The Rotterdam Marathon Study Group

We organize and supervise emergency (para)medical care during major Golazo Events events, including the NN Marathon Rotterdam, the NN CPC Loop Den Haag, and Marathon The Hague. We work closely with the Red Cross, the GHOR (Municipal Health Service), hospitals, and many volunteers.

This involves much more than just the day-of deployment. We develop and manage protocols, guidelines, and work instructions for emergency care during events, aligned with applicable laws and regulations and national standards for event care. These documents form the foundation for a safe, uniform approach across all disciplines involved.

In preparation, we develop medical and logistical plans, determine staffing levels, and ensure training and instruction for all emergency responders. We coordinate our plans with safety regions, municipalities, and other partners, and prepare for a wide range of scenarios—from heat and dehydration to serious incidents.

During the event, we’ll coordinate care from an event control center, monitor triage processes, and ensure smooth information exchange between dispatch centers, ambulances, and hospitals. Afterward, we’ll evaluate the response together with all partners and adjust our protocols and manuals as needed. This way, we continue to learn, improve, and professionalize, with the goal of a safe and well-organized care chain for every participant.

The RMSG also serves in an advisory role for other running events in the Netherlands. We review medical plans and advise on the organization and deployment of (para)medical care. In this way, we contribute to uniform and high-quality event care within the sports sector.

Our advisory role includes sharing knowledge, experience, and best practices gained during major events such as the NN Marathon Rotterdam.

By actively sharing this knowledge, we help other organizations strengthen their medical preparation and contribute to a national network in which event care is provided safely, efficiently, and uniformly.

The RMSG is actively involved in scientific research into (para)medical care during running events. Through data analysis, evaluations, and collaboration with knowledge institutions, we contribute to the further development of event care in the Netherlands.

During major events, we collect relevant medical and operational data, such as the type and frequency of injuries, heat-related complaints, and logistical response times. This data is carefully analyzed and used to identify trends, improve processes, and inform new guidelines.

We collaborate with universities, colleges, and research institutions on studies that provide insight into the strain on the body during prolonged exercise, the effectiveness of triage protocols, and the organization of acute care in the field. The results of these studies are shared through publications, conferences, and knowledge platforms, ensuring broad applicability within the sports and healthcare sectors.

In this way, we connect practice and science: we translate research insights directly into improvements in our working methods, training, and consulting. This way, RMSG remains a knowledge-driven organization that continuously contributes to the innovation and professionalization of event management.

View some of our publications here:

• NTVG Prehospital care at the Rotterdam Marathon 2025

Are you a master’s student or researcher interested in contributing to knowledge development in event management? Feel free to contact us to discuss the possibilities for collaboration with the RMSG.

We actively contribute to national guidelines, such as the Field Standard for Event Care, and seek collaboration with universities and research institutes, including Erasmus MC, Radboud UMC, and TU Delft.

The Field Standard for Event Care describes the quality and safety frameworks for medical care at events in the Netherlands. This guideline serves as the national standard for the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of event care and was developed in collaboration with organizations such as the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), GHOR (North Emergency Medical Services), the Red Cross, and professional associations.

The RMSG contributes to the further development and implementation of this standard by sharing practical experience and research results, and by actively participating in national working groups and consultation structures. In this way, we help forge the connection between policy, science, and daily practice in the field.

Want to learn more about the field standard for event care? Click here.

We provide participants and volunteers with practical advice on how to exercise responsibly. We also organize the annual Rotterdam Marathon Sports Medicine Congress. The Rotterdam Marathon Sports Medicine Congress has built a strong reputation in recent years as the leading knowledge platform for event care and sports medicine. Every year, experts from the medical, scientific, and organizational fields share their insights on current topics in sports care.

Previous editions featured inspiring keynotes and parallel sessions, including:

Dr. Jelmer Alsma (Erasmus MC) – on heat-related illnesses and acute care at sporting events.

Kamiel Maase (NOC*NSF) – on performing under warm conditions and exercising responsibly in the heat.

Prof. Evert Verhagen (Amsterdam UMC) – on injury prevention and sustainable sports participation.

Dr. Judith van den Brule (Radboud UMC) – on the development and implementation of the Field Standard for Event Care.

Arjen Littooij (Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region) – on crisis management and collaboration between medical and security chains.

Experts from TU Delft and VeiligheidNL – on innovation in monitoring, biomechanics, and injury prevention.

This combination of science, practical experience, and multidisciplinary collaboration makes the conference unique in the Netherlands. The topics directly address the challenges and innovations in event management, from heat protocols to triage, logistics, and prevention.