City: Zandvoort, Netherlands
Circuit: Circuit Zandvoort
Date: August 21–23, 2026
Perched among the dunes on the North Sea coast, Circuit Zandvoort returned to the F1 calendar in 2021 and has been an instant classic. Its banked corners are unlike almost anything else in modern racing. The Dutch crowd that descends on this small seaside town is the most passionate in the paddock, an ocean of orange that transforms the circuit into something between a rock concert and a race weekend.
City Rating: ★★★☆☆ Race Experience: ★★★★★
Our Verdict: Go for the Race + the Atmosphere
THE CITY
Zandvoort is a small seaside resort town on the North Sea coast, about 30 minutes from Amsterdam. The town itself is charming. It has dunes, a beach and good seafood restaurants, but it is Amsterdam that makes this race worth the trip. One of the great cities of Europe, Amsterdam is all canals, cycling culture, world-class museums and a liberal, open energy. The Rijksmuseum houses Rembrandt. The Van Gogh Museum is unmissable. The city has a growing African community and is generally a welcoming, cosmopolitan destination.
PRACTICAL FOR AFRICAN TRAVELLERS
Late August in the Netherlands is transitional, so expect warm days (20–25°C) but cooler evenings and the real possibility of rain. The Dutch love cycling, so renting a bike in Amsterdam is a must. Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol, one of Europe's best-connected airports, with good links from key African hubs.
WHAT TO EAT
Dutch cuisine is not celebrated enough to stand alone but Amsterdam's food scene is excellent and international. Try raw herring with onions, which is a Dutch tradition, if you’re adventurous. Stroopwafels are essential. Amsterdam has genuinely good Indonesian food, a legacy of Dutch colonial history in Southeast Asia. The beer is also decent, after all, Amsterdam is home to Heineken!
THE RACE EXPERIENCE
Circuit Zandvoort is a genuine racing circuit with character. Its banked corners are unique on the modern calendar and produce genuinely spectacular overtaking moves. The Dutch crowd (Max Verstappen’s famed “Orange Army”), an enormous orange tide, is the most passionate and loudest in the sport right now. The atmosphere at this race is extraordinary and unlike anything else on the calendar. One more reason to attend this race in 2026 is that it won’t be on the calendar in 2027.
THE HONEST WORD
The town of Zandvoort gets completely overwhelmed on race weekend, so plan transport carefully and book accommodation in Amsterdam rather than the village itself. The sea breeze makes it cooler than you expect. Amsterdam takes sustainability very seriously, so this isn’t the most ideal race to rely on Ubers and taxis.