The Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled to take place in two weeks’ time at the 4.259 km motorsport race track located in the dunes north of Zandvoort and the organizers plan to make the Formula One weekend more sustainable, by banning automobiles where possible and encouraging the Dutch fans to use electric buses, shared scooters and bicycles.
This means that most of the track visitors will have to reach the Zandvoort circuit by other means, not by car.
“We are largely closing Zandvoort to cars. Only residents, and people who have permission, such as the staff of the Formula 1 organization, are allowed to come by car.” – explained Roy Hirs, who is the creator of the Formula 1 event’s mobility plan
As a result, the parking spaces for special invitees have decreased by five percent as compared to the previous events at Zandvoort (233 parking spaces).
Roy Hirs believes that about a third of the fans that will attent the Dutch Grand Prix during the race weekend will go to the circuit by bicycle or scooter, while a third will arrive by train. The NS previously confirmed that a train will run to Zandvoort every five minutes during the Formula 1 weekend, just like was the case in 2021. The other visitors will arrive with electric buses from Connexion, shared scooters or coaches which leave from 240 pick-up points through the Netherlands. Some will also walk, in case they are located close by or spend the night at the event campsite.
In 2021, there were still about 3,500 parking spaces for fans in a parking lot in Beverwijk. From that location, the visitors were able to board a shuttle bus, but this will not be available for this year’s Dutch Grand Prix, as confirmed by Roy Hirs: “Only 2 percent of the visitors made use of it. Now that will be zero,”. For fans that do not live near public transport, there are parking spaces at bus stations servicing Connexion.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection from Puma! Enter the online Puma Store and shop securely! And get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
Visitors at the Zandvoort are starting to embrace sustainable transportation and accessibility: “I think that’s very nice. Especially that ‘sea of orange’ that rides through the dunes by bike is so beautiful to see.” – Roy Hirs added.
In two weeks’ time, organizers expect about 110,000 people to attend the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort every day during the race weekend. In 2021, due to the coronavirus situation, this was 70,000 per day. At the time, images of crowds in Zandvoort and on the circuit led to criticism, including from the entertainment sector due to the restrictions that were still affecting different activities. For example, festivals without fixed seating were only permitted to admit a maximum of 750 visitors at the time due to the coronavirus measures, while tens of thousands of people gathered at the Zandvoort track.
In order to spread visitors out as best as possible this year, two extra footbridges have been made, explains Hirs. At the circuit there are three places where tickets are scanned, and then people can enter the track area via four routes. The organization hopes to further spread out visitors after the event with an entertainment program, beach bars and other catering establishments where people may stop for something to eat or drink.
“Of course there is only a certain discharge capacity, there cannot be more trains than is currently the case, but we will try to keep people as long as possible.” – Roy Hirs concluded.
Leave a Reply