About Outpost Assen

Outpost Assen is the Information Centre for the northern part of The Netherlands.  It is part of Global Outpost Services, in The Hague.

Outpost Assen gives information about the northern part of The Netherlands to new arrivals and supplies those who are considering a next posting overseas with information on that destination.

Services offered by Outpost Assen include:

• International and Dutch Welcoming Committees for expats and repats.
• Welcome to the northern Netherlands guide.
• Bi -Monthly Newsletter
• Kids’ Entertainment guide.
• English and Dutch language library (books, magazines, Dvd's, CD roms,  video's and photo albums on Shell locations).
• Careers and Development Workshops for partners and spouses
• Activities for partners and spouses.
• Information on language courses
• Briefers for the latest information on Shell destinations.

We can also provide information on schools in the area, courses (distance learning and courses offered in the area), recreational and cultural activities.We provide weekly information on activities, 'what's going on in Netherlands' , etc via the email database of partners and employees.

These services are offered by Outpost Assen to Shell/NAM employees and their families.  However, this website has been created for all expatriates, and we hope that you will find it useful.

For more information you can contact us by e-mail or Telephone: + 31 592 363062 / 064

Postal address: Outpost Assen, Room 2Y.20, NAM, Schepersmaat 2, 9400 HH Assen, The Netherlands

Office opening hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 - noon.

A brief introduction to the area   

The information given here is on the two northern provinces of Drenthe and Groningen, concentrating mainly on their capital cities: Assen and Groningen.

Assen is the capital of the province of Drenthe.  In the 1800's it was considered a poor and little regarded area of heath and peat bog.  However, in recent years fertilisers have improved the farming possibilities, gas has brought further prosperity and the area has become popular with holiday makers who appreciate the landscape with its wealth of woods, lakes and cycling paths.  As Vincent van Gogh wrote to his brother once “It is unbelievably beautiful over here”. It has a pleasant shopping centre(Centrum)where you will be able to find most things you are looking for. The town centre is compact, well provided for and is among the most accessible town centres in the Netherlands.It takes between two and two and a half hours by car or train to get to the West (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague).  The expat community, relative to the south of The Netherlands, is fairly small but usually very welcoming and active.  Most expatriates in the Assen area are associated with the oil industry.

Assen Facts & Figures

Population(2007)

	Municipality : 62,320
	density: 784/km˛ (2,030.6/sq mi

Groningen, 30 km north of Assen, is the capital of its own province and has been an important European city for centuries.  Its' university was founded in 1614.  It has many historical buildings worth visiting.  The shopping, nightlife and cultural activities are more extensive than in Assen.  In Groningen, however, the expat community is more diverse with academics, students and employees of multinational companies.
Groningen Facts & Figures

Number of residents: 175,000

Number of students: 37,000 (Rijksuniversiteit 19,000; Hanzehogeschool 18,000)

Number of jobs: 122,000

The two capitals are only 25 minutes apart by car or train so it is easy to enjoy the rather different facilities and attractions of both.

Both Assen and Groningen have International Schools. (See the Education section for more information).

The weather

The Netherlands has a temperate climate, which is largely influenced by the North Sea and the Gulf Stream.  This means mild winters (average temp. 2.8 C), cool summers (average temp. 16.8 C) and rainfall (about 802 mm) in all seasons.  In summer, July and August are usually the hottest months with daytime temperature between 20 and 30 degrees.  Winters are often windy with periods of frost and sunshine.  Spring and autumn vary from mild to cool. There is no specific rainy season and a raincoat and/or umbrella come in handy all year round.