Who are Scots in Assen?
The Scottish Community Assen - SCA
The Scottish Community in Assen established some traditional Scottish events in the North of the Netherlands. A number of companies in Assen, including NAM and Shell, have a varying number of foreign employees, some of whom are from Scotland. These expatriates were the initiators of the SCA.
Today, the SCA is comprised of the people who have a love for Scotland either because they have family living there, they have worked or studied there or just because it is their favorite holiday destination.
The north of the Netherlands has a link with Scotland that goes back many centuries. Scottish men sometimes worked as soldiers here in the Netherlands, and they also came to study here. More information is available at the website of The Northern Meeting.
While the Scots have settled across the world, from New Zealand to Canada, many traditional Scottish holidays are marked and celebrated days. The SCA organizes at least one event per year that many Northerners attend. These events were traditionally always held in Assen, but since 2011 they are now also being held in Groningen. Van der Valk Assen offers a fine venue for the gala on Burns Night and St Andrews Night. In Groningen, the Huis de Beurs hosts the Midsummer Ceilidh.