Circuit Zandvoort

Circuit Zandvoort is a motor racing track in the dunes on the edge of Zandvoort, the seaside town west of Haarlem, and it is the best known racing circuit in the Netherlands. The track was built just after the Second World War, partly using roads that had been constructed in the dunes by the German occupation forces, and it opened in 1948. It has hosted the Dutch Grand Prix, which was a round of the Formula One World Championship from the early 1950s until the middle of the 1980s, and after a long absence the race returned to the calendar in 2021 to enormous enthusiasm from Dutch fans.

The character of the track comes from its setting. It winds through the sand dunes with sharp rises and falls, and the run along the dune ridges and the sea breeze give it a unique atmosphere, quite unlike a flat purpose-built circuit. The layout has been modernised, and it is now known for its high-speed corners and for banked turns, including a steep banking at the last corner, named after the Dutch driver Arie Luyendyk, that allows overtaking and gives spectators a spectacular sight. The famous Tarzan corner at the end of the main straight is another landmark. The circuit has seen the great drivers of several generations, and in recent years it has become closely associated with the Dutch world champion Max Verstappen, whose popularity filled the grandstands with orange-clad fans.

For visitors, the circuit is an event venue first, and public access depends on what is happening. On race weekends and major events there are grandstand tickets, camping and a festival atmosphere around the dunes, and the roads to the town fill up. On other days, the circuit hosts testing, club racing and track days, and some days are open for spectators, so check the calendar on the circuit's website for what is on and what tickets are needed. The surroundings of the track can sometimes be seen from the dune paths, but there is no guarantee that anything will be running.

Zandvoort has more to offer. The long beach with its pavilions is a short walk from the circuit, the Zandvoortse Duinen, the dune landscape, is excellent for walks, Museum Zandvoort tells the local story, and the Kerk van Zandvoort is an interesting church. The town is easily reached by train from Amsterdam and Haarlem, and in summer the trains are crowded.

The circuit suits motorsport fans and visitors who enjoy sporting events. Book accommodation and travel well in advance for a race weekend, and bring ear protection.