The place to be on 23 August: Royal Lounge at Zandvoort Circuit

Chic surroundings amid thrills and excitement. The spot where you are welcomed with champagne. It has become indispensable in top-sport business. Alongside regular fans in the stands, luxury lounges serve politicians, CEOs and celebrities to network, negotiate and unwind. Jaap de Groot visits the venues where Dutch VIPs enjoy sporting and culinary excellence. This time he joins the Royal Lounge at Circuit Zandvoort. The place to be during the Dutch Grand Prix on 23 August.

A Grand Prix weekend is not just about elite sport, it also carries considerable Las Vegas flair. One of the Dutch companies that recognized this early on was Jumbo, the retail chain based in Veghel. At just 16 years old, the then-unknown talent Max Verstappen was embraced by Jumbo, enabling him to debut in Formula 3. This marked the beginning of a relationship with significant consequences for Dutch elite sport and Circuit Zandvoort. Through Jumbo's sponsorship, Max Verstappen made the leap from Formula 3 to Formula 1 within a year, a process in which the Brabant-based company remained closely involved. Ultimately, this refined partnership resulted in Formula 1's return to the Netherlands. During the (provisionally) final Grand Prix, Jumbo continues to leave its mark on the Dutch Grand Prix. On Friday 21 August, it once again organizes the special Super Friday at Circuit Zandvoort. An event sold out with some 100,000 visitors, with Max Verstappen's presence as the grand finale.

The day the starting gun fires for the final Grand Prix in our country. So until the very end, Jumbo remains leading on the circuit, where racing and entertainment are complemented by culinary offerings. In that respect too, competition for pole position is fierce in the lounges and VIP boxes during the Dutch Grand Prix. Yet there remains one place to be: the Royal Lounge. Owned by circuit owner Prince Bernhard van Oranje and the fixed spot for the royal family and the most important international guests. The coordination of the Royal Lounge is handled by event organization TIG, and director Norbert Chevalier in particular. "Although the Paddock Club and Founders Lounge are also in the top tier, the Royal Lounge is indeed at the top of the pecking order. It is the place for the royal family, with a 350-degree view of the circuit and a bar at the pit lane. There you literally see a pit stop happen right before your eyes."

The Royal Lounge has a capacity of 600 people, but you cannot simply buy a ticket. Chevalier: "It is actually a closed environment. The lounge is owned by the Prince, who naturally invites his family and friends. Beyond that, the space is available to our major partners, who receive their special guests here. It is part of their sponsorship package, so there is no specific price tag attached. We are open to hearing someone with a special request and possibly exploring what is possible. But that space is limited. You also carry responsibility towards the royal family."

With an invitation from the Prince in hand, it is indeed pleasant to spend time in a special environment, where Max Verstappen and the other drivers occasionally drop by. The Royal Lounge has a relaxed atmosphere. No jacket and tie, but a blazer, often worn with premium blue-jean brands. A trend among Formula 1's upper class for years. Just as the Royal Lounge unsurprisingly offers makeup and massage services, and on the toilet the soap and hand cream have been replaced with products from perfumery Zielinkski & Rozen. Most guests are accustomed to a somewhat different level of service.

Remarkably, catering shows little sign of a lobster-and-caviar culture. It turns out careful consideration has been given to the racing DNA of most guests. Therefore, the dishes offered are primarily motorsport-related: hamburger, hotdog, tuna, pasta and luxury sandwiches. All from the top tier, of course. Chevalier: "However exclusive it all is, most people in the Royal Lounge are really here for the racing. There is far less business-to-business than, for example, at the KLM Open or the ABN AMRO Tennis Tournament. In Formula 1, it is truly about the sport. Catering is adapted accordingly. Despite the status most guests hold, many prefer to stand with a hotdog in hand at the pit lane to follow the race, rather than sit at a laid table watching a television screen."

Prince Bernhard van Oranje embodies the atmosphere of the Royal Lounge. The following Sunday, when his cousin King Willem-Alexander is present, he too invariably wears tailored jeans. He mingles relaxed among the guests, constantly gazing through the windows or onto the beautiful roof terrace to follow developments on the track. Like most people in the Royal Lounge. This is why luxury goes hand in hand with efficient service. No elaborately set tables here, but strategically placed bars and high tables with a view of the circuit. This keeps the champagne and carefully prepared snacks within reach, and nothing of the race is missed.

On 23 August, the Netherlands hosts its final Grand Prix. The Last Lap. The question is what that final lap will look like in the Royal Lounge? Chevalier is resolute: "We keep it as it is. That has worked perfectly all these years. So elegant, but at the same time efficient."