Every year on the last weekend of July, the TT Circuit in Assen, the Netherlands, transforms into the world’s biggest truck show: the Profile Truckstar Festival. Organized since 1980 by Truckstar, the country’s leading truck magazine, tire retailer Profile has been the official main sponsor since 2023. Over 2,300 trucks—ranging from freight trucks to heavy-haulers and custom-built vehicles to numerous vintage trucks—come to Assen, drawing tens of thousands of visitors. In addition to the vehicle show, there’s a fair, a flea market, truck demonstrations in front of the grandstand, and a contest to choose the most beautiful truck. Our report is a look back at the 2026 Profile Truckstar Festival, featuring many high-quality photos and informative content.
No country in Europe has a population as obsessed with trucks as the Netherlands. However, beautifully designed trucks can also be found in the Scandinavian countries. In Belgium, Germany, UK and other nations as well, trucks are no longer viewed merely as a means of transportation. Rather, people identify with them and elevate them to a new level – both visually and technically – through elaborate paint jobs and aftermarket parts. But the Netherlands is hard to beat. In this comparatively small country with about 18 million inhabitants, there are nearly 17,000 registered trucking companies that operate a total of more than 150,000 vehicles weighing over 7.5 metric tons. By comparison: In Germany, with more than 83 million residents, there are about twice as many trucking companies, which operate a total of around 920,000 vehicles weighing over 7.5 metric tons. However, the truck density in the Netherlands is about 74 percent higher than in Germany when comparing the land areas of both countries (Netherlands: 33,626 square kilometers, Germany: 349,400 square kilometers). In the Netherlands, you encounter heavy trucks at every turn, yet no one seems to mind. On the contrary, those who earn their living behind the wheel of a truck are held in high regard – the former seafaring nation has become a long-haul driver’s paradise.
This aerial view from Friday, the day of arrival, shows a section of the festival grounds within the TT Circuit near Assen (Photo: Cojan van Toor 2026).
A dedicated magazine also plays a significant role in the popularity of heavy-duty trucks: the leading Dutch trade publication *Truckstar*, which is published thirteen times a year. In addition, there are three annual special issues: the *Supertruck Special*, the *Special for Heavy and Special Transports*, and the *Classic Special*. Earlier this year, Truckstar published an additional special issue dedicated to Scania, as the Swedish company has been manufacturing trucks in the Netherlands for 80 years. The magazine, which has been in publication since 1980, has a circulation of 35,000 copies. The German magazine “Fernfahrer” reports a circulation of 25,000 copies, of which 16,000 are sold. Added to this are the digital editions of both magazines as well as their presence on social media. “Truckstar” has a total of 242,500 followers there, while “Fernfahrer” has 100,000 subscribers. Compared to the population figures, these numbers also reflect the Dutch public’s strong interest in road transportation.
Some of the participating transport companies brought their treasures to Assen on flatbed trailers, including this Scania-Vabis L 76, which was built from 1963 to 1968. The cab is likely from a later Scania model.Others preferred to drive in under their own power, like this Scania-Vabis LB 76, which was built from 1973 to 1978. The typical Dutch semi-trailer is also particularly beautiful. The photo was taken on the day of departure, Sunday afternoon.
But what plays a decisive role in presenting trucks in the best possible light to the public is the “Profile Truckstar Festival,” held annually on the last weekend of July at the TT Circuit in Assen. It is organized by Truckstar magazine. Tens of thousands of visitors flock to the event from all twelve provinces of the Netherlands and from other European countries. The Truckstar Festival is a huge, cheerful, peaceful, and colorful celebration among like-minded people. Visitors not only marvel at the approximately 2,300 trucks that have made the trip, but also spend the entire weekend with the trucking companies and drivers, enjoying genuine “quality time.” The world’s largest truck event, with its diverse program featuring freight vehicles, show trucks, vintage trucks, as well as U.S. trucks and heavy-duty vehicles, offers numerous action shows, live music, and presentations by major truck brands every year.
Every visitor must pass through this tunnel to reach the inner area of the TT Circuit, where the actual festival takes place. Along the way, visitors can find out about other events in the current season. The “Road to Glory” leads through the “Tunnel of Fame” to the “Cathedral of Speed” – cleverly devised promotional slogans for a racetrack.The major Dutch truck brand DAF, which once also offered cars, is of course well represented in Assen – including among the vintage vehicles. The photo shows carefully restored examples of early DAF models, lined up in a colorful array on the day of arrival, waiting for the audience.The DAF 3600 ATI was introduced in the mid-1980s. The conventional truck, featuring a Magirus cab and a DAF-designed fiberglass hood, had been available since 1981.DAF naturally had its own area at the festival, where many new trucks in a wide variety of configurations and with stunning paint jobs were on display. The photo shows only a part of them.The TurboTwin II was based on the 3600 model. Jan de Rooy, Yvo Geusens, and Theo van de Rijt won the truck category at the 1987 Paris–Dakar Rally with this vehicle. DAF displayed the historic truck in the center of its festival area and even piled up a decorative mound of sand specifically for it. It is unclear whether the sand came from the Sahara.On Friday evening, a moment of silence fell over the festival’s youngtimer area.Equipped with a Detroit diesel engine, this is one of the few surviving second-generation trucks from the Dutch company Floor’s Handel en Industrie B.V. From 1966 to 1994, this truck manufacturer built a total of 668 trucks bearing the FTF logo on the front.The calm before the storm: On Friday evening, these two guys could still chat undisturbed among the rows of future classic trucks without being surrounded by crowds.
Many families come to Assen together, as this event has been a fixture on their calendar for years. Colleagues can talk to one another without time pressure or haste. Along the route, somewhere between the Showstraat, the main grandstand, and the barbecue area, the best conversations take place and lifelong friendships are formed. In a transportation industry where everything has to move faster and faster and the workload is often very high, Assen feels a little different – here, there’s time for relaxed conversation. And there’s plenty to experience.
Things looked quite different by Saturday. Over the weekend, the festival drew a total of nearly 60,000 visitors. They celebrated the world’s biggest truck party under mostly bright blue skies.Bird’s-eye view: A section of the festival grounds with endless rows of truck combinations and tractor units. The covered main grandstand can be seen at the top right of the image (Photo: Aerial Elde 2026).The Volvo N84 was built from 1965 to 1972. Initially, it had a radiator grille with five horizontal ribs; toward the end of its production run, it featured a grille with vertical ribs. The vehicle on display at the festival was first registered in December 1970.Although Volvo continued to build cab-over-engine trucks until 2006, production had shifted from Europe to Brazil. The NH 12 pictured here had traveled from Malta to Assen and had likely endured the longest and most complicated journey of all. The driver deserves thanks and recognition for participating in the Truckstar Festival!Four-axle trucks long prevailed in the Netherlands over those from other European nations, with the exception of Great Britain, where “eight-wheelers” have an even longer tradition. The DAF 3600 ATi was introduced in 1985.As always, an area was reserved for U.S. trucks in Assen. Commercial vehicles from the United States have a long tradition here, as the Netherland’s lack of its own large-scale truck production meant that many commercial vehicles were imported from the U.S. long before World War II.The legendary Mack B-Type with a fire engine superstructure is undoubtedly a true rarity in Europe. How wonderful that visitors to the Truckstar Festival were able to marvel at this original gem from 1954.Some gems of truck history weren’t even unloaded; instead, they had to be sought out and found with a magnifying glass among heavy-haul trucks and specialty vehicles. The Dodge T from the 1940s was once a very common truck – not just in the U.S.A true beauty from the United States was the 1982 Mack MH 613. With its distinctive grille, it stood out clearly from other American cabovers. Since length restrictions for trucks have been gradually lifted across the country, cabovers have now largely disappeared in the U.S.Among the U.S. trucks were also several military vehicles, including this 1952 International M 62. It was manufactured by several companies with virtually identical designs.“Unfortunately, we have to stay outside,” these elaborately designed Scania tractor units seem to grumble, slightly offended. Since there was a shortage of parking spaces within the event grounds, they had not been granted permission to participate in the festival. However, they were able to be parked at the edge of the visitor parking lot. The Dutch Armed Forces were also represented with a display area at the Truckstar Festival. Among other vehicles, the IDV MTV 4×4 was on display there. In the Dutch Army, it is known as the “Manticore.” This military vehicle, weighing approximately 13 metric tons, has been delivered to the armed forces in several variants since late 2023. The photo shows the hardtop version. IDV stands for IVECO Defence Vehicles, the former military vehicle division of IVECO.Here’s another photo without an audience: future classic trucks at the 2026 Truckstar Festival.
From the main grandstand on Saturdays and Sundays, you can witness all kinds of spectacular truck-related events, from truck racing to the decibel contest, where the truck with the loudest exhaust is crowned the winner. On the track, one performance follows another, and in between, the flea market draws visitors in: You can browse, chat, or buy something you hadn’t planned on. There’s also a large amusement park with bumper cars, a Break-Dance ride, a Ferris wheel, a chain carousel, and many other attractions for young and old alike.
This aerial view shows the entire event grounds. Also visible are the race track with the grandstands and the covered main grandstand on the right edge of the image (Photo: Aerial Elde 2026).During the event on Saturday and Sunday, there was a nonstop lineup of various performances. These included truck races, an exhaust noise contest, car soccer, truck pulling, trucks on two wheels, and, of course, the contest to choose the most beautiful truck. The photo was taken on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, it’s unclear which demonstration was taking place at that moment.Some examples of the festivities at the Truckstar Festival include the carnival grounds, Willem Kuipers’ specialty bookstore, chrome-plated emblems and lettering, and a display board featuring samples of LED auxiliary lights from the Polish supplier Fristom.Walking around, marveling at the vehicles, grabbing a bite to eat, or having lively conversations with old and new friends – that’s what you do at the Truckstar Festival.Taken after leaving the event: The Volvo VT5 Aero was built on the basis of a Volvo FH 500 Aero and converted into a conventional truck by Vlastuin Truck- en Trailerservice from Renswoude, the Netherlands.Vlastuin conversions are also popular in Denmark. To date, Vlastuin has converted 116 Next Generation Scania cabover trucks into conventional trucks. Most of these vehicles were sold in the Netherlands.The 100th Vlastuin Scania conventional truck is currently being assigned its spot here. The stylishly painted Scania 650 ST 6x2 was completed in late 2025 and serves as Vlastuin’s demonstration vehicle.An alternative from Norway: This Scania S 660 was registered in the Netherlands in July 2025. It wasn’t built by Vlastuin; instead, its conversion to a conventional truck was based on a design by Tuft Custom from Bergen, Norway. Since 2023, the Dutch partner FKM in Rijnsburg has also been producing such conversions based on Tuft’s design. The narrower hood allows for significantly more pronounced fenders, clearly distinguishing it from the Vlastuin style. The photos invite you to compare – which do you like better?On the way to the festival: This previous-generation Iveco Strator was delivered in 2014 to the company Arts Verhuur in Wijchen as the first Strator with a Euro 6 engine. The Dutch Iveco dealer Charles Feijts Groep converted it into a conventional truck in Born, based on a Stralis cabover model. The Strator concept, which has been available since 2007, is modeled after the Australian Iveco PowerStar.World premiere at the Truckstar Festival: The new 2026 model-year Iveco Strator is based on the current S-Way and is built in Born, the Netherlands. Its completely redesigned front end was developed in collaboration with Spyker Cars engineer Jacco Hoogendoorn and Arens Vehicle Design from Belgium. The modern conventional truck is not a one-off; rather, it can be ordered with various engine options and axle configurations.The Iveco S-eWay is based on the Nikola Tre, which Iveco and the U.S. company Nikola had been developing since the start of their collaboration in 2019. In 2022, the partners unveiled the battery-electric production version as well as a fuel-cell prototype for Europe. In June 2023, Iveco fully acquired the joint venture and its plant in Ulm. In November of the same year, the manufacturer unveiled the battery-electric truck as the Iveco S-eWay. Its nine batteries have a combined capacity of 738 kWh and enable a range of up to 500 kilometers, according to the manufacturer.No, this isn’t a new next-generation DAF, but rather a conversion of an XG+ that’s hard to miss. The Omnius DAF Dominator can be ordered from Go In Style, based in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands. The price is just under 20,000 euros (net) plus paintwork. “A truck with character that stands out, exudes strength, and is perfectly crafted down to the smallest detail. Not a collection of individual parts, but a well-thought-out overall design. All body parts fit together seamlessly and combine to form a powerful silhouette. The result is a sporty, aggressive, and modern look that immediately catches the eye,” says the supplier. For more information, visit go-in-style.nl.Compared to the DAF Dominator, this powerful tow truck almost seems ordinary. The four-axle truck, registered in Germany, was on display at the Truckstar Festival in the “Wreckers” category, where it drew the attention of visitors.With a range of up to 700 kilometers, the new Volvo FH Aero Electric with extended range ranks among the top battery-electric long-haul trucks. The route from Gothenburg to Assen can thus theoretically be covered with just one charging stop.
And then there’s Saturday night. As soon as it gets dark, the entire TT track transforms into something you can only see in Assen. An endless sea of lights emerges on the kilometer-long asphalt roads. All the lights on every truck are turned on. Everything is glowing, flashing, and sparkling. Anyone who sees the grounds after sunset immediately understands why Saturday night is the most iconic moment of the weekend for so many visitors. The fair is in full swing, and at the music venue, people are raising their hands in the air during the evening concert.
Assen bathed in the evening glow of thousands of trucks giving it their all to turn night into day (Photo: Cojan van Toor 2026).From further down, the light show can be seen in greater detail. It’s a good thing that there apparently aren’t any restrictions on lighting in the Netherlands. As is well known, in some other European countries, only what is explicitly permitted by law is allowed. And in fact, this has already led to quite a few run-ins with law enforcement, which can go so far as to require drivers to unscrew the offending lights before being allowed to continue their journey (Photo: Cojan van Toor 2026).
Another highlight is the contest to choose the “Most Beautiful Truck in the Netherlands.” Thousands of spectators watch the award ceremony from the massive grandstand, which is otherwise used for watching car and motorcycle races. After all, the TT Circuit is a racetrack.
Before the contest begins, festivalgoers can inspect the 24 nominated vehicles. They’re lined up in the “Mooiste Truckstraat,” a passageway decorated with red, white, and blue flags. Right up until the last moment, the owners are busy cleaning, sprucing up, and adding the final touches, because the condition of the trucks is also a deciding factor.
For years, the contest has been held among readers of Truckstar magazine. They vote in large numbers for their favorites from the Truckstar Photo Yearbook, which is published annually in time for the event and is available for purchase everywhere. The 24 trucks with the most votes are ranked in the contest and have a chance to win the top prize. On Saturday, the trucks will be put under the microscope. A panel of experts will evaluate the trucks inside and out. From the cab to the chassis and from the bumper to the taillights, everything will be scrutinized in detail. The subcategories will be announced on Sunday at 10 a.m.
On “Mooiste Truckstraat,” decorated with red, white, and blue flags, the contenders for the title of the Netherlands’ most beautiful truck were lined up to present themselves to the public. A particularly large crowd turned out to inspect the vehicles.All 24 trucks and tractor units nominated for the contest were presented to the public in groups of three. The main grandstand was filled to capacity, as the “Most Beautiful Truck” contest is traditionally one of the absolute highlights of the Truckstar Festival in Assen.Here we showcase nine of the 24 candidates. Incidentally, an important requirement for all of them is that the vehicles must normally be in daily operation. Trucks used solely for show purposes are not eligible for the “Most Beautiful Truck in the Netherlands” contest.The winner of the competition was a 2025 Scania R 660 6x2 belonging to the fleet of G. & J. van Leeuwen in Bruchem and driven by Bart Wijne. The truck’s unusual bodywork is designed to transport horse manure, which is subsequently used, among other things, as a raw material for mushroom compost. The trailer can be tipped, while the tractor unit can be unloaded using a crane. The photos show the truck-trailer combination during the lineup of contenders and after the first-place winner was announced. In the bottom right, the driver can be seen with colleagues and employees from Profile as they receive the coveted trophy.
The real suspense comes two hours later. Starting at 12:00 p.m., the nominees drive past the packed main grandstand in a parade. Then it will be announced which truck will hold the title of “Most Beautiful Truck in the Netherlands” for a year. Only one can win. The competition is a highlight that the participants have been working toward for months – not just for the trophy, but above all for the recognition. Everyone knows how many hours it takes to get a truck looking exactly the way the owner intended.
To conclude our 2026 Assen report, we’re sharing photos taken on the A 28 after leaving the festival. Of the 2,300 trucks that drove along that route to return to their respective locations, we’ve selected a few that we found particularly noteworthy – even though there were countless other vehicles we could have chosen. We’ll start with this nine-axle heavy-haul truck, pulled by a 2013-model Volvo FM.Horsepower for horses: This Scania 770 S V8 belongs to John Parker International of Hythe, UK. The truck and trailer, developed in collaboration with Gazeley Horseboxes, can transport up to 19 animals. Thanks to air suspension, climate control, and video surveillance, these valuable passengers are guaranteed a journey that’s as comfortable as possible.Elaborate airbrush paint jobs may have gone a bit out of style, but there are still some very special tractor units that are artfully decorated with unusual motifs – in this case, even paired with a matching refrigerated trailer.The DAF 95 XF, introduced in 1997, was the successor to the DAF 95, whose cab – developed in collaboration with Pegaso – was introduced in 1987. Its basic design, revised several times, remained in use until the XF was redesigned in 2017. It wasn’t until the new generation, introduced in 2021, that a completely newly developed cab was introduced.It has everything you might need at a festival or elsewhere, including a living quarters container and a passenger car: A Mercedes-Benz Arocs from the well-known Dutch heavy-haul and crane company Mammoet is transporting the equipment of a Liebherr mobile crane from the festival back home.Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay, is considered one of the most significant heavyweight boxers and athletes of the 20th century. The Swiss trucking company Müller Ermensee dedicated this Scania S580 V8, registered in 2017, with a custom-designed refrigerated trailer to him. At the Truckstar Festival that same year, the semi-truck won the award for best custom paint job and was also honored as “Best of Show.”Opinions are divided on the appearance of the International LoneStar: Some consider it beautiful, while others find the combination of aerodynamic shapes and lavish chrome excessively over-the-top. This 503 PS model, built in 2011, arrived in the Netherlands in 2021. In Europe, the LoneStar – developed for the North American market – is a rare sight.Earlier in this report, we already took a look at the fire truck based on a Mack B. Here, the 1954 veteran is being carried home in style by another Mack. The tractor unit is a 1990 Mack RW 613 Super-Liner with a 16.4-liter V8 engine and 490 PS.Mercedes-Benz unveiled a preview of the cab – later named ProCabin – at the 2022 IAA. Its appearance, which stood out significantly from the crowd, initially caused quite a stir, but the new cab has since become a familiar sight on European roads. As a four-axle tractor unit, shown here in Van Grinsven’s colors, the new Actros L is still a rare sight, however.Only a few participants at the Truckstar Festival came from Poland, but this Scania 520S V8 from Baca Transport in Tczew was hard to miss. Its elaborate airbrush design features scenes and characters from “Sami swoi,” a cult Polish comedy from 1967. Shortly before its appearance in Assen, the tractor unit had won the overall title at the Master Truck Show in Poland, as well as awards for best paint job and best interior.Longline, Dutch-style: This Scania from Hoitink Transport was built in 2000 as a T 144 G 460 with a 14-liter V8 engine. About ten years later, the owner had the wheelbase extended to six meters and the cab converted into a massive sleeper; as a result, the tractor unit grew to around 8.30 meters. In late 2023, Van der Heijden Truckstyling modernized the cab-over-engine truck, among other things, with a front end styled after the newer R-Series Streamline. This custom conversion is not technically related to the rare Scania Longline, which was introduced in 2002 as the eXc concept and was available from 2003 through early 2005. Currently, however, the concept is making a surprising comeback: Since April 2026, Scania has once again been accepting orders for factory-built Longline cabovers, whose cabs are 80 or 110 centimeters longer than the standard S-cab, depending on the model.
On Sunday afternoon, starting around 4:00 p.m., the so-called “Exodus” begins: All participating trucks leave the event grounds to drive back to their home towns via the nearby A28 freeway. Many people eagerly await this moment as well. Thousands of spectators line the streets, many having brought folding chairs. They want to witness the Exodus from the first vehicle to the last, take photos, or wave to the drivers, who return the gesture with a chorus of honks. Some of the spectators didn’t even attend the festival itself; they came solely to marvel at the many amazing vehicles as they depart.
To conclude this report, we would like to acknowledge the Truckstar team’s efforts. It is truly admirable how smoothly the festival runs. Approximately 2,300 participating vehicles are directed to the staging area upon arrival on Friday and upon departure on Sunday—without any significant traffic jams—and then guided out again at the end. Almost 60,000 spectators must be admitted, coordinated, and taken care of. Managing the parking lots for passenger cars and directing traffic on the access roads alone are enormous tasks. Added to this are the weeks of preparation at the Truckstar editorial office and on-site. It’s worth noting that the editorial team handles the entire organization without an external event agency and is fully engaged from Monday to Monday. All volunteers combined, about 200 people are busy managing all the various tasks. They all deserve a huge thank you—the festival was a lot of fun. Without a doubt, all participants and spectators are already looking forward to next year.
Text and photos (except for the aerial shots): Steve St.Schmidt
