After a year-long creative break, they were finally back. The much-loved Classic Days are back. At a new location, but with the same familiar charm and the usual variety and perfection. The Birkhof manor provided the backdrop for this year’s Classic Days. A large classicist manor house surrounded by a fantastic historic park with magnificent trees, which provided welcome shade, especially on Sunday. The Birkhof manor with its avenues and classic square courtyard – a place steeped in history, stylish and atmospheric. The ideal location for a festival of automotive culture and lifestyle – the Grand Meeting.
It is admirable how Marcus Herfort’s team managed to first find a new location and then build up the spirit and atmosphere that made Classic Days such an integral part of the year and, above all, so popular, turning the manor into the venue for a truly wonderful Grand Meeting. One can only take one’s hat off to them. Congratulations on this incredible achievement.
Although I was unfortunately only able to attend on Sunday due to a scheduling conflict with the Oldtimer Grand Prix, everything felt so familiar, as if the Classic Days had always been there. The Grand Meeting has found a new home that is as stylish as it is dreamlike, and I hope it will remain there for years to come. This annoying scheduling conflict should not occur next year, as the Oldtimer Grand Prix will return to its traditional second weekend in August. Then I will be able to attend the Classic Days for the entire duration again.
As already mentioned, the park of the Birkhof manor consists of old trees and small clearings that appear almost out of nowhere, where the various areas of the Classic Days were lovingly staged. I particularly liked the Concours d’Elegance area. The cars on display there were very diverse, compiled from a wide range of decades. There were some great vehicles on display, framed by two ‘historic’ stands, one offering delicious coffee specialities and wonderful cakes, the other serving mainly ‘ice cold beer’.
Almost every area had its own little island and was completely separate. Even the ‘Stars and Stripes’ area, with its many classic American cars, was on a small ‘island’ right next to the golf course.
The circuit for the various demo runs ran almost completely through the grounds, providing much more spectator space. The starting straight led along a wonderful avenue where visitors crowded around the fence and eagerly filmed and photographed with their mobile phones. Even though the cars and motorcycles didn’t really drive fast for safety reasons, moving cars are still more exciting than stationary ones.
It was a successful first time at the Birkhof manor, and I am already looking forward to the next edition in 2026, when the REAL WORLD – CLASSIC DAYS signs will be put up again and visitors, including myself, will once again be able to experience this wonderful journey through time and immerse themselves in the world of automotive joy. Certainly a little out of step with the times, but that’s exactly what makes it so wonderful.
Hope to see you there. 31 July – 2 August 2026
