All‘s not lost when Jack Frost, Sid Snow, and Rodger Rain have Europe in their grip – Mega Trucks Festival.

Photo: Gumboots in winter! A stunning custom-built T730 hauls general cargo.

Around the turn of the year there is not much to do for truck aficionados in a wintry Europe. Most shows and festivals are held in the period from May to October when the weather is in general much better for organising large outdoor truck events.
For some years however, there has been one exception, and that is the Mega Trucks Festival in Den Bosch, The Netherlands. In December 2018 this unique indoor event was held for the fifth time and attracted several thousand visitors from at home and abroad.

With more than 300 shiny big rigs it is the largest indoor truck festival of the Benelux and the only one of its kind in Europe. The two-day event is for drivers, their family and anybody else who supports the trucking industry. It offered 32,000 square metres of trucking pleasure, with something for everybody, including stunning owner-operator rigs, nicely finished company working trucks, brand new dealer vehicles, vintage wagons, rally trucks, specialist vehicles, crane trucks, and heavy haulage tractors. Participants not only hailed from the Lowlands but also from Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, and Austria. Drivers who wanted to show off their wagons could pre-register in the months before. In the various halls were free spots available for about 300 large vehicles, and participating truck owners also received two free entrance passes during the weekend, a bag full of goodies, and some free lottery tickets.

All sorts of working and custom trucks could be admired. Some were randomly presented, while other new and client rigs had found spots on stands hosted by DAF, Iveco, Mercedes- Benz and Scania. These importers had also set up a stage where a DJ and live acts entertained the public, and there were numerous food stalls and other sideline entertainment for both young and old.
Truck accessories, parts, ‘bling‘, and merchandise were in abundance, not forgetting some well-known cab interior specialists.

With the European economy on the up, quite a few owneroperators are willing to spend a good sum of cash on turning their workhorse into something to be proud of. Mega Trucks Festival 2018 proved again to be a winner.

Photo: Smart DAF XF from Austria features in Discovery Channel‘s ‘Asphalt Cowboys‘ series.

Photo: Even some oversize rigs found a spot in the huge indoor halls. Nice grille treatment on the left unit. That‘s how you do it.

Photo: A few new trucks, such as this unusual ‘Newgen‘ Scania livestock hauler, were exhibited outside. How would she go getting to Mt Algidus?

Photo: Hey look! They have them too. Ours is newer, Uncle! Churr.

Photo: Nicely refurbished Scania L110 from 1972.