This year, Europe’s largest truckfest celebrated 40 years of running. As ever, it attracted some of the most photo-worthy rigs on the continent.

The TT Circuit in Assen, Netherlands, was the place to be at the end of July for anyone who loves trucks. Here, the well-known Truckstar Festival took place again after two years of silence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, celebrating its 40th year. The event attracts commercial vehicles from all over Europe, and the transport industry was more than ready to participate.

More than 5000 truck owners from the Netherlands and abroad had indicated they wanted to participate in the festivities with one or more vehicles. However, the Assen circuit could ‘only’ accommodate 2300 big trucks.

The publishers of Truckstar Magazine have organised the festival since 1992. The first gathering was held in and around an exhibition hall in the town four decades ago. Thanks to the ever-growing number participants and spectators, the F1 race circuit at Zandvoort then hosted it for nine years. Since 1992, the present location in the east of Holland has fit the bill.

Over the years, the ingredients of the event have not changed much. On both sides of the 4.5km-long racetrack in Assen, truck drivers and their family and friends are allowed to organise a weekend-long ‘garden party’. Many come complete with barbecue, disco and makeshift swimming pools.

Around the paddock, more than 160 beautifully refurbished vintage commercials were displayed by their proud owners. Across the road, dozens of shiny American rigs drew the crowds, as did the state-of-the-art recovery trucks and heavy-haulage transporters. Of course, there was also a large area where anything related to the transport industry could be admired or purchased – from drivers’ apparel to a light bar, and hotdogs to miniature trucks. Also present were the importers of major Euro truck brands. They showed factory-fresh chassis and, to please the public, fully decked-out owner-driver rigs. Some makers also had made room for alternative-fuel vehicles.

Dutch truck conversion specialist Vlastuin from Renswoude stole the show with a Next-Gen Scania Torpedo and its latest project, a big Volvo VT5 tractor. Both top-class bonneted tractors received attention from local operators and foreign truck owners who want to stand out from the crowd with their rigs.

A few hundred entrants from all over Europe participated in the Special Paint and Show Truck competition. The large number of pristine vehicles that British and Irish owners had entered was striking, even more so considering the high price of fuel and ferry crossings required to make it to the event. The same applies to the Scandinavians, who were also present in force with some spectacular Scania and Volvo working trucks. And the Fins are masters in coming up with new ideas to make their trucks almost a work of art.

For those who had enough of just watching gleaming heavies in the various show areas, the festival also offered weekend-long shows and contests with motorcycles, cars and trucks on the racetrack opposite the grandstand. But the highlight of the annual festival is always the election of De Mooiste Truck van Nederland (the most beautiful truck of the Netherlands) and the following parade on the track.

Since 1983, the publishers of Truckstar Magazine have issued a catalogue that contains hundreds of truck pictures sent in by drivers or owners. Buyers of the catalogue are asked to vote on which three trucks from nine categories are eligible to compete in the final contest. This year’s ‘Photo Yearbook’ was 224 pages thick and featured more than 1500 heavy trucks. During the weekend, a team of professional judges inspected the final 24 trucks voted for by the readers.

Come Sunday, the nominees were presented in front of the circa 5000 spectators in the grandstand. The winners in the Special Paint and Show Truck contest were also announced.

After much deliberation, the eight-axle 2019 Scania R650 of Robert van Herk was voted Most Beautiful Truck of the Netherlands 2022. The 25.25m-long truck and trailer combo was well-thought-out, down to the smallest detail. Both inside and out, the over-length blue and white truck looked the part and, according to the judges, it simply had the wow factor.

In addition, there were trophies to win for Best Interior, Best Paint, Best Bodywork and Best Polish. The international field trophies went, among others, to the wildly painted Scania 650S ‘Iceman’ of Juha Ristimaa from Finland, the magnificent Scania R650 ‘Purple Rain’ of VoWa Transporte in Switzerland, and the immaculate and well-thought-out Scania R770 truck and trailer of Christian Soleen from Denmark.

Although the show and shine contests are the main attraction for truck owners, Assen is also a weekend for the whole family, with lots of entertainment, from spectacular motorcycle stunts and car football to a fairground and a pop concert. Despite some rain, everyone Duthought the biggest truck festival in Europe was well worth waiting for after two Covid-plagued years.