The city of Assen, located in the northeastern Netherlands, is the capital city of the Drenthe province. The old integrity of the city has very much been preserved, and a daytrip to Assen is sufficient to explore this lovely city and its surrounding natural landscapes.
While the natural beauty is highly attractive and Groningen and Friesland are a mere stone’s throw away, Assen is most famously known as the home of the TT Circuit Assen. The world-renowned motorcycle plays host to the Dutch TT which takes place annually on the last Sunday of June.
There are also several well-known attractions in Assen that are worth exploring on a visit to the city, which I will highlight in the coming paragraphs. So, if you’re asking about what to see in Assen, you’ve come to the right place. Get your stroopwafels ready and let’s get exploring!
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How to get to Assen
Assen is well connected by public transport with the other large cities in the Netherlands, but it’s not a popular day trip destination as the distance from other large cities is about 180-250 km. However, if you are staying in one of the northern Dutch Provinces, Assen will be quite easy to visit.
Tip: Read this post about using the public transport in the Netherlands. It’s packed with tips that only a local knows!
Here are some distances from other major cities in the Netherlands to Assen by car and the time it takes both by car and by train:
- Amsterdam – Assen: 170 km/2 hrs; by train: 1 hr 50 min
- Schiphol – Assen: 180 km/2 hrs 10 min; by train: 1 hr 50 min
- Groningen – Assen: 30 km/30 min; by train: 16 min
- Utrecht – Assen: 165 km/1 hr 50 min; by train: 1 hr 40 min
- The Hague – Assen: 220 km/2 hrs 20 min; by train: 2 hrs 25 min
- Rotterdam – Assen: 225 km/2 hrs 30 min; by train: 2 hrs 20 min
- Eindhoven – Assen: 230 km/2 hrs 20 min; by train: 2 hr 40 min
- Maastricht – Assen: 310 km/3 hrs 10 min; by train: 4 hrs
The best way to find out how to travel from A to B in the Netherlands is to use the Glimble app. You can buy your tickets in the app and travel hassle-free. The app is absolutely free to download.
For international travel options, check out Omio, where you can also buy train and bus tickets.
Top Things to do in Assen
Read further to find out which are the best things to do in Assen (Drenthe). On the handy map below I’ve marked all tourist attractions in the city. You can add the map to your Google Maps and use it even if you are offline.
1. Drents Museum
When visiting Assen, things to do that involve the arts, culture, and history definitely start off with a visit to the Drents Museum (Drentsmuseum). It is one of the most popular places to visit is Assen, located in the heart of the city.
The museum houses prehistorical artifacts and both visual and applied arts as well as constantly changing temporary exhibitions by Dutch and international artists. The museum itself is situated inside the old province hall, which is, in itself, a historical Drenthe venue.
Aside from historical artifacts and art works, the Drents Museum is also home to the largest dollhouse in the entire country where you can go on a private through the exquisite house and see the rooms of the rich and famous.
Address: Brink 1, 9401 HS, Assen
Admission fee: adults – 15 EUR, kids under 18 yoa – free of charge
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday, from 10:00 till 17:00
Website: drentsmuseum.nl
2. The Abbey Church
Marienkamp Abbey (Abdij Maria in Campis or Mariënkamp), as it is formally known, was a Cistercian Nunnery in the Drenthe province. While it has had an interesting history of fires, collapses, and owner changes over the years, it forms a part of the Drents Museum today and can be seen on a visit to the city.
3. De Brink and Kloosterstraat
De Brink (or the so-called village green) forms part of the original area of Assen and the city was created as an esdorp around it. It lies at the foreground of the former Marienkamp Abbey. Today, De Brink consists of a couple of lawn areas surrounded by trees and can be visited by means of a short stroll.
Kloosterstraat is a historical street in Assen, with many beautiful buildings and stolpersteine. These stolpersteine or ‘stumbling stones’, are small copper plaques that can be seen on the ground and have the names of Jewish people, victims of of the Holocaust.
4. De Markt
One of the favorite things to do in Assen on Wednesdays and Saturdays is a trip to De Markt, located on the Brinkstraat and the Nieuwehuizen.
There are a variety of exhibitor stands, ranging from amazing breads and pastries to watchmakers, clothing stands, and of course, stroopwafels.
5. TT Circuit Assen
One of the most popular things to do in Assen is to visit the TT Circuit – a world-famous motorcycle circuit. Known around the world as “The Cathedral” of motorcycling, the TT Circuit plays hosts to an annual motorcycle race on the last Sunday of June.
Make sure you’re in Assen when there’s a race happening as it makes for fantastic, adrenaline inducing spectating.
Address: De Haar 9, 9405 TE Assen
6. Gouverneurstuin (Governor’s Garden)
When visiting Assen, things to do are bound to keep your afternoon busy so a trip to the Gouverneurstuin is the perfect way to relax you a bit before your next stop. This peaceful stop in the city center was once used as the private garden for the governor of the Drenthe province but is free to be used by the public as a relaxation spot – read your book, have lunch, or simply sit back and relax.
Address: Gouverneurspark, 9401 KB Assen
7. Asserbos
If you’re still wondering what to do in Assen at this point, fear not – there are still a few more things to do in the city. The Asserbos was established in the 13th century, with landscaping work beginning in the 18th century. It is, however, considered to be the oldest urban park in the entire country.
There are several restaurants located in the park as well as a large animal farm for the kids to visit. There are also several duckponds, walkways, and cycle paths to keep up your daily fitness.
8. Overcingel Estate and Gardens
The Overcingel Estate and Gardens (Landgoed Overcingel) make up an area of around 5 hectares, located behind the Assen Train Station and the 18th century mansion alongside.
The beautiful gardens stretch and are covered with purple flowers in the spring. It’s the perfect urban escape and great way to relax away for the busyness in the city.
Address: Oostersingel 27, 9401 JZ Assen
9. Beaching at Baggelhuizerplas
One of the final places to visit in Assen are the beaches at Baggelhuizerplas, located to the west of the city. The 125-hectare area boasts a beach, play area and even waterslides to enjoy during the warn summer months. There are kiosks and restaurants, but also BBQ areas if you prefer to cook yourself and enjoy the afternoon or evening vibes next to the water.
10. National parks
Quite surprisingly, Assen is surrounded by national parks. At the doorstep of the city is the Drentsche Aa National Park, the Drents-Friese Wold National Park is at less than 20 km and Dwingelderveld National Park is at some 30 km.
11. Hunebedden
If there’s one thing that Drenthe is famous for among the locals, it’s for sure the so-called hunebedden, or dolmens. Basically, these are two large boulders supporting one or more cover stones. The hunebedden, erected between 3350 and 3050 BC, are shrouded in mystery as their actual function is still unknown. They are considered to be prehistoric megalithic tombs, but not in the sense of the modern tombstones.
Just outside of Assen you can visit Dolmen D15 (Dorpsweg 5-7, 9409 Loon), Dolmen 16 (9458 Balloo), and Dolmen D17 & D18 (Hunebedweg, 9451 TD Rolde). Here on this map you can find the locations of all dolmens in the Netherlands.
Final Words
The city of Assen makes for a great day trip when visiting the northern Netherlands, especially cities such as Groningen and Leeuwarden. Because there are some many things to do, Assen is a great place to explore and tick off the list of Dutch cities on your literary. It’s another one of those lesser-known Dutch cities that is definitely worth checking out when exploring the Netherlands.
