2023 Dutch Grand Prix – Getting Around Guide

Get all the important information about travelling to the Dutch Grand Prix including flights, accommodation recommendations and iconic landmarks that are a must-see during the race weekend on August 24-27!

Practical Information

• Visas: The Netherlands is part of the Schengen Area, which facilitates border-free travel between 26 European countries. Most visitors can stay for 90 days without a visa; check you eligibility here.
• Currency: Euro. ATMs are easy to find and paying by card for most transactions is the norm. Tipping is not expected, but is also appreciated when you receive good service. 
• Language: The official language is Dutch but English, German and French are also widely spoken.
• Time Zone: UTC/GMT + hour
• In an Emergency: Dial 112 for emergencies. 
• Power Sockets: The Netherlands uses standard European C & F plugs; bring an adapter if you're coming from the UK, USA, or Australia.
• Weather: The Dutch Grand Prix will be held in late August, where daily highs of 20°C (68°F) can be expected. Whilst warmer weather is not out of the question, there is also a good chnace of rain and cool winds from the North Sea. We recommend packing your rain jacket and several layers of clothing. 

Arrival & Getting Around

Flights to the Netherlands

Amsterdam's Schipol Airport is a busy airport serving direct flights to all corners of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia. Dutch flag carrier KLM has the best selection of flights, but the airport is also popular with discount airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair. Schipol is connected to Amsterdam Centraal by a regular train service, while taxis and ride sharing are available (40-60 EUR fare from the airport to the center of Amsterdam, a little more to Zandvoort.) For a better selection of discount flights, you may also fly into either Rotterdam The Hague Airport (60km south of Amsterdam) or Eindhoven Airport (120km south of Amsterdam).

If you don't want to fly, there are other ways to get to the Netherlands for the race weekend. The train network in Western Europe is very well developed. The Eurostar service from London to Amsterdam, via Brussels, takes around 6 hours. Other major cities within a short train ride of Amsterdam include Brussels (2-3 hours), Paris (3-4 hours) and Cologne (2.5-3.5 hours). UK fans can also take the ferry (with or without car) across to the Netherlands. The most convenient is the Newcastle to Amsterdam service with DFDS, though P&O also offers a service from Hull to Rotterdam and Stena Line sails from Harwich to the Hook of Holland.

Where to stay for the Dutch Grand Prix

Although Zandvoort is a popular seaside resort offering guest houses, hotels and campsites, demand often exceeds supply when F1® comes to town. For a better selection of places to stay (and more reasonable prices), the Hague and Amsterdam are also worth considering. The Dutch capital has everything from cheap hostel beds to five-star chain hotels, though you will be competing with regular tourists in one of Europe's most visited cities. The medium-sized town of Haarlem, midway between Amsterdam and Zandvoort, also has a good selection of accommodation available. Finally, don't discount staying in Holland's 'de facto capital', The Hague (Den Haag), which is just a 1-hour train or motorway ride south of Zandvoort. You can also add accommodation and circuit transfers to your Official Ticket Package with F1® Experiences, which offers rooms a selected hotels in Amsterdam. 

How to get to Circuit Zandvoort

The organisers of the Dutch Grand Prix are aiming for the race to be the most sustainable on the calendar. As a result, various sustainable transport options are recommended for traveling to Circuit Zandvoort. With a large exclusion zone in place around the circuit on race weekend, fans are urged to travel to the circuit by walking, bicycle, train or bus. Whichever transport method you choose, it's likely you'll need to cover the last part of your journey on foot, so comfortable footwear is recommended! Click here for a summary of all transport options at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Hire A Car

Under normal circumstances, Circuit Zandvoort is less than an hour’s drive from Amsterdam's centre. However, an exclusion zone is in place on race weekend around the town, with only a limited number of cars able to enter. Parking is available for our hospitality guests near the circuit (Park & Ride with free shuttle to the circuit). Parking lots have also been set up for fans with bicycles, reserve your spot here. Park & Ride areas are available at P+R Beverwijk, which is about 20km from Circuit Zandvoort - parking is free (reserve your place here), but return shuttle tickets from the parking to the circuit gates cost 37.50 EUR. In general, we recommend leaving your car at home and using public transport to get to the circuit.

Public Transportation

Zandvoort Station is around 15 minutes’ walk from the circuit gates and offers regular train services to Amsterdam, Haarlem and other nearby cities. The train is the best means of transport to get to and from the Dutch Grand Prix, though congestion can still be expected at peak times. The trip from Amsterdam to Zandvoort takes 30 minutes and special return tickets (Dutch Grand Prix Retour) cost approximately 12 EUR - we recommend buying your tickets in advance (either online or at any train station in the Netherlands). Public bus services and organised coach transport are available for fans travelling to the Dutch Grand Prix from different parts of The Netherlands. We recommend buying tickets for public bus services and organised coach transport in advance.

Ride Sharing

Not recommended. Due to the exclusion zone for vehicle traffic around Zandvoort on race weekend, taxis cannot get closer to the circuit than 1.5 hours walk. It is possible to get a taxi to one of the Park & Ride areas near the circuit - from there you can take a shuttle to the circuit gates that costs 35 EUR return.

F1® Experiences

Booked your hotel with us? Daily coach transfers to and from Circuit Zandvoort are available at an extra cost for our hotel guests. Limited parking passes may also available through your sales agent for F1® Experiences hospitality guests (Champions Club & Paddock Club).

What to see & do during the race weekend

Zandvoort

Most of the best restaurants in Zandvoort are located along the foreshore or in the narrow streets of the town centre. Personal recommendations from our recent trip to Zandvoort include traditional Greek fare at Martha (also known as Zaras), Thai cuisine at Bandai Thai Restaurant and the popular La Fontanella Pizzeria, a no-frills Italian restaurant that serves pasta and wood-fired pizzas in a relaxed setting. Next to the beach, Strandpavillon Thallassa BV is one of the best seafood restaurants in town.

Formula 1 nightlife at the Dutch Grand Prix is centered around the beach clubs and pavilions located along the foreshore between the centre of town and the circuit. Some of the most popular include Far Out, Club Nautique, Beachclub No5 and Bernie’s Beach Club. The latter is closest to the circuit and is sure to feature F1®-themed events on race weekend. Other nightlife options include the Holland Casino (open till 3am every day), which offers popular table games and 300 slot machines.

Amsterdam

Whilst many tourists are inevitably drawn to the ‘coffee shops’ of Amsterdam’s infamous red-light district, the city also offers a wealth of cultural attractions. Museums worth visiting include the Van Gogh Museum (open daily from 9-18, adult tickets €19) and the nearby Rijksmuseum (open daily from 9-17, adult tickets €19), the latter holding an impressive collection of Rembrandt and Dutch Masters works. Amsterdam’s most beautiful green space, Vondelpark, is also worth a visit when the weather is good. In addition to walking and cycle paths, Vondelpark also boasts restaurants, a cinema and an open-air theatre.

Another popular tourist attraction is the Heineken Experience Tour, where you will learn more about the history of the famous brewery that was founded in Amsterdam in 1864 and is now one of the world’s largest beer brands (adult tickets cost €18 when purchased online, including two cold beers at the end of your tour).

The red-light district also offers some of the city’s quirkiest shopping, especially at the Waterlooplein Market, where you’ll find 300 stalls selling everything from recycled fashion to vinyl records (open every day, except Sundays). After a day of exploring or race going, D'Vijff Vlieghen offers traditional Dutch cuisine in an atmospheric space spread across five historic canal houses, while de Silveren Spiegel specializes in multi-course tasting menus. Amsterdam’s Chinatown district is also home to many budget restaurants offering a range of South East Asian cuisine; Vietnamese, Thai and Indian restaurants sit alongside the many Chinese restaurants, the best of which include One Dim Sum and New King.

Amsterdam also has an excellent bar scene; Flying Dutchmen Cocktails is a popular cocktail bar with over 500 bottles on offer, while De Druif is an old-school pub that’s been open for more than 400 years. For something a little different, the SkyLounge Amsterdam is a popular roof-top bar on the 11th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Station (rooms available with F1® Experiences!) with an indoor wine bar and outdoor terrace offering stunning views over the city.

Haarlem

The mid-size city of Haarlem, between Zandvoort and Amsterdam, offers much of the charm of the Dutch capital without the hordes of tourists. Haarlem has a beautifully preserved old town with cobbled streets, impressive churches and museums housing everything from Renaissance masters (Frans Hal Museum) to quirky18th century inventions (Teyler’s Museum). The old city is best discovered on foot, or you can hire a bike to discover places like the Haarlemmerhout, Holland’s oldest public park. The so-called ‘Golden Streets’ of Haarlem, located around the central square (Grote Markt), offer some of the best shopping in all of Holland. Expect to find everything from small specialty shops to high-end concept stores, men’s and women’s fashion.

The centre of Haarlem boast many good restaurants like Ratatouille Food & Wine, which pairs modern French cuisine with the best wines and De Lachende Javaan, which specializes in Indonesian cuisine. The freshest seafood is served at Fishbar Monk; sit on the sunny terrace overlooking the canal if the weather is good. After dark, there’s plenty of cool bars to choose from in the area surrounding the Grote Markt, including Bar Wigbolt (specialising in vodka and cocktails) and Jopenkerk, a microbrewery and tap house in a former church. Outside the city centre, but worth the trip, Uiltje Brewery is a popular microbrewery with attached bar and outdoor seating serving over 10 draft beers.