Assen: Culture, History and Forest

Assen combines archaeological collections and city history with walking paths and forest landscapes. You can plan your trip around different interests: a 3.2-kilometre city walk, paths through the Asserbos and cycling routes of varying lengths. The city’s history of motorsport is also part of its character.

Culture, City History and Motorsport

The Drents Museum brings unique archaeological collections from cultures around the world to Assen. The “Stad der Paleizen” route offers a different perspective on the city’s history. It traces the story from the Maria in Campis monastery to the arrival of King Lodewijk Napoleon. The walking route starts at the Drents Museum on the Brink and is 3.2 kilometres long. This lets you follow a specific route linking historical points of interest, rather than visiting only individual sites connected with the city’s history.

Motorsport also has a long history in Assen. In 1955, the 25th Dutch TT was held on a new, 7.7-kilometre racetrack located entirely within Assen. The TT Circuit Assen hosts numerous motorcycle racing events; the specific dates vary. If a race is important to your trip, check the event dates in advance.

Another cultural venue is the Drents Archief. Guided tours of the historic building are available for groups. Groups can also view original documents in the underground archive, including historical maps, diaries and medieval charters. The group format is an important consideration if you would like to include this visit in your itinerary.

Walking Through the City and Forest

From Assen railway station, you can walk to the city centre in ten minutes. Mannes, a six-metre-tall wooden dog, stands in the station forecourt. The new station building has a striking wooden roof. These distinctive details give your arrival its own character before you set out to explore the city’s museums, paths or green spaces.

The Asserbos is one of the oldest forests in the Netherlands. A walking path passes Hertenkamp, two duck ponds and the Stadsboerderij. The Asserbos is also home to the Duurzaamheidscentrum, which has a changing exhibition on sustainability. Themed walks ranging from 1.5 to 15 kilometres start there; individual routes may change. For children, the centre offers a treasure hunt, a play corner and a craft activity.

Another green space in the heart of the city is the Gouverneurstuin. Visitors can relax on the lawn. Landgoed Overcingel includes a woodland of the old Drenthe type, with oaks and holly trees. Landgoed Valkenstijn covers almost ten hectares; walking paths there run beneath old trees, through avenues, along hedgerows and across extensive meadows. Families will also find a pump track and an animal pasture on the grounds.

The “Het Huisje in de Tuin” tea pavilion dates back to 1874 and serves a variety of sweets and other snacks. Along with its paths, meadows and historic sites, Assen is more than a destination for museum visits: it is also a city where you can combine different interests during your stay.

Planning Walks and Cycling

A walking route around the Baggelhuizerplas follows the water and passes through the forest. No specific distance is given for this route. The MTB Route Assen (Baggelhuizen) is a separate route: it is just under nine kilometres long, marked with red mountain bike signs and classified as a blue route of medium difficulty. Markings and conditions may change; check the latest route information before setting out.

For a longer cycling trip, an arrangement from VVV Assen combines a 40-kilometre cycle route through the Drentsche Aa area with a visit to the Drents Museum and lunch. VVV Assen also offers cycling and walking routes, various packages and a wide selection of regional products from Drenthe. Offers and inclusions may change. If you plan to book the arrangement, check in advance whether it is currently available.

The distances provide different reference points for planning your itinerary: 3.2 kilometres for the city walk, 1.5 to 15 kilometres for the themed walks, and just under nine kilometres for the mountain bike route. The 40 kilometres are part of a cycling package. When looking for a hotel in Assen, you could start by considering whether you would like to focus your stay more on city history, forest paths or cycling.

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