This is my guide to spectating in the Arena In grandstand at Zandvoort, based on my trip to the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.
It includes examples of the view from different seats and my tips on the best seats to try and get to maximise your view.
Plus I list the seats that you want to avoid, and other grandstands that might offer a better view.
Contents
Arena In grandstand Zandvoort location
The Arena In grandstand is located on the inside (right-hand side) of the Zandvoort track layout, just before Turn 11.
It’s directly opposite the Eastside grandstands and is adjacent to the Arena grandstands which are to its right.
To get to the grandstand you have to use the pedestrian tunnel that goes under the circuit between turns 13 and 14.
Other grandstands
Check out our spectating guides to the other grandstands at Zandvoort:
Arena In grandstand tickets for the Dutch GP
The Arena In grandstand is part of the Silver group of grandstands. This is the third most expensive Zandvoort F1 ticket you can get for grandstand seats. The Gold and Main Straight grandstand groups are more expensive.
Other Silver grandstands (the same price) include:
- The lower half of the Ben Pon grandstand
- Eastside 2
- The right-hand third of the Arena grandstand 2
Arean In tickets often sell out around a year in advance of the race on the official Dutch GP website. If you still need tickets, I’d recommend purchasing tickets through ViaGoGo instead.
I’ve used them a number of times for Formula 1 tickets and have always had a great experience with them. Tickets often come up cheaper on on ViaGoGo than on the official site, plus they have more single-day ticket options too.
ViaGoGo also have a robust ‘Fan Protect guarantee’ which keeps your money and tickets safe for added peace of mind. I’ll be using them again this season for more F1 tickets.
A 3-day ticket in the Arena In grandstand is officially around 250 Euros more than a 3-day Zandvoort General Admission ticket.
Arena In grandstand details
Seats
The seats are chairs with a fixed back and folding base.
Cover
There’s no roof over the Zandvoort Arena In grandstand, it’s completely uncovered and open to the elements. The only grandstand at the circuit that does have a roof is the Main Straight grandstand.
At the 2023 Formula 1 race it rained almost all weekend. Umbrellas aren’t allowed in the stands, so make sure you bring some suitable weather protection.
Check out our Zandvoort F1 dress code guide for some suggestions.
TV screens
There’s one main TV screen visible from this stand. It’s on the other side of the track just above and behind the Eastside 2 grandstand. This screen is visible to everyone in Arena In.
There’s also the large ‘Jumbotron’ TV screen inside the apex of Turn 12. This is only really visible to people sat on the far right hand side of the stand.
Facilities
There’s a long row of food, drink and merchandise vendors directly behind the Arena In grandstand. Plus, there’s even more behind all of the other Arena grandstands adjacent to this one.
There are toilets only a few paces away from the back of this stand too.
Arena In seating plan
The rows start from 1 lowest down at the front and increase as they go back. I forgot to make a note of the back row but it’s likely to be row 33 or 34, based on the adjacent Arena grandstands.
Seat numbers increase continuously across the whole width of the stand. They’ll start at 1 on the far left hand side (as you stand on the track and look at the grandstand) and increase as you move to the right.
Arena In grandstand views
The image below shows the parts of the circuit visible from the Arena In grandstand highlighted in pink.
The main part of the track visible from this stand is the straight that leads to Turn 11.
You’ll have a great view of the braking zone for Turn 11 which is at the end of one of the Zandvoort DRS zones, so there’s a great chance of seeing some overtaking.
The image above shows a very faint pink on the circuit around Turn 12. That’s because you can only really see that part of the track from a very select part of this grandstand.
The video below shows this. This is filmed from the extreme right-hand side, seat 1, about 5 rows from the back (probably somewhere around rows 27-30).
The view from here is amazing. You’re high enough to see over the DJ tent to the right of the stand and watch the cars go through turns 11 and 12 and head to Turn 13.
Not only that, you can actually turn to your right and catch a glimpse of them across the track as they come around the banked Turn 3.
The image below taken from Row 15 Seat 1 shows the same thing. This time they’re low enough to look in front of the DJ booth and see all of Turns 11 and 12.
Image credit Rene Gommers
The next video was taken from seat 4 row 9. This is a few seats away from the end of the stand but you can still just about see Turn 11.
The roof of the DJ booth starts to block Turn 12 slightly, and will do so even more from rows 10 to 20.
Now compare that to the view from Row 1 about half way along the stand.
Image credit Joachim Papegaay
As the image shows, your view changes drastically if you’re sat near the front of the stand. You can’t see anything past the entry to Turn 11, but you still have a good view looking to your left along the straight.
Best seats in the Arena In grandstand
Without a shadow of a doubt the best seats in the Arena In grandstand are those on the extreme right hand side in seat 1. From here your view includes all of turns 11 and 12, which from the slightly raised vantage point of the Arena In grandstand is amazing.
If you get a lower row numbers then you’ll be right next to the DJ but will still be able to see the Arena section.
The higher rows will allow you to look over the top of the DJ booth. Avoid rows 10-20 when in seat 1 as your view is likely to be blocked by the booth.
Is the Arena In grandstand a good place to sit?
The atmosphere in this grandstand is electric. As it is in all of the other Arena grandstands, Eastside 3 and Eastside 4. You’re right next to the DJ booth and being amongst and opposite all the other stands means it’s an absolute riot.
In between F1 sessions the DJ will keep the crowd pumped up with an endless sets of musical bangers, and the Dutch Formula 1 fans love nothing more than to join in and party.
It’s a good place to sit to see some overtaking, but your view changes massively depending on which seats you get.
You really want to be able to see Turns 11 and 12 and as the only place you can do that is from seats on the extreme right, you might want to check out Eastside 2 instead.
Eastside 2 is the same price. It’s directly opposite but has a better view of Turns 11 and 12 from the majority of the stand.
Nearest entrance
The nearest entrance is Gate 2. That’s closest to the tunnel you need to use to access the Arena grandstands.
From Gate 2 to the Arena In grandstand at Zandvoort it will be a 20 minute walk.
If you’re coming from the 538 Village official Zandvoort F1 camping area you need to use Gate 4.
For tips on getting to the circuit see our guide on how to get to the Zandvoort F1 race.
Thanks for directing me here, how positive are you that the seating number goes 1-whatever left to right when standing on the track? Reason i ask is because i put in a preference to be very top right of the grandstand when standing in the grandstand. I specifically have arena in-2 row 30 seat 43 gate 2, so when standing on the track im going to be on the left side. They already have started the lower arena number on the right side when standing on the track so wouldnt seating go the same way? I have seat 43 so if were to go 43 seats to the right that looks like it would put me in arena in-1 on the other corner.