Since 2021, Zandvoort has been experiencing a phenomenon. Whenever Max Verstappen races, the Dutch coastal town is transformed into a sea of orange. The dunes become a party zone, smoke bombs color the air, and DJs play on makeshift stages. The Orange Army – Oranje Leger – has become the most popular fan movement in modern Formula 1. And in 2026, it has a new destination: the Eifel region.
From May 14th to 17th, 2026, Max Verstappen will compete in the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring – the first time a reigning F1 World Champion will participate in the endurance race on the Green Hell. And with him will come tens of thousands of fans, who will attend the race primarily for one reason: to see their hero.
The Orange Army in numbers
The Dutch ADAC partner association ANWB estimates that around 35,000 to 45,000 Dutch fans will travel to the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2026. For comparison: in 2019, before Verstappen's world championship era, there were around 6,000. That's a fivefold increase – within seven years.
The organizers have been feeling the consequences for months:
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Camping pitches were sold out within four hours on January 8th.
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Hotels within a 50-kilometer radius have been fully booked since February.
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Car rental stations in Cologne and Düsseldorf are already reporting shortages in April.
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Several Dutch tour operators offer complete weekend packages (travel, hotel, grandstand).
Why Verstappen draws his fans in like a magnet
Max Verstappen is more than just an F1 driver. He's a national phenomenon in the Netherlands, comparable to Schumacher's status in Germany in the 1990s. After his first World Championship title in Abu Dhabi in 2021, Amsterdam's main shopping streets were spontaneously dyed orange. His fans follow him to every race – Zandvoort, Spa, Silverstone, Monza. And now: the Nürburgring.
What makes this fan frenzy unique: The Orange Army has developed its own culture. Orange T-shirts, Lion Gates (inflatable lions as status symbols), bouquets of orange tulips, smoke bombs, Dutch chart hits blasting from makeshift speakers. Anyone who's ever experienced a Zandvoort weekend knows what the Eifel region is in for.
Get the Nordschleife on your wall.
At AP10 Studios We're producing the Nordschleife – the exact 20.832 kilometers where Verstappen will make his 24-hour debut on May 16th/17th – as a 3D-printed frame. Featuring a true elevation profile, made in Germany, and already in use by over 15,000 customers and partners. Use the Bundle Builder to create your own bundle of favorite tracks and save.
The reaction of the German fans
The mood in the German motorsport camp is mixed. On the one hand, most Nordschleife fans are pleased with the international interest and attention the race is receiving. On the other hand, there are concerns: Will the traditional camping areas be dominated? Will the Brünnchen atmosphere be overrun? Will the race become a Verstappen show instead of an endurance spectacle?
Klaus Hannappel, a long-time spectator and Brünnchen regular since 1994, has a pragmatic view: The race thrives on passion. Whether that passion comes from Cologne or Rotterdam is secondary. What matters is that the fans respect the track.
Verstappen Racing: the team behind the hero
The fact that Max Verstappen isn't simply driving for an existing team, but has founded his own (Verstappen Racing), sends another signal: the Nürburgring 24 Hours isn't a PR event for him, but a serious project. Alongside him are Lucas Auer and two experienced Nordschleife professionals – the car is a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in an orange and black livery.
His father, Jos Verstappen, will be in the pit lane. This is more than just a family affair: Jos is himself an experienced Nordschleife driver and knows the track from his NLS participation in the early 2000s. If anyone knows how to guide Max through the 24 Hours of the Green Hell, it's him.
What this means for the race weekend
You can practically feel the Orange Army in many places:
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More language mix in the stands: Dutch, German, English simultaneously
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Dutch music at the campsites (prepare yourself for Snollebollekes)
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Orange spots in Brünnchen, Karussell and at the start/finish grandstand
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A closer beer competition – perhaps the evening you drink Heineken on the Ring.
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International feel factor: The race will be less of a German folk festival and more of a European event.
The Nordschleife will finally become international
Regardless of how Verstappen finishes the race, the 2026 24 Hours of Nürburgring will change the international perception of the Nordschleife. TV rights for the weekend have been sold to nine additional countries, including Japan and the USA. YouTube live streams are expected to draw record viewership.
This is a gift for the Green Hell. After years in which the Nordschleife primarily served as a benchmark track for car manufacturers, it is returning to global consciousness as a vibrant race circuit. Just like it was in the 1970s with Stewart, Fittipaldi, and Lauda.
For Verstappen fans: the souvenir that will last
If you're going to the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, you want a souvenir. A T-shirt lasts through three washes. A trophy poster yellows in five years. A 3D-printed frame of the Nordschleife displays the true elevation profile of the track where Max will make his debut in 2026 – in a quality that will last for years. Made in Germany, accurate to the millimeter, and already trusted by over 15,000 customers and partners. Combine the Builder frame directly with the Zandvoort frame in the Bundle Builder – the two most important tracks of the Orange Army on one wall.
Get the Nordschleife on your wall.
At AP10 Studios We're producing the Nordschleife – the exact 20.832 kilometers where Verstappen will make his 24-hour debut on May 16th/17th – as a 3D-printed frame. Featuring a true elevation profile, made in Germany, and already in use by over 15,000 customers and partners. Use the Bundle Builder to create your own bundle of favorite tracks and save.
