Zandvoort to invest €4 mil. to get F1 back to Netherlands

The municipal council of Zandvoort unanimously voted in favor of investing 4 million euros into returning Formula 1 to the Netherlands. Almost everyone in the council agreed that the return of the motorsport will have a positive effect on the local economy, NU.nl reports.

The Zandvoort office of mayor and aldermen last week made the proposal to allocate 4 million euros to bringing Formula 1 back to the Noord-Holland coastal town. GroenLinks added an amendment stipulating that the return of the Grand Prix must be done as sustainably as possible. A narrow majority adopted this amendment.

The money will be primarily used to improve the infrastructure of and around the circuit. The budget will be raised by increasing tourist tax by 50 cents per night, among other things. If F1 doesn't return to Zandvoort after all, the money will be used elsewhere.

Returning the Grand Prix to the Netherlands mainly depends on finances, according to the newspaper. A total of 40 million euros will be needed, a quarter of which will be used for modifications to the circuit. An important condition set by the Formula One Management is that the government supports the organization of a Dutch Grand Prix with a subsidy. Now that the city council agreed to push money into it, the most important requirements seem to have been met. Zandvoort hopes that its investment will prompt other parties to do the same.