The Brussels Airport Marathon & Half Marathon is getting a new and royal look this year. The finish is moving from the city centre and is now right in front of the Royal Palace.
The Brussels Airport Marathon & Half Marathon is a fixture on the marathon calendar in autumn. On Sunday 3 November, the 42.195 kilometres of the revamped and spectacular course through the streets of Brussels will exude the grandeur the capital of Europe deserves.
With the new course, the focus has shifted back to the city centre and we connect with the bustling heart of the city,” explains Thomas Huyberechts of organiser Golazo. “It is a course that completely exposes the heart and soul of Brussels.”
Like last year, the start of the marathon and half marathon is on Place De Brouckère. After the starting gun sounds, the marathon runners take the Annie Cordy Tunnel towards the monumental Basilica of Koekelberg. Participants will then cut through the green lungs in and around Brussels: the Ganshoren marsh and the various parks of Jette. A great mix of urban life and green areas, typical of Brussels.
After running over the King Baudouin Stadium track – location of the finish line in previous years – and past the Atomium, an impressive second section of the marathon follows focusing on a quick succession of prestigious monuments: the Church of Our Lady of Laeken, the Castle of Laeken, the Japanese Tower and Chinese Pavilion. From the Heysel plateau, runners can enjoy a unique view of the surrounding area.
Participants opting for the Brussels Airport Half Marathon will, after the start on Place De Brouckère, head straight to Heysel Plateau and Laeken Park via the Canal Zone to join the second part of the marathon course.
The finale of the marathon and half marathon is spiced up with the magnificent ascent of the iconic Avenue Lambermont, with its stately mansions one of the most beautiful avenues in Schaerbeek. After passing through Cinquantenaire Park and Rue de la Loi, the heart of the European institutions, the royal finish follows on the majestic Place des Palais, right in front of the Royal Palace. No nicer place to put the crowning glory on the run.
Persil Kids Run
In addition to the Brussels Airport Marathon & Half Marathon, two other distances are scheduled: the Brussels Airport 7K and the Persil Kids Run 1K. So there is something for every runner to make it a sporty day out in Brussels with the family. The start of the 7 km is on Rue de la Loi, next to the Federal Parliament. Along the way, participants will pass through the Cinquantenaire Park and Montgomery Square; they will finish on the Place des Palais. The Persil Kids Run also starts on Rue de la Loi and ends on the Place des Palais.
