Almost 10,000 participants took part in the first edition of the The Hague Marathon, making it the Netherlands’ second-largest marathon after those in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The event had sold out within a few days and was part of a wider sports weekend in The Hague, which attracted 21,000 participants across its various events.

The Red Cross provided medical support with 120 aid workers and 20 bicycle teams. The organisation said demand for medical assistance at large marathons has increased in recent years, with heat-related problems among the cases treated. It said factors including clothing, humidity, limited wind, strong sunlight, inadequate preparation and excessive pace can contribute to overheating. Ambulances are generally used only for serious cases requiring hospital transport, while the event’s medical teams also used cooling baths, ice-water-soaked towels and ice to assist participants.