The first plans for a circuit in Zandvoort date ba...

The first plans for a circuit in Zandvoort date back to 1930. It took until 3 June 1939 when the first car race was driven on a street circuit in Zandvoort. This race included the Van Lennepweg, which is now one of the most important supply routes to the current circuit.

Although the Second World War broke out, the great success of those races led the mayor of Zandvoort to develop plans for a circuit. The story goes that the mayor of Zandvoort, in an attempt to obtain a forced labor exemption for the people of Zandvoort, concluded an agreement with the German occupier. The Germans were allowed to construct a wide, straight road straight through Zandvoort that could serve as a path after the war. This road was later used by some German roads to reach the coastal defenses along with some other roads. After the war, some of these roads were widened and merged. A racing circuit was developed with the advice of Sammy Davis, winner of the 24-hour Le Mans race from 1927.

On August 7, 1948, the first car race, then still under the name Grand Prix van Zandvoort, took place on the circuit of Zandvoort. The race was won by the Thai prince Bira in an old Maserati. Second and third were the British drivers Tony Rolt and Reg Parnell. In the following year the race was driven according to the rules of Formula 1. This race was won by Luigi Villoresi in an Alfa Romeo.

On August 28, 1948, the first motorcycle race was held on the circuit. In the following year, Luigi Villoresi won the car race in an Alfa Romeo.

From 1950 the Grand Prix was officially called the Grand Prix of the Netherlands (Dutch Grand Prix). But it would take until 1952 for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands to be part of the official Formula 1 World Championship. Almost every year until the mid-1980s, the Grand Prix of the Netherlands would be part of Formula 1.