The NN Dam tot Damloop has been a fixture in the sports calendar since 1985. Sports association Le Champion built it into the largest running event in the Netherlands, with a route connecting the inner city with Zaandam. The 40th edition in 2026 will be spread over several days, with running races, a cycling classic and special sections for children and families.
The best-known distance remains the 10 English mile. Runners start in the city center, duck into the IJ tunnel and, after a long ribbon through various neighborhoods, arrive at the finish line in Zaandam. Densely packed along the course are spectators, drummers and musical groups. The combination of city noise, cheers and reverberations in the tunnel gives the run a rhythm all its own.
Around the finish line is the Dam tot Dam Park, the big meeting area of the weekend. There, participants and supporters intermingle, with stages for live music, food trucks and stalls. The park serves as a central square where company teams chat, families wait for their children from the Mini Dam tot Damloop and recreational runners show off their medals.
Around the finish line is the Dam tot Dam Park, the big meeting area of the weekend.
The organization is working with main sponsor NN Group and the municipalities of Amsterdam and Zaanstad. Earlier editions fell out due to COVID-19 measures, but now the run is back in full swing. That the 2026 edition marks the 40th anniversary underlines how firmly anchored the Dam tot Damloop is in the sports culture of the region.