Assen Attractions

Assen, capital of the province of Drenthe, lies in beautiful wooded country at the junction of two inland waterways, the Drenthse Hoofdvaart and the Noord-Willemskanaal. It became an independent commune only in 1807 and received its municipal charter from King Louis Bonaparte in 1809. Thereafter it rapidly developed into the principal town in Drenthe and an important junction for inland shipping. The population rose from only 600 in 1809 to over 13,000 at the beginning of the 20th century, and since then has more than tripled. The Netherlands Prize for motorcycle racing is competed for annually on the racetrack near Assen during the Dutch TT. Assen is also the host for the Dutch Open Dance Championships each November. Unlike other provincial capitals in the Netherlands, Assen has no historic buildings, having been an insignificant village until the 19th century, with no great past to look back on.