Overseas Race | Sutton Striders

Sutton Striders Overseas Race 2024

Dam tot Damloop 10-mile, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
(21-21 September)

Join us for the first EVER official Sutton Striders overseas race and take on the largest running race in the Netherlands, Dam tot Damloop, where a total of 50k runners take part in events over the race weekend each year.

The Dam tot Damloop race weekend includes the main 10-mile Dam tot Damloop event on Sunday, 22nd September, starting in Amsterdam and weaving its way through picturesque streets, through the IJtunnel and along stunning canals through to Zaandam.

There are also events throughout the day on Saturday, 21st September, starting in the morning with the kids Mini Dam tot Damloop races, and rounding off the day with the 5-mile Damloop by Night at 19:45.

Dam tot Damloop Course Profile

As the Dam tot Damloop takes place in the Netherlands, the course is 'pannenkoeken flat' with virtually no elevation gain.

Dam tot Damloop 10-mile Event

The main Dam tot Damloop 10-mile event starts at Prins Hendrikkade, Amsterdam, then heads through the IJtunnel and along the streets and canals of Amsterdam North before finishing in Peperstraat, Zaandam.

Around 35k runners take part in the Dam tot Damlopp 10-mile event and it always sells out fast.

Damloop by Night 5-mile Event

Taking place on the evening of Saturday, 21st September, the Damloop by Night is a 5-mile event starting at the Vermiljoenweg in Zaandam.

Together with 12,000 other participants you run a distance of 8km through Zaandam. The course mainly follows the traditional course of the 10 mile race, passing through Zuiddijk to Voorzaan, then from Den Uylbrug through Badhuisweg and the crowded city centre of Zaandam where there are lots of supporters at Peperstraat, the finish of the Damloop by Night.

Mini Dam tot Damloop Kids Events

Kids can participate in the Mini Dam tot Damloop on Saturday, 21st September. There are two sets of kids' events, one starting at Zaandam and the other at Amsterdam North.

At Zaandam 2,000 children will take on distances from 600m (4-7 years old), 1.2km (8-9 years old) and 2.2km 10-13 years old), while the races at Amsterdam North include 1km (4-7 years old) and 1.8km (8-13 years old) options.

How to Take Part in the Dam tot Damloop

Your Race Commissioner, Gareth Richards, will coordinate attendance at the Dam tot Damloop, however you will need to register for the race yourself when entries open and book your own flights and accommodation. Gareth will help identify flights, hotels and other logistics, as well as pulling together itineraries you can use throughout your stay in the Netherlands, but it'll be up to you to book and pay for everything yourself.

We'll make the initial announcements for the Dam tot Damloop event via several different channels, but the main organisation will be conducted through a new Overseas Race Whatsapp Group. Make sure you click the link below to join so that you receive the latest updates.

Click to join the Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EQnStP374ygKqrfoqGCOLF

Race Registration

You need to register for the Dam tot Damloop yourself and we strongly recommend you register on the day entries open on 23rd April. We will keep you informed via the Sutton Striders Whatsapp and Facebook groups, but ultimately, if you want to take part, you'll need to sign up as soon as entries open to secure your place.

You can register on the official Dam tot Damloop website by clicking the below and clicking the blue 'Register' button.

Click to visit the official Dam tot Damloop website: https://www.damloop.com/

Flights

Amsterdam Schiphol is the closest airport and there are dozens of flights every day from virtually all London airports. You can use the below Skyscanner tool to quickly check flight availability.

Flights to Amsterdam from London are relatively cheap and you can book a return trip for less than £115 per person. Google Flights recommends the best time to book is between 18th April to 17th July, so after you receive confirmation of your Dam tot Damloop race entry, you should look to book flights.

Hotels

Hotels in Amsterdam city centre can be rather expensive, however there are very reasonably-priced quality hotel options just outside the city. Once everyone has registered for the Dam tot Damloop race and confirmed their entry, Gareth will coordinate hotel rooms and see if the club can get a block booking and discount.

In the meantime, you can use the below Skyscanner tool to check availability yourself.

To give you an idea of prices, based on two people sharing for two nights, typical hotels costs are:

Amsterdam City Centre:

NH Amsterdam Caransa £123pppn
WestCord City Centre Hotel Amsterdam £123pppn
Hotel Amsterdam De Roode Leeuw £163pppn

Amsterdam South/ Amstelveen:

Radisson Hotel & Suites Amsterdam South £68pppn
citizenM Amsterdam South £72pppn
Mercure Amsterdam City £61pppn
Van der Valk Amsterdam Amstel £91pppn

Logistics

Getting around Amsterdam and the Netherlands is very easy.

The country has the world's most densely populated train network and within Amsertdam itself you can access buses, trams and bicycles with ease.

Staying outside of Amsterdam is also no issue and you can save a significant amount of money on hotel rooms just by staying a short train/ tram ride from the city centre.

It takes about 18 minutes by train to get from Amsterdam Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal Station, and there are several reasonably-priced hotels near the airport and at Amsterdam WTC, which is between the airport and the city centre.

Dam tot Damloop Costs

We estimate that the total all-in cost for taking part in the Dam tot Damloop event will be around £500 per person, and may be cheaper if you are willing to share a hotel room outside of Amsterdam city centre.

Here's an indicative cost profile:

Dam tot Damloop race entry: £30 (EUR 35)
Return flights: £90
Hotel (2 nights): £180
Food and Beverages: £120
Logistics: £50

Parkrun Options

When we surveyed our members, many people were interested in combining an overseas race with a parkrun. Fortunately, the Netherlands has a bunch of great parkruns, including Zuiderpark near The Hague and Zergerplas in Alphen aan den Rijn for those looking to check off a 'Z' on their parkrun alphabet.

The nearest parkrun to Amsterdam is in nearby Amstelveen, a short tram/ train ride from Amsterdam city centre.

Register your Interest in the Dam tot Damloop

The best way to register your interest in running the Dam tot Damloop is to join the new Sutton Striders Overseas Race Whatsapp Group by clicking this link:

Click to join the Whatsapp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EQnStP374ygKqrfoqGCOLF

This way you won't miss an update and can ask questions that others may also be thinking.

There's zero committment at this point, so if you're interested, join the new Whatsapp group today.