There’s a number of different ways to get to the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, depending on where you’re coming from.
But one thing you can’t do is park at the circuit. There’s a big exclusion zone around the track for car and motorbike traffic. Public transport is by far the best, easiest and most convenient option.
This article provides a detailed guide on getting to the Zandvoort F1 race, based on my experience at the 2023 Dutch GP.
Contents
Dutch GP nearest airport
The nearest airport to the Zandvoort F1 circuit for the Dutch GP is Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). This is a major international airport and serves pretty much all destinations worldwide.
Schiphol is around 20km from the centre of Amsterdam, 20km from Haarlem and about 25km from Zandvoort.
There’s a lot of transport options from the Airport including a train station directly below the terminal, buses and taxis.
Full details on all of the transport options to and from the airport can be found on the Amsterdam Schiphol website here.
Dutch GP tickets
If you still needs tickets to the F1 race at Zandvoort, you might fidn they’re sold out on the official Dutch GP website (they sell out almost a year in advance).
If so, I’d recommend purchasing tickets through P1 Travel. They’re an official reseller and have a great selection of 1, 2 or 3-day tickets for this year’s Dutch GP.
Driving to the Zandvoort F1 race
Ferries / Eurotunnel from the UK
If you’re planning on driving to the Dutch Gp from the UK, there’s a number of different ferry routes you can take:
- Hull to Rotterdam: 11 hour ferry crossing, 1 hour drive from Rotterdam to Zandvoort area
- Newcastle to Amsterdam: 16.5 hour ferry crossing, 30 minute drive from Amsterdam to Zandvoort area
- Harwich to Hook of Holland: 6.5 hour ferry crossing, 1 hour drive from Hook of Holland to Zandvoort area
- Dover to Dunkirk: 2 hour ferry crossing, 4 hour drive from Dunkirk to Zandvoort area
- Dover to Calais: 1.5 hour ferry crossing, 4.5 hour drive from Calais to Zandvoort area
I use the comparison site DirectFerries.co.uk to check out the different options and get some of the best prices.
You can also take the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais. It’s a 30 minute journey and a 4.5 hour drive the other side.
Circuit Zandvoort parking
There’s no parking at the Dutch GP anywhere near the Zandvoort track. Plus you can’t drive your car on the roads surrounding the circuit itself.
There’s an exclusion zone on the roads around Circuit Zandvoort for public traffic. The closest you can get is about 5km away from the track. The only people allowed to drive within the zone are local residents and race officials.
If you’re planning on booking some accommodation near the Zandvoort F1 track, check with your hotel / Airbnb host whether they have a local residents parking pass that you can use for the weekend.
Usually you’ll be allowed to drive in to the zone if you can show proof of your accommodation’s address and reservation details.
Zandvoort F1 Park & Bike
Unique to the Dutch Grand Prix is the Park & Bike option. Park you car a little way from the circuit, get on a bike and ride the rest of the way. This is what I did for the 2023 Dutch GP and is undoubtedly the most authentic Dutch way to travel to Zandvoort.
There’s a number of different locations within around 20km of the circuit where you can park your car and pick up a bike or bring your own to ride.
This is organised and run by a company called Mobian. You have to pre-book both parking and bike rental which can be done directly through the official Dutch GP website here.
Try code MOBIANDGP when booking through the Mobian website for a 15% discount.
The different Zandvoort Park & Bike locations are split in to Gold, Silver and Bronze options. The map below shows their location.
Gold options are the closest to the circuit and Bronze are furthest away. Below are rough riding times from each:
- Gold: 20 minute ride
- Silver: 30 minute ride
- Bronze: 40 minute ride
The prices for each option vary. In the Gold zones you have to rent a bike. In Silver and Bronze you can use your own or rent.
Rental bikes are either normal bikes or e-bikes, but it’s so flat that normal bikes are good enough.
I went with one of the Silver parking options in Harlem. Once I had made my booking I was emailed confirmation with a QR code and the address of the car park, identified by the pink Mobian flags on the day.
When I got there I parked my car up and walked over the to people dishing out the bikes. I showed them my QR code and they gave me a bike, adjusted the bars and saddle so it fit me and off I went.
Riding to the track was pretty easy. There’s dedicated bike paths the whole way. It was a lovely scenic route through the streets of Haarlem and the dunes of Zandvoort.
It was pretty much flat, but it rained non-stop and I got soaked, despite taking cover under numerous bridges.
I’ve updated the Zandvoort F1 dress code guide to include some tips on what to wear to keep you dry on a bike.
The signage further away from the track wasn’t super clear, but I just followed the hundreds of other people on their bikes in F1 merch who were heading in the right direction.
There’s a number of different bike parking areas around the circuit, and these are signposted as you get near the track. It didn’t seem to matter which one you went for as it wasn’t tied to the bike booking or reservation.
I ended up in the Red Bull Ring bike park where there were thousands of other bikes. The bike came with a lock, so I locked it up, took a picture of where I left it (otherwise I’d never find it amongst all the other identical bikes) and walked to the circuit.
From the Red Bull Ring bike parking to the circuit entrance it was another 15 minute walk right along the sea front.
The great thing about biking is that you can come and go from the circuit at whatever times suit you. You’re not tied in to a bus or coach schedule. The only limit was that the bike had to be returned by 9pm that day.
I would definitely use the Zandvoort Park & Bike service again next year. I’d just be better prepared for the rain.
Zandvoort F1 Park & Ride
A more traditional option is to use the Zandvoort F1 Park & Ride service. Here you can park your car in a car park on the outskirts of Zandvoort and then hop on a Connexxion bus which takes you to the circuit.
You have to pre-book this through the Q-Park website here.
There are four different car parks to choose from. Each of them costs 45 Euros per day and that gets you a reserved parking space and a return bus ride for up to 5 people.
- Spaarne Gasthuis – Hoofddorp – 30 minute journey
- Mahler Amsterdam Zuid– 40 minute journey
- Butenplein Amstelveen – 40 minute journey
- Handelsplein Amstelveen – 40 minute journey
From each car park it’s no more than a 500 metre walk to the nearest bus station. You can then jump on the bus that either takes you directly to the circuit (250 metre walk from the entrance) or you may have to change buses at Haarlem Station.
You can select your arrival time at the car park when you book, but if you turn up before or after this it’s not an issue.
The buses will depart the circuit at a fixed time, so it’s a less flexible than the bike option.
Train
Zandvoort aan Zee station is only a 15 minute walk from the Zandvoort entrance gates, so this a great way to get to travel to the Dutch GP if you’re coming from elsewhere in Holland.
You can buy a Dutch Grand Prix return single-day or multi-day ticket in advance here. These will go from any station in the Netherlands to Zandvoort aan Zee. You can buy them at the stations, but there might be long queues at the ticket machines.
You can also use you contactless card to get through the barriers but this will cost a little more. You can’t take bikes on the train.
Over the Dutch Grand Prix weekend the rail service puts on lots of extra trains. From the main stations like Amsterdam Centraal, Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Haarlem trains run every 5 minutes to Zandvoort.
The trains will be packed with F1 fans but the service normally runs faultlessly and makes it a very easy and convenient way to get to the track.
Public Buses
The local buses around Zandvoort are run by Connexxion. These are a great option for people in the Amstelland area (Uithoorn, Amstelveen, Aalsmeer) and also Haarlemmermeer and Haarlem-IJmond.
Connexxion offers a Dutch Grand Prix return day ticket which you can purchase in advance here. These cost 11 Euros. You can also use your contactless card to tap in / out of the service, but this is will again cost a little more.
Buses run from Haarlem station to the circuit every 5 minutes across the F1 race weekend, and drop you off 250 metres from the circuit entrance. Easy.
Coaches
There’s a large network of coaches, run by Pouw transport, that have over 200 different pick up locations across the Netherlands and just over the border in Belgium and Germany.
These offer direct transport to the circuit, without transfer, and drop you off 400 metres from the entrance gates.
These can be booked through the Dutch GP website here.
There’s a number of FAQs about the coach service here.
Electric Scooter sharing
Taxi / Uber
Not possible. Taxis aren’t allowed in the exclusion so they can’t get you near the circuit.
Your best bet would to get one of them to drop you off at a train station where you can get direct train to Zandvoort aan Zee.
Do you happen to know exactly what roads are closed, where the closure begins, and when it is effect? We plan on bicycling to the race events, but have a Thursday evening dinner reservation on the road between Haarlem and Zandvoort. Thanks!
I don’t know exactly I’m afraid Joel. There’s some info from a couple of years ago on the hellohaarlem website here that might be of use: https://hellohaarlem.com/grand-prix-zandvoort-things-residents-living-in-or-near-zandvoort-should-know/
That’s very good info, my wife and I have Arena 2 ticks, I have requested our seats be 200+ row 10+. thank you
Great stuff Tom, thanks for the comments, hope you get the seats you’re after. Have a nice race!