Every year on the last weekend in July, the "Profile Truckstar Festival" is held in the Netherlands. In 2024, it took place for the 42nd time. More than 2,300 trucks gathered at the TT Circuit in Assen in the north-east of the country. No other truck event in the world can compete with such numbers. Friday was the arrival day and on Saturday and Sunday 55,000 spectators came to enjoy the vehicles. There were classic and vintage trucks to admire, but above all modern trucks arrived from all over Europe. They outdid each other with particularly elaborate paintwork and decorative and valuable add-on parts. Steve St.Schmidt set off from Berlin to report on this spectacular event and illustrate his coverage with many photos.
The festival is held at one of the two Dutch racetracks, the TT Circuit in Assen. The event has been held there since the early 1990s, as the grounds of Circuit Zandvoort, the original venue, had become too small. The area in Assen is also limited, otherwise around 3,000 more trucks would take part, but their owners had to cancel due to a lack of space. The privilege of being one of the approved participants is therefore highly coveted.
High roofs on truck cabs offer maximum comfort for drivers. But just how good a modern tractor unit with a flat roof looks is demonstrated by this Scania Next Generation truck, which has traveled from England.This carefully restored Scania-Vabis three-axle truck from the first post-war generation with free-standing headlights came from Sweden to the Netherlands.
The photos in this report can only show a small section of the festival. However, to give an impression of the variety, we show a relatively large number of photos, which are organized as follows: First you can see vehicles on arrival, photographed on the access roads near the TT Circuit. This is followed by pictures of the event itself and at the end some photos of festival participants departing on Sunday afternoon.
Kenworth W 900 L from 1998 with moving floor trailer, registered in the NetherlandsThe Scania 1 series was launched almost half a century ago, in 1975. However, the same cab had been around since 1968, when the Scania-Vabis brand became Scania. The 141 tractor unit in the photo is from 1980. It was imported to the Netherlands in 2020."On another acid trip" is written on the windshield of this 2013-generation Scania R, which came from England to Assen. We wish you a safe journey, wherever you are going!
When one truck after another arrives on Friday, the day of arrival, it is a mammoth logistical task for the organizers to direct every single truck to its place. With almost military precision, care is taken to ensure that everything fits together perfectly, nothing is left to chance. As soon as the trucks are in place, the party can begin: The participating truck owners and drivers often bring their families with them and set up complete seating areas, pavilions, inflatable swimming pools, barbecues and sound systems to make the festival weekend as enjoyable as possible.
Conflict-free interaction between generations: Scania R 143 from the 3 series from 1988 and Scania R 500 from 2012The model designation of this perfectly restored DAF classic from 1969 is A 220 0 DKD 548
Press members have access to the site, they can take photos of the vehicles set up on Friday without hindrance, although they are relatively close together, making it difficult to photograph them individually. This is no longer possible at the weekend itself, as the crowds of spectators pushing their way through the truck trellises are almost always in the way. Better photos can be taken on Friday on the access roads when the trucks arrive. There you look for a good spot between hundreds of truck spotters who have taken up positions with expensive cameras and powerful lenses and sometimes get in each other's way.
This elaborately styled Scania Next Generation with a high S cab came all the way from Italy to Assen"When you stop, we start" – this is the slogan used by the English company ND Services to advertise its services. You almost want to have a breakdown just to be towed by this gem.With imaginative paintwork: Scania with R cab from the next generation in Belgium and Volvo F 12 from the 1983 generation from faraway Norway in a harmonious outfit and with a custom-made bumperBM Transport from Ireland brought this Scania from the next generation with an S cab to Assen. The striking color scheme certainly did not fail to impress.Americans in the Netherlands: Peterbilt 359 from 1983 with container trailer, followed by a Peterbilt 379 EXHD from 1996Dutch tractor units with imaginative paintwork: DAF and Scania of the new generation
The entire festival site covers more than a million square meters. Along the TT Circuit's race track, there were countless well-maintained trucks of all makes to admire, which had been given imaginative paint jobs and professionally done lettering by their proud owners. But there was even more to see and hear, because inside the circuit there were hundreds of very special vehicles, including American trucks, classic trucks, youngtimers and vehicles from the heavy and special transport sector, show trucks with extremely elaborate paintwork, some with airbrush motifs and luxurious interiors.
In 2005, Scania ceased production of its conventional cab vehicles. It's a good thing that there are transport companies that dedicate themselves to the care and restoration of this type of vehicle. A prime example is this smart T 164 from the early 2000s, which the company Holridge Transport Ltd. from Lincolnshire in England brought to Assen.The year of construction of this four-axle Peterbilt 389 tractor is given as 2023. It's nice to see that it was sent on its journey to Assen with a heavily loaded low-bed trailer.A tasteful color combination: a three-axle Scania of the next generation with an R cabScania L 111 from 1978. The conventionals of the Scania series 1 were available from 1975 to 1980. They can be recognized by the number 1 at the end of the type designation. The 86 and 146 models were exceptions to this rule.Unfortunately, at many truck rallies you see mainly tractor units without trailers. Not so in Assen, where you will find countless complete rigs, often with decorative, rare or heavy loads. A fine example is this four-axle Scania tractor unit, type R 143 E 8x4 from 1993. It is bringing a four-axle Scania tractor unit, type T 143 from the late 1980s, with it to Assen on its six-axle trailer.They will soon be a familiar sight on the roads: Volvo Aero tractor units, here on their way to Assen, where they were promoting the new generation at the Volvo stand.Three-axle tractor units from Great Britain: Scania with the next generation S cab and an ERF EC 14 C, which is now a rare sight. The last independent British truck brand, ERF, finally ceased to exist in 2007, after Western Star had taken it over in 1996 and sold it to MAN in 2000.Unusual paintwork: a new-generation DAF shortly before arriving at the festival site in AssenTGX parade: these tractor units from various Dutch trucking companies show the harmonious paintwork, including multicolored designs, that is possible with new MAN cabsA bombastic trailer truck with a load: trucking company Philip Judge International from the UK scored points in Assen with this new Scania with an S cab in red and goldImaginatively painted Scania tractor units also came to Assen from GermanyEven without a bull bar, you can create a perfect appearance, as this Dutch tractor unit very clearly proves: Scania R 620 from 2006If you really want a conventional truck, you can get one. On the left is a Volvo NH 12 from Brazil, on the right a Scania of the next generation, which was converted to a conventional truck by the Dutch company Vlastuin in Renswoude by moving the cab to the rear and harmoniously filling the gap between the radiator grille and the windshield with GRP parts. Vlastuin has already converted countless Scania cab-overs in this way.As with Scania, Volvo cab-over conversions are also possible. Vlastuin, the Dutch conversion specialist, makes it possible. The Dutch trucking company Adwin Stam B.V. from Waalwijk brought the apparently recently completed example of a Volvo conventional to Assen.Veteran trucks from the Netherlands and Ireland: a 2004 Scania R 164 and a very rare IVECO TurboStar 190-38, which was built from 1984 to 1993The Scania Longline with an extremely long cab is also extremely rare. Only a few of these were built by Scania in the early 2000s. The Dutch trucking company Sneepels from Geldermalsen sent this elaborately painted example to Assen."Passion for Scrap" is written on the front of this vehicle. The photo shows how the truck is guided onto the festival site, where it is then assigned its place.The organizers had planned the display of well over 2000 vehicles in detail. Each rig and tractor unit was assigned a parking space, with markings on the ground to help with positioning.Some vehicles were probably pure show trucks. Or was this Indiana Jones truck from Switzerland involved in normal cargo transportation in its daily life? The photo was taken on Friday, the day of arrival, when everyone was still cleaning and polishing to leave no chance for even the smallest fly speck...Assen perspective during the calm before the onslaught of visitorsGerman vintage trucks, united in the Netherlands, are waiting for the visitors who are expected to come over the weekend. And they came, 55,000 of them.The German quarrying company Günter Jung GmbH from Olpe brought a whole fleet of tipping semi-trailers with different US tractor units to Assen. At home, these chrome-plated trucks are used for much more challenging tasks than standing in a row and impressing spectators.This photo was also taken on Friday, the day "without an audience". The few people in the photo are part of the vehicle crews.
There were also stands from various truck manufacturers, where the latest models as well as electric and hydrogen trucks were on display. Accessories were also on offer, as well as truck books, clothing with brand logos, truck models and, of course, such essentials as sweets, ice cream, drinks and culinary specialties such as chips. A fairground was also set up for the youngest members of the audience.
The festival in Assen also had a fairground and many stands with accessories for trucks: a license plate press was available to meet every customer's needs, popular chrome lettering of all kinds and stickers that were "guaranteed" to be needed were also on offer as well as many other useful things...The Scania T 560 of the DAPA towing and breakdown service from Stralsund (Germany) was prepared in such a way that it produced black clouds of smoke when the engine was revved up. In Assen, it was allowed to do so, no problem.Luxury interior furnishings were also on display, with marble-look loudspeakers being the least conspicuous detail.Arie Spaansen’s Kromhout tractor with living trailer was already seen at veteran truck rallies in the 1980s. How nice that Arie is still there and even hosted the vintage parade at the Assen race track. We wish him and his wife Trudy all the best and say: See you next time!The incomparable Torpedo 1 with the old DAF logo on the front was built from 1957 to 1965. The cab of this first conventional truck from the Dutch truck manufacturer was custom-madeThis FTF from the last series with a modernized radiator grille is also a rarity. The 6V model was only produced in a few units before FTF had to give up truck production in 1994.If you wanted to see everything that Assen had to offer, you had to walk for miles to see all the aisles with trucks lined up on both sides. Sometimes it was not easy to find your way around or to find something you had already seen.Which truck had the most axles? It was probably this Scania with an S cab from the Next Generation series. For those who don't want to count, the number 14 is given.Two examples from DAF history: a T 2400 DK from 1968 and an N 2800 from 1981 with a Magirus cabIt's clear: in terms of quantity, the Swedes won the race - with a DAF in between, of course...From Denmark to Assen: Scania 530 S with a great paint job and traditional three-axle trailer"The Boss" with an extravagant paint job: Volvo FH 16 with 750 hp, built in 2021This gem from the USA looked a little lost - the Kenworth W 900 A from 1980 was parked behind the grandstand, far away from the other trucksTo keep the audience entertained, monster cars did their laps and racing trucks, here an American Ford, tried to skid at the turning points of the racetrack. And they succeeded, because large quantities of water were sprayed there (photo: Truckstar)
A big attraction that drew many spectators were various shows that took place on an open part of the race track, next to which there was a large grandstand. For example, there were demonstrations with race trucks that deliberately skidded at the turning points because large quantities of water were repeatedly sprayed there. There was a particular roar when the loudest truck was determined in the decibel competition. The enthusiastic spectators in the stands not only covered their ears, but were also enveloped in thick black smoke. Because the loudest trucks also smoked the most. Nobody was bothered by this, on the contrary, they were thrilled by everything that trucks are capable of producing. There were also monster truck demonstrations and parades of special vehicles.
The "Decibel Contest" was about finding the loudest truck. The fact that a lot of black smoke was produced made it all the more attractive (photo: Truckstar)
The highlight of the event was the election of the "Mooiste Truck van Nederland", i.e. the most beautiful truck in the Netherlands. The condition was that it had to be a truck that is also in daily use. Thousands of spectators flocked to the stands to watch this "pageant" until every last seat was taken. This year's winner was a new-generation DAF, after years of Scania trucks winning the trophy. But not only the most beautiful Dutch was chosen. The most attractive truck from abroad also received an award, as did the vehicle with the best special paint job.
In the selection of the most beautiful truck in the Netherlands, real gems drove back and forth on the racetrack - the selection was the highlight of the event. With this eight-axle articulated rig, even the matt black containers seemed to be part of the outfit. This gem also shows how much planning and meticulousness went into the design of the overall appearanceTone-in-tone metallic look: Volvo FH 16 with 750 hp from 2023He was the winner: a DAF XG+ with 530 hp from 2023. It is said that the owner invested every free minute for months to design every detail of his truck the way he had dreamed of. After a long trucker's life, this DAF is to be his last, after which retirement is planned.The winner of the most beautiful truck with license plates from another country was also a DAF. The prize went to Great Britain.Mother-of-pearl paint and pastel colors made this Scania with an S cab an icon called Valhalla. There was hardly a seat left on the stands during the beauty contest.
The Truckstar Festival has been organized since 1980 by Truckstar Magazine, the magazine of Dutch truck drivers with a circulation of 35,000 copies and a very large fan base on Facebook and Instagram. Since 2023, the tire manufacturer Profile has been the main sponsor, which is why the official name is "Profile Truckstar Festival".
On Saturday evening, another component was added: the lights. All participants switched on what lights they had installed and the audience was amazed.To prevent the vehicle batteries from going flat, the participants left their engines running quietly. But only those who paid close attention could hear it.The tipper truck fleet of the Günter Jung GmbH quarrying company from Olpe (Germany) also made a statement at night. Blue LEDs attached to the rear of the US trucks impressively illuminated the raised tipper bodies.To conclude this report: four photos from Sunday afternoon. The festival is over and the participants are leaving the site via the nearby motorway. This photo shows a Volvo FH 16 from 2020 with a powerful loading crane that is able to set up the silo resting on the trailer at any location.With 630 hp, the Actros heavy-duty tractor pulls its low-loader trailer home. The bulky load is a mobile stone crusher.A 2015 Scania R 520 is transporting its grandfather, a 1988-1996 Scania R 143. The grandfather has a sign behind the windshield that says "Te Koop" – so the good piece is for sale...The last picture: a Scania from 2022 with an R cab and a 770-horsepower engine is transporting a lowboy loaded with a TerraGator crawler dumper from the Dutch brand TerraGator
Finally, it should be mentioned that the Netherlands is undoubtedly the most dedicated "trucking nation" on the European continent. Nowhere else do trucks and their drivers enjoy the same level of acceptance, if not respect, among the population. And nowhere else, apart from the Scandinavian countries, are there so many lovingly maintained and lavishly painted trucks as in the Netherlands. Many haulage companies virtually outdo each other in the design of their work equipment and only a few companies keep their fleets completely white with minimal foil lettering so that they can easily dispose of the vehicles when they get on in years.
