Amsterdam Dakar Challenge 2026
UnoDuoTwo cars, one team

Duolingo

Four drivers, two cars costing no more than €500 each, and 7,217* kilometers from Amsterdam to Banjul. For solar-powered streetlights and education for girls in Gambia.

4
Drivers
2
Cars: Uno & Duo
7,217*
Kilometers
8
Countries
01 — The team

One team,
two cars

We had to register as two teams for the challenge, so our cars each got their own name: Uno and Duo. In practice we're one crew of four. Along the way we swap cars and crew, so everyone drives in both cars.

Starts in Uno

Pepijn

Chef

Hospitality entrepreneur and boss of food and drink. Judges a campfire on both vibe and wine list.

Starts in Uno

Boudewijn

Navigator

Sorts everything out. The only one who, in the middle of the Sahara, still asks if everyone kept their receipts.

Starts in Duo

Roel

Engineer

Our camel. Ran the Marathon des Sables this year and won't complain about the heat until the AC hits 18°C.

Starts in Duo

Kevan

Photographer

Photography and promo. The only one who will chase the tent voluntarily when it gets blown away by the wind.

Rotation schedule

At every border we rotate the crew: two people in Uno, two in Duo, and we swap again after the border.

02 — The story

Four men.
Two Berlingos.
One goal.

In October we're climbing into two Citroën Berlingos for an adventure that takes us straight through Europe and the Sahara to Dakar. A journey of thousands of kilometers, with old cars, a good dose of perseverance, and undoubtedly the necessary challenges along the way.

There are four of us: two brothers, one of their sons, and a good friend. Pepijn, Boudewijn, Roel, and Kevan.

Of course we're looking forward to the adventure. To the stories we'll bring home, the special encounters, and everything we'll experience along the way. Honestly, we're going to have an awesome trip because we're taking part in the amsterdam – Dakar challenge. And this trip comes with good causes attached. We've covered our own trip ourselves – No worries. and we're putting a set amount toward the good cause.

But the more money, the better.

The Amsterdam Dakar Challenge has been supporting projects in Gambia for years. This year, everything is focused on education for vulnerable children and girls, and bringing light to villages through solar power.

To us, education feels like a given.
For many children in Gambia, that's anything but true.
A relatively small amount can make a world of difference there.

Since 2004The original Amsterdam Dakar Challenge, every year headed to Banjul.
Max €500That's all the car is allowed to cost. Everything else you put into it, you do yourself.
AuctionIn Banjul, Uno and Duo go under the hammer for local projects.
€60

For €60, a girl receives a complete school kit that lets her attend school.

€90

For €90, a family receives a solar kit. Not just light at home, but also the chance for children to do homework in the evening and keep learning once the sun goes down.

Those aren't big amounts.
But the impact is enormous.

03 — The route

Amsterdam → Banjul

Eight countries, two continents, one ferry, and a whole lot of sand. Uno and Duo swap the lead along the way.

We track exactly where we are along the way on Polarsteps — with photos and the actual route driven.

Follow us on Polarsteps
Along the way

Every kilometer means something

The route to Dakar is long. Along the way we'll no doubt break down, get stuck in the sand, or have to improvise more than once.

That's part of it.

But every kilometer we drive ultimately stands for something far more important.

More opportunity.
More education.
More future.

After the trip, the cars are auctioned off for local projects. Alongside that, every team tries to raise as much as possible for the Amsterdam Dakar Challenge's causes.

We'd love to make a real contribution to that.

05 — Raised so far

Together toward €5,000

One counter for Uno and Duo together. Everything that comes in goes to the projects in Gambia via the official team page.

Want to help?

Maybe you know us personally.
Maybe you just like following this adventure.
Or maybe, like us, you believe education is one of the finest investments there is.

However big or small your contribution: every euro helps.

Not to make our trip possible.
But to give kids the opportunities that feel so self-evident to us.

Want to support us?

Then we're incredibly grateful.
Together we turn a special adventure into something that makes a real difference.

€1,12022% of €5,000
Choose your sponsor amount

Donations happen on the official team page — you can leave the team a challenge there too. Would rather have your logo on one of the cars? That's possible from €20.

06 — How to claim a spot

Your logo,
our cars

  1. Pick your car, format, and spot on the car above.
  2. Fill in the form and attach your logo.
  3. Finish it off with a donation on the Amsterdam Dakar Challenge team page — enter your name so we can match it to your sticker.
  4. As soon as we recognize the donation, your sticker goes live on the car.
  5. You'll get a photo of your spot before the start and at the finish in Banjul.
Your stickers
Place your stickers above

Everything correct? After sending you'll get a confirmation email with the next step (donating on the team page).