Who are you/ your role: Olivia – Operations Executive 

Your trip: Dutch Grand Prix, August 2024, Amsterdam

What was your favourite part of Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is filled with charm, character, culture, and not to mention, some of the nicest locals I’ve had the pleasure of encountering. The best part about Amsterdam is how charming it all is. It’s one of those cities that you don’t mind getting lost in and there is something happening around every corner. The canals, the buildings, and the flowers make it so picturesque. You instantly feel welcomed into the culture, and it is super easy to get around which means you can fit a lot in during your day.

What was your favourite part of the trip?

As a massive foodie, I have to say my favourite part of the trip was the variety of food you can get in Amsterdam. The city has an incredibly diverse dining scene. Whether you're on a mission to sample some Michelin-starred magic or after some bitterballen on a budget, Amsterdam will keep your tastebuds amused from morning to midnight. I don’t think I ate a single bad meal. We found the world’s best Garlic Bread at a restaurant called Cannibale Royale, their burgers were also amazing. I made a daily visit to Rene’s Croissanterie which had some of the best cakes, stroopwafels and pastries, that I would happily walk back to Amsterdam for. Grabbing a pastry and a coffee and sitting in the Dam Square watching the world go by was a very simple but highlight moment for me. 

How was the Race? 

After two days of mixed weather, we were greeted by dry and bright conditions in the build-up to the race on Sunday. The Dutch fans cascaded into the circuit in a sea of orange as they arrived in their thousands, expecting the win for Max Verstappen at his home Dutch Grand Prix. Norris lined up on pole position but lost the lead off the line to the home hero, Verstappen. There was complete pandemonium in the stands from the Dutch fans, I’ve never seen such excitement. It looked like Max could be in for the win to secure his fourth win in a row at his home track, but Norris was patiently waiting until Lap 18 to get back in front of the local favourite.

From that point on, Norris had complete control of the race, and he was ahead of Max by a comfortable 22 seconds, he also set the fastest lap on the last lap of the race.

Charles Leclerc also delivered an impressive drive and secured the final spot on the podium giving a huge boost for Ferrari ahead of its home race at Monza on September 1st.

After the weekend, I can say that Zandvoort is officially one of my favourite circuits that I have had the opportunity to visit. It has lots of unique corners formed by the natural dunes and elevation changes. The atmosphere created by the Dutch fans was unmatched, you couldn’t have created a better ambience. It was a thrilling experience from start to finish.

Some may say it was a ‘Simply Lovely’ weekend.

What would you recommend doing in Amsterdam?

Bikes are to Amsterdam what wine is to Bordeaux. It’s a must to hire a bike, the city is nice and flat, so it is a great (and cheap!) way to get around on your free days and you can experience the city like a local. You can hire a bike at most of the hotels or at one of the many bike shops in the centre. Cycle around the city, visit some of the famous sites or just simply enjoy taking in the scenic views of the canals and the houses as you cycle through the city.