Guest Post - Patrick Stays with His Family at De Buitenhoeve

Patrick and his wife, along with their two young children, spent a long weekend at FarmCamps De Buitenhoeve. It was their first time camping with the kids. What did they think of it? Read all about their experience in their post!

How much fun can a holiday in the Netherlands be! And it’s also very educational! Last weekend, we stayed at Kaasboerderij De Buitenhoeve in Haaften in a luxury 6-person Barntent from FarmCamps! It was our first camping holiday with the kids.

Arrival at the Farm

We left on time and arrived at our destination at 2:30 PM. We were actually half an hour early, but we were immediately welcomed by the staff member in the farm shop. While we looked around the shop with local and homemade products, Kirsten called us to check in. She walked over with the stroller and their youngest son from the house next to the shop to warmly greet us and go over the weekend’s schedule. And yes, the cheese-making workshop was included!

On a secluded field, 15 brand new tents from FarmCamps were set up. We were allowed to head straight to our tent, Tent Brownie. Wow, this is more like a luxury accommodation than a tent: a bath with a shower, toilet, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, 6 beds, air conditioning, a toy box with various games, a BBQ, hammock, picnic table... need I say more? 🙂

The tent looked immaculate, and while we unloaded the car, the kids were free to explore the enclosed camping field with many play items, such as a playhouse, slide, trampoline, sandboxes, and various go-karts. Abby and Quinn were nowhere to be seen for the first hour. It was perfect for them, and for younger children, it’s a safe place. Afterward, we explored the farm a bit and bought some delicious farmer’s cheeses in the shop. They tasted great with a glass of wine on our veranda—our WEEKEND had begun!

We had ordered BBQ packages (both meat and vegetarian options were available!), and these were neatly delivered to our tent by farmer Aico. So, we fired up the BBQ and ate at our picnic table on the veranda. At 7:00 PM, we joined the other guests who had arrived for a tour led by farmer Kirsten. It was a real “tour de boer” (farm tour) of this small-scale dairy farm and cheese-making facility. We got to see everything, ask questions, and of course, meet the cows and calves, along with other animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ponies, and a donkey.

After the tour, it was bedtime for the kids. They were exhausted from all the excitement of the day. Quinn still sleeps in a crib, which was set up for him. Abby wanted to sleep in the middle bed, which was a bit exciting since it was higher than her bed at home. Tomorrow, we’re waking up early to watch the first phase of cheese-making!

Saturday: A Day Full of Activities!

I woke up before the alarm because I didn’t want to be late for Aico. Aico and Kirsten make farm cheese using an authentic recipe, and the first preparations start early. I really enjoyed being part of the whole process from start to finish, and I even helped Aico a bit. Those cheeses are quite heavy, I can tell you from experience! In 6 weeks, “my” cheeses will be ready, and Aico will send me a piece. I’m curious to see how they turned out!

During the cheese-making (there are often waiting breaks in the process), I returned to the tent for breakfast. The rest of the family was awake and dressed, and breakfast was ready on our picnic table. The weather was a bit cooler than the day before, so the kids could wear their farmer overalls. It’s so handy to rent them, so they could play and get dirty! And honestly, Quinn rocked that outfit. Both mornings, Quinn wanted to do rounds like farmer Aico to check on the animals, and no animal was left behind.

We did many activities on and around the farm on Saturday. It was incredibly fun and educational for the kids. They learned that products like milk, cheese, and yogurt don’t just come from a factory, they come from farms. The kids helped brush the ponies, and Abby went for a walk with pony Macky around the farm. This was really the highlight of the weekend for Abby—I think we’ll be hearing about horse riding lessons a lot in the future. In the early afternoon, Abby made yogurt with fresh warm milk with Kirsten. It was a bit tricky since the yogurt needed to stay warm overnight. Afterward, the kids helped feed the calves, ponies, and rabbits. Between these activities, there was plenty of time for playing on the campsite, and the kids quickly made new friends. This was great because they entertained each other, and we could enjoy the sun in the hammock or lounge chair by the tent.

That Saturday night was pizza night! The pizzas are freshly made on the farm and delivered to the tents—so convenient! Afterward, we lit the campfire, and all the kids on the campsite roasted marshmallows. It was delicious and cozy. Kirsten also took the time to stamp the kids' passports, and they both received a real farmhand diploma. Abby is so proud of it (she now has as many diplomas as dad)!

After the campfire and a little more outdoor play, the kids got into the tent to have a bath and get clean. Then, it was time to sleep again in the tent! It was a bit cooler tonight, so we lit the outdoor heater to sit outside comfortably.

Playing with New Friends
On Sunday morning, we were able to sleep a bit longer until Quinn decided at 6:30 AM that it was time to check on the animals and play outside. Breakfast was ready again at our tent, and we ate inside this time because it was still a bit chilly outside. After breakfast, the kids put their overalls back on and went outside to play on the camping field. Soon, we heard that a calf had been born during the night, so we went to see it—it was super cute! Quinn even got to pet the calf when Aico brought it to its stall.

On Sunday, there were fewer activities scheduled, but the kids still had a blast. They spent most of the day jumping on the trampoline with their new friends, and of course, the rabbits, ponies, and calves needed a lot of cuddling.

After lunch, we headed back home. Kirsten kindly said we could stay as long as we wanted, but we decided it was a good time for Quinn to sleep in the car. We had a wonderful weekend and truly recommend camping with FarmCamps for a fantastic holiday in the Netherlands, especially for families with young children!

Feeling excited about a stay at FarmCamps De Buitenhoeve? Read more about this farm here .