Assen is a gateway to the Northeastern Netherlands, a picturesque pocket of the country with a proud motorsport legacy. Tour a legendary motorsport racetrack, cycle through chocolate-box rural landscapes and learn about the fascinating history behind the region’s ancient megalithic tombs.
Things to do in Assen
Every June, Assen gears up to host the annual Dutch TT, one of the most prestigious events on the European motorcycle racing calendar. Join a guided tour and go behind the scenes of the legendary TT Circuit nicknamed “The Cathedral of Speed” by fans. Learn about motorsport legends and the history of the Dutch TT, which has been running since the 1940s.
Learn about the horrors of the holocaust at Kamp Westerbork. The Nazi camp was used to house Jews being transported from the Netherlands to concentration camps. Today it’s a poignant museum that uses photographs and voice recordings to bring the experience of Dutch prisoners to life.
Admire paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries at the Drents Museum. It’s housed in a regal red-brick manor house and showcases an incredible collection of permanent and temporary works. Don’t miss the realist masterpieces on display in the museum’s contemporary wing.
Rent a bike and explore the postcard-perfect Drentsche Aa National Landscape. Discover 10,000 hectares of sun-dappled woodlands, rolling green fields and heathland carpeted in purple flowers. You’ll pass several “hunebedden” megalithic tombs near the village of Gasteren. Learn more about the fascinating prehistoric burial chambers at the Hunebedden Centrum information centre in Borger.
Getting around Assen
Assen is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. The town is in the Northeastern Netherlands, a 30-minute drive from Groningen and 15 minutes by train. Amsterdam is two hours away by car or train. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a two-hour drive away.