All signals on green for a fantastic Formula 1 weekend in Zandvoort

Last year it was a great success to reach the track by steel steed. Even then the weather was ideal for a bike ride. The Alkmaar brothers Bert and Ide Nijman thought they had found the ultimate route, namely over the beach from IJmuiden to Zandvoort. “Maybe it will be better with the surf”, hoped Bert. “Because there it is usually hard sand and then we are laughing the shortcut route. And if it is very disappointing, then we know why we are the only one.”

And in Zandvoort, Ans van den Oever and Henny van Duin showed many cyclists the correct route to the circuit, before they would end up at the cul-de-sac Receiver Schoutenstraat. “Everyone goes straight ahead, but there are gates there and you can’t go past them.” They were thanked on the spot and later via Facebook for the friendly help.

The official traffic supervisor at the roundabout on the Zandvoorterweg in Aerdenhout sometimes got a less friendly remark when he referred the cyclists from the carriageway to the cycle path. But he was happy about it. “Stay on the bike path, otherwise you won’t make it to Zandvoort. And keep smiling.”

Watch here how the race fans cycled to Zandvoort last year. Text continue after the video.

While last year the number of visitors had to be limited to 70 thousand due to corona measures, 110 thousand race fans will be received next weekend. And that means fewer disappointed fans.

Last year some ‘cardless’ people tried to get some of the spectacle along the fences on Boulevard Barnaart, but they didn’t get much more than the sound of the roaring engines. “You have to bring a ladder to see it.” And yet for the real ticketless race fan, this was the only place they wanted to be for the weekend. “You must have just been here.”

Text continues after the video.

And if you need to get in the mood, check out the compilation below made by reporters from NH Nieuws last year. How Max Verstappen’s racing car on the boulevard created a good atmosphere. How the boy couldn’t take a selfie with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, because just then his mother called. And how the cheering crowd left the track on Sunday after Max Verstappen’s victory.