Rotterdam, NL · April 2027
NN Marathon Rotterdam
NN Marathon Rotterdam: 42.195 km, 15 m of climbing. Course route, elevation, weather and a personalised pacing plan.
- Distance
- 42.20 km
- Elevation gain
- 15 m
- Typical temp
- 6–13 °C
- Cutoff
- 6:00:00
The short version
A fair test with a few teeth
- ▸Most runners crack near km 32 — fuel before km 30, not at it.
- ▸Full overhead sun from km 10 — sunscreen and run the shaded side.
Next edition
11 April 2027
Typical race-day conditions
6–13 °C
We lock the real forecast into your plan in race week.
Course difficulty
ModerateDriven by a flat, fast course with mild conditions. Harder than Zürich Marathon (4.0), easier than Telenor Copenhagen Marathon (4.2) — tougher than 4% of the races we cover.
Race data quality
Medium confidence
Last verified: source review pending
Course distance, climate, and broad course features are suitable for pacing previews. Elevation profiles and aid-station details are approximate and should be checked against the official race packet before race day.
Elevation profile
Verified profile
Paid strategy guardrail
Official race packet remains source of truth
- Official course GPX (goandrace) + Open-Elevation DEM
Step 1 · Free preview
See the course-adjusted plan first
Enter one recent result. The preview returns course cost, first splits, and fuel target from the deterministic engine and the current course data model.
VDOT
49.1
Estimate
3:13:16
Course cost
-0:28
Fuel target
90 g/h
First 5 km preview
full race locked
- km 14:41
- km 24:43
- km 34:39
- km 44:42
- km 54:42
First race free · then €7 Race Pass · no monthly subscription
Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.
Step 2 · Your full NN Marathon Rotterdam plan
The preview shows the shape. The plan races it for you.
Course preview
Free
what you see now
- ✓Difficulty score & course data
- ✓Course-cost & toughest km
- ✓Your first full plan free, ever
Race Pass
€7
one-time, this race
- ✓Every km split, weather-adjusted
- ✓Nutrition & fluid timeline
- ✓Heat, wind & sun race tactics
- ✓Danger zones + watch file (GPX)
- ✓Race-week forecast & reminders
Annual
€19
per year, every race
- ✓Everything in Race Pass
- ✓Unlimited races, all year
- ✓Re-plan as your fitness changes
No subscription required — one race is a one-off €7. Cancel anytime on Annual.
Continue with approximate course data →Course elevation
15 m total gain · 13 m loss · max 16 m, min -5 m.
Fly the course
Sun & shade
Sun in your eyes
12 km
Sun on your back
9 km
Side / overhead
21 km
From km 10 the sun sits high overhead — peak UV and radiant heat, so keep sunscreen on and run the shaded side of the road where you can.
Approximate — solar position from the route geometry and a 10:00:00 start (timezone estimated from longitude), for a mid-pack finishing time.
Signature sections
Erasmusbrug
Iconic start at the Erasmus Bridge over the Nieuwe Maas, climbed early and again near the finish.
Coolsingel finish
Final stretch and finish on the historic Coolsingel boulevard.
Race overview
A flat, fast, world-record-caliber road marathon through Rotterdam, starting and finishing in the centre via the Erasmus Bridge and Coolsingel. One of the fastest courses in the world. The route measures 42.195 km with about 15 m of climbing and 13 m of descent (high point 16 m). It typically runs in April.
How hard is this course?
Reference table — how the NN Marathon Rotterdam compares to a flat sea-level course for four typical fitness levels. Computed from the route profile, mean course altitude, and typical race-week climate (10 °C / 74 % humidity). Your personal strategy uses your VDOT, per-km splits, nutrition timing, and the typical climate baseline for this static sample; paid strategies use Open-Meteo when a verified race date is inside the forecast window.
| Runner | Flat-course finish | NN Marathon Rotterdam finish | Course cost | Adjusted pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (VDOT 35) | 4:16:08 | 4:15:31 | -0.2% | 6:04/km |
| Intermediate (VDOT 45) | 3:28:17 | 3:27:47 | -0.2% | 4:56/km |
| Trained (VDOT 50) | 3:10:41 | 3:10:13 | -0.2% | 4:31/km |
| Competitive (VDOT 60) | 2:43:24 | 2:43:00 | -0.2% | 3:53/km |
Reference nutrition
For a 70 kg runner finishing in 3:10:13 at 10 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.
- Carbs / hour
- 90 g
- Total carbs
- 285 g
- Fluid / hour
- 640 ml
- Sodium / hour
- 500 mg
FAQ
Get your personalized strategy
The numbers above are samples. Sign up free and get the full NN Marathon Rotterdam strategy from your VDOT, the current course model, Open-Meteo race-week forecast when available, and your nutrition preferences.
First race free · €7 per additional race · €19/yr for unlimited
Get my NN Marathon Rotterdam strategyRelated races
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- Generali Köln Marathon· Cologne29 m gain · typical 8–16 °CNN Marathon Rotterdam vs Generali Köln Marathon — which is harder? →
- Telenor Copenhagen Marathon· Copenhagen0 m gain · typical 9–16 °CNN Marathon Rotterdam vs Telenor Copenhagen Marathon — which is harder? →
New to the marathon? Start with our marathon pacing strategy guide or run the VDOT calculator.