Dutch TT 2026

Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) — the most common gateway. From Amsterdam, Assen is 2 hours by train (direct Intercity to Assen, €25 each way). Alternatively fly into Groningen Eelde (GRQ), just 30 minutes from Assen.

💡 The train from Amsterdam is the easiest option — no car needed in Assen itself.

Friday is free practice day. The circuit is 2 km from Assen town centre — walkable. The gates open at 08:00 and the fan village is already buzzing with Dutch motorcycle culture.

The Assen track is a flowing, high-speed circuit with very few chicanes. Watch from Turn 3 (the sweeping left-hander after the back straight) to see bikes at maximum lean angle and speed.

💡 Assen's walls and barriers are very close to the track — the atmosphere is more intimate than most circuits.

The TT Circuit museum traces 100 years of Dutch motorcycle racing history with original race bikes from every era. Included with weekend tickets.

Assen's town centre is compact and lively during race weekend. Restaurant De Lindenhof serves excellent Dutch-French cuisine; alternatively, the many street food stalls set up specifically for TT weekend offer everything from kroketten to Dutch stroopwafels.

Saturday morning free practice. The Dutch crowds bring a unique atmosphere — thousands of Dutch fans ride their own motorcycles to the circuit, creating a pre-race parade of bikes on the approach roads.

💡 Watch the Dutch motorcycle parade arriving at the circuit in the morning — a tradition unique to the TT.

Rent a bicycle in Assen (€12/day) and explore the flat Dutch countryside. The Drenthe region has excellent cycling paths through heathland, forests, and past traditional farmhouses. The 15 km Assen Drenthe route is signposted.

Drenthe has the highest concentration of prehistoric megalithic tombs (hunebedden) in the Netherlands — 5,000-year-old stone monuments scattered through the heathland. Hunebed D27 near Borger is the most impressive.

The entire town centre turns into a festival during TT week. Live music, street food, and an enormous beer garden on the main square. The party runs until midnight.

💡 Heineken is the official beer but local Dutch craft brewery De Hemel has excellent IPA on tap at specialist stalls.

The Dutch TT traditionally starts earlier than other races — arrive by 09:00 to catch Moto3 warm-up and the incredible pre-race atmosphere. The capacity is 120,000 — a sea of orange when Dutch riders are on the grid.

💡 Wear something orange — even if you're not Dutch, the crowd will appreciate it.

Race start typically 14:00 local time, 25 laps. Assen's flowing layout means average lap speeds are among the highest of the season. The circuit's long straight produces 350+ km/h top speeds. The Dutch crowd is considered the most knowledgeable and passionate in all of motorsport.

💡 The final chicane (chicane Ossebroeken) is the best overtaking spot — position yourself there if you have circuit walking access.

Stay for the podium ceremony — the Dutch crowd goes completely wild if any Dutch or popular European rider wins.

Groningen, 30 km north, is one of the Netherlands' most vibrant cities with a massive university population and excellent nightlife. The Vismarkt and Folkingestraat have excellent restaurants and bars for a race-night celebration.

Take the morning Intercity from Assen to Amsterdam (2 hrs). You'll have 3–4 hours in Amsterdam before most flights depart.

Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum houses Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid — genuinely among the world's greatest paintings. Or simply walk the Herengracht canal belt and browse the floating flower market.

💡 The Rijksmuseum opens at 09:00 — get there early for the Night Watch room before tour groups arrive.

Amsterdam Schiphol is directly connected to all major European hubs. The train from Amsterdam Centraal reaches Schiphol in 15 minutes.