Netherlands Advice
Discussion
I'm off to the MotoGP in Assen at the end of June. Ferry from Harwich to the Hook and then two (possibly three) nights over there.
I'll want to stay near to Assen on the second night, but has anyone got any advice or suggestions of somewhere nice to see and stay on the way to Assen ?
Don't need 5 star luxury (decent parking), just want to see somewhere nice along the way to make a nice weekend of it.
I'll want to stay near to Assen on the second night, but has anyone got any advice or suggestions of somewhere nice to see and stay on the way to Assen ?
Don't need 5 star luxury (decent parking), just want to see somewhere nice along the way to make a nice weekend of it.
I lived in Assen for 9 years 1988-1997, house used to be a stones throw from the circuit.
You'll want to be there for at least of one of the Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights if possible - the town is one BIG party !
Thursday is the best night (Assen night) , it's the night when all the locals come out also - beer tents galore, live music galore and a big fair.
Friday & Saturday nights are more of the same but double/triple the numbers !
So stay close by to Assen if you can still get accomodation - or take a tent, there's plenty of makeshift campsites in and around the town for those days.
Don't leave Assen too early the morning after, let the alcohol wear off first - plenty of police around !
Otherwise i'd look to stay in Amersfoort (on the A28 about 100 kms before Assen), nice town , good shopping centre, bars , restaurants - close to Utrecht and Amsterdam.
Or Zwolle - Also off the A28 about 40 minutes from Assen, it's a smaller town, but close to the Amish village of Staphorst (just don't wander around taking photos of the locals!) and also Giethoorn - it's called the 'mini-Venice of Holland' - slight exaggeration maybe , but it's lots of little canals , hire a boat and have fun :
http://www.tourismontheedge.com/places/europe/giet...
Or head past Assen up to Groningen (30 kms North of Assen on the A28)...University City, great market square, if the weather is good sit outside and watch the crowds.
Jealous now...have a great time !
....and watch out for the speed cameras....you won't have to look too hard in Holland - they are everywhere !
Cheers,
Nick
You'll want to be there for at least of one of the Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights if possible - the town is one BIG party !
Thursday is the best night (Assen night) , it's the night when all the locals come out also - beer tents galore, live music galore and a big fair.
Friday & Saturday nights are more of the same but double/triple the numbers !
So stay close by to Assen if you can still get accomodation - or take a tent, there's plenty of makeshift campsites in and around the town for those days.
Don't leave Assen too early the morning after, let the alcohol wear off first - plenty of police around !
Otherwise i'd look to stay in Amersfoort (on the A28 about 100 kms before Assen), nice town , good shopping centre, bars , restaurants - close to Utrecht and Amsterdam.
Or Zwolle - Also off the A28 about 40 minutes from Assen, it's a smaller town, but close to the Amish village of Staphorst (just don't wander around taking photos of the locals!) and also Giethoorn - it's called the 'mini-Venice of Holland' - slight exaggeration maybe , but it's lots of little canals , hire a boat and have fun :
http://www.tourismontheedge.com/places/europe/giet...
Or head past Assen up to Groningen (30 kms North of Assen on the A28)...University City, great market square, if the weather is good sit outside and watch the crowds.
Jealous now...have a great time !
....and watch out for the speed cameras....you won't have to look too hard in Holland - they are everywhere !
Cheers,
Nick
Hi Nick,
All great advice, perhaps I should look to stay in Assen for the Friday and Saturday night then (was originally only thinking of Saturday). Can't do Thursday night which is a shame.
The hotel i'm going to stay in is Van Der Valk Assen, seems to be 4km from the circuit and 1km from the town centre, so we can walk in both directions.
Looks like an easy drive from the Hook to Assen. Didn't realise the Dutch police were so hot on the speed camera action though. What's the situation if you do fall foul ?
Also, are the motorways toll roads ?
Cheers
Ryan
All great advice, perhaps I should look to stay in Assen for the Friday and Saturday night then (was originally only thinking of Saturday). Can't do Thursday night which is a shame.
The hotel i'm going to stay in is Van Der Valk Assen, seems to be 4km from the circuit and 1km from the town centre, so we can walk in both directions.
Looks like an easy drive from the Hook to Assen. Didn't realise the Dutch police were so hot on the speed camera action though. What's the situation if you do fall foul ?
Also, are the motorways toll roads ?
Cheers
Ryan
Big Ry said:
Hi Nick,
All great advice, perhaps I should look to stay in Assen for the Friday and Saturday night then (was originally only thinking of Saturday). Can't do Thursday night which is a shame.
The hotel i'm going to stay in is Van Der Valk Assen, seems to be 4km from the circuit and 1km from the town centre, so we can walk in both directions.
Looks like an easy drive from the Hook to Assen. Didn't realise the Dutch police were so hot on the speed camera action though. What's the situation if you do fall foul ?
Also, are the motorways toll roads ?
Cheers
Ryan
Van der Valk hotel is perfect , just a straight walk along the canal into town. Slightly longer when stumbling back to the hotel All great advice, perhaps I should look to stay in Assen for the Friday and Saturday night then (was originally only thinking of Saturday). Can't do Thursday night which is a shame.
The hotel i'm going to stay in is Van Der Valk Assen, seems to be 4km from the circuit and 1km from the town centre, so we can walk in both directions.
Looks like an easy drive from the Hook to Assen. Didn't realise the Dutch police were so hot on the speed camera action though. What's the situation if you do fall foul ?
Also, are the motorways toll roads ?
Cheers
Ryan
in the early hours - but plenty of shuttle taxis that will run you back for a few euros (well that's what it used to be like and it was Dutch Guilders back then).To get to the TT circuit from the Van der Valk Hotel , walk outside the hotel, turn right and walk along the Europaweg to the circuit.......you'll see many many others walking the same route i'm sure !
No toll roads in Holland - It's pretty much motorway the whole way to Assen. Expect a hefty fine if caught speeding - stick to < 130kmh on the motorway and you'll be fine. Gone are the days (well late nights) of being able to do Assen to Calais in 4 hours. If you're caught doing 50kmh over the speed limit (I think it is ?), they can impound your car and in extreme speed cases they have the right to sell the car. To be honest with the amount of traffic in Holland nowadays you rarely get the chance to speed - but TT week heading towards & away from Assen, just take it easy.
Planning on getting the Harwich > Hook ferry for this. Is there anything I need to know ferry wise or do I need to book a non-standard car space etc ?
I know on the Channel Tunnel then it's best to book van spaces so you get more width and don't smash the splitter off, just wasn't sure if the same applied with the row boat ?
I know on the Channel Tunnel then it's best to book van spaces so you get more width and don't smash the splitter off, just wasn't sure if the same applied with the row boat ?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Might be a couple of tips in this one, matey - I'll see if I can locate a boat one
Might be a couple of tips in this one, matey - I'll see if I can locate a boat one
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