Dutch Grand Prix ⋅ Getting There
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Dutch
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Getting to the Dutch Grand Prix is easy compared with some tracks that Formula 1 visits. The seaside Zandvoort Circuit sits just 30 km from Amsterdam, putting it within quick and easy reach of the Dutch capital and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Direct public transport to Zandvoort and dedicated Dutch GP travel services can get you trackside in under an hour.
Zandvoort also aims to be one of the most sustainable races on the calendar, and visitors are encouraged to ditch the car for public transport or bicycle instead. Fans can choose from frequent trains to Zandvoort, shuttle buses, nationwide coach services, and Park & Ride or Park & Bike locations just outside town.
International Travel: Arrival in the Netherlands for the Dutch Grand Prix
Just 30km from Zandvoort, Amsterdam’s Airport Schiphol (AMS) is one of Europe’s major air transport hubs. It’s the base for national airline KLM, who have arrivals from dozens of destinations worldwide.
Alternatively, you may find cheaper flights to Brussels (BRU), Brussels Charleroi (CRL) or Cologne (CGN), all within a few hours of Amsterdam by rail or road.
Flights to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Direct flights operate to Amsterdam from multiple UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Manchester and Birmingham.
Elsewhere in Europe, Schiphol has links to cities such as Dublin, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Berlin, Zurich, and Vienna. Long-haul routes include New York (JFK), Los Angeles, Dubai, Singapore, and Tokyo.
Airlines: KLM, British Airways, easyJet, Transavia, TUI fly, Level, Ryanair, Lufthansa, Air France.
Onward travel: 17 km / 15–20 min by direct train to Amsterdam Central, or 25–40 min by bus.
Flights to Brussels (BRU) and Brussels Charleroi (CRL)
Both Brussels airports can work well for those combining the race with a longer European trip or for finding lower-cost flights. From the UK, Brussels is served by Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, and Birmingham. Brussels Charleroi has more low-cost airline options.
Airlines: Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet, TUI fly, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France.
Onward travel: BRU to Amsterdam ~2 hrs by train. CRL to Amsterdam 3–3.5 hrs by bus/train combination.
Flights to Cologne Bonn (CGN)
A solid option for those travelling from parts of Central or Eastern Europe, often with competitive fares. Direct flights connect to several European cities, and there are easy onward connections to Amsterdam via high-speed trains.
Airlines: Eurowings, Ryanair, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines.
Onward travel: 3–3.5 hrs by train to Amsterdam.
Skyscanner’s powerful search tools help to uncover the cheapest routes and the best flight deals. Set price alerts to get deals when they drop, or use the monthly chart view to find the best time to book.
Local Travel: Getting To Zandvoort Circuit for the Dutch GP
The train is the best way for most fans to get to the Dutch Grand Prix, but can be very crowded and (after the race) rowdy. If that’s a concern, consider one of the many other options like local buses, coach transfers or bike. There is no car parking at Zandvoort, and the road leading into the area will be closed. Instead, choose park and ride or park and bike.
Tip: To avoid peak rush hour, avoid travelling between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Train to Zandvoort Circuit
From Zandvoort train station, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the track, making train travel one of the easiest ways to go to the Dutch Grand Prix. Exit the station and follow the signs or the Oranje Army to Circuit Zandvoort.
Bear in mind, though, this is a popular option, trains get crowded, and you may face a lengthy wait (up to an hour) on the return journey.
- Extra train services run between Amsterdam and Zandvoort on race weekend.
- Sprinter and Intercity trains depart Amsterdam Central every 5–10 minutes.
- Journey time to Zandvoort aan Zee is around 25 minutes.
Avoid the queues at the ticket machines and buy tickets in advance. NS Dutch Railways has special return tickets for the Grand Prix, that allow travel between any station in the Netherlands and Zandvoort during the days of the event. You can find out more and book your tickets on the NS Dutch Railways website.
Note: Bikes are not permitted on these routes on Grand Prix weekend due to the volume of traffic.
Public Bus to the Circuit
If you’re going to the Dutch GP from nearby in the Amstelland Meerlanden region (this includes Haarlemmermeer, Amstelveen, and Amsterdam) or Haarlem-IJmond, the bus can be a good way to avoid the crowds.
Dutch Grand Prix Day Ticket (Connexxion)
Connexxion, the regional bus operator serving these areas, has a Dutch GP Day Ticket, especially for F1 fans. This allows bus travel on any Connexxion line.
Bus 300 and Bus 356 stop within 250m of the main entrance. These are by far the most convenient for fans. They’re faster, more frequent, and drop you closer to the gates than regular routes.
- Departure times: From Haarlem between 08:15 and 12:15. Book the one-hour window that suits you, then take the bus any time within that period.
- Frequency: Every 5–6 minutes during peak times.
- Return journey: Buses back to Haarlem run every 5 minutes until 20:00. You don’t need to book a slot for these, but you will need your DGP bus ticket.
- Price: €12.50 per person (ages 12+). Children travel free.
You can find out more and book your bus tickets on the Connexxion website.
Note: If you’re having trouble accessing the Connexxion website from outside the Netherlands, try using a VPN and set your location to ‘Netherlands’. I recommend NordVPN, which has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Other routes to Zandvoort
These year-round services can be useful if you’re staying in surrounding towns. The same Connexxion day ticket can be used, but on these quieter routes, there is no need to book your slot in advance. You can find up-to-date routes and timetables on the Connexxion website:
- Bus 81 – From Haarlem Station every 30 minutes. 33-minute journey, stops a short walk from the circuit.
- Bus 80 – From Heemstede-Aerdenhout Station every 20 minutes. 12-minute journey to Zandvoort town centre (about 30 minutes’ walk to the circuit). This service originates in Amsterdam at De Vlugtlaan (Metro 50 & 51) with a total journey time of around 85 minutes to Zandvoort.
- Bus 346 – From Amsterdam Zuid Station to Haarlem in ~37 minutes, then connect to Bus 300 or 356 for the final leg to the circuit.
Dutch Grand Prix Shuttle – Coaches to Zandvoort
The sardine cans on rails aren’t for everyone. A coach service operated by Pouw Vervoer offers an alternative for F1 fans who don’t mind paying extra for a little breathing space. Provided you’re close to a pick-up point, taking the coach can also make life simpler, cutting out transfer time.
- Pick-up from around 140 departure points across the Netherlands.
- Drop-off at the DGP bus station on Boulevard Barnaart, 400m from the circuit gates.
- Coaches arrive in Zandvoort at about 9am and depart at 7pm (to be confirmed by email to ticket holders before the event).
Tickets for the shuttle are available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Prices vary, depending on where you board – see the website for details and to reserve your tickets.
Driving to Zandvoort
Driving is discouraged as a way of getting to the Dutch Grand Prix, and unless you’re an F1 driver, Zandvoort is car-free on race weekend. Instead, fans going by car or motorcycle should avail of the park and ride service from Amsterdam or Amstelveen.
Park & Ride
In Zandvoort, buses drop off and pick up about 250 m from the circuit gates. Park at a choice of 4 Park & Ride locations:
- Q-Park Buitenplein – Amstelveen: 500 m walk to Amstelveen Bus Station; buses 300 or 356 direct to the circuit.
- Q-Park Handelsplein – Amstelveen: Same as Buitenplein — 500 m walk to Amstelveen Bus Station; buses 300 or 356 direct to the circuit.
- Q-Park Mahler – Amsterdam Zuid: 400 m walk to Station Zuid (Strawinskylaan); bus 346 to Haarlem, then connect to buses 81, 300, or 356. Alternatively, take bus 198 to Schiphol-Noord for a faster 300/356 connection.
- Q-Park Spaarne Gasthuis – Hoofddorp: 400 m walk to Spaarne Gasthuis-Boven stop; bus 300 direct to the circuit via Haarlem.
Park & Ride tickets are available from the Q-Park website. They cost €51.50 per day and include all-day parking and use of the bus to the circuit for up to 5 people.
Alternatively, you can leave the car at a Park & Bike area near the circuit and continue by pedal power (see below).
Going to Zandvoort by Bike
It’s certainly the most Dutch way, and it’s also one of the most practical ways to go to Zandvoort. The area is well developed for cyclists, and it might not surprise you to read – flat. Circuit Zandvoort provide several facilities that aim to encourage bike use to get to the track and avoid the crowded trains.
Depending on your level of fitness, even Amsterdam is cycling distance – the 30km trip takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. Haarlem, meanwhile, is an easy 10km (30 minutes) away.
Park & Bike
If that all sounds like too much effort, you can drive most of the way to a ‘Park & Bike’ car park where you can swap four wheels for two. You can use your own bike or pick up a pre-booked rented bike (or e-bike) on-site to pedal the rest of the way in about 30 minutes.
- There are three Park & Bike zones (Gold, Silver, Bronze) with daily parking from €22.50–€32.50.
- Bike hire is available from €25/day or e-bike from €37.50/day; some zones require rental, others allow you to bring your own bike for free.
- Locations include MOBIHUB sites in and around Haarlem, Hoofddorp, and Amsterdam’s southern outskirts.
At the track, there is parking provided for bikes at a location about a 15 15-minute walk from the circuit entrance. This parking is free but requires a reservation. There is also paid parking for bikes near the circuit.
You can reserve a Park & Bike space on the Mobian website.
Taxi/Ride-Share on Race Weekend
If you’re thinking about getting a taxi or an Uber to the Dutch Grand Prix, think again. Cars won’t be able to get anywhere near Zandvoort on race weekend, and that applies to taxis too.
If you want to travel part of the way by taxi (or you’re getting dropped off by a friend), arrange to get out at a Park and Ride (ticket required), Park and Bike or any of the train or bus stations mentioned here.
About Me
I’m Danny, an incurable Formula 1 fan for over 35 years and founder of The F1 Spectator. My aim is to inform and inspire, arming you with helpful tips and advice for your next F1 trip.
