Angkor: The Mystery of Cambodia
In autumn, Drents Museum opens a major exhibition with 120 original objects from Angkor that are set to be shown in Europe for the first time.
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Assen
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ℹ️Practical info — Assen
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- If you are not visiting for a motorcycle race, avoid the TT Festival week in June as the city gets extremely crowded.
- The Drents Museum is a must-see; do not miss the famous ancient bog body known as the Yde girl.
- Rent a bicycle: the cycling routes through the nearby Drentsche Aa nature reserve are perfectly paved and flat.
- The walk from the train station to the city center is short and takes you past beautiful historical buildings.
🍽 Food
🍽
Drentse Kniepertjes
Sweet, thin waffles eaten flat or rolled up and filled with cream. Find them in local bakeries.
🍽
Pannenkoeken
Dutch pancakes, savory or sweet. Visit a traditional pancake house in the city center.
🍽
Stamppot
Mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables, often served with sausage. Excellent on colder days at local taverns.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Saturday Market at the Brink
Visit the weekly market for fresh produce, local baked goods, and of course, Dutch cheese.
🛍
Mercuriuscentrum
An indoor shopping center in the heart of the city, first-rate for clothing and boutiques even on rainy days.
🧘
Asserbos
One of the oldest forests in the Netherlands, reaching right into the city. Well-suited for a shaded walk.
🧘
Baggelhuizerplas
A quiet recreational area with a lake, good for a picnic or swimming during the summer.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
5
British Superbikes
British Superbikes returns to TT Circuit Assen for a full weekend of racing, bringing international motorcycle sport to Assen.
TT Experience Day
At TT Circuit Assen, motorcycle fans can ride on the circuit during a public visitor day that is offered as a bookable event.
Amrita Sher-Gil: 'Europe belongs to Picasso, India belongs to me'
Drents Museum is presenting a major exhibition on modern Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil, with paintings and drawings on loan from New Delhi.
Beauty of the Beast: Animals in Art Nouveau
Drents Museum’s current exhibitions agenda lists this show through mid-September, featuring animal motifs from the Art Nouveau period.
Assen is the capital of the province of Drenthe in the northern Netherlands, functioning as a vital administrative and cultural hub. The city's origins are traced back to the Cistercian abbey Maria in Campis, which was relocated to this site from Coevorden in 1259. Notably, Assen was granted city rights relatively late, in 1809, by King Louis Bonaparte of Holland. Internationally, the city is best known for the TT Circuit Assen, a world-renowned motorcycle racing track that has hosted events since 1925 and is nicknamed the 'Cathedral of Speed'. The Drents Museum is a major cultural institution, housing significant archaeological finds such as bog bodies and the Pesse canoe, the world's oldest known boat. The city is characterized by its abundant green spaces and its proximity to regional national parks, making it a popular base for nature tourism. As a modern residential city, Assen successfully integrates its monastic history with a dynamic sporting legacy.
Your journey, your memory
A postcard from Assen
Turn your own photo into a personal postcard with a local stamp. Free and no sign-up required.
Create a postcard- Location: Drenthe, Netherlands
- Top sights: Drents Museum · TT Circuit Assen · Asserbos
- Nearby: Zuidlaren (14 km)
- Population: ~68.836
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| Rain mm | 78 | 63 | 55 | 40 | 60 | 65 | 81 | 85 | 65 | 70 | 71 | 78 |
Geography
Facts
- Assen was officially granted city rights in 1809
- The Maria in Campis abbey was established here in 1259
- The first TT motorcycle race was held in 1925
- The Pesse canoe in the Drents Museum dates to 8000 BC
- Assen has been the capital of Drenthe since 1814
- The city population is currently over 69,000 residents
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Assen (6)
Frequently asked questions
Why is Assen world-famous?
Assen is famous for the TT Circuit, the 'Cathedral of Speed' for motorcycle racing.
What can you see at the Drents Museum?
It houses bog bodies, archaeological finds, and a significant art collection.
Who is 'Bartje' in Assen?
Bartje is a fictional Drenthe character; his statue stands proudly in the city center.
Is there nature near Assen?
Yes, the Drentsche Aa National Park is right on the doorstep with heaths and forests.
When does the Dutch TT take place?
The MotoGP race traditionally takes place on the last Sunday in June.
Assen: where is it located?
Assen is located in Drenthe, Netherlands.
Assen: what is there to see?
Highlights include Drents Museum, TT Circuit Assen, Asserbos.
Assen: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Assen: why is it worth visiting?
Assen is the capital of the province of Drenthe in the northern Netherlands, functioning as a vital administrative and cultural hub.
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