Discussion
Hullo all,
I'll be riding over to the Dutch TT / Dutch MotoGP round and I'm planning on camping near to the circuit.
I was hoping to travel reasonably light (tent, s/bag, roll, & towel).
Then a couple of days before see what the weather was due to be like and adjust the clothes to suit (shorts & t shirts or jeans and a waterproof).
Rather than carrying cooking gear, etc just eat & drink at the circuit & the site.
I've not been to this circuit before. Is this a reasonable approach?
Cheers
I'll be riding over to the Dutch TT / Dutch MotoGP round and I'm planning on camping near to the circuit.
I was hoping to travel reasonably light (tent, s/bag, roll, & towel).
Then a couple of days before see what the weather was due to be like and adjust the clothes to suit (shorts & t shirts or jeans and a waterproof).
Rather than carrying cooking gear, etc just eat & drink at the circuit & the site.
I've not been to this circuit before. Is this a reasonable approach?
Cheers
I've done Assen 3 times, but never camped. No idea if there are camp sites near the circuit but I guess you are looking at that currently?
As for food/drink at the circuit it's not gourmet by any stretch, burgers, hotdogs, fries that kind of thing so if you're OK with that you'll be fine.
Every time I have been I have stayed in Groningen which is about 30 mins by bike away, lovely town, lots of eateries/bars etc and comes to life with the racing, Assen town is closer but all I have heard is it's manic and a proper party over the weekend.
The journey from the ferry (Rotterdam I think) is easy, couple of hours of boring dual carriageway and you're straight in, free parking, it'll be rammed.
The locals, thousands of them cycle in and getting pretty p*ssed as I recall and they're all over the road when leaving the circuit, you have to watch our for cyclists just randomly falling off LOL!
As for food/drink at the circuit it's not gourmet by any stretch, burgers, hotdogs, fries that kind of thing so if you're OK with that you'll be fine.
Every time I have been I have stayed in Groningen which is about 30 mins by bike away, lovely town, lots of eateries/bars etc and comes to life with the racing, Assen town is closer but all I have heard is it's manic and a proper party over the weekend.
The journey from the ferry (Rotterdam I think) is easy, couple of hours of boring dual carriageway and you're straight in, free parking, it'll be rammed.
The locals, thousands of them cycle in and getting pretty p*ssed as I recall and they're all over the road when leaving the circuit, you have to watch our for cyclists just randomly falling off LOL!
Cheers for the response.
Found a campsite that is just to the west. About 15-20 minutes walk to the gate. Have a look: https://www.campingseinen.nl/en/. There is a restaurant and beer available on site!
Hence the plan is to leave Calais early, Thursday morning and then ride up, pitch and then just walk to and from the circuit.
Good shout on the Burgers & Chips point. Might have to plan a trip into town for something green.
ttfn
Found a campsite that is just to the west. About 15-20 minutes walk to the gate. Have a look: https://www.campingseinen.nl/en/. There is a restaurant and beer available on site!
Hence the plan is to leave Calais early, Thursday morning and then ride up, pitch and then just walk to and from the circuit.
Good shout on the Burgers & Chips point. Might have to plan a trip into town for something green.
ttfn
After 8 trips I have refined it to the following.
Ferry from Harwich to Hook, overnight on the boat on Thursday. Off the boat at 8am on Friday and only 3 hrs easy ride from where we stay. I personally avoid calais like the plague, especially to avoid riding through Belgium...
Hotel in Zwolle. 45mins from the circuit, ride in and out each day. Dead easy which ever route you take. Plenty of good eating, beautiful town. Significantly cheaper than Assen or Groningen.
Tickets for the grandstands bought as soon as possible each year. If you buy from the circuit they will offer you the same seats/tickets the next year in advance of general sale, so if can be tough to get in the popular stands.
Take from that what you will
Ferry from Harwich to Hook, overnight on the boat on Thursday. Off the boat at 8am on Friday and only 3 hrs easy ride from where we stay. I personally avoid calais like the plague, especially to avoid riding through Belgium...
Hotel in Zwolle. 45mins from the circuit, ride in and out each day. Dead easy which ever route you take. Plenty of good eating, beautiful town. Significantly cheaper than Assen or Groningen.
Tickets for the grandstands bought as soon as possible each year. If you buy from the circuit they will offer you the same seats/tickets the next year in advance of general sale, so if can be tough to get in the popular stands.
Take from that what you will
Similar to freakuk, been twice but stayed both times in a Airbnb in Groningen. Assen itself is taken over for the whole weekend, bands on in the squares each night etc and can be manic. Groningen is still lively and lots of bikers everywhere but you can still have a good meal, decent beers and a good time without it being too much. It’s also dead easy to get to the circuit from there with little traffic, there’s dedicated hard standing bike parking on the kart circuit.
From memory the whole area from the main road to the circuit becomes a camping ground. More festival than campsite. I’d be wanting a review of the sanitation facilities before deciding to pitch there for sure!
From memory the whole area from the main road to the circuit becomes a camping ground. More festival than campsite. I’d be wanting a review of the sanitation facilities before deciding to pitch there for sure!
First time we went we did Harwich to Hook and camped at Assen Football club, walking distance to the circuit. Toilet blocks and showers were excellent. Your kit would be adequate. Dutch love a bit of camping so sites are well equipped. First trip was 15yrs ago and the drinking was insane, as mentioned. It remains as such, but I think it’s calmed a bit over the years.
Many Dutch go for the party, not for the racing.
When we lived in Ned for a few years we’d drive up Friday night and stay in a chalet at a campsite at Noordwold , but we had a very young daughter, then after the race drive home (near the Hook). Easy done in u dear 3hrs.
Many Dutch go for the party, not for the racing.
When we lived in Ned for a few years we’d drive up Friday night and stay in a chalet at a campsite at Noordwold , but we had a very young daughter, then after the race drive home (near the Hook). Easy done in u dear 3hrs.
Stayed at that campsite for the last 20 plus years and will be there this year . It's ok,clean toilets and showers and quite secure for bikes compared with other campsites. They have a bar in a thatched barn,hold a disco on the Saturday night which is good. They do food but it's only burgers chips,toasties etc. As it says,15 min walk to the track. Any other questions just ask
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