On July 12, 2025, the Historic TT parade will return in Rolde, the village where it all started. This event celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first TT race, which was held in 1925. It marks the origin of the legendary motorcycle race that is now known worldwide.
Ten years ago, a historic TT parade was also held in honor of the then 90th anniversary.
The TT, or Tourist Trophy, has now grown into an international motorcycle event. However, the very first Dutch TT race was held on July 11, 1925, with a route that started in Rolde and led the riders through the Drenthe landscape.
“The first TT indeed took place in Rolde, a hundred years ago,” says Johan de Vries, one of the organizers of the historic parade. “The conditions then were very different to now, and it was a smaller event than the modern TT.”
On July 12, 2025, motorcycles that look like those from the 1920s and 1930s will participate in the parade. The route broadly follows the old route through Rolde, Borger, Schoonloo and Grolloo. The parade is intended as a tribute to the first race and the motorcyclists who participated during that time.
“The parade will focus on the history of the event, just as we did for the ninetieth anniversary, but now with a greater focus on the early years,” says De Vries. Motorcycles from all over the Netherlands and other countries are expected to participate in the parade. In addition to the old racing engines, there will also be classic engines on display that have stood the test of time.
The parade will start at the mill in Rolde, where the TT started in 1925. The route takes you past various villages and ends back in Rolde. “We want to follow the original route as much as possible, but the safety of the participants remains important,” De Vries explains.
Various activities will also take place along the route. There are exhibitions with historic motorcycles and racing memorabilia. There will be memorial points where visitors can learn more about the history of the TT and the development of motorcycle racing in the Netherlands.
“It is important to celebrate this event, because the origins of the TT in Drenthe should not be forgotten,” says De Vries. “It’s not just about the bikes and the race, but also about the story of the people involved in the first TT.”
As the last TT veterans grow older, the Historical TT Parade also takes on an educational aspect. “The people who experienced the old TT themselves are slowly disappearing, so it is important to record and pass on history,” says De Vries.