Sport Calendar in Amsterdam and the Netherlands 2026

This is a full listing of the Dutch sporting calendar with a focus on major sports events in Amsterdam and around the Netherlands.

Dutch Football

Football (soccer) is by far the most popular sport in the Netherlands. Taking in a match of the Dutch national team (Nederlands elftal) is perhaps one of the great experiences of world football.

Seeing the Dutch fans bedecked in all orange brings back some fleeting memories of the mighty Holland teams from the 1970s and 80s. Johan Cruijff. Total Football. Ruud Gullit. Marco van Basten. Euro 88…

As of late, the fortunes of the Dutch team has been mixed. The Netherlands failed to qualify for both Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018. They were losing finalists in the 2019 UEFA Nations League and reached the last 16 of the delayed Euro 2020 tournament and the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

The Dutch national team plays most of its home matches atone of 3 main stadiums in the Netherlands:

Netherlands home internationals (friendlies)

Netherlands vs Norway 27 Mar 2026 (20:45) – Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam
Netherlands vs Ecuador 31 Mar 2026 (20:45) – Philips Stadion, Eindhoven

Netherlands World Cup 2026 Games (check for tickets here)

Netherlands vs Japan 14 Jun 2026 (22:00) – AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Netherlands vs TBA 20 Jun 2026 (19:00) – NRG Stadium, Houston
Tunisia vs Netherlands 25 Jun 2026 (01:00) – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Since winning the Euro2017 tournament on home soil, the Dutch women’s team (Nederlands vrouwenelftal) has seen a big leap in popularity.

They reached the Quarter Finals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, however failed to reach the knockout stage of Euro 2025.

Dutch women’s home matches (World Cup qualifiers):

Netherlands women vs Ireland women 7 Mar 2026 (20:45) – Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht
Netherlands women vs France women 14 Apr 2026 (TBA) – TBA
Netherlands women vs Poland women 9 Jun 2026 (TBA) – TBA

Ajax games

Dutch League (Eredivisie) matches are normally played from August to May with a winter’s break in early January. AFC Ajax plays its home games at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam.

Here are the remaining Ajax home fixtures for the 2025/26 season – these are Eredivisie league matches unless otherwise stated:

Ajax vs Fortuna Sittard 14 Feb 2026 (20:00) – check for tickets
Ajax vs NEC 21 Feb 2026 (21:00) – check for tickets
Ajax vs Sparta 14 Mar 2026 (21:00) – check tickets here
Ajax vs FC Twente 4 Apr 2026 (21:00) – check for tickets
Ajax vs PSV 2 May 2026 (20:00) – check for tickets
Ajax vs FC Utrecht 10 May 2026 (16:45) – check for tickets

Johan Cruijff Schaal (Cruijff Shield, winner Eredivisie vs winner KNVB Beker), season opener.
to be played in August 2026

Athletics / Running / Walking Events in the Netherlands

CPC (City-Pier-City) Run – An annual half marathon event in the Hague. Starting in the city, the flat course takes in Scheveningen beach before heading back to the centre. Next edition is on 15 Mar 2026.

30 van Zandvoort – 30km and 18km walking event (14th edition) on 28 Mar 2026 around the Zandvoort area starting at the paddock of the famous Circuit Zandvoort.

Zandvoort Circuit run – Running event on 29 Mar 2026 around the Zandvoort circuit, beach and dunes. Options of 4km, 12km and 10 miles courses.

Cruyff Legacy 14K – Charitable fun run event over 5km and 14km around Amsterdam Zuidoost to raise money for the Johan Cruijff Foundation. Expected 12 Apr 2026 with start/finish at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam.

NN Rotterdam Marathon – This big marathon event in the Netherlands normally attracts over 20,000 competitors including a field of world-class athletes. One of the fastest marathon courses in the world, the race begins on Erasmus Bridge with the finish line being on the Coolsingel. The 45th edition is scheduled for 12 Apr 2026.

FBK Games – International athletics meet at the Fanny Blankers-Koen stadium (FBK Stadion) in Hengelo, Netherlands on 21 Jun 2026.

Gaasperplasrun – 1km, 2km, 5km and 10km runs around the Gaasperplaas, a lake in south-east Amsterdam. Expected June 2026.

Nijmegen Vierdaagse – International four days marches event around the city of Nijmegen with up to 50,000 participants – walking 30km, 40km or 50km per day over all 4 days. The 108th edition is scheduled for 21-24 Jul 2026.

Dutch Athletics Championships (NK) – Annual Dutch Championships outdoor meet takes place each summer. Expected 25-26 Jul 2026 at FBK Stadion in Hengelo.

Dam tot Dam Loop – Popular fun-run event which includes the world’s biggest 10 mile event from Amsterdam to Zaandam attracting almost 50,000 participants. Expected 19-20 Sep 2026.

Amsterdam City Walk – 10, 14, 17, 20, 26 and 33 km walking events held the day before the Amsterdam marathon taking in the highlights of the city. Saturday 24 Oct 2026, the longer walks start from the Olympic Stadium.

TCS Amsterdam Marathon – The Amsterdam’s marathon event will be held on Sunday 25 Oct 2026. The race starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium.

Olympic Stadium Run – The Olympischstadionloop is a 5km and 10km running event which starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium in the south of Amsterdam. Expected to return in November 2026 (the 2025 edition had to be cancelled).

Tennis Events in the Netherlands

Netherlands hosts 2 ATP tournaments during the year:

ABN Amro Tournament – ATP tennis tour event at Ahoy Rotterdam, scheduled for 7-15 Feb 2026. A strong field of top 20 players is due at the 53rd edition.

Libéma Open – International grass court tournament (men’s ATP and women’s WTA) at the Autotron Rosmalen near Den Bosch, 1 hour south of Amsterdam. Used as a warm-up to Wimbledon for some players. Expected 6-14 Jun 2026.

Motorsport in the Netherlands

Formula 1 – With the rise of local star Max Verstappen, Formula 1 is seeing record popularity in the Netherlands. F1 has come back to the historic circuit at Zandvoort (near Amsterdam) with races held in 2021-25 – for the first since 1985. The next Dutch Grand Prix F1 race weekend will be held over 21-23 Aug 2026.

Dutch MotoGP – Popular motorcycle racing event held at the Assen TT circuit. Runs 26-28 Jun 2026.

Golf Tournaments in the Netherlands

KLM Open – European Tour golf event expected at The International in Amsterdam. Expected 4-7 Jun 2026.

Dutch Ladies Open – Ladies European Tour event over 3 rounds, held at Goyer Golf & Country Club in Eemnes (near Hilversum) over 19-21 Jun 2026.

Solheim Cup – Biennial women’s golf tournament featuring a European team against the United States. The 2026 event will be held at Bernardus Golf at Cromvoirt (‘s-Hertogenbosch) in the Netherlands. Runs 7-13 Sep 2026.

Boxing

Ben Bril Boxing Gala – Ben Bril (1912-2003) was a Jewish Dutch boxer who fought aged 16 at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam and later survived deportation to a German concentration camp. This annual boxing and dinner show at Theater Carré Amsterdam is held in his memory. Expected Oct 2026.

Cycling

Omloop van Zandvoort – Cycling event over 40km, 80km or 120km on 29 Mar 2026 starting in the pit lane of Zandvoort circuit.

Darts

Premier League – The invitational Premier League of darts is expected 16 Apr 2026 (20:00) at Ahoy Rotterdam.

Dutch Darts Championships – European tour event featuring some of the world’s top players. Expected May 2026 at Autotron in Rosmalen.

World Series of Darts Finals – International PDC darts event runs at AFAS Live in Amsterdam, expected 17-20 Sep 2026.

Equestrian

Jumping Amsterdam – Indoor international equestrian event featuring some of the world’s best show jumping and dressage riders. At RAI Amsterdam on 22-25 Jan 2026.

Jumping Indoor Maastricht – Indoor international equestrian event held at MECC Maastricht. Runs 5-8 Nov 2026.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics World Championships 2026 – The 54th edition of the FIG world artistic gymnastics championships will be held at Ahoy Rotterdam over 17-25 Oct 2026.

Korfball

League Finals – Ball sport (kind of netball-basketball cross) invented in the Netherlands. The next League finals day are expected on 18 Apr 2026 at Ahoy Rotterdam.

Padel

Premier Padel Rotterdam – International padel sport tournament featuring 48 top male and female players. Next event expected 27 Sep to 4 Oct 2026 at Rotterdam Ahoy.

Power Sports

Euro Muscles Show – Event featuring pro bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman competitions, MMA and boxing bouts. 3rd edition runs at RAI Amsterdam, expected 19-20 Sep 2026.

Rowing

Grachtenrace – Up to 140 sloop boats race over a 25km course around Amsterdam’s canals. The race starts near Jan Schaeferbrug (bridge) at IJhaven and the route takes in various canals including Herengracht, Leidsegracht and Singelsgracht. The finish is at Oosterdok by the Maritime Museum. The 39th edition runs on 10 Oct 2026.

Rugby

Amsterdam Sevens – Annual international rugby sevens tournament with over 120 teams to be played at the National Rugby Centre (Sportpark de Eendracht) in Amsterdam. The 53rd edition runs 6-7 Jun 2026.

Skating

Friday Night Skate – A 20km organised inline skate around the streets of Amsterdam held every Friday night (20:30, weather permitting) from Vondelpark Pavilion.

Swimming

Amsterdam City Swim – This charity 2km outdoor swim event in the city features up to 3,000 participants. Next event scheduled for 6 Sep 2026.

Triathlon

Tri Amsterdam – International triathlon event which offers half-distance and full Olympic distance courses from Bella Vista park around the Amstel river area. Runs 15 Jun 2026.

Last updated 31 December 2025. This article was first published in 2019 and has been regularly updated.

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