Spectating guide to the Eastside 3 Zandvoort grandstand based on my trip to the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.
This guide includes a full seating plan and videos with examples of the view from different seats.
Plus it includes my tips on the best seats to aim for when buying tickets for this grandstand for the Formula 1.
Contents
Eastside 3 Zandvoort grandstand location
The Eastside 3 grandstand is located on the outside (left-hand side) of the Zandvoort track layout next to Turn 11.
It’s one of the four Eastside grandstands and is sandwiched between Eastside 2 and Eastside 4.
It sits directly opposite the Arena grandstand and Arena-In grandstand.
Other grandstands
Check out our spectating guides to the other grandstands at Zandvoort:
Eastside 3 grandstand tickets for the Dutch GP
The Eastside 3 Zandvoort grandstand is part of the Gold group of grandstands. These are the second most expensive Zandvoort F1 tickets you can get for grandstand seats.
The only group more expensive grandstands are the Main Grandstand and Pit Grandstand, both part of the Main Straight group of stands.
Tickets for this stand often sell out around a year in advance of the race on the official Dutch Grand Prix website. If you’ve missed them but still need tickets, I’d recommend buying through P1 Travel. They’re an approved ticket reseller with a great reputation and have a great selection of 1, 2 or 3-day tickets available.
A 3-day weekend ticket in the Eastside 3 grandstand is about 350 Euros more expensive than a 3-day Zandvoort General Admission ticket.
Zandvoort Eastside 3 grandstand details
Seats
The seats are chairs with a fixed back and folding base.
Cover
The grandstand is not covered, it’s completely open to the elements. At the 2023 race it rained almost all weekend and everyone in the grandstand was soaked.
You’re not allowed to use umbrellas in the grandstands as they block the view for the people behind you. So make sure you appropriately dress for the Dutch GP and keep yourself dry!
The only grandstand that is covered at the whole circuit is the Main Straight grandstand.
TV screens
There are two TV screens visible from the Eastside 3 grandstand.
There’s the huge ‘Jumbotron’ tv screen on the insideof the apex of Turn 11 that’s right in front of the stand on the left hand side. This is visible by everyone.
There’s also a smaller screen on the other side of the circuit just behind the Arena-In grandstand. This is only really visible to those sat on the right hand side of Eastside 3.
Facilities
There’s a long row of food, drink and merchandise vendors directly behind the Eastside grandstand.
Plus there’s toilets directly beneath the grandstand, so pretty much everything you need is within a stone’s throw.
Eastside 3 Zandvoort grandstand seating plan
Below is the Eastside 3 Zandvoort grandstand seating plan.
As the seating plan shows the grandstand has 33 rows. Row 1 is the front row lowest down and nearest to the track. Row 33 is the highest row at the back of the stand.
The seat numbers increase from left to right (as you stand on the circuit and look up at the stand). Seat 1 is on the far left and seat 211 is on the far right.
To get in to the grandstand you have to enter via one of the entrances at the back of the stand. These have numbers which are the large numbers shown on the plan.
Entrance 1122 is further to the left, near seat 1, and entrance 1131 is on the right hand side nearest seat 211.
Your ticket should tell you which entrance to use to most easily get to your seat, but in 2023 it wasn’t very clear. So the seating plan is here to help!
Eastside 3 grandstand views
The image below shows the sections of the track visible from Eastside 3 Zandvoort highlighted in pink.
From the stand you can see the track to your right as far as the bridge. But the people in the stand to your right make that a little harder
You then have a great view of Turns 11 and 12 and lose the cars out of sight to the left of the grandstand as they accelerate towards Turn 13.
The video below shows the view from Row 33 Seat 211, the back row in the seat furthest to the left.
From this seat on the extreme left hand side you can actually turn around to your left to watch the cars head towards Turn 13.
This next video was filmed from Row 30, somewhere around Seats 160-170. You can see how much harder it is to see to the right when the stand is full of people holding their phones up.
Best seats in the Eastside 3 grandstand
As the first video above shows, I’d definitely try and get seats on the extreme left hand side of the stand (highest seat number) in the back row.
Your view of the braking zone for Turn 11 will be slightly compromised, but if you get the end seats then you can turn around to your left to watch the cars head towards Turn 13 once they’ve exited Turn 12.
Whichever seat you aim for I’d always suggest the highest rows for a better vantage point. Anything above row 20 should be great.
Is the Eastside 3 grandstand a good place to sit?
The atmosphere in this stand is incredible. It’s right in the middle of the Arena section, opposite the Arena grandstands which have a party-like atmosphere across the whole Formula 1 weekend.
When the cars aren’t on track the DJs will be pumping the crowd up withmusic and the Dutch F1 fans will be going wild.
And when the racing’s on, there’s also a good bit of action to be seen here. Turn 11 is at the end of one of the Zandvoort DRS zones so is a hot spot for overtaking. It’s also a difficult braking zone so you’re likely to see a couple of cars skip across the gravel on the inside of Turn 12.
This would be my pick out of all of the Eastside grandstands.
Nearest entrance
Gate 4 is the closest to the Eastside 3 Zandvoort grandstand although this is largely used for the Zandvoort F1 camping area.
Gate 2 is the second closest. From there to this grandstand will be around a 15 / 20 minute walk.
See our guide on how to get to the Zandvoort F1 race for information on getting to the circuit.
