Long Course Weekend Secures Landmark 7-Year Extension in Belgium and the Netherlands
A Long-Term Commitment to Inclusive Sport, Community Impact, and International Sports Tourism
The global growth of the Long Course Weekend continues at pace, with a new seven-year extension now confirmed for both Belgium and the Netherlands, cementing the future of two of Europe’s most vibrant endurance festivals through to 2033.
What began as a bold Welsh concept has evolved into one of the most inclusive and community-driven participation sports movements in the world. The extension reflects not only the sporting success of the events, but their growing importance as catalysts for tourism, economic growth, healthier lifestyles, and community engagement.
Across both Belgium and the Netherlands, Long Course Weekend has rapidly become more than a race weekend. It has become a celebration of human achievement where first-timers stand shoulder to shoulder with elite athletes, families line the streets, local businesses thrive, and entire towns become part of the experience.
The Dutch event in Maastricht has already grown to almost 6,000 athletes in just its second year, creating significant economic benefit for hotels, restaurants, cafés, retailers, and tourism operators across the wider region. Beyond race weekend itself, the events are increasingly driving year-round training camps, repeat tourism visits, and international exposure for host destinations.
But the long-term vision extends far beyond medals and finish lines.
At the heart of the Long Course Weekend philosophy is accessibility and belonging. Unlike traditional endurance formats, athletes can participate across individual swim, bike, and run disciplines, or combine them into the full Long Course challenge. This flexibility opens the door to participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
The extended partnerships will also see increased investment into targeted community programmes designed to create genuine local legacy. Initiatives around youth participation, women in sport, active ageing, swimming confidence, obesity reduction, and access to grassroots sport will form a central pillar of the next seven years.
The model is simple: world-class events should leave behind world-class communities.
Matthew Evans, CEO and Founder of Long Course Weekend, said:
“When we created Long Course Weekend in Wales, we wanted to build something very different. Not just a race, but a movement that made people feel they belonged. A place where a first-time 5km runner receives the same applause as an elite athlete crossing the line after an Iron-distance challenge.
Belgium and the Netherlands have embraced that spirit completely. The atmosphere, the passion from the communities, the energy in the streets, and the ambition from our partners have been extraordinary.
This seven-year extension is about far more than sport. It is about creating healthier communities, supporting local economies, inspiring future generations, and proving that endurance events can be inclusive, emotional, and transformational experiences for everyone involved.
We are incredibly proud of what has been built so far, but this next chapter is where the real legacy begins.”
Matthias Lievens, Race Director for Belgium and the Netherlands, added:
“From day one, the response from athletes, volunteers, local authorities, and businesses has exceeded every expectation. People here have not simply hosted Long Course Weekend, they have adopted it as part of their identity.
What makes these events special is the atmosphere. Entire towns come alive. Families participate together. Local businesses feel the impact immediately. Athletes arrive as competitors and leave feeling part of something much bigger.
The long-term extension gives us the confidence to invest deeper into the community, expand participation opportunities, and continue building one of the most exciting endurance event experiences anywhere in Europe.
The journey so far has been incredible, but we genuinely believe the best is still to come.”
As Long Course Weekend continues its international expansion, the organisation remains committed to maintaining the values that built the brand in Wales: inclusion, community, belonging, and experiences that create lifelong memories both on and off the course.
In Belgium and the Netherlands, the next seven years are already underway. The finish line tape is simply the beginning