The 51st edition of the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon was blessed with perfect racing conditions. After last year’s storm-ridden 50th edition, this year’s event took place under sunny skies, mild temperatures, and almost no wind – a true contrast, and a welcome one for all athletes involved.

In the men’s senior category, it was once again James Russell from Chelmsford Canoe Club who took the victory. Russell controlled the race strategically and broke away in the final kilometers, finishing with a time of 1:38:06.0. Behind him, Syver Borge Saksvik of Norway claimed second place. The Norwegian athlete, who races for Strand Kajakklubb, noted with a smile that he particularly appreciated the race’s connection to Viking culture – a name and spirit he could relate to. Third place went to Russell’s teammate William Stroud, also representing Chelmsford Canoe Club.

The women’s senior race was dominated by Panna Krisztina Sinkó of Hungary, who led from early on and never looked back. She finished in 1:55:55.0, ahead of Caroline Fink (Germany) and Odette Latenstein Van Voorst (Netherlands).

Among the master men, Joep van Bakel from Team ZP proved that class is permanent. The former senior men’s winner claimed the title in the masters category this year with a strong time of 1:48:44.3, once again asserting his dominance over the longer distances. The master women’s title was taken by Esther Lohuizen, who completed the course in 2:39:00.3.

One of the standout performances of the day came from Leonardo Candela, racing in the junior men’s category. The current junior world champion impressed by holding pace with the lead group of senior men for much of the 24-kilometer course. He ultimately finished in 1:41:20.0, a time that would have placed him among the top finishers in the senior category as well.

In the junior women’s division, Karen Stoubæk (Denmark) delivered a commanding win with a time of 1:59:26.0, well ahead of her closest rivals.

The 14-kilometer short course saw promising young talent rise to the occasion. Sirko Jessen took the win in the junior boys’ race, while Matilda Kreß finished first among the junior girls. The recreational category drew paddlers of all levels who enjoyed both the racing and the beautiful Waterland surroundings.

The organization extends heartfelt thanks to all volunteers, participants, and event partners, particularly Kanocentrum Arjan Bloem, Nelo Kayaks, and Orange Rental, for their essential support.

“This edition truly showcased the spirit of marathon paddling – top-level competition, international camaraderie, and a stunning route through one of the Netherlands’ most beautiful regions,” the organization stated.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the 52nd edition on April 18, 2026.

Photos

By Bart van der Linden

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The results are in. Thanks for an amazing day.
See you for the 52nd edition on April 18th 2026!

Last updated April 17th 2025.

For previous years see: Results

We are very excited for all of you to join us for the Waterland Marathon on April 12th 2025!
This page should answer any question you may have ahead of the event.

If you are unable to participate, please let us know as soon as possible.

Timetable

Preliminary start list

Will be published here on Thursday April 10th.

Entree fee

The race entree is EUR 25 + a EUR 10 deposit. Please bring in cash and exact change.

Parking

Address: Vikingpad 40, Amsterdam.

You can park in the area surrounding KV Viking for free.

Please note that the area around KV Viking can get quite busy with cars during the event, as we share the space with several other sports clubs. We’ve informed the other clubs in advance to help make room, but it’s still likely to be crowded.

Important:

Do not park on the bridge or on the grass — this could result in a parking fine.

If you’re not bringing a boat trailer, we kindly ask that you park in the nearby residential streets around the club to help free up space close to the venue.

Spectators

Spectators are more than welcome to follow the action by cycling along the race course.

The athletes will portage at two different spots, which are great places to watch the race up close:

👉 Portage Spot 1: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DScWs4nRTh5mthhP8
👉 Portage Spot 2: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YrB52myqYCptVij36

We’ve also put together a handy map with all key locations related to the race:

🗺️ Race Day Locations: https://maps.app.goo.gl/91RiyhNWoNmfzv6CA

Athletes dinner

Want to join us for dinner on Friday at 19:00? Please submit the form: https://forms.gle/bar92HSTbWR4vDyL8

Overnight stay at KV Viking

Please contact us if you wish to stay overnight at KV Viking the night before and/or after the race.

Competition boats for sale

The Nelo Vanquish Sete K1 kayaks used by international participants will be available for purchase after the race.

Sizes still available:

• 1 x M
• 1 x ML
• 1 x L
• 1 x XXL

Read more

Dear athletes and canoeing enthusiasts,

We are excited to introduce the new team responsible for organizing 2025 Waterland Marathon! After many years of dedication, part of the previous team has decided to step down. We sincerely thank them for their hard work and commitment, and we’re eager to build on their fantastic legacy. 💪🚣

Our new team consists of enthusiastic and experienced volunteers who are ready to make this edition a great success. With fresh ideas and plenty of energy, we aim to ensure that the 51th edition runs smoothly and becomes an unforgettable experience for all participants.

Do you have any questions before or during the race?
We are here to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us or speak to us directly during the event.

We look forward to seeing you shine on the water. Let’s make it an unforgettable day together! 🌊✨

Best regards,
The Waterland Marathon team

The Amsterdam Waterland Marathon returns for its 51st edition on April 12, 2025, kicking off the new race season. Registration is now open, with a cap of 197 participants.

Register now

Updates for the 51st edition

From this edition onward, only prize money will be awarded, with no start bonuses for top athletes.

Pre-race athletes dinner

As always, participants are invited to join the pre-race athletes dinner on the Friday evening before race day—a chance to connect and prepare for the start of the season.

We’re looking for sponsors

Organized by volunteers as a non-profit event, the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon depends on sponsorships to cover essential expenses, such as the rescue team and prize money. Sponsors interested in supporting this long-standing community event are encouraged to get in touch.

50th edition aftermovie

Get an impression of what it’s like to compete in the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon:

With immense gratitude, the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon organization announces the departure of race director and sponsor Edwin de Nijs and his wife, Puck Ijskes. We are also saying farewell to Rens Janssen, our dedicated spokesperson who handled all your questions and emails. Losing these three fantastic volunteers is a significant blow!

Thanks to Edwin, Puck, and Rens, our race has grown from a modest event with just 20 paddlers into a renowned competition featuring some of the best athletes and world champions. We’ve grown so much that we now need to limit the number of participants who can register.

Organizing the 50th edition, alongside so many kayaking friends from around the globe, was a milestone and an ideal opportunity to explore new possibilities.

A new race committee will be formed, and a new race director will be appointed. We’ll introduce ourselves soon.

As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. We look forward to welcoming back many of our kayaking friends from previous years on April 12, 2025. Race entry is already open!

See the aftermovie of the 14 km short course, long course movie will follow soon!

The 50th edition of the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon presented some of the harshest conditions in the past decade for all athletes. The weather played a significant role, with gale-force winds of 5 Beaufort, hailstorms, and heavy rain showers proving to be formidable challenges for all paddlers.

Despite the adverse conditions, James Russell emerged victorious in the final sprint, outpacing his competitors Jose Leonel Ramalho and Jeremy Candy. Russell’s dedication to early-season sprint training paid off handsomely. The race initially saw a tightly contested lead group comprising eight paddlers, including Quentin Urban, Jeremy Candy, Miguel Llorens, and Philip Knudsen. The presence of so many top athletes at our start line is a rare sight in recent years.

The race began at a blistering pace, only relenting slightly after the first portage. The headwinds posed difficulties even for the world elite paddlers. The second portage, an iconic feature of the race, proved more challenging than ever, with some marsh sections nearly indistinguishable from the canals due to continuous rain in preceding weeks.

Following the second portage, the tempo decreased significantly. In the wide and deep North Holland canal, the lead group engaged in a tactical game, with no one seizing a clear advantage until the final sprint.

In the senior women’s category, Zsofi-Czellai Voros took an early lead, paddling alongside the master men’s chasing group. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t match her pace, allowing Voros to maintain her lead comfortably until the end. Pernille Hostrup secured second place, followed by Tania Alvarez Yates in third.

Joep van Bakel clinched victory in the masters men’s category, staying ahead of the competition and securing a medal for the Netherlands. Torben Thomsen finished second, with Matthew Enoch John taking third place.

The junior men’s race witnessed an exceptionally fast pace, with Candela Leonardo and Joseph Enoch Michael finishing just behind the fastest masters men. Their times would have placed them in the top 20 of the senior men’s category. Alexander Worgan claimed third place, showcasing promising talent for the future of marathon paddling.

In the junior women’s race, Moa Nilsson Maria Nike, Kamila Sklenarova, and Beatrice Candela comprised the top three finishers.

Elias Geike won the boys’ race, and Lucie-Marie Horch emerged victorious in the women’s race for the short course event.

The 50th edition of the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon will be remembered for its challenging conditions and resilient athletes. Organizers hope for a sunnier, warmer, and windless 51st edition.

Special thanks to our sponsors: De Coogh Funderingstechnieken, Kanocentrum Arjan Bloem and Nelo Kayaks, whose generous support made the event possible. We also extend our gratitude to our event suppliers Orange Rentaland Gomes.

The official results are available below.
50th edition Amsterdam Waterland Marathon results

Check out this post-race video made by Keith Moule from Great Britain. Our own official movie race report will follow soon!

 Race information 50th edition

Please read this information for the 50th edition of the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon:

• The race office will be open from 09.00 until 11.00. Make sure to pick up your number.
  11.00 the numbers that have not been piked up will be distributed among those on the waiting list!
• Entry fee is EUR 10. We also ask for a EUR 10 deposit for your number. Please bring it back to get your refund. Cash payments are easier and therefore preferred.
• Team leaders meeting will be at 11.45.
• There will be two starts for the long distance. Men junior and senior will start at 13.20. All other race categories will start at 13.00.
• Short distance race will start at 13.10.
• Paddle to the start of the long distance race is about 2.5 km from the Viking canoe club.
  Boat transport to the start of the short distance will depart 12.00. Make sure to put your put your boat on the big trailer in front of the boathouse.
• We will stop time registration at 16.15. Make sure to finish before then 😉
• Prize ceremony will be around 16.45.

Competition is at your own risk. We expect cold water temperatures and high winds, dress appropiately!

Find the short distance GPS course here (GPX file)

Find the long distance GPS course here  (GPX file)

The preliminary start list can be found hereWLM Official registrations list 2024