGH THE CITY CENTRE

The Port of Antwerp Night Marathon will start at 7pm, one hour before sundown. The runners will literally run into the night and into the beautiful Antwerp city centre.

The course focuses completely on the Rechteroever (Right Bank) in the districts Antwerp, Hoboken, Berchem and Borgerhout. From the start on the Vlaamse Kaai, the runners head south in the direction of the Olympic area on the Kiel. The runners will head back north via the Bolivar tunnel underneath the Butterfly Palace (Palace of Justice).

The participants will be able to enjoy passing by iconic Antwerp landmarks such as the Central Station, the Boerentoren, the MAS and the Port Authority building. The building designed by Zaha Hadid with its ‘diamond-shaped roof’ is the most northerly point of the Port of Antwerp Night Marathon. The last loop of the course takes in the Port Authority building along the Scheldt down to the Grote Markt and then goes in a straight line to the finish on the event square by the Scheldekaaien Sint-Andries.

ALSO IDEAL FOR SUPPORTERS

The marathon will cover 42 (or 21) unique kilometres, or rather 1 big lap. The route through the city centre will allow spectators to easily follow all the runners more than once. The compact course also offers the participants of the Port of Antwerp Night Marathon Relay many advantages. For instance, all relay zones are within walking distance of the start and finish zones: on the Amerikalei, on the Operaplein and on the Oudaan. The half marathon will also remain in the heart of the city, in the area between the Butterfly Palace and the Port Authority building. The wealth of entertainment along the course (music bands, DJ’s and others) will create a fantastic vibe for the participants and supporters.

“The Port of Antwerp Night Marathon bundles the rich heritage of our city in a magnificent course”, as summarised eloquently by mayor Bart De Wever. “All participants and spectators will get a unique opportunity to literally run through Antwerp’s history with the setting sun. I for one am very much looking forward to experiencing that.”