The Zernike Campus was more vibrant than ever today during the sixth edition of the Campus Trail. With over 600 enthusiastic participants, including 25 corporate teams, the campus transformed into a sporty festival ground. Along the route, there was plenty of music, activities, and surprising performances, ensuring that participants were not only moving but also enjoying a lively and festive atmosphere.
"It’s amazing to see how the Campus Trail connects people every year," says Amber van der Schaaf, Community Manager at Campus Groningen and organizer of the event. "Participants discover the campus in a unique way, while companies, students, staff, and even residents from the North who don’t study or work on campus get together to exercise and have fun. This edition, with so much music and excitement, was truly a party."
"This edition, with so much music and excitement, was truly a party."
- Amber van der Schaaf, communitymanager Campus Groningen
The starting signal went off at 3:30 PM at the Energy Barn, this year given by Niels van den Bovenkamp, director of the Sports Center of the University of Groningen and Hanze University. The Energy Barn also served as the lively finish location, where participants were greeted festively and awarded medals. A cheerful drink afterwards gave participants the chance to celebrate the fun run and share stories.
There was more to experience along the route than ever before: participating organizations provided their own entertainment. From live performances to interactive surprises, there was plenty to see and do. Participants enjoyed an acoustic trio in the courtyard of Plus Ultra, a DJ set on the steps of the Willem Alexander Sports Center, and a lively drum band under the trees at the Duisenberg Building. Singer-songwriters performed at Start Up City, ACLO, and the Marie Kamphuisborg. An energetic dance and singing performance by students from Lucia Marthas delighted runners at the Van OlstBorg at Hanze.
Even at the finish line there was music."I had heard the Campus Trail would be fun, but these fantastic vibes were a surprise," said one participant. "All those performances and surprises along the way gave so much energy. You almost forgot you were running!"
The Campus Trail demonstrates how sport, community, and innovation come together at Zernike Campus. The organizers look back on a successful edition and are already preparing for an equally vibrant 2026 edition.
The Campus Trail is an initiative of Campus Groningen in collaboration with Hanze University, the University of Groningen, the WEST Business Association, ACLO, Lode Holding, the Sports Center, Entrance, and the municipality of Groningen, and is practically organized by Paul van Put Events.
Source: Campus Groningen
Photos: Casper Maas Photography
Who is developing the most impactful innovation in Life Sciences & Health in the Northern Netherlands? Five companies are in the running for the LIFE Science Innovation Award 2026: Flux Robotics, Limosa Immunodiagnostics, SPCTR, MimeCure and GlycanScan International. The nominees will present their innovations on Tuesday 22 September during the fifth edition of the LIFE Science Conference in Groningen. An independent jury will select the winner, who will receive a €10,000 cash prize.
A much-loved tradition The Campus Trail has become a much-loved tradition on campus. Students, employees and professionals from companies and organisations across the campus ecosystem lace up their running shoes for a sporty 6.4-kilometre route through buildings and past some of the campus’s unique labs. The rapid growth in registrations shows just how much the Campus Trail has become part of the campus community. The combination of sport, meeting others and the unique campus setting makes the run a great opportunity to connect with people outside the usual work and study environment. And there’s no need to head home as soon as you cross the finish line. During the after-party, hosted by Contini Catering, participants can relax together, enjoy a drink and celebrate the afternoon. There’s still time to join: those who want to take part can register online until 3 September, or sign up on the day itself using the PIN Campus Trail 2026 | Campus Groningen.
ZonMw is expected to open the final call for proposals within the PharmaNL Shared Development Infrastructure (SDI) program line. This program line focuses on strengthening the infrastructure for the development, upscaling, and production of innovative medicines in the Netherlands.
