Practical Info

Please find below all practical info about the European Running Championships.

Thursday 10th of April

  • 12:00 – 19:00: Pick-up participant pack

Friday 11th of April

  • 10:00 – 19:00: Pick-up participant pack

Saturday 12th of April

  • 08:00 – 18:00: Pick-up participant pack
  • 10:00: European Running Championships – Half Marathon

Sunday 13th of April

  • 06:00 – 09:30: Pick-up participant pack
  • 9:30: European Running Championships – 10K
  • 10:15: European Running Championships – Marathon
  • Start Marathon: Place des Palais – Brussels
  • Start Half Marathon & 10K: Naamsevest, Leuven, 100 metres from the Philipssite
  • Finish: Geldenaaksevest, Leuven. By the Philipssite
  • Collection Participant pack: Sportoase Leuven, Philipssite 6, 3001 Leuven
    We advise everyone to collect their participant pack in Leuven. If it is impossible for you to get there, you have the option of collecting your bib number in Brussels on Sunday between 8am and 10am. The exact location will be announced later. T-shirts can only be collected in Leuven.
  • Bag drop Area:
    • Half Marathon & 10K: Sportoase, Philipssite 6, 3001 Leuven
    • Marathon:
      • Drop off your bag prior to the race at the lorries parked by Rue de la Loi 4, 1000 Brussels
      • Collect your bag after the race in Leuven from the Sportoase site, Philipssite 6, 3001 Leuven
    • More detailed info about the location of the bag drop area will follow later

The European Running Championships are ‘open’ races. This means that both elite runners and recreational runners can compete for the European title.

To participate, you must be at least 18 years old for the marathon, 16 years old for the half marathon or 14 years old for the 10 kilometres.

Non-Europeans can also register. Their finish time will be included in the results, but will not count towards the official individual, team, or country rankings.

Participants for the elite race are selected by their National Federation.

It is possible to cancel your registration if you took out a cancellation policy at the time of registration.

If you cancel by 11 October, you will be refunded 80% of the entry fee.

If you cancel by 11 January 2025, you will be refunded 50% of the entry fee.

If you cancel after 12 January 2025, you will not be entitled to a refund.

Please submit any cancellation requests using this contact form.

The cancellation policy fee is as follows:

  • €15 for the marathon
  • €9 for the half marathon
  • €7 for the 10KM
  • Personalised bib number stating your first name* with chip
  • Unique medal at the finish
  • Supply stations on the course and at the finish
  • Free bag drop
  • Correct signposting of distance and time measurement  along the course and at the finish
  • Full results available on website
  • Online course description showing the supply stations
  • Sportinez insurance during the races.


*Personalised bib number is only available for those participants who signed up online by Friday 28 February 2025.

The course will feature supply stations at approximately every 5 kilometres. The supplies include water, iso drink, savoury and sweet snacks. Detailed information will be available here later.

At the latest one week before the event, all individually registered  participants will receive a confirmation email containing their personal number. With this number or e-ticket, you can collect your participant pack including bib number on site.

If you also bought a T-shirt when signing up, you can collect it showing the envelope containing your bib number.

As we are expecting a large number of participants, we advise you to collect your participant pack from the event site in Leuven prior to the race at the times stated.

If you are running the marathon on Sunday 13 April and it is impossible for you to collect your participant pack in Leuven, we offer the option of collecting your bib number on the event day in Brussels between 8 and 10am. The exact collection location will be announced later, but it any case it will be close to the start. If you also bought a T-shirt when signing up, you can only collect it from the event site in Leuven.

ID Check

As these are official European Championships, we ask you to show a valid proof of ID when collecting your bib number. If you are collecting the bib number of someone else, you can, but we ask you to show a photo of the identity card to check the nationality.

Please note that indicating your desired size on the registration form is purely informative and no guarantee that this size will still be available when the T-shirt is collected. The earlier you pick up your T-shirt, the more likely it is that the desired size is still available.

The event site and its surroundings will be very busy on the event day. Therefore, we advise that you use public transport where you can. If you live in the area, come on foot or by bicycle. We will provide plenty of bicycle parking.

By train

The start and finish areas are within walking distance from the station:

  • Brussels: Station Brussels-Central
  • Leuven: Leuven Station

The train is the fastest and most efficient way of travelling to the start and finish areas. There will be no shuttle service for the marathon runners between Brussels and Leuven, but we recommend using the train.

Plan your journey and buy your ticket on this website NMBS.

By car

Still coming by car? More information about parking options will follow later.

There is an electronic chip for measuring the time. This chip, at the back of the bib number, measures the net time between start and finish. This means that your time only starts running when you cross the starting line. This extra service provides a more accurate time measurement.

This chip is included in the entry fee and does not have to be returned after the competition.

Do not bend the bib number or remove the stickers on the chip.

Marathon

The time limit for marathon runners is 6 hours. On orders of the police, the roads will be reopened to traffic on the basis of a 6-hour pace. Slower runners will be eliminated from the race, but they will be able to continue on the course at their own risk and must strictly observe the highway code.

Half Marathon

The time limit for half marathon runners is 3 hours. On orders of the police, the roads will be reopened to traffic on the basis of a 3-hour pace. Slower runners will be eliminated from the race, but they will be able to continue on the course at their own risk and must strictly observe the highway code.

There will be a sports bag drop area in Brussels and Leuven. Marathon runners can collect their sports bags in Leuven after the race; sports bags will be transferred from Brussels to Leuven.

During the event, you can leave your sports bag in the bag drop area for free.

A sticker with a unique number will be attached to your bag and you receive a sticker with the same number to stick on your bib number. After competing in the event, you can collect your sports bag upon presentation of your sticker on your bib number. If you lose your sticker, you will only be able to collect your sports bag after giving an exact description of the bag and its contents.

The organisation will take the necessary safety measures to guard the area as best as it can, still use of the area is at the owner’s risk. The organisation cannot be held responsible for accidental damage, loss and/or theft of personal belongings.

Some recommendations:

  • Use a sports bag that closes well and make sure that it is closed securely so that no items can fall out.
  • Loose items of clothing or plastic carrier bags may be refused.
  • Do not leave any valuable or delicate items in your sports bag (e.g. smartphone, sports watch, spectacles, wallet, cash, keys, …)

A number of very experienced, predominantly Belgian, ultra-runners led by Marnix Callewaert and Ivan Hostens, have committed to help as pacers at the European Running Championships.

The pacers are easy to spot in the starting area thanks to the Lotto flag showing the finish time.

There are rankings for each gender, distance, elite runners and elite country teams, age group and by country.

The net finish times of the top 25 runners per country (including elite runners) will be added together. This is the basis for the country rankings by race and gender. The country with the lowest overall time wins the country ranking.

All participants can have their medal engraved with name and time immediately after the race. You can check ‘engrave medal’ for €14 on the registration form.

If you did not tick this when registering, you can still decide on the spot and pay €16, depending on availability.

A race bib with your first name

Would you like to run with a race bib featuring your name? Make sure to register before February 28!
You can still register after this date, but in that case, your race bib will not include your name.

Changing distance or transferring your registration?

✅ Log in to your personal Haku account
✅ Go to your registration for the European Running Championships 2025
✅ Click ‘Registration options’ (bottom right)
✅ Select ‘Transfer’ for name changes or ‘Switch categories’ to change your distance
✅ Save your changes

⚠️ After the 28th of February, changes to the name or distance of your registration will only be possible at the event site in Leuven on Thursday, April 10, Friday, April 11, Saturday, April 12, or Sunday, April 13, before your race.

The exclusive event T-shirt is not included in your entry. You can add it to your registration for €30. You can collect your T-shirt from the event site, on the days that you can also collect your participant pack.

Please note that indicating your desired size on the registration form is purely informative and no guarantee that this size will still be available when the T-shirt is collected.

The earlier you pick up your T-shirt, the more likely it is that the desired size is still available

You can purchase it during online registration for €30.

SPORTOGRAF.COM is the official photo service of the European Running Championships.

These photographers have built a good reputation in recent years with their fully digital service and reasonable prices.

Being active runners themselves, they also have an excellent feel from the perspective of the participant.

Prosthetic runners, visually impaired and Special Olympics athletes will have a full place at the starting line.

For organizational and safety reasons, it is unfortunately not possible to participate with a wheeler (such as a handbike or racing wheelchair).

The entire course is traffic-free. Traffic will be allowed again depending on the position of the participants and will thus vary from street to street. This information will be announced prior to the event.

If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact the organisers on info@golazo.com.

More information on the accessibility of the event will be shared at a later stage.

Transport to or between Leuven and Brussels

The easiest way to get to the start or finish in Leuven, which are within walking distance from the station, is by train.

The start in Brussels is within walking distance of Brussels-Central station. The easiest way for marathon runners to travel between Brussels and Leuven is by train.

You can plan your train journey using the SNCB website.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GUIDE

As participants and organizers of the European Running Championships 2025, we must take responsibility for the climate by minimizing our environmental impact as much as possible. This guide provides essential travel and transportation information to ensure your journey is smooth and sustainable.

TRAVEL GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS

ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Accessibility for people with disabilities: We strive to make our event accessible to everyone. People with disabilities can contact us at info@golazo.com to obtain the necessary information about special facilities, such as parking permits, wheelchair-accessible viewing areas, and parking locations.

Leuven, a vibrant city in the heart of Belgium, is known for its centuries-old university, lively student culture and beautiful historical architecture. Its atmospheric streets invite you to explore cosy cafés, boutiques, and historical sights, such as the imposing Gothic Saint Peter’s Church. Its rich history, lively atmosphere and hospitable inhabitants make Leuven an irresistible destination for tourists and locals alike. For information on sights in Leuven, please refer to www.visitleuven.be.

Whether you like a charming B&B or prefer to stay in a well-known chain hotel, Leuven has it all. Book your accommodation in Leuven here.

Brussels has great historical, architectural, gastronomic, and cultural riches, but it has so much more to offer! The lively capital city is unique, welcoming, and warm. There is always something to do. Explore and get to know the inhabitants and their big hearts. For information on attractions in Brussels, please visit www.visit.brussels.

Whatever your occasion, desires, or budget … you can rest assured! The capital of Europe offers a wide range of accommodation. Take your pick and book your stay via this link.

Vlaams-Brabant is the perfect destination for beer lovers, as it’s Belgium’s beer province, offering a wide range of unique brews to taste. Beyond its rich beer culture, the stunning landscapes provide the ideal setting for hiking and cycling adventures. Explore the natural beauty of the Brabantse Wouden National Park for a truly memorable experience.

www.visitvlaamsbrabant.be