The Kromhouthal in Amsterdam currently hosts The Formula 1® Exhibition / The F1® Exhibition / F1 The Exhibition. No, I don’t know what the definitive name is. On site, I felt ‘F1 The Exhibition’ was prevalent. I first saw Formula 1 live on television on 1 May 1994. Since 1996, I follow F1 closely. Amsterdam is not that far from Antwerp, so I took the EuroCity Direct to Schiphol Airport, a Sprinter to Amsterdam Central and walked to the event hall to visit the exhibition. 

After Madrid, Vienna, Toronto, Buenos Aires and London, the exhibition is now hosted in the borough of Amsterdam North, just across the IJ. The exhibition comes with “exclusive and iconic Formula 1® cars, Formula 1® artefacts, simulator experiences and contributions from leading teams”, the press release says. 

F1 The Exhibition is an immersive experience that takes you on a journey through 75 years of Formula 1 history, without focusing on racing statistics. The history is more a show and tell of the evolution of the sport and spectacle. 

It’s divided into seven themed rooms, each offering a unique perspective on the sport. Whether you’re a seasoned F1 fan or just a casual viewer, there’s truly something for everyone.

You’re greeted by three F1 cars:

• The Ferrari F10 from 2010, the car double world champion Fernando Alonso from Spain drove in his first race for Scuderia Ferrari.
• The Sauber-Petronas C17 from 1998, driven by Jean Alesi from France and Johnny Herbert from the United Kingdom.
• The Williams-Renault FW13B from 1990, driven by Thierry Boutsen from Belgium. A nice nod to the Belgians. 

Once Upon a Time in Formula 1

The exhibition begins with ‘Once Upon a Time in Formula 1‘, a nostalgic journey into the world of motorsport. As soon as you enter, the sound of roaring engines and the sight of vintage footage transport you straight into the F1 universe.

You’re then taken back even further, exploring over 100 years of motorsport history—from the very first races in 1887, decades before the official birth of Formula 1, all the way to Max Verstappen’s first F1 victory. 

Verstappen, from the Netherlands, is obviously prominently present in this exhibition. Because yes, the exhibition is adapted to the local audience. I’ve seen photos from the London exhibition, and they show Mercedes and McLaren cars not shown in Amsterdam. 

Drivers and Duels

In the ‘Drivers and Duels‘ section, tribute is paid to F1 drivers past and present, beginning with their karting days. The exhibition also highlights the sacrifices made by the drivers and their families. While F1 is often viewed as a sport of glamour, this room brings the human side into sharp focus, deepening your respect for those behind the wheel.

A standout here is the helmet collection—over 100 in total—showing how designs have evolved through the decades. Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Jacky Ickx, Gerhard Berger, Andrea de Cesaris, Charles Leclerc, Jules Bianchi, David Coulthard, Jacques Villeneuve, Stoffel Vandoorne, Mika Häkkinen, Emmerson Fittipaldi and many more. 

Other highlights include the race suits of both Max and his father Jos Verstappen, plus an interactive reaction time game. Naturally, the rivalry between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton gets its moment too.

Design Lab

The next stop is the ‘Design Lab‘, where you peek behind the curtain of F1 team operations. You’ll also get an up-close look at the Red Bull RB16B, the car in which Max Verstappen claimed his first world title—instantly taking you back to 2021.

Revolution By Design

In ‘Revolution By Design‘, the exhibition focuses on groundbreaking F1 innovations and the future of the sport. You’ll see iconic vehicles like:

• The Lotus 33, driven by Jim Clark to victory in the 1965 Dutch Grand Prix.
• The Toro Rosso-Renault STR9, the car Max Verstappen debuted in during 2014 free practice in Japan.

Survival

Perhaps the most moving part of the exhibition is ‘Survival’, dedicated to the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix crash of Romain Grosjean. In a darkened room, visitors come face-to-face with the charred remains of his Haas car. It’s a powerful and sobering reminder of the dangers of the sport. I, for one, couldn’t stop wondering how Grosjean made it out alive.

Dutch Drive Room

After the heaviness of ‘Survival’, the ‘Dutch Drive Room‘ offers a lighter, patriotic interlude, spotlighting Dutch drivers and the Dutch Grand Prix. I hope you like orange.

The Pit Wall

The experience concludes with ‘The Pit Wall‘, a cinematic presentation filled with unforgettable F1 moments.

The Fastest Lap Simulator

You can start or end with ‘The Fastest Lap Simulator‘. You get eight minutes to show what you can do in a simulator. Being in the Netherlands, the track chosen is Zandvoort. 

The level is is easy: you just need to accelerate, brake and steer. No need to shift up or down. I didn’t do well. I’d be out of a seat faster than Liam Lawson. 

Exit through the gift shop

The merchandise shop is very disappointing. Some teal gear and some F1 The Exhibition branded items. Why ‘F1 The Exhibition’? I’d be more intetested in just ‘F1’ branded items. 

Also, I know merch is expensive and it’s part of the game. But no, prices are too high for a cap or hoodie I’ll never wear. 

A visit

F1 The Exhibition is well made and interesting. It’s not just for F1 nerds, but also not too dumbed down so F1 geeks will enjoy.

Yes, the tickets are a bit pricey, but absolutely worth it. Seeing legendary and contemporary artefacts up close, cars you’ve only ever seen on TV or read about, is pretty special. 

Circuits I visited

• Guia Circuit, Macau, China.
• Circuit Andorra, El Pas de la Casa, Andorra.
• Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada.
• Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
• Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico.
• Zandvoort, the Netherlands.
• Valencia Street Circuit, Spain.
• Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia (1).
• Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia (2).
• Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
• Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
• Singapore (1).
• Singapore (2).
• Le Mans, France.
• Norisring, Nuremberg, Germany.