Historical TT cycling route

Directions

• The Tour de TT is a tour of discovery for motorcyclists and TT enthusiasts. Experience the glory days of the TT race just like the first TT racers did, many dozens of years ago. The route is fun and jam-packed with history. This 65-kilometre route is special because it connects the two old circuits that hosted the TT in 1925 and from 1926 to 1954 respectively. Did you know that the letters TT stand for Tourist Trophy and are derived from the famous TT races on the Isle of Man?
• The origin: The motor club ‘Assen en Omstreken’ was the foundation for the first Dutch TT in 1925. It was preceded by the new Motorbike and Bicycle Act in 1924. The minister had made allowances for the possibility of granting exemptions to the competition ban previously in force. The KNMV (Royal Dutch Motorcyclists Association) responded by asking provincial representatives to scout circuits suitable for road races. Mr. Dieters, the chairman of the Noord-Nederlandsche Automobielen- en Motoren Handelmaatschappij ‘Wander’ (North Netherlands Automobile and Motorcycle Trading Company), founded in 1919 in Assen, liked to keep himself appraised of everything having to do with automobiles and motorcycles and pointed out to the board of the newly founded ‘Assen en Omstreken’ motor club of the possibilities afforded by a road between Rolde and Borger, recently completed in the spring of 1925. Luckily, the board shared his views, and the TT was born.
• 1925 circuit: This circuit was a 28.4-mile long triangular route from Rolde to Borger, then via Westdorp to Schoonloo and from there via Grolloo back to Rolde. The fact that the track was no more than 3 metres wide and unsurfaced in parts was no obstacle. It was much more important that there were no opening bridges along the route, nor railway crossings that could be closed.
• 1926-1954 circuit: The one element of the original circuit that was considered far from ideal was a portion of sandy road in the municipality of Borger. For this reason, the search was on for a different circuit. Soon, a better location was found to the south of Assen. The prospective circuit stretched across the municipalities of Assen and Beilen for a distance of 16.536 km and ran from De Haar near Assen to Hooghalen, then back to De Haar via Laaghalen and Laaghalerveen. The organisation committee members at the time could never have imagined that the start and finish of the TT Circuit would remain unchanged to this day.
• Thanks to some small alterations over the years, the circuit was able to remain in use from 1926 until the 24th Dutch TT in 1954. A new 7.704-kilometre circuit was especially constructed in 1955 in time for the 25th Dutch TT. This circuit formed the foundation for the current TT Circuit Assen, now measuring 4.542 km. Perhaps the nicest pitstop along the Tour de TT is a visit to one of the events at the current TT circuit, the place where past and present converge.
• Works of art by the Toyism Art Movement adorn the Tour de TT. This art movement originated in the Netherlands in the 90s. The word ‘Toyism’ symbolises the playful character and philosophy of the artworks. Works of art and their locations: Moto GP op zijn Kop (Moto GP on its head, sculpture in Assen), Horsepower Mania (painting in Assen), Snelle Invasie (Swift Invasion, sculpture in Hooghalen), Publieke Attractie (Public Attraction, sculpture in Grolloo), Oneindige Ketting (Endless Chain, sculpture in Schoonloo), De Zoete Strijd op de Renbaan (The Sweet Battle on the Racecourse, sculpture in Borger) and De Tijdgeest van de Racerij (Racing’s Zeitgeist, sculpture in Rolde).
• The Tour de TT is not just about enjoying TT history, but also showcases the bountiful beauty of Drenthe. The Drents Museum in Assen features stories about archaeology, art and history. In Grolloo, the C+B Museum about former blues band Cuby + Blizzards makes for a worthy pitstop. If you are interested in finding out more about the history of the Dutch hunebedden (dolmens), the Hunebedcentrum in Borger is worth a visit. Or how about viewing Drenthe from up high on a walk along the Boomkroonpad (Tree Crown path) in Douwen?
• The historical ‘Tour de TT’ route finishes here. Recharge your batteries in a local cafe or restaurant to reflect on this amazing cycling trip.