Assen
Encyclopedia
Assen is a municipality
and a city
in the north eastern Netherlands
, capital of the province
of Drenthe
. It received city rights
in 1809. Assen's main claim to fame is the TT Circuit Assen
the motorcycle racing circuit, where on the last Saturday in June the Dutch TT
is run. Assen has a railway station - Assen railway station
.
, Assen, De Haar
, Graswijk
, Loon
, Rhee
, Schieven
, Ter Aard
, Ubbena
, Witten, Zeijen
, Zeijerveen, Zeijerveld.
can be traced back to at least 1258, when a new location had to be found for the Maria in Campis monastery
, which was originally built near Coevorden
as a penalty for the slaughter -in 1227- of the army of the Bishop of Utrecht at the hands of Drenthe's peasants, in what has come to be known as the Battle of Ane
. A battle, incidentally, in which the Bishop was killed. His successor ordered the monastery to be built as a penalty. As this monastery was located in a barren peat
area, which also happened to flood
from time to time, a better location had to be found. A better and especially dryer spot for the Cistercian monastery
was found in an area known as Witten, where at the time only a few farms were located. Around it were village
communities like Deurze
, Witten en Peelo. The latter has a history which goes back to the times from when Dolmens were built, but is presently situated between two new districts of Assen.
The 'relocated' monastery probably was erected in the 1260s, and over the centuries Assen developed around it.
was built at what now is the Brink (i.e. grassy area which serves as a symbolic municipal centre) of Assen. At the locations of the monastery
now stands the Drents Museum
, which was built in 1882 as 'provinciehuis' (i.e. the residence of provincial government). Only the Abdijkerk (Abbey
church), monastery terrain and bits and pieces of walls remind us of the religious beginnings of the city.
. Just like the coat of arms of the province of Drenthe
- in both cases Mary with child - but Jesus
switches knee. At the same time it tells you how the history of the city
is connected with the provincial governing board. Which has to do with the fact that around 1600 the abbeygoods were secularised. Maria in Campis no longer existed, but the buildings did. Because of the central position of Assen and the fact that the government
from what was then called 'de Landschap Drenthe
' (the Landscape Drenthe
) was searching for a location for the government
and civil servants, Assen became seat for, and basically also capital of Drenthe
.
yet, not even ecclesiastical sense. Even though there was an abbey
church, Assen fell ecclesiastically and administratively under Rolde
. In 1615 Assen got its own preacher
. In 1807 Assen administratively freed itself from the control of Rolde
when the village
got to establish its own municipal authorities. A municipal authority which moreover in most cases operated in the shadow of the provincial government, which always manifested itself prominent in the 'Drentse Haagje'. The municipal authority mainly got there because of matter of provincial governors like governor
Petrus Hofstede, to which the city
also thanks its uniquely located park
(in the center of the city). From that time Assen also obtained its significant nickname, 'het Herenbolwerk'.
scope after World War II
. But it has been an official city
since 1809. After Coevorden
, then a village
of about sixteen hundred people, Assen became the second place in Drenthe
with city rights
, granted by King Lodewijk Napoleon, who had big plans with the village
. A plan to make it a real city
was set up at the time, but unfortunately for Assen, the Kingdom
of the Netherlands
was incorporated with France
of Napoleon Bonaparte and the plans were abandoned.
As administrative centre, Assen attracted well-to-do inhabitants and with that also new enterprises and initiatives, these contributed to slow but steady increase of commerce, wealth and new establishments; such as a newspaper
printing in 1823, a Latin
school
in 1825, a postal service on Groningen in 1830, a court
in 1840, a first beginning for a garrison
in 1852 and a railway station in 1870. Another major achievement was the Drentse Hoofdvaart (Canal)which was used for transporting peat and other goods. (On either side of the canal, stately homes were built by the initiators) and the opening of the Noord-Willemskanaal (North-Willems canal) in 1861. The most important monuments of the city
are from the nineteenth century.
, but the establishment of a slaughter house, dairy
factory and iron
foundry created more diverse expansion opportunities and encouraged growth. Around 1930 Assen became a central point for health care in the province, by establishing various psychiatric hospitals and healthcare centres.
more widely known, but it wasn't until the 1950s with the development of an industrial core did Assen begin to grow much more quickly. The 'Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij' (Dutch Oil Company) established itself in the city
and with that, a trend was set. Now, Assen isn't only known because of its TT, Bartje en the 'Drentse Rijwielvierdaagse'. It also is the fastest growing city in the northern part of the Netherlands, has ample employment
opportunities, particularly in the service industry. An unprecedented growth of the city in terms of houses & inhabitants is taking place with environmental issues becoming more urgent.
The city has progressively become more cycle friendly since the 1960s. Assen has an extensive network of off road cycle paths, the city centre is closed to motor vehicles, and 41% of all journeys in Assen are by bicycle.
is one of the most famous motorcycle racing
circuit
s in the world and is the only circuit that has been in the MotoGP
calendar since its beginnings in 1949. It is also regarded as the Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing.
In November of each year Assen becomes the centre of international attention for the world of Ballroom and Latin American dancers when the city hosts the Assen Dance Festival which includes the "Dutch Open Championships". This is an Open event for dancers from all countries and all dance bodies and a magnet for those who are or aspire to be "the best".
Assen is also the capital of the "Cycling Province" of the Netherlands, Drenthe
. There are many high quality cycle paths in the city and surroundings and it is host to regular cycling events such as the Drentse fietsvierdaagse
and the Jeugdtour
. In 2009 the prologue and opening stage of the Vuelta a España
took place in Assen.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in the north eastern Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, capital of the province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
. It received city rights
City rights in the Netherlands
City rights are a medieval phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. A liegelord, usually a count, duke or similar member of high nobility, granted a settlement he owned certain town privileges that settlements without city rights did not have....
in 1809. Assen's main claim to fame is the TT Circuit Assen
TT Circuit Assen
The TT Circuit Assen is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and located in Assen, Netherlands. Host of the Dutch TT race, it is considered "The Cathedral" of motorcycling by the fans...
the motorcycle racing circuit, where on the last Saturday in June the Dutch TT
Dutch TT
The Dutch TT is a motorcycling event, traditionally held on the last Saturday of June at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, as part of the MotoGP World Championship. In the past all classes , nowadays only the 125 cc, Moto2 and the MotoGP...
is run. Assen has a railway station - Assen railway station
Assen railway station
Assen is a railway station located in Assen, the Netherlands. The station was opened on 1 May 1870 and is located on the Meppel–Groningen railway. The station is operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen. A modern looking, new station building was built in 1988...
.
Population centres
AnreepAnreep
Anreep is a village in the Netherlands and it is part of the Assen municipality in Drenthe. Anreep has an altitude of about 9 meters.-External links:*...
, Assen, De Haar
De Haar (Assen)
De Haar is a village in the Netherlands and it is part of the Assen municipality in Drenthe. De Haar has an altitude of about 11 meters....
, Graswijk
Graswijk
Graswijk is a village in the Netherlands and it is part of the Assen municipality in Drenthe. Graswijk has an altitude of about 11 meters.-External links:*----...
, Loon
Loon (Drenthe)
Loon is a village in the Netherlands and it is part of the Assen municipality in Drenthe. Loon has an altitude of about 9 meters and a population of about 280 ....
, Rhee
Rhee (Drenthe)
Rhee is a hamlet in the Netherlands and it is part of the Assen municipality in Drenthe. Rhee has an altitude of about 9 meters....
, Schieven
Schieven
Schieven is a village in the Netherlands and it is part of the Assen municipality in Drenthe. Schieven has an altitude of about 10 meters.-External links:*...
, Ter Aard
Ter Aard
Ter Aard is a village in the Netherlands and it is part of the Assen municipality in Drenthe. Ter Aard has an altitude of approximately 10 meters above sea level.----...
, Ubbena
Ubbena
Ubbena is a village in the Netherlands and it is part of the Assen municipality in Drenthe. Ubbena has an altitude of about 9 meters.-External links:*----...
, Witten, Zeijen
Zeijen
Zeijen is a village in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Tynaarlo.In 2001, the village of Zeijen had 447 inhabitants...
, Zeijerveen, Zeijerveld.
History
The history of the capital of DrentheDrenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
can be traced back to at least 1258, when a new location had to be found for the Maria in Campis monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, which was originally built near Coevorden
Coevorden
Coevorden is a municipality and a city in the northeastern Netherlands. During the municipal reorganisation in the province in 1998, Coevorden merged with Dalen, Sleen, Oosterhesselen and Zweeloo.- Population centers :...
as a penalty for the slaughter -in 1227- of the army of the Bishop of Utrecht at the hands of Drenthe's peasants, in what has come to be known as the Battle of Ane
Battle of Ane
The Battle of Ane was fought in 1227 between Otto II of Lippe, Bishop of Utrecht, and Rudolf II van Coevorden with his army of Drenths.-Background:...
. A battle, incidentally, in which the Bishop was killed. His successor ordered the monastery to be built as a penalty. As this monastery was located in a barren peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
area, which also happened to flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
from time to time, a better location had to be found. A better and especially dryer spot for the Cistercian monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
was found in an area known as Witten, where at the time only a few farms were located. Around it were village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
communities like Deurze
Deurze
Deurze is a town in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Aa en Hunze, and lies about 4 km southeast of Assen.The statistical area "Deurze", which also can include the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 90....
, Witten en Peelo. The latter has a history which goes back to the times from when Dolmens were built, but is presently situated between two new districts of Assen.
The 'relocated' monastery probably was erected in the 1260s, and over the centuries Assen developed around it.
Monastery
The monasteryMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
was built at what now is the Brink (i.e. grassy area which serves as a symbolic municipal centre) of Assen. At the locations of the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
now stands the Drents Museum
Drents Museum
The Drents Museum is a historical museum located in Assen, Netherlands. It was founded by the King's Commissioner of Drenthe on November 28, 1854 as the Provincial Museum of Drents Antiquities.-Collection:...
, which was built in 1882 as 'provinciehuis' (i.e. the residence of provincial government). Only the Abdijkerk (Abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
church), monastery terrain and bits and pieces of walls remind us of the religious beginnings of the city.
Coat of arms
The Coat of Arms is directly borrowed from the seal of the monasteryMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. Just like the coat of arms of the province of Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
- in both cases Mary with child - but Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
switches knee. At the same time it tells you how the history of the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
is connected with the provincial governing board. Which has to do with the fact that around 1600 the abbeygoods were secularised. Maria in Campis no longer existed, but the buildings did. Because of the central position of Assen and the fact that the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
from what was then called 'de Landschap Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
' (the Landscape Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
) was searching for a location for the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and civil servants, Assen became seat for, and basically also capital of Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
.
'Drents Haagje'
Assen really wasn't a municipalityMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
yet, not even ecclesiastical sense. Even though there was an abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
church, Assen fell ecclesiastically and administratively under Rolde
Rolde
Rolde is a town in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Aa en Hunze, and lies about 6 km east of Assen.Rolde was a separate municipality until 1998, when it became a part of Aa en Hunze....
. In 1615 Assen got its own preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
. In 1807 Assen administratively freed itself from the control of Rolde
Rolde
Rolde is a town in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Aa en Hunze, and lies about 6 km east of Assen.Rolde was a separate municipality until 1998, when it became a part of Aa en Hunze....
when the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
got to establish its own municipal authorities. A municipal authority which moreover in most cases operated in the shadow of the provincial government, which always manifested itself prominent in the 'Drentse Haagje'. The municipal authority mainly got there because of matter of provincial governors like governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Petrus Hofstede, to which the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
also thanks its uniquely located park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
(in the center of the city). From that time Assen also obtained its significant nickname, 'het Herenbolwerk'.
City Rights
Assen currently has about 65,000 inhabitants, but it only got a real cityCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
scope after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. But it has been an official city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
since 1809. After Coevorden
Coevorden
Coevorden is a municipality and a city in the northeastern Netherlands. During the municipal reorganisation in the province in 1998, Coevorden merged with Dalen, Sleen, Oosterhesselen and Zweeloo.- Population centers :...
, then a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of about sixteen hundred people, Assen became the second place in Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
with city rights
City rights in the Netherlands
City rights are a medieval phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. A liegelord, usually a count, duke or similar member of high nobility, granted a settlement he owned certain town privileges that settlements without city rights did not have....
, granted by King Lodewijk Napoleon, who had big plans with the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
. A plan to make it a real city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
was set up at the time, but unfortunately for Assen, the Kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
was incorporated with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
of Napoleon Bonaparte and the plans were abandoned.
As administrative centre, Assen attracted well-to-do inhabitants and with that also new enterprises and initiatives, these contributed to slow but steady increase of commerce, wealth and new establishments; such as a newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
printing in 1823, a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
in 1825, a postal service on Groningen in 1830, a court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
in 1840, a first beginning for a garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
in 1852 and a railway station in 1870. Another major achievement was the Drentse Hoofdvaart (Canal)which was used for transporting peat and other goods. (On either side of the canal, stately homes were built by the initiators) and the opening of the Noord-Willemskanaal (North-Willems canal) in 1861. The most important monuments of the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
are from the nineteenth century.
Industry
Around the 1900 Assen began to play a more prominent industrial role. It was originally a centre of civil servantsCivil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
, but the establishment of a slaughter house, dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
factory and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
foundry created more diverse expansion opportunities and encouraged growth. Around 1930 Assen became a central point for health care in the province, by establishing various psychiatric hospitals and healthcare centres.
Growth
After WWII, Assen didn't have more than 20,000 inhabitants. The Assen TT made the cityCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
more widely known, but it wasn't until the 1950s with the development of an industrial core did Assen begin to grow much more quickly. The 'Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij' (Dutch Oil Company) established itself in the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and with that, a trend was set. Now, Assen isn't only known because of its TT, Bartje en the 'Drentse Rijwielvierdaagse'. It also is the fastest growing city in the northern part of the Netherlands, has ample employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
opportunities, particularly in the service industry. An unprecedented growth of the city in terms of houses & inhabitants is taking place with environmental issues becoming more urgent.
The city has progressively become more cycle friendly since the 1960s. Assen has an extensive network of off road cycle paths, the city centre is closed to motor vehicles, and 41% of all journeys in Assen are by bicycle.
Notable people born in Assen
- Klenie BimoltKlenie BimoltKlena Geertje Bimolt is a former swimmer from The Netherlands, who won the silver medal in the 4x100 medley relay at the 1964 Summer Olympics...
(born 1945), breaststroke swimmer - John-Paul LangbroekJohn-Paul LangbroekJohn-Paul Honoré Langbroek is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly representing the Liberal Party and its successor, the centre-right Liberal National Party, in the seat of Surfers Paradise since 2004...
(born 1961), politician - Peter HoekstraPeter Hoekstra (footballer)Peter Martin Hoekstra is a retired Dutch footballer who played as a winger for, amongst others, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax and Stoke City. Capped 5 times by the Dutch national team, he was a member of the Dutch squad at Euro 1996 in England under manager Guus Hiddink.-Early Career:Hoekstra started his...
(born 1973), association football player - Inge DekkerInge DekkerInge Dekker is a butterfly and freestyle swimmer from Netherlands, who won the bronze medal with the Dutch women's 4×100 m freestyle relay team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She did so alongside Inge de Bruijn, Marleen Veldhuis and Chantal Groot...
(born 1985), butterfly and freestyle swimmer - Bas RoordaBas RoordaBas Roorda is a Dutch football goalkeeper who currently plays for PSV Eindhoven. His former teams are NEC Nijmegen, Roda JC and FC Groningen....
, Dutch football player - Sergio van DijkSergio van DijkSerginho "Sergio" van Dijk is a Dutch-born Indonesian footballer player, who currently plays for Adelaide United in the A-League...
, Dutch-Indonesian football player - Marc de MaarMarc de MaarMarc de Maar is a professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .- Biography :At the age of 14, De Maar was ice skating in the winter and cycling in the summer. He had better results in cycling...
, Professionel cyclist, Quick-Step.
Tourism and attractions
The TT Circuit AssenTT Circuit Assen
The TT Circuit Assen is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and located in Assen, Netherlands. Host of the Dutch TT race, it is considered "The Cathedral" of motorcycling by the fans...
is one of the most famous motorcycle racing
Motorcycle racing
Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all sporting aspects of motorcycling. The disciplines are not all "races" or timed-speed events, as several disciplines test a competitor's various riding skills.-Motorcycle racing:...
circuit
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
s in the world and is the only circuit that has been in the MotoGP
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
calendar since its beginnings in 1949. It is also regarded as the Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing.
In November of each year Assen becomes the centre of international attention for the world of Ballroom and Latin American dancers when the city hosts the Assen Dance Festival which includes the "Dutch Open Championships". This is an Open event for dancers from all countries and all dance bodies and a magnet for those who are or aspire to be "the best".
Assen is also the capital of the "Cycling Province" of the Netherlands, Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
. There are many high quality cycle paths in the city and surroundings and it is host to regular cycling events such as the Drentse fietsvierdaagse
Fietsvierdaagse
The fietsvierdaagse is a Dutch bicycle event. The event consists of four days of recreational cycling. Mainly during spring and summer several fietsvierdaagsen are organised throughout the Netherlands. The fietsvierdaagsen are annual events and most take place in the countryside of the Netherlands...
and the Jeugdtour
Jeugdtour
The Internationale Jeugdtour Assen is the largest youth cycle racing event held in Europe. It has been held annually since 1960 in the city of Assen in the Netherlands...
. In 2009 the prologue and opening stage of the Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
took place in Assen.
External links
Official website, assen.nl- Map of Assen, kaartassen.nl
- TT Circuit Assen, tt-assen.com
- NAM Dutch Oil Company, nam.nl