Sport in Waalwijk: from RKC to an 80-kilometre night march

In Waalwijk, sport revolves around RKC Waalwijk, who play in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie in the 2026-2027 season, the second tier of Dutch professional football. At home the club plays in the Mandemakers Stadion, which has 7,186 seats. The town also has a soft spot for long distances, such as the Kennedymars van De Langstraat and the Lidocross in December.

Buitenkant van het Mandemakers Stadion van RKC Waalwijk met blauwe letters en een lichtmast boven het parkeerterrein
Photo: Michielverbeek, CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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RKC play their football at the Mandemakers Stadion, and in September walkers cover 80 kilometres through De Langstraat.

Which league do RKC Waalwijk play in for 2026-2027?

RKC Waalwijk play in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie in the 2026-2027 season, the sponsored name of the Eerste divisie (First Division)3. The club's fixture list shows that competition for every upcoming match1.

The club dropped out of the Eredivisie after the 2024-2025 season. RKC finished seventeenth that year and were relegated after six seasons at the top level3. RKC have been in professional football since 1984. Since then the club has moved between the two highest divisions a few times.

You buy tickets through the club's ticketing system. Prices and sales for each match are listed there, so check them shortly before you come.

How many spectators does the Mandemakers Stadion hold?

The Mandemakers Stadion holds 7,186 spectators, according to the club itself2. Wikipedia gives the same number and adds that the stadium held 6,000 people when it opened. The corners between the stands were later filled in4.

The stadium stands on Akkerlaan 2 and has been home to the yellow and blues since 1996. Before that, the same ground was home to Sportpark Olympia, known locally as "De Fietsenstalling" (the bike shed). Since 1999 the stadium has carried the name of main sponsor Mandemakers2.

What is the Kennedymars van De Langstraat?

The Kennedymars van De Langstraat is an 80-kilometre walk through the evening and the night. You have a maximum of twenty hours to reach the finish. The first edition started on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 20.00 on the Raadhuisplein (town hall square). If you want something a little gentler, you can walk the 40-kilometre Halve Mars (half march), which starts on Sunday morning at 07.0056.

The 2026 route ran through the municipalities of Waalwijk, Heusden and Loon op Zand, past places including Drunen, Sprang-Capelle, Waspik, Kaatsheuvel and De Moer56. Every 5 to 7 kilometres there was a refreshment post with water; three main posts in Waalwijk also offered coffee, broth and sandwiches5. Taking part in the 80 kilometres cost €47.50 in 20266.

The second edition is on 11 and 12 September 2027. The foundation will announce the route for that year later5.

What happened to the 80 van de Langstraat?

The 80 van de Langstraat no longer exists. The board decided to stop and dissolved the foundation, according to a press release of 29 January 2026. A volunteer organisation could no longer bear the rising costs, the falling number of volunteers and the stricter safety requirements8.

The walk had a long history. The first "80" was walked in 1981, to breathe new life into the street fair in the centre. Alongside the full distance there were the shorter Midi 80 and Mini 80 versions7.

What other sport can you watch or do in Waalwijk?

Runners know the Lidocross organised by athletics club ACW'66. The 58th edition is on Sunday 20 December 2026, over unpaved paths through the Lido recreation area. Young people from U14, seniors and masters run laps of 1,850 metres; the youngest children run one lap of 1,050 metres. New is a 600-metre Mini Lidocross for children aged 4 to 7910.

TLV De Langstraat is organising the Tanis Backyard Ultra Run on 31 October and 1 November 2026. A 6.7-kilometre lap starts every hour, up to a maximum of 24 hours; entries are already full1112.

Road cycling got a big stage in 2026. On Sunday 6 September the final stage of the ZLM Tour started and finished in Waalwijk1312.

Want to get active yourself? Zwembad Olympia (indoor pool) and the Zidewinde outdoor pool are the municipality's two swimming pools14. For clubs and exercise activities for all ages, you can turn to GO Waalwijk, which works with neighbourhood sports coaches and exercise coaches12.

Frequently asked questions

Where do RKC Waalwijk play their home matches?

RKC Waalwijk play at home in the Mandemakers Stadion on Akkerlaan 2 in Waalwijk. It holds 7,186 spectators. The club has played here since 1996, on the site of the old Sportpark Olympia. Since 1999 the stadium has been named after main sponsor Mandemakers. You buy tickets through the club's ticketing system.

Have RKC Waalwijk been relegated?

Yes. RKC Waalwijk finished seventeenth in the Eredivisie in the 2024-2025 season and were relegated to the Eerste divisie, which plays under the sponsored name Keuken Kampioen Divisie. The club is in that division again in the 2026-2027 season. You can find the current fixtures and table on the club's website.

How long is the Kennedymars van De Langstraat?

The Kennedymars van De Langstraat is 80 kilometres long and must be completed within twenty hours. There is also a 40-kilometre Halve Mars, which starts on Sunday morning. Both distances start and finish on the Raadhuisplein in Waalwijk. The next edition is on 11 and 12 September 2027.

When is the Lidocross in Waalwijk?

The 58th Lidocross is on Sunday 20 December 2026. The first start is at 10.00, at PSV de Paardenvriend on Drunenseweg 23, and you can collect race numbers from 09.00. The course runs over unpaved paths through the Lido. There are laps for all ages, including young children.

Sources

  1. RKC Waalwijk, Programma (fixtures) (accessed 16 October 2026), www.rkcwaalwijk.nl/eersteelftal/programma
  2. RKC Waalwijk, Over het Mandemakers Stadion (about the stadium), www.rkcwaalwijk.nl/club/contact/mandemakers-stadion
  3. Wikipedia, RKC Waalwijk (secondary), nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/RKC_Waalwijk
  4. Wikipedia, Mandemakers Stadion (secondary), nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandemakers_Stadion
  5. Stichting Kennedymars van De Langstraat, Route en verzorgingsposten (route and refreshment posts), kennedymarsvandelangstraat.nl/deelnemen/route-en-verzorgingsposten
  6. Welkom in Wolluk, Kennedymars van De Langstraat 2026, welkominwolluk.nl/kennedymars-van-de-langstraat
  7. 80 van de Langstraat, home, www.80vandelangstraat.nl
  8. Stichting De 80 van de Langstraat, press release 29 January 2026, www.80vandelangstraat.nl/persbericht
  9. ACW'66, Lidocross 2026, lidocross.acw66.nl
  10. Hardlopen.nl, 58th Lidocross (secondary), www.hardlopen.nl/evenementen/61636-58e-lidocross
  11. TLV De Langstraat, tlvdelangstraat.nl
  12. GO Waalwijk, www.gowaalwijk.nl
  13. ZLM Tour, Etappes 2026 (stages), zlmtour.nl/etappes
  14. Gemeente Waalwijk, Recreatie en toerisme (recreation and tourism), www.waalwijk.nl/recreatie-en-toerisme

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