Mariënwaerdt 2026: a concours with a story

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A concours is about trophies, but it is also about stories. The finest events reveal how the motor car evolved, which designers left their mark, and why certain automobiles continue to fascinate decades later. That also appears to be the philosophy behind Concours d'Elegance Mariënwaerdt, which returns to the Landgoed Mariënwaerdt estate from 11 to 13 September for its third edition.

This year's concours classes make it clear that the organisers are placing a strong emphasis on historical context. One of the highlights is the celebration of 120 years of Lancia, a marque that, perhaps more than any other, succeeded in combining engineering innovation with timeless elegance. There is also a tribute to one hundred years of Touring Superleggera, the Milanese coachbuilder whose lightweight construction methods and flowing lines shaped automobiles for Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Maserati, among many others.

For enthusiasts of pre-war motoring, the Special Coachwork Pre & Post-War class is likely to be the major attraction. Rather than focusing on a single manufacturer, it celebrates the art of coachbuilding itself. From exclusive bodies of the 1920s and 1930s to the last great coachbuilt GTs of the 1950s, these are automobiles in which craftsmanship and style are every bit as important as engineering.

The organisers have also deliberately avoided presenting history as a strictly chronological timeline. Visitors will journey from the pioneering years through the golden age of coachbuilding to the sports cars of the 1980s and 1990s. The result is less a traditional collection of concours classes than a broader story spanning some 140 years of automotive design.

That wider perspective extends beyond the concours field itself. Special displays devoted to subjects including WO Bentleys, one hundred years of Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari V12 models demonstrate how the event is increasingly focusing on carefully curated thematic exhibitions rather than solely on the individual concours entrants.

That evolution also suits the new home of Wheels Events. Whereas previous editions took place on the stately lawns of Paleis Het Loo and Paleis Soestdijk, the Landgoed Mariënwaerdt estate offers an entirely different atmosphere. The concours cars are displayed among the orchards, while the Club d'Elegance finds its place beneath the apple trees. Perhaps that is the greatest change of recent years: less palace, more country estate. And, truth be told, we rather like it.

Details:

• Event: Wheels Mariënwaerdt 2026
• Date: 11–13 September 2026
• Venue: Landgoed Mariënwaerdt, The Netherlands
• Order your tickets here >>

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