Fans pack Zandvoort station amid some rain showers as Dutch Grand Prix qualifying begins

By 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Zandvoort station was already crowded as thousands of Formula 1 fans arrived for the Dutch Grand Prix, being held in the seaside town for the fifth year in a row. The day’s program includes the third practice session and qualifying ahead of Sunday’s race.

Earlier in the morning, trains between The Hague and Haarlem were also busy. From Haarlem, sprinter trains departed every five minutes toward Zandvoort, carrying fans dressed in orange or team gear from Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing, the team of Dutch favorite Max Verstappen.

According to WeerOnline, Saturday’s forecast for Zandvoort calls for occasional morning showers followed by breezy conditions with clouds and sunshine later in the day. Temperatures are expected to reach about 22 degrees, with a low of 17.

At the station in Zandvoort, NS employees welcomed the arriving crowds. “Have a great day today!” one shouted through a megaphone, according to ANP reporters.

Outside the station, many spectators pulled out ponchos and umbrellas as they stepped into the rain. Some sheltered under canopies and in bus stops. “The sun will shine later!” another NS employee reassured the fans.

Mayor David Moolenburgh of Zandvoort expressed satisfaction with the first day of the Formula 1 weekend in his municipality. “The weather was, of course, good, and the atmosphere in the village was generally very nice,” he said, noting that no arrests have been made so far.

“It was still quiet during the first practice on Friday, but during the second practice I saw about 150 people gathered around a screen at one point. That certainly adds to the atmosphere,” Moolenburgh said.

Thursday saw a performance by Yves Berendse, followed on Friday by Wolter Kroes on the stage at Haltestraat. “It was really packed,” the mayor said. “I’m curious how it will be tonight; I hope it will be busy and festive again.”