Famous mostly as a popular motorcycle circuit, Assen has its origins in the Dutch Tourist Trophy motorcycle race, which was first staged in 1925 in nearby villages 11 km to the east of the present-day circuit.

From 1926 to 1955 the race, still utilising closed public roads, moved to a new circuit closer to the modern facility, but calls for a permanent circuit were growing.

TT Circuit Assen was thus built in just four months, opening in 1955. Originally a 7.7 km circuit, it was shortened substantially to just over 6 km in 1984 when the northern loop on public roads was removed.

The circuit was still considered to be on public roads at this time, meaning anyone could complete a lap. Officials decided it was no longer safe for this to continue, and in 1992 the circuit was made a closed, permanent facility for the first time.

Over the following decade, improvements came to the pits, paddock, grandstands and control tower. Then, in 2006, the circuit was further shortened in order to accommodate an as-yet-unbuilt amusement park, with a much tighter complex of corners to start the lap.

This reduced the length to 4.55 km, with the only subsequent change being a new cut-through at the Ruseknhoek corner being added, enabling a faster lap.

Touring car racing has largely been absent from the early part of the circuit’s history (save for a 1956 one-off) owing to its temporary nature.

After the circuit asphalt was closed to the public, the Supertourenwagen Cup made a single visit in 1996. International competition then stayed away again for two decades, but in recent years the circuit has opened up to more car racing, including TCR Europe, DTM and in 2023, TCR Germany.