The Dam tot Damloop runs 10 English miles, about 16 kilometres, from Amsterdam to Zaandam, and the stretch every runner remembers is the IJtunnel under the IJ. The 40th edition was run on 20 September 2026, and it will be remembered for a women’s course record that had stood since 1987.
The route, start to finish
The race starts in Amsterdam and drops into the IJtunnel almost straight away, which is why the tunnel was shut to all traffic on race day from 06:30 until about 17:30, according to both the organisers and the City of Amsterdam. Runners come out on the Noord side of the IJ and head north-west towards the Zaan.
The finish is on the Burcht in Zaandam. That is the charm of the event: it is one of the few big road races where the start and the finish sit in different towns, so the course does not loop back on itself.
A shorter race sits alongside it. The Damloop by night covers 5 English miles on the Saturday evening, and Hardloopnieuws put the field for the Sunday race at around 50,000 runners in this anniversary year.
What happened at the 40th edition
The headline is Asayech Ayichew. The Ethiopian won the women’s race in 50:05, taking 26 seconds off the 50:31 Ingrid Kristiansen ran in 1987. It was not a solo run, either: Janeth Mutungi finished three seconds behind her, and the organisers say pacemakers were used in both elite races this year.
The men’s race was closer still. Jamal Kiprono beat Jonathan Kamosong, the previous year’s winner, by a single second. Leonard Komon’s men’s record of 44:27 from 2011 survives.
There is a quirk in how the two races meet. The organisers start the men 6 minutes and 4 seconds after the women, which is exactly the gap between the two course records. With the women’s record now faster, that handicap is due a rethink.
What is still unclear
The organisers had not published a date for the 2027 race at the time of writing. The race has traditionally been held on the second-to-last Sunday of September, so late September 2027 is the likely window, but treat that as a pattern rather than an announcement. Road closures are set for each edition, so check the organisers’ access page closer to the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the route of the Dam tot Damloop?
The Dam tot Damloop runs 10 English miles, about 16 kilometres, from Amsterdam through the IJtunnel to a finish on the Burcht in Zaandam. Start and finish are in different towns, so the course does not loop.
Who won the Dam tot Damloop 2026?
Asayech Ayichew won the women’s race in 50:05, a course record, and Jamal Kiprono won the men’s race by one second from Jonathan Kamosong.
Sources
- Ayichew verpulvert na bijna 40 jaar parcoursrecord bij 40e NN Dam tot Damloop — NN Dam tot Damloop
- Asayech Ayichew verbreekt na bijna 40 jaar parcoursrecord van Dam tot Damloop — NH Nieuws
- Dam tot Damloop 2026: dit moet je weten over de route, afsluitingen en het jubileumjaar — Hardloopnieuws
- Dam tot Damloop — Wikipedia
- NN Dam tot Damloop — NN Dam tot Damloop
- Afsluitingen Dam tot Dam Weekend 2026 — NN Dam tot Damloop
- NN Dam tot Damloop — Gemeente Amsterdam
- Ayichew en Kiprono winnaars Dam tot Damloop — De Orkaan