Explained:

How the Zandvoort Corners Got Their Names

Turn 1 – Tarzanbocht

We’ll start with a quick Dutch lesson. ‘Bocht’ is a word you will see a lot in this article, and it means ‘bend’.

The first turn at Zandvoort is perhaps the most well-known. The 180-degree right-hand turn was added to the circuit in 1948 and provides one of the best chances to overtake around the lap.

Legend says that the turn gets its name from a man – nicknamed Tarzan – who lived just behind the fence at the edge of the corner and would only give up his vegetable garden to the circuit if they named the turn after him. Other theories have also been suggested.

Turn 2 – Gerlachbocht

This right-hander takes its name from Dr Wim Gerlach, who died at the corner in 1957 while competing in a sportscar race.

For F1’s return to Zandvoort in 2021, a double curb was placed at the apex of the blind corner to make sure drivers were not tempted to exceed track limits.

Turn 3 – Hugenholtzbocht

One of the most eye-catching corners on the entire F1 calendar, Hugenholtzbocht is all about the exit, and formed part of the original track layout in 1948.

Drivers enter the bowl-shaped left-hander at high speed and then aim to use the 18 degrees of banking to slingshot out over the ensuing hills and into the dunes themselves.

It takes its name from Zandvoort’s first circuit director, Hans Hugenholtz, who presided over the track between 1949 and 1964.

Hugenholtz helped in the design of several renowned racetracks worldwide, including Suzuka and Hockenheim, but did not contribute to the shape of Zandvoort itself.

Turn 4 – Hunserug

‘Hunse’ Ridge takes the drivers up over a short hill and provides cars with a crucial springboard to accelerate away from the coastline.

The turn – which serves more as short straight – is named after Cas Hunse, a former chairman of the Royal Dutch Motorcycle Association. It is said Hunse came up with the idea to extend the track up and over the hill.

Turn 5 – Slotemakerbocht

The next part of the so-called ‘dune rollercoaster’ of the circuit takes drivers through to Slotemakerbocht – named after Rob Slotemaker, who lost his life at the corner during a Touring Car race in 1979.

Like Hugenholtz before it, the left-handed flick featured on the original circuit layout in 1948.

Turns 6 & 7 – Scheivlak

Drivers who tackled Zandvoort in years gone by have remarked that the Scheivlak turns are where ‘the heroes distinguish themselves from the regular drivers.’

Another section of the circuit that has remained unaltered from the initial designs, the two right-handed turns make up one of the fastest sections at Zandvoort.

‘Scheivlak’ means ‘border’ in Old Dutch, and in the 19th Century, the site was home to the border between the public dunes, and land of the Young Lord Quarles van Ufford.

Turn 8 – Mastersbocht

Turn 8 at Zandvoort is where history – quite literally – takes a turn. Whereas the original layout of the circuit sent drivers left and further into the dunes themselves, Mastersbocht sees drivers turn right at 200km/h and head for home and the end of the lap.

The corner is one of three ‘new’ turns added to Zandvoort during a redesign at the end of the 1990s. Where it gets its name from is unclear, but perhaps a connection comes from the fact the circuit hosted the ‘Masters of F3’ event annually between 1991 and 2016.

Valtteri claimed back-to-back Masters of F3 wins in 2009 and 2010. Lewis Hamilton, David Coulthard, Max Verstappen and Nico Hulkenberg have also tasted success in the race.

Turns 9 & 10 – Bocht 9 & 10

Positioned on the infield section of the circuit, the right-hander at turn nine briefly takes the drivers back into the dunes before turning for home once again at turn 10.

While neither currently has a given name, they have previously been known by ‘Renaultbocht’ and ‘Vodafonebocht’ respectively, in accordance with relevant circuit sponsors of the time.

Turn 10 can also be referred to as ‘Zonder Naam Bocht’, which translates into English as ‘the corner without a name.’

Turns 11 & 12 – Hans Ernst Bocht/Chicane

While Zandvoort is not strictly home to a stadium section like Mexico or Hockenheim, the right-left chicane at Hans Ernst Bocht is as good as it gets, with the crowd able to get an up-close view of the cars as they slow down from well over 250km/h along the back straight.

Given the proximity of the grandstands to the racetrack and the passion of the Dutch fans, the opening laps of the Grand Prix often see cars make their way through an orange haze of smoke.

Hans Ernst was the circuit director at Zandvoort in the 1990s and was instrumental in re-inventing the track and ultimately helping it return to the F1 rota years later.

Turn 13 – Bocht 13

First built in 1989, in the section of track previously known as ‘Pulleveld’ the name given to the dunes in that area of the property, the penultimate right-hander plays an important role in the Zandvoort lap for the modern F1 car.

It prepares drivers for their run to the final corner and the start-finish straight, with a DRS detection zone awaiting just after the exit of the corner.

Turn 14 – Arie Luyendykbocht

Another corner that provides a slingshot sensation, the 18-degree banked right-hander sweeps cars back onto the pit straight and is often pivotal in setting up passing opportunities into the first corner.

The turn has a maximum gradient of 32% at its peak and takes its name from former Dutch racing driver Arie Luyendyk, who won the Indianapolis 500 twice in 1990 and 1997.

Prior to 2001, the corner was known as ‘Bos Uit’ which is Dutch for ‘Out of the Woods’ and took its name from the fact the original layout of the circuit appeared from the surrounding forest at this point in the lap.