VAG Legends Selected 2025
If this debut is anything to go by, VAG Legends is onto something special. Everyone we spoke to called it one of the best shows of the year so far, and we couldn’t agree more.
Date: 15. June 2025 - Location: Kasteel Pietersheim, Lanaken, Belgium
It’s easy to feel like car shows these days all blur together. With social media constantly showcasing fresh events, it seems like there’s yet another show happening every weekend. As exciting as that sounds, it can also lead to a sense of repetition. Many events start to feel the same, losing that special something that once made car culture so meaningful to many of us. To break that cycle, the VAG Legends team, led by Dennis Geluck, decided to do things differently. Staying true to their motto “Bring back the old days,” they set out to host a show that truly stood apart - a gathering built on community, passion, and authenticity.
Rather than focusing on trophies, competition, or hype, the team placed the spotlight on the cars themselves. Their mission was simple: to celebrate every vehicle equally, giving each build the space and respect it deserved. No awards, no judges, no cliques. Just good vibes and mutual appreciation. In their own words: “We want to create a place where everyone feels valued, and where the focus is on building cars out of passion, not for prizes.”
That philosophy paid off. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, yet still charged with excitement. Set against the scenic backdrop of Kasteel Pietersheim in Lanaken, Belgium, the event had a unique charm. The historic castle grounds added an air of timelessness, perfectly complementing the theme of honoring the roots of the scene while embracing the present.
Around 250 carefully selected cars were invited, each one a standout in its own way. The lineup represented some of the finest examples from the European VAG scene, with cars arriving from across the continent. Enthusiasts drove in from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and naturally, Belgium. One particularly dedicated Mk3 VR6 owner (@rwcustom_) even made the long trip from Denmark, proving just how far people are willing to go for an event that feels truly meaningful. Not only the distance was noteworthy - the car itself was, too! The outside and engine bay were kept relatively subtle in a black and grey colour scheme, while the heavily reworked interior and some minor outside details absolutely popped in bright teal. Outstanding!
Each car was given plenty of breathing room, allowing visitors to walk around, study the details, and talk with the owners. Whether it was a clean OEM+ build, a wildly modified show car, or a thoughtfully restored classic, every vehicle had real depth and personality. There were no so-called “Instagram builds” or “five-meter cars” that only look good in photos. These were machines built with love, character, and countless hours of dedication and they looked even better up close.
I’ve personally been enjoying aircooled builds more and more lately and so it was great to see that some absolute headturners from the aircooled scene made the trek to Belgium as well. For one, we have Neal’s Type 3 Variant with it’s orange paintwork shining bright. Colour coded three piece steelies fill out the arches nicely and give it a slightly modernized contemporary look.
Another great aircooled car that piqued my interest, parked just next to Neal’s Variant, was Amando’s blue beetle. I’ve seen this car at various shows, always rocking a killer set of wheels - each time a set of wheels that is definitely uncommon on aircooled builds, however. Usually I’ve seen this car on PLS wheels, but this time the Bug was rocking Epsilon Mesh wheels. Wheels that suit it perfectly, in my eyes.
Of course, where there’s aircooled VWs, a Bug with heavy patina can’t be far. This was the first time I’ve seen Christoph’s bug and it’s checked all the boxes for me. Slammed, cool wheels, patina and style for days.
This being VAG Legends, the show was open to all kinds of VAG cars. That includes Porsches, of course. There ware a number of cool cars from Stuttgart around with each of them being noteworthy. For the 911s I kept being drawn to these two pretty similar 964s, both sitting on a set of slightly differently built BBS RS’. Which one of these two would you pick? Red or blue?
But of course, 911s were not the only Porsches around - the transaxles were well represented by Willem’s red 944 on BBS RS wheels and my own 944 on BBS LM wheels. It does seem like Porsches and BBS wheels go hand in hand, doesn’t it? They do fit so well, though…
Another standout for me was Tim’s Passat B4 - of course I’m familiar with the car, as Tim is one of my good friends but seeing it laid out at shows is always a treat. There’s not that many highly built Passats of this generation and I’m always happy when Tim’s Passat is there to represent the chassis. Laid out over a set of custom 3-piece split wheels, freshly detailed paint with a custom designed OEM-style pinstripe and an immaculate reworked interior. A full feature of this car will be coming to these pages soon - stay tuned!
I distinctly remember seeing this Mk3 in a nearly identical state approximately fifteen years ago at shows. It’s completely insane to me that this car still exists, it’s a true time capsule.
Early in the day, it looked like the weather might turn, with clouds gathering and a light drizzle setting in. But it quickly passed, giving way to clear skies and warm sun. The timing couldn’t have been better. As the clouds broke and the sunlight hit the cars, the entire showground lit up, and the cars truly shined.
Reflecting on the day, Dennis said: “For a first edition, we’re very happy, and we’re excited to see what the future holds. I think we have a mega concept. Of course, it only works because of the participants. Each and every one is a legend. We’re a small community and we have to support each other. The team is nothing without the folks who show up with their cars. I’m just a guy with a lot of passion in his heart for modified cars, and I want to share that.”
If this debut is anything to go by, VAG Legends is onto something special. Everyone we spoke to called it one of the best shows of the year so far, and we couldn’t agree more. It was more than just a car event: it was a reminder of why people fall in love with the scene in the first place. We genuinely hope this is just the first epic show of many.
