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The Anglo Dutch Reliability Trial
July 28, 2025 - August 2, 2025
In 1912 an event was started to show the public that motorcycling was also reliable for more than one day on motorcycles of that time. In the beginning it was limited to 18 riders from each country and there was an amateur class and a trade class. It was not a race but three days with nice stops with coffee, tea and lunch at interesting places and one day with time registration, the so-called trial day. Riders had to start and finish with the same machine every day and no repairs were allowed before and after the rallies, only during the rallies. The events were supported by the Dutch and English AA and National Motorcycle Clubs and took place each year in the Netherlands or England.
In 1912 the Dutch were the overall winners and in 1913 the English were the best and there was a lot of press during the week. The motorcycle manufacturers used their victory in the Trial for months in the newspapers to show how well their motorcycles performed and that everyone should buy a motorcycle of their make!
In 1914 there was no Anglo-Dutch due to WWI. A few more were organized after that, but the event died out a bit in the mid-twenties until in 1989 Don Mitchell and Mike Wills with a team of helpers picked it up again. The rules were changed, the number of riders was increased to 25 from each country and the competition part between the motorcycle companies disappeared. So it became mainly a social event for enthusiasts of veteran motorcycles.
The frequency was also changed from every year to once every 2 years in the Netherlands or England. The riders were also allowed to work on their bikes before and after the rallies and help each other during the event, so it became more and more of a social rally to get to know each other and experience 4 fantastic days on pre-1915 bikes. The trial day remained, but was also less tough than in 1912. In 1989 the event was won by the English, but there was a real Dutch women’s team present with Saskia Marijnis, Joke van Beek and Hennie van Maarseveen and the overall age of the Dutch riders was about 25 years younger than the English. The bikes from 1902 to 1915 were ridden, but the English had much more experience with riding longer distances and of course the hills! Not all Dutch riders had a pre-1915 machine of their own, but the English lent 5 bikes to Dutch riders to use at this event and it worked so well that most Dutch riders had their own bikes in 1991 at the next Trial in the Netherlands which the Dutch won in a great week in Holland.
From then on the event remained in the saddle and this year will be the 20th edition, this time in the Netherlands. A relaxing week of riding veteran bikes with like-minded enthusiasts, visiting interesting places and making new friends. And of course a bit of competition. On Thursday there is a route with time controls. We have found a nice family hotel in Grubbenvorst, a rural location in the Dutch province of Limburg. Both VMCC and SMCC members are invited to participate.
Would you like to know more about the program, the hotel and the costs (camping with campervan or caravan is also possible)? Send an e-mail to anglodutch2025@vmcmotor.com or download the program and registration form from the Veteraan Motoren Club website, www.vmcmotor.com/anglo-dutch .
