Assen facts for kids
Assen (pronounced AH-sen) is a lively city and a municipality in the northeastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital city of the province of Drenthe. Assen became an official city in 1809. It is famous for the TT Circuit Assen, a well-known motorcycle racing track where the exciting Dutch TT race happens every June. Assen also hosts a big annual Dance Festival.
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Population Centres
Assen is made up of several smaller communities, including:
- Anreep
- Assen
- De Haar
- Graswijk
- Loon
- Rhee
- Schieven
- Ter Aard
- Ubbena
- Witten
- Zeijerveen
- Zeijerveld
History of Assen
The story of Assen, the capital of Drenthe, goes back to at least 1258. At that time, a group of nuns needed a new home for their Marienkamp Abbey. Their first abbey near Coevorden was in a swampy area that often flooded.
The Abbey's New Home
A better, drier spot was found in an area called Witten. Only a few farms were there at the time. The new abbey was likely built in the 1260s. Over many centuries, the city of Assen grew up around this abbey.
The abbey was built where the Brink is today. This is a grassy area that acts as the city's symbolic center. The Drents Museum now stands on the old abbey site. It was built in 1882 as the home for the provincial government. Only the old abbey church, some grounds, and parts of walls remind us of the city's religious beginnings.
Assen's Coat of Arms
Assen's coat of arms comes directly from the abbey's old seal. It shows Mary with her child. The city's history is closely linked to the provincial government. Around 1600, the abbey's property became government property. The Marienkamp Abbey no longer existed, but its buildings remained. Because Assen was centrally located, it became the seat of the government for Drenthe. This made Assen the practical capital of the province.
A Special Nickname
For a long time, Assen was not its own municipality. It was part of Rolde for church and administrative matters. In 1615, Assen got its own preacher. In 1807, Assen became independent from Rolde and could set up its own local government. This local government often worked closely with the provincial government. This led to Assen getting the nickname het Herenbolwerk, meaning "the Gentlemen's Stronghold."
Becoming a City
Assen officially became a city in 1809. King Louis Napoleon granted Assen its city rights. He had big plans for the small village. A plan was made to turn it into a major city. However, the Netherlands soon became part of Napoleon Bonaparte's French Empire, and the plans were stopped.
As an administrative center, Assen attracted wealthy people and new businesses. This slowly but steadily increased trade, wealth, and new developments. For example, a newspaper started in 1823, a Latin school opened in 1825, and a postal service to Groningen began in 1830. A court was established in 1840, a military base started in 1852, and a railway station opened in 1870. The Drentse Hoofdvaart canal was also a big achievement. It was used to transport peat and other goods. The Noord-Willemskanaal opened in 1861. Many of the city's most important buildings are from the 19th century.
Industry and Growth
Around 1900, Assen started to become more important for industry. It was first known for its civil servants. But new factories like a slaughterhouse, a dairy, and an iron foundry helped the city grow in different ways. Around 1930, Assen became a center for healthcare in the province. This happened with the opening of several hospitals and healthcare centers.
After World War II, Assen had fewer than 20,000 people. The Assen TT race made the city more famous. But it was in the 1950s, when new industries developed, that Assen began to grow much faster. The Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (Dutch Oil Company) set up in the city. This started a trend of growth.
Today, Assen is known for its TT race, the statue of Bartje, and the Drentse Rijwielvierdaagse (a four-day cycling event). It is also the fastest-growing city in the northern Netherlands. There are many job opportunities, especially in the service industry. The city is growing quickly with new houses and people, while also focusing on environmental issues.
The Assen railway station connects the city to the rest of the country. Assen's city center is closed to cars driving through. It has many special paths for bikes, and 41% of all trips in Assen are made by bicycle. The city has become more bike-friendly since the 1960s.
Tourism, Culture, and Sport
Tourist Trophy Circuit
The TT Circuit Assen is one of the most famous motorcycle racing circuits in the world. It is the only circuit that has been part of the MotoGP calendar since it began in 1949. It is often called the "Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing."
Drents Museum
The Drents Museum offers a look at the world and at Drenthe. It tells stories about archaeology, art, and history.
The Yde Girl
The Yde Girl is a famous bog body found near Assen. She was only sixteen years old and about 140 cm tall. She had blond hair. She rested in the peat bog near the village of Yde for almost two thousand years. Two workers found her in May 1897. They were so scared they ran away! Days later, most of her body and parts of a cloak were pulled from the peat. Sadly, villagers had heard about the find and secretly removed most of her teeth and hair.
Dance Festival
Every November, Assen becomes a center for international Ballroom and Latin American dancers. The city hosts the Assen Dance Festival, which includes the Dutch Open Championships. This event is open to dancers from all countries.
Cycling in Assen
Assen is also the capital of Drenthe, known as the "cycling province" of the Netherlands. There are many excellent cycle paths in the city and nearby areas. Assen hosts regular cycling events, like the Drentse fietsvierdaagse and the Jeugdtour. In 2009, the start of the Vuelta a España (a major cycling race) took place in Assen.
The city has also hosted the International Six Days Enduro twice, which is a big motorcycle endurance event.
Association Football
Asser Christelijke Voetbalvereniging (ACVV) was started in 1939. It is one of the most successful amateur football clubs in the Netherlands.
Education in Assen
Assen is home to the Drenthe College, which offers Dutch secondary vocational education (MBO). Some of its programs include "Car technician" and "First motorcycle technician." These programs are linked to the TT Circuit Assen. About 8,000 students attend the three campuses in Assen, with others in Meppel and Emmen.
Assen also has a part of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, called the Hanze Institute of Technology. About 100 university students study here. They can take Bachelor's degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering or a Master's course in Smart Systems Engineering.
The Drenthe College focuses on practical skills and is taught in Dutch. The Hanze Institute of Technology is an international university that offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English.
International Connections
Assen is connected with another city around the world. This is called "twinning" or "sister cities."
Famous People from Assen
- Johannes Alberti (1698 in Assen – 1762) a Dutch religious scholar.
- Hendrik Jan Smidt (1831 in Assen – 1917) a Governor-General of Suriname.
- Tettje Clay-Jolles (1881 in Assen – 1972) one of the first female Dutch physicists.
- Jo van de Kieft (1884 – 1970 in Assen) a Dutch politician and businessman.
- Jan Donner (1891 in Assen – 1981) a Dutch politician.
- Johannes Linthorst Homan (1903 in Assen – 1986) a Dutch politician and diplomat.
- Anne de Vries (1904 in Kloosterveen – 1964) a Dutch teacher and author.
- Wim Franken (1922 in Assen – 2012) a Dutch composer, pianist, and carillonneur.
- Dick Rienstra (born 1941 in Assen) a Dutch singer and actor.
- Relus ter Beek (1944 in Coevorden – 2008) a Dutch politician.
- Erik Ziengs (born 1960 in Hoogersmilde) a Dutch politician and businessman.
- John-Paul Langbroek (born 1961 in Assen) an Australian politician.
- Juul Kraijer (born 1970 in Assen) a Dutch visual artist.
Sports Stars
- Johan Bontekoe (1943 in Assen– 2006) a Dutch freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
- Klenie Bimolt (born 1945 in Assen) a former breaststroke swimmer, who won a silver medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
- Egbert Streuer (born 1954 in Assen) a Dutch former professional sidecar driver.
- Harry Sinkgraven (born 1966) a Dutch football coach and former footballer.
- Peter Hoekstra (born 1973 in Assen) a retired footballer.
- Bas Roorda (born 1973 in Assen) a Dutch football player.
- Timothy Beck (born 1977 in Assen) a Dutch sprinter and bobsledder, who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Sergio van Dijk (born 1982 in Assen) a Dutch-Indonesian football player.
- Marc de Maar (born 1984 in Assen) a professional cyclist.
- Boy Westerhof (born 1985 in Assen) a Dutch professional tennis player.
- Inge Dekker (born 1985 in Assen) a former butterfly and freestyle swimmer, who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Brian Kamstra (born 1993 in Assen) a professional cyclist.
- Maike van der Duin (born 2001 in Assen) a professional cyclist.
See Also
In Spanish: Assen para niños
