The hockey pitch at Zandvoortsche HC has been turned into a parking station for 7,000 bicycles for this weekend’s Dutch F1 Grand Prix.
Formula One is returning to the Zandvoort circuit for the first time in 36 years as 70,000 Oranje fans hope local favourite Max Verstappen can win on Sunday.
Zandvoortsche HC, situated 200m away from the circuit, has taken the brunt as far as logistics go.
“The timing is not ideal and not practical for us,” Patrick Verheij, Zandvoortsche’s club chairman, told hockey.nl.
“We’ve been working on it for two years now. We knew that the arrival of Formula 1 would have consequences, but the actual implementation of the measures was unclear until last week.”
Verheij said that any damage would have a “major impact” on the hockey club, which has been closed for a week.
“If there is damage, it will be repaired free of charge,” he added.
However, such is the clamour for Verstappen that motorsport fan Zandvoortsche hopes to attend.
“I follow the sport and I think it’s a great spectacle,” he said. “I have asked my employer off to be able to attend this weekend.”
