Change language: Dutch (Nederlands)

A photo tour around the old Zandvoort circuit, home of the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix. In this article I show you what’s left of the original race track. And I show you the places where the old Zandvoort circuit once was…

Zandvoort circuit - Original layout 1948-1972
The old Zandvoort circuit as it was from 1948 to 1972.

The operational part of old Zandvoort

Start/Finish old Zandvoort circuit
We start our lap at Start/Finish, which is still on the same site.Tarzan Corner old Zandvoort circuit
The famous Tarzan Corner comes in sight…
Old Zandvoort circuit - Tarzan Corner
The Tarzan Corner seen from above.
Old Zandvoort circuit - Exit Tarzan Corner and entry to Gerlach Corner
The exit of the Tarzan Corner and the entry of the Gerlach Corner.Old Zandvoort Circuit - Hugenholtz Corner
The Hugenholtz Corner seen from the pit building.Old Zandvoort Circuit - exit Hugenholtz Corner
After the Hugenholtz Corner accelerating at the Hunserug…Old Zandvoort Circuit - Rob Slotemaker Corner
A view at the Rob Slotemaker Corner, a “flat out” corner with a variable chicane (since 1999) mostly only used at track day’s for motorcycles, like today. The chicane is exact on the spot where Dutch racing driver Rob Slotemaker had his fatal accident in 1979.
Below the same part of the track in the 90’s, when it was abandoned.Zandvoort circuit 1998 - Abandoned sectionOld Zandvoort circuit - The abandoned Scheivlak Corner in 1998 The Scheivlak Corner, one of the most challenging corners from old Zandvoort, here abandoned in the 1990’s. Since 1999 this corner is part of the track again!
Old Zandvoort circuit - Exit Scheivlak Corner

The lost part of old Zandvoort

Old Zandvoort circuit - Entry Marlboro Corner
So far the old Zandvoort circuit survived. But here the new section turns right (photo below), where the old track went straight on (photo above)…
Zandvoort Circuit - Exit Scheivlak entry Masters CornerOld Zandvoort Circuit - The abandoned Marlboro Corner 1998
Hard braking here for the chicane called Marlboro Corner. Look at the little house with the red roof at the end of the barrier and keep it in mind. We will see that house again…
Old Zandvoort Circuit - The Masters Corner seen from the site of the old Marlboro Corner
A view from the opposite direction at the new corner, seen from the site of the old Marlboro Corner.

See also: “Layout Zandvoort Circuit” for more information about the changes to the track.

The golf course

Old Zandvoort Circuit - Exit old Marlboro Corner on golf course
A view from the same site to the other direction. Now here’s a golf course, but until 1985 here was the circuit. And look next to the trees on the right, there is the little house with the red roof again!Old Zandvoort circuit - Golf Course
Once upon a time here was a race track, now there holes!
Old Zandvoort circuit - Golf Course
The second kink of the Hondenvlak is still recognizable here!

Tunnel East

Old Zandvoort circuit - Golf Course
We enter the kink before Tunnel East. Below a picture from 1998 at the same site, when an abandoned part of the track was still there.Zandvoort Circuit - Tunnel East 1998Old Zandvoort circuit - Site Roger Williamson accident
Here was the kink before Tunnel East. A corner with a sad memory, it was the site of two fatal accidents in Formula One in the seventies. Piers Courage in 1970 and Roger Williamson in 1973.Old Zandvoort circuit - Second Hondenvlak Corner 1978
A view from Tunnel East to the Hondenvlak. Above in 1978 and below in 2008.
Old Zandvoort circuit - Golf Course
Old Zandvoort circuit - Golf Course

After the fast kink it goes to the tunnel…
Old Zandvoort circuit - Tunnel East
But the de tunnel is gone!
Old Zandvoort circuit - Tunnel East
Here was a tunnel underneath the circuit.

Public road

Old Zandvoort circuit - Tunnel EastAnd here the track continued…
Old Zandvoort circuit - Public road
This part is now public road.
Old Zandvoort circuit - Public road
A little further than the parked cars was the beginning of the very fast right left combination “Bos In”, which is Dutch for into the woods. At the end of 1972 this corner was reconstructed to a chicane, the Panorama Corner. This site is now the beginning of a holiday resort (see picture below).
Old Zandvoort Circuit - Site of the Panorama Corner today

The resort

Old Zandvoort circuit - Remain of the original track in the resortIn the holiday resort is still a piece of the surface of the original circuit.
Old Zandvoort circuit - Resort
Here was the exit of the Bos In/Panorama Corner. Over the dunes to Bos Uit Corner…
Old Zandvoort circuit - Resort Old Zandvoort circuit - Resort
At this top of the dune was the beginning of the long right hand corner, called “Bos Uit” (Dutch for out of the woods), leading to the long straight.

Remains of old Zandvoort

Old Zandvoort circuit - A remain of the original Bos Uit Corner
Untill 2019 there was a piece of Bos Uit Corner left at Paddock 3. However, with the works for the return of Formula 1, it was removed.
Old Zandvoort circuit - Remain Bos Uit Corner Old Zandvoort circuit - Remain Bos Uit Corner
Look at the angle between the surface and the fence. Here you could recognize the banking of the corner!
Old Zandvoort circuit - Old Start/Finish Straight
In the old day’s this was the beginning of the 1050 metres long Start/Finish straight. This was the last piece of surface from old Zandvoort, which is now also gone!
Old Zandvoort circuit - Old Start/Finish Straight
And here’s the new part of the circuit connecting to the original part. But the straight is now a few hundred metres shorter. Since 2020, the banked version of the Arie Luyendijk Corner is now on this site.
Old Zandvoort circuit - Start/Finish
Here ends our lap at old Zandvoort at Start/Finish.

See also: “The history of the Zandvoort Circuit

© Text and photos: Herman Liesemeijer Photo 1978: Rob Soethoudt

Thoughts on this subject

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/circuitsofthepast