Wheels Mariënwaerdt 2026

Landgoed Mariënwaerdt, Beesd, The Netherlands 11/12/13th September 2026: an historic car collection to enhance the past, admire the present, and look forward to the future, all at an historic location, the main concept of Wheels Mariënwaerdt. Ferrari collection, a car talk, the pre-war sprint, the Concours d’Elegance, and the Cricklewood Bentley collection were some of the highlights of the third edition. The weekend also included a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the GTI line, featuring the best from the Pon Classic collection. The weather gods blessed us with some 20 degrees Celsius on Saturday, no rain, making it a perfect day to go down memory lane.

Text: Benjamin Wefer
Pictures: Benjamin Wefer
Last updated: 16-09-2026

Let’s start with the Ferrari Collection: Located at the carriage house of the Mariënwaerdt estate, what better place to exhibit the finest Italian horse? But not just the big 6 or the big 12, but an overwhelming number of iconic Ferraris in one place, including the new Ferrari F80. Ferrari unveiled the F80 in 2024, and the first was delivered at the end of 2025. It’s a hybrid hypercar with a twin-turbo 3.0 V6 that produces around 900 horsepower; add three electric motors, and you get around 1200 horsepower. Ferrari is only making 799 of these bad boys.

Another jewel on display was the limited-to-60-units Ferrari FXX-K EVO, an extreme track-only Italian racehorse. The FXX-K Evo has a 6.2-liter V12 engine combined with a couple of electric motors. The Evo is recognizable on his facelifted front bumper and fixed rear wing.

Not to forget the 1954 500 Mondial; only 16 of these prototypes were ever made, and this #508, with chassis 0414MD, belonged to the Neri brothers, Enzo and Alberto, who participated in the 21st Mille Miglia, and has a rich history to this day.

Besides the Ferrari collection, the estate was divided into the Old Timers and Young Timers, the Cricklewood Bentley collection, and new cars. As a car enthusiast, you were overwhelmed by the number of iconic cars and the history each one holds. It is impossible to describe them all, but here are a few that caught our attention. Among the Old Timers was this beautiful 1904 Chenard & Walcher Model G. Chenard & Walcher was founded in 1900 and was active until the 1940s. The brand was also known in the racing world, as it won the first 24 Hours of Leman in 1923, with André Lagache and René Léonard behind the wheel. The Model G has a 5-liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces around 20 horsepower and has a top speed of 85 km/hrs. They are very limited and have an estimated value of around 200,000 euros.

Not to forget the Cricklewood Bentleys, the era that defined and secured Bentley’s future. Bentley started in Cricklewood, North London, and in the early days focused on producing fast race cars, which is also why the brand won the 24 hrs of Leman five times. During the Wheels Marienwaerdt, the audience could admire various models from the early days.

This edition also paid tribute to the GTI’s 50 years at Volkswagen, from the first 1976 Golf GTI to the latest model: the Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 50, which produces around 325 horsepower and has a new price of 81.000 euro here in the Netherlands. Remarkably, each model was red, creating an exceptional view.

Alongside exhibited icons in automobilia, Wheels Mariënwaerdt entertained the crowd with pre-war sprints. Each participant had to run back and forth over an approximately 200-meter muddy trail as fast as they could, but the challenge was not only being fast, but staying consistent across all three planned sessions. About 26 cars took part in the sprint on Saturday. The fastest car on Saturday was a blue 1927 Rover 10. A highlight of the sprint was entertainer Bert van den Dool, who took a moment to share inside information about the car and its history and chat with the drivers.


Bert van den Dool

Another entertaining part of the event was the time trials, where several participants showed spectators how to control a four-by-four on uneven terrain. On Saturday, entertainer Bert van den Dool took a ride with one of the participants, which was entertaining to watch because of his unexpected reaction and funny comments.

And of course, a car talk podium was part of the weekend, where several sessions were held, and entertainers gave the audience information on the brand, the model, and its history. The drivers/owners had a moment to share their passion with the audience.

Next to the parcours activities and off-road trail, visitors could buy merchandise for their cars and clothing to match their cars’ era. Or buy some art, like from Landmark Furniture, owned by Tarik Kool. Tarik is one of the Dutch artists who gives broken automobile parts a new life; what started as a one-off, converting a 3.5-liter V8 out of a Range Rover, grew beyond imagination. Nowadays, he searches for unused parts at several locations and gives them a new life, like a table out of a Jaguar V12 engine block, or a lamp out of a Rover V8 valve cover or intake, which can be a perfect match for your garage or man cave.

The third edition at Mariënwaerdt is a fact: an overwhelming car event with something for every age, taste, or style. From the oldest to the newest, and even beyond. And what’s a Concours d’Élégance without some winner? This beautiful red 1954 Porsche ‘Pebble Beach’ 356 Coupe won best in class in the category Porsche 356! Best in Show went to a 1948 Delage D6. Wheels Mariënwaerdt will be back at the Mariënwaerdt estate in 2027, so stay tuned for the exact date.