Who doesn’t know the farmer… FarmCamps Breehees

This is Huub and Carolien, together they run the horse farm Breehees. Carolien was born and raised at Breehees, and Huub comes from the village of Goirle. They live on the farm with their daughters, Maud and Suus.

How did you meet?
It’s a funny story. Huub used to be a gardener and worked for a landscaping company in Goirle. The company’s staff party was held at our place. That’s when we first met.

How many animals do you have on the farm?
A lot of horses and ponies, of course! And also:
Quibus, our Jack Russell
Guusje and Dorris, our donkeys
Timon and Pumba, our pigs
Paco and Buritto, our alpacas
Basje the rabbit and a few chickens!

Why did you become farmers?
We think it’s truly the best job there is! Especially the freedom and being outdoors.

What does a typical workday look like?

In the winter:
We start at 7:00 AM by feeding all the horses and animals. After that, they all need to go out to the fields, which takes some time. Then we clean the stables and feed them. Around 1:00 PM, we finish and quickly grab some lunch. Huub then works on the grounds, getting things ready, making, or changing things for the new season. Carolien manages everything behind the scenes. At 5:00 PM, we bring the horses back in and tidy everything up for the next day.

In the summer:
Huub gets out of bed at 6:00 AM to bake bread rolls and prepare breakfasts. Carolien then joins to distribute the rolls and take the breakfasts to the guests. At 9:00 AM, we begin grooming and caring for the horses. Our riding lessons for the campsite guests start at 10:00 AM. At 2:00 PM, we finish and clean the horse stables with the kids, getting dinner ready. There’s usually another activity in the afternoon. We then set up everything on the terrace for the guests coming to eat. At 7:00 PM, we bring the horses in with the kids. We also walk around the farm to order bread rolls. At 11:00 PM, we head inside.

What do you like most about your job and what do you like the least?
Carolien loves working with horses and children—it’s the best thing ever! Every day is different, and the guests are always cheerful. Huub enjoys that he never knows what his day will be like. Huub: “One minute, I’m on the lawnmower, the next, I’m making a boiler, and before I know it, I’m in the kitchen frying a steak. It’s so much fun!” The least fun for both of them is when the kids have to leave, saying goodbye is hard.

Why did you want to become a FarmCamper?
To give guests a glimpse into our life and let them experience the freedom.

What’s the best thing you’ve experienced with FarmCamps guests?
The birth of Bontfire and the help afterward. The birth was very difficult, and the foal was very sick after birth. We received so much help and had such touching conversations with guests. It was truly heartwarming.

Huub and Carolien’s Favorites: 

Favorite vacation:
Sunny weather, horses, and having something to do (haha).
Favorite hobbies:
Horseback riding, spending time with horses. Sitting by the campfire with a beer (Huub). Walking with the dog in the woods.
Favorite food:
Huub: Loves everything, as long as it’s a lot (he says, haha). But he really likes our Super Huub Burger.
Carolien: Carpaccio and a nice steak.
Suus: Mega spaghetti fan.
Maud: Fries.
Favorite animal:
Huub: Dog, donkey, chicken (really all animals).
Carolien: Horse.

Our FarmCamps farms are located all over the Netherlands. Curious? You can find them all on our handy farms page.