TRUCKSTAR FESTIVAL
28 and 29 July 2012
Each year, Assen's TT race track is the venue of Europe's largest trucking event: Truckstar Festival! The 2012 edition will be held on the 28th and 29th of July 2012.
As many as 2,000 trucks and their drivers will make their presence felt and heard, and together with many visitors it will be a weekend full of diesel, chrome and fun.
Family event
The first edition of Truckstar Festival was organised back in 1981, at the Groenoordhallen in Leiden. Two years later it moved to the famous race track at Zandvoort, where it remained for a number of years. In 1992, the Festival moved to the TT racetrack in Assen and it has been there ever since. Even though each year it is packed with exciting demonstrations and thrilling contests, Truckstar Festival is known mostly for its laidback and enjoyable atmosphere, making it a wonderful weekend, or day out for the entire family!
Big, happy transport village
During the event, the TT racetrack will turn into a happy transport village, with many trucks on display, among which some very special trucks, as well as stunts and races, and unique demonstrations such as last year's main act: the Bigfoot #17 monster truck from England.
Do you want to participate with your truck?
Would like to be at Assen with your truck? You can apply for an invitation in the special categories. Each year we invite many special trucks from all over Europe. These are special paint trucks, show trucks or trucks that are otherwise interteresting, such as: American trucks, classic trucks or heavy wreckers for instance.
Enlisting for the special categories will be possible from January 19th 2012, by means of an online form. Click here to apply.
If you have any further questions, please email us at: festival@truckstar.nl.
Visitor tickets
Tickets to Truckstar Festival will be available online from February 2012. These pre-sale tickets will be slightly cheaper than tickets purchased at the gates. The exact prices have not been confirmed yet, but a weekend ticket will probably be somewhere in between 24 and 27 euros.
2011 edition
In 2011, Boije Ovebrink came all the way from Sweden for a demonstration with his bright green hybrid race truck with 2100 horse power, the fastest of its kind on the planet, (see photo below). In addition, Mercedes-Benz revealed their new Actros to the Dutch public. 
Also, there was a very exciting drivers competition, there were caravan races and a parade of the many special paint trucks and show trucks from all over Europe. There were different award ceremonies too, including the Most Beautiful Truck of Holland contest. For most visitors this was the highlight of the festival. Toon Verbeek's impressive seven-axle Scania drawbar rig, (see below) was chosen Holland's Most beautiful truck of 2011!
There was also a special village for children, a large fair and truckers market, and there were performances by well-known artists from Holland. In addition, Truckstar Festival hosted a large number of stands for businesses and big truck brands. Also on the paddock: many special trucks such as old timers, special-paint trucks, American trucks, salvage and rescue vehicles, cranes and heavy transport vehicles.
International Contenders
In the Show-Trucks category and Special-Paint category we always welcome many international contenders. In 2011, the Scania four-axle heavy duty R500 tractor from Belgian driver Wouter de Bruijne was awarded the best Show Truck. Another immaculate Scania was the R620 of Finnish participant Mika Auvinen. His amazing and very special sixty ton drawbar combination called 'Gunfighter' won the first price in the Special-Paint Category.
Advertising and sponsoring
Each year, there are plenty of sponsoring and participation possibilities at
Truckstar Festival, offering you great opportunities of presenting your brand to the public.
Are you interested in participating?
Please contact:
Dirk-Jan Verhoef phone number: +31 (0)88 - 7518355 or by mail
d.verhoef@sanoma-uitgevers.nl
Mascha Brinkkemper phone number: +31 (0)88 – 7518207 or by mail
m.brinkkemper@sanoma-uitgevers.nl
Camping sites / Hotels
Hotels and camping sites in the area are listed by city. For further information, please contact the hotel or camping site in question or the Tourist Board (VVV) in Assen:
VVV Assen
Marktstraat 8-10
9401 JH ASSEN
tel: 0031 592 243788
vvv-assen@home.nl
Hotels:
Assen - Van der Valk Hotel 0031 592 851515 info@assen.valk.nl
Assen - Hotel de Jonge 0031 592 312023 info@hoteldejonge.nl
Camping sites:
Assen - Witterzomer 0031 592 393535 info@witterzomer.nl
Assen - TT-camping Asserboys 0031 592 371377 tt-camping@asserboys.nl
Borger - Recreatiepark Hunzedal 0031 599 234698 info@hunzedal.nl
How to get to Assen
The Assen TT Circuit can be reached in several ways:
As it is situated directly next to the A28 motorway from Zwolle to Groningen, and only one minute from exit 32 (Assen Zuid), the TT racetrack in Assen is easily found. Signs will direct all motorvehicles. Groningen Airport (Eelde) is only fifteen minutes by car from the TT racetrack in Assen.
Place - Distance - Travelling
Groningen - 15 miles - 20 min.
Hoogeveen - 18 miles - 20 min.
Emmen - 25 miles - 30 min.
Zwolle - 44 miles - 40 min.
Heerenveen - 47 miles -45 min.
Utrecht - 94 miles - 1 hr 20 min.
Amsterdam - 106 miles - 1 hr 45 min.
Den Bosch - 125 miles - 2 hr 00 min.
Rotterdam - 137 miles - 2 hr 10 min.
Getting there by car or motorcycle:
1. From the south, take the A28 motorway, exit Assen Zuid (number 32)
2. From the north, take the A28 motorway, exit Assen Zuid (number 32)
3. From the east, take the N33 motorway, exit Assen Zuid (number 32)
4. From the west, by way of Smilde, exit Assen, go past the Motel Van der Valk and take a right at the second traffic lights.
Near by the TT racetrack there is sufficient parking space. There are no parking fees!
Getting there by public transport
Intercity services from major cities like Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Zwolle, Groningen and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol all call at Assen railway station. Coming from other cities will typically require one to change trains once or in some cases twice.
Shuttle bus
During Truckstar Festival there will be a shuttle service between the Assen railway station and the TT racetrack at least twice an hour.
Any further questions?
Please send an e-mail to festival@truckstar.nl or marketing@truckstar.nl.
