Assen Circuit 1926-1954 – A lap at the old circuit

A photo tour at the second version of the Assen Circuit, by Herman Liesemeijer. This 16.5 Km (10.25 Miles) long street circuit was used for the Dutch TT from 1926 to 1954.

We start our lap at Start/Finish, which is since 1926 on the same site.

From 1926 to 2005 the fast right left combination called “S-Bocht” (S-Corner) was the first corner of the Assen Circuit. Today the new stadium section begins here.

Here we enter the public road. Note that in the old day’s the whole Assen Circuit was on public roads.

This section was called “De Haar”.

The right hand corner is not a part of the circuit and is constructed later to make a connection to a new road. The narrow road in front is the original one.

This part of the road is very authentic.

The next part of the old street circuit is now a bicycle path!

Look at the trees on the right. At the site where you see a different type of trees was a right hand corner which is removed to make place for a new road.

Here we’re following the authentic road to the Bartelds Corner.

And here we’re arrived at the Bartelds Corner, a famous point at the old Assen Circuit.

After the Bartelds Corner we accelerate on the straight. The little detour has been constructed recently, just like the red white fence.

Can you imagine this was the TT Circuit?

One of the many kinks at the old Assen Circuit…

This was a famous braking point and the beginning of the twisty section at “Oude Tol”.

The name of this section “Oude Tol” (Dutch for old tollhouse) comes from an old tollhouse at the site of the house on the right, which is also named “Oude Tol”.

The last left right combination of the “Oude Tol” section.

The two km (1.25 Miles) long straight to Hooghalen.

At the end of the long staight we enter the village of Hooghalen…

Where we have to brake very hard for this rectangular street corner.

The S-corner at Hooghalen.

The old road to Laaghalen is now cut by the A28 motorway.

After a detour we’re arrived at Laaghalen. The original track was going straight at this point. The left hand corner in front was built later.

Here was the original road!

This was the original road from Laaghalen to Laahalerveen. On the right the new road.

From here the new road follows the old TT Course.

Long straights and fast kinks were typical for the Assen Circuit those day’s.

After a very fast section hard braking for the twisty Laaghalerveen section. Original this was a medium fast S-corner. Today it’s a rectangular corner.

At this point the spectators could almost touch the bikes! This is also the site were my father watched the Dutch TT in the early 50s.

The beginning of the long straight back to Assen.

The new road is turning left, but the old road used to be straight ahead.

This part is now a training ground from the Police and officially closed for public…

On the background you see already a Police car. A few seconds later they stopped and I heard dogs barking. That seemed like a good moment to turn around.

This is the extit of the Police Training Ground. In front you see the back of the tyre wall from the current circuit. Until the nineties here was a connection between the original road and the circuit.

The last part of the old Assen Circuit is still a part of the new track. Original the last corner was a fast kink called “Kniebocht”. Today it’s a chicane which is famous for overtaking action during the Dutch TT.

Exit “Kniebocht” and back to Start/Finish.

© Text and pictures: Herman Liesemeijer.