100 years of TT Assen and 50 years of TT Festival Assen

In 2025, it will be one hundred years since the first TT was run on Drenthe (sand) roads. A unique anniversary that is being celebrated in a fitting manner. The fact that the TT is deeply rooted in society is evident from the great commitment and harmonious cooperation of all parties to make it a magnificent anniversary year. Have you already booked for the 100th edition in Assen?

Assen Circuit

The TT Circuit Assen (also known as the Circuit of Drenthe and The Cathedral of Speed) is a Dutch circuit used for events including the MotoGP TT Assen and the World Superbike Championship, but the British Superbike Championship and the DTM have also hosted it. Between 1925 and 1954, the races were held on a street circuit around Assen. A permanent circuit has been in place since 1955.

Due to high investment costs, the TT Circuit can no longer survive on motorcycle racing alone. Therefore, other activities also take place on the grounds. For instance, the Truckstar Festival has been an annual event held on the last weekend of July since 1980. Nowadays, concerts are also held alongside motorcycle and car races. In 2009, the prologue of the Vuelta a España (cycling) took place at the circuit. In 2010, the TT Run was added, a running event for professionals, amateurs, and companies. From September 28 to October 7, 2011, the Dutch Defence Forces held the large-scale exercise Falcon Autumn. During this exercise, the circuit played a central role as a fictional airport that had to be captured and served as a base of operations in the surrounding area. In 2015, a race of the Motocross World Championship was held at the circuit for the first time.  

TT Assen

The TT (Tourist Trophy) Assen is an annual motorcycle race at the Circuit of Drenthe near Assen, in the Dutch province of Drenthe. Since 2016, the TT Assen has been held on the Sunday of the last weekend in June; previously, it was traditionally held on the last Saturday of June. All Grand Prix classes feature during the Dutch TT. Due to the reduction in the number of classes, these are currently Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP, and MotoE. MotoE made its debut in 2021.

In the past, 50 cc, 80 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc, 500 cc, and sidecars were part of this. For several years now, the sidecar class has been run in a separate championship, but it is no longer part of the Grand Prix. Prior to the Dutch TT, as with every Grand Prix, there are several practice sessions and a qualifying session to determine the starting positions for the race. In the week before race day, the TT Festival is held in Assen, showcasing various aspects of motorsport. Furthermore, there is a funfair and several days of music concerts, DJs, and other entertainment, including the famous TT Night preceding race day. NOS and Ziggo Sport broadcast the TT live on TV.

On Saturday, July 11, 1925, 27 riders lined up at the start for the first TT on a 28,4-kilometer course. The track did not run over a smooth circuit, but over cobblestone and sand roads between the triangle of Rolde – Borger – Schoonloo. Ultimately, five riders managed to reach the finish. Arie Wuring (BSA) was the only one to cross the finish line in the 250cc class; in the 350cc class, three riders finished, with Hajo Biezo on a New Imperial being the fastest. In the 500cc class, Piet van Wijngaarden won the race with an average speed of 91,4 km/h. The fastest lap was set by Bertus van Hamersveld with a speed of 104,0 km/h.

After the Second World War, the TT races were a true highlight for Assen and the entire Netherlands. Famous Dutch winners include Wil Hartog, Jack Middelburg, and Egbert Streuer / Bernard Schnieders (in the sidecar).  

100 years of TT Assen (1925 – 2025)

To mark the 100th anniversary of the TT Assen, PostNL is issuing the TT Assen 100 Years stamp sheet on June 5, 2025. Each of the 10 stamps features a black-and-white photo of a motorcycle racer who achieved one or more victories during the TT Assen. The riders depicted are Piet van Wijngaarden, Geoff Duke, Mike Hailwood, Jim Redman, Giacomo Agostini, Ángel Nieto, Wil Hartog, Jack Middelburg, Egbert Streuer & Bernard Schnieders, and Hans Spaan. The TT Assen 100 Years stamp sheet features 10 stamps depicting 10 motorcycle racers who achieved victories during the motorcycle races in Assen. On the stamp featuring the sidecar combination, the passenger is also visible. The names of the racers are Piet van Wijngaarden, Geoff Duke, Mike Hailwood, Jim Redman, Giacomo Agostini, Ángel Nieto, Wil Hartog, Jack Middelburg, Egbert Streuer & Bernard Schnieders, and Hans Spaan. All racers are depicted in action on their motorcycles, entering the stamp from the left. In the design, the racing speed is emphasized by the cropping, the blurring at the rear of the motorcycle, and the gradient racing stripes in the background. At the bottom of the stamp is the racer's name along with the year the photo was taken, and in the upper right corner is the year of the (first) victory. On the left side of the image frame runs a vertical checkered pattern in red, white, and blue, referencing the colors of the curbstones at the TT circuit in Assen. The names of the riders appear again on the margins of the sheet. Next to these names, their nationality is listed in the form of a national flag, as well as the brand name of their motorcycle and the motorcycle class in which they achieved their victory. The design of the stamps was created by graphic designer Jan van Mechelen and illustrator Iwo Tuleya, ZEE [typo]graphic design, Rotterdam. In 2023, graphic designer Jan van Mechelen was responsible for the design of the stamp sheet. 75 years of Solex The Netherlands. The iconic French front-wheel-drive moped took center stage on these stamps. In 2025, Van Mechelen made the move to large motorcycles with the design of the TT Assen 100 Years stamp sheet. “There was a personal connection with both issues,” he says. “As a teenager, I was already tinkering with Solexes. As an adult, I now ride a 1200cc motorcycle. For a motorcyclist, it gave an extra thrill to be allowed to design the stamps for the TT Assen anniversary.” Source: PostNL Press Release, racesport.nl, ttcircuit.com, Wikipedia  

100 years TT Assen Five

The TT Assen: it is not only a sporting event, but also an iconic part of motorsport history. In 1925, the first race was held on the bumpy dirt roads between Rolde, Borger, and Schoonloo. Now, 100 years later, racing is still taking place in Assen, and the Royal Dutch Mint, commissioned by the Ministry of Finance, is launching a unique commemorative coin: the 100 Years TT Assen Five-Euro coin in UNC quality.

  100 years of TT Assen For 100 years, Assen and racing have been inextricably linked. The first race was held in 1925, and since the start of the official world championship in 1949, the TT Assen has been continuously on the calendar. The circuit on which the races are held, also known as the Cathedral of Speed, has been modified several times over the course of 100 years, but the start/finish line has remained unchanged since 1926! It is not just the annual MotoGP that takes place at the circuit in Assen. Throughout the year, there are nearly two hundred events: from various championships to other major public events. Fortunately, the circuit can count on 1500 volunteers from all over the country who dedicate themselves heart and soul. Part of the audience has also been coming to the races for generations: some have been attending the races for more than 60 years!

  Design The 100 Years TT Assen Five-Euro coin was designed by Alex Jacobs and Ellemieke Schoenmaker. The design symbolizes three essential aspects of the TT: the race, the people, and the location. The motorcycle racer on the coin represents the speed and dynamism of the race. The grid points, incorporated on the reverse, refer to the public and the people's connection to the event. The clean lines depict the flat Drenthe landscape. On the obverse, the same grid points as on the reverse were used for the portrait of King Willem-Alexander. In this way, the designers show that the King is one of the people.

  The UNC quality coin is housed in a coin card designed by the Royal Dutch Mint. The design of the coin card refers to the old TT posters that were hung up to announce the races. Different 'historical' elements are depicted on all coin cards (UNC, BU, and First Day Issue). This coin card features a helmet that was worn during the races. Source: knm.nl  

<strong> More info: </strong>

TT Assen, June 27 to 29, 2025: https://www.ttcircuit.com/ TT Festival, 21 to 29 June 2025: https://ttfestival.nl/ NOS reports on the two anniversaries: https://nos.nl/regio/drenthe/artikel/593100-assen-maandenlang-in-de-ban-van-100-jaar-tt-en-50-jaar-tt-festival-hier-wil-je-bij-zijn Motor Philatelist Netherlands (MFN): https://www.mfnl.nl/ 100 years of TT Assen Five: https://www.knm.nl/nederland/herdenkingsmunten/100-jaar-tt-assen-vijfje