ProGeo 2009 - City monuments

Province of Drenthe has different beautiful monuments. We show you the most famous.

Drents museum

Information

On November 28, 1854, the Provincial Executive of Drenthe decided to found the Provincial Museum of Drents Antiquities. This started an eventful history in which wonderful collections were put together and many nationally and internationally renowned exhibitions were presented. At first, the entire collection of the museum could be housed in one single cupboard. More than 150 years onwards the collections count more than 85.000 objects and the museum has become a prominent museum with 5.000 m² of space for public events and exhibitions. Each year, the museum draws between 80.000 and 100.000 visitors from all over the world. The Drents Museum, as it is now officially called, became an independent museum in 1999 and is one of the oldest museums in The Netherlands.

Former Drostenhuis Assen

Information

The Drostenhuis is on the south side of the museum. On the ground floor, it houses the exhibition 'Rijksmuseum aan de Brink', displaying paintings, jewellery and arts and crafts from the period 1885 – 1935; this exhibition, which will run till the beginning of 2007, consists of objects from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. On the upper floor of the Drostenhuis the museum presents temporary exhibitions. The Drostenhuis, which dates back to 1778, was the residence of the Drost (bailiff), who used to be the highest official in the province of Drenthe, and the most important official in the council of Drost and Deputies, the provincial government. Nowadays this office is held by the Queen’s Commissioner. 

Drents Archief Assen

Information

When people of Drenthe want to search information about their forefamiliy, the Drents Archief has a great genealogy database, called DrenLias. This database contains photos, movies and even sounds. They also have a database full of licence plates of the historic Drenthe. The library of the Drents Archief contains approximately 50.000 publications of the Drents Archief and the Drents Museum about the history of Drenthe as well as art and archeology.

Bartje statue

Information

Bartje is the most famous statue of Assen. His whole name is Bartje Bartels and he is the keyperson of the books written by Anne de Vries. It is a rebellious boy who grew up in a poor farmer family of Drenthe. Instead of take over his father work as a farmer, he preferred to travel over the world. Unfortunately his dream did not come true. He worked as a farm hand, but after his mother died, Bartje took care of his family. His legendary statement was "Ik bid nie veur bruune boon'n". He always say it when his mother serves out the brown beans (bruine bonen) and his father announced a pray.

Jewish synagoge Assen

Information

The first jewish inhabitants in Drenthe had permission to built a cemetry behind the Asserbos at the Twijfelveld. Synagoge services were held in a housesynagoge, but at 1832 they built their own synagoge at the Groningerstraat in Assen by donation of  Protestant and Catholic peoples. During WO II most of the jewish inhabitants were arrest and deported through Westerbork to the East. Only a few has returned and some jewish from Assen did survive by going into hiding.   
Unfortunately the synagoge was demaged during the WO II.  After this war the synagoge was taken over by the Reformed Church.

Town hall Assen

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Over the past few years, rapid growth in the resident population and in employment opportunities have pointed to the good climate for investment that exists in Assen. Figures from the Chamber of Commerce indicate that, of the companies setting up in business each year, the majority of them locate in Assen compared with other municipalities in the province of Drenthe. Contributing factors are its central position in the north of the country and its accessibility by road and rail, as well as the good quality of its various industrial estates.

TT Circuit Assen

Information

The TT Circuit Assen has been the home of motorcycle racing for 77 years and hosts the Dutch TT and since 1992 the World Superbikes, two classic events on the World Championship Calendar. These classic events attract massive crowds and of course a festive atmosphere.

The history of the TT Circuit Assen goes back to 1925. Only during the second World War (1940 - 1945) were no events staged. Until 1954 the Dutch TT was held on public roads, and in 1955 a special 7.7 Km. long circuit was built. In 1955 the 25th Dutch TT was held on this new circuit, which was also suitable for sidecar races. In the current situation, apart from the grandstands (60,000 seats) the circuit is fully bordered with earth banks for a further 100,000 spectators, in total 160.000 spectators.

The parking area around the circuit consists of 850,000 square metres, sufficient for 25,000 cars and 20,000 motorbikes.