Assen
Assen, the capital of Drenthe, combines a historic centre and leafy green spaces with notable museums, a famous motorsport circuit and a relaxed pace that makes it an inviting base for exploring the northern Netherlands.
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About Drenthe
Drenthe is a largely rural province in the northeast of the Netherlands, known for its quiet countryside, forests, heathland and prehistoric megalithic tombs called hunebedden. Its capital, Assen, and towns such as Emmen, Hoogeveen and Meppel offer a relaxed, small-scale alternative to the western Dutch cities.
The province's history remains unusually visible in the landscape. More than fifty hunebedden, Neolithic burial monuments dating from around 3400 BCE, are spread across the Hondsrug ridge, and the Hunebed Centre in Borger explains their origins. Centuries of peat extraction and farming shaped the wide fields, canals and characteristic villages of Drenthe.
Culture and nature are the main draws. The Drents Museum in Assen is known for archaeology and art, including the Yde Girl bog body, while the Dwingelderveld and Drents-Friese Wold national parks offer walking, cycling and birdwatching. Family attractions include Wildlands Adventure Zoo in Emmen and the open-air museum village of Orvelte, and the former transit camp at Kamp Westerbork serves as a sobering memorial.
Assen is the province's administrative and cultural hub, and the TT Circuit Assen hosts the annual Dutch TT motorcycle race, a major event on the international calendar. Agriculture, logistics and regional manufacturing form the core of the local economy, while the province's quiet roads and extensive cycle network make it popular for outdoor and slow travel.
For leisure travellers, Drenthe offers space, nature and history away from crowded city centres; for business visitors, it provides a practical regional base near Groningen and the German border, with good access by road and rail and a regional airport at Groningen Airport Eelde.
Drenthe Travel Guide
Best Time to Visit
Late spring to early autumn is the best period for cycling, walking and outdoor sightseeing, with the heathland turning purple in August. Winter is quieter and suited to museums and cosy town centres, while spring brings fresh greenery and young lambs to Drenthe's heathland sheep flocks.
How to Get Around
Drenthe is easiest to explore by car or bicycle, with a dense network of quiet roads, cycle paths and cycling route junctions. Trains connect Assen, Hoogeveen, Meppel and Emmen, and regional buses serve smaller towns and villages, though rural frequencies are limited.
Where to Stay
Assen offers convenient hotels and restaurants near the Drents Museum and rail station, while Emmen suits families visiting Wildlands Adventure Zoo. Nature lovers can choose campsites, holiday parks and rural bed and breakfasts near the Dwingelderveld and Drents-Friese Wold national parks.
Food & Drink
Drenthe's food culture is rooted in hearty regional dishes, farm shops, local markets and village cafés. Expect heathland lamb, savoury pancakes, regional beers and seasonal produce, with the widest choice of restaurants in Assen, Emmen and Hoogeveen.
Ground Transportation Services in Drenthe
Airport Transfers
Arrange reliable transport between Groningen Airport Eelde and Assen, Emmen, Hoogeveen, Meppel and other destinations across Drenthe for a smooth start or end to your trip.
Hourly Chauffeur
Book a private chauffeur by the hour for business meetings, event days at the TT Circuit Assen, sightseeing routes and flexible travel around Drenthe.
Car Rental
Rent a car in Assen or Groningen to explore Drenthe's national parks, villages and attractions independently, with easy access to quieter rural roads.
Bus & Group Transfers
Organise minibuses or charter coaches for groups, corporate travel, events, airport runs and guided tours across Drenthe and the surrounding northern Netherlands.
Frequently Asked Questions
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