01 September 2022

Who doesn't know the farmer... FarmCamps De Geele Bosch

These are Bill, Ella, and Michel Ros from FarmCamps farm De Geele Bosch. Bill and Ella were born in North Holland and "emigrated" to Friesland in 1985. There, they run a young cattle farm. On this farm, calves are raised into dairy cows. The calves arrive here when they are about 4 months old and leave the farm once they are pregnant. No cows are milked on this farm.

The farm is located in a beautiful spot near Heerenveen, where much skating takes place in Thialf, and also close to Oranjewoud, where you can enjoy beautiful walks and bike rides.

How many animals do you have on the farm?
We have about 60 young cows and four horses in the barn. In addition, we have cats, donkeys, goats, rabbits, and in our forest, you’ll find our two pigs: Babe & Betsy.

How did you meet?
Bill had emigrated to Canada, and Ella went there to visit him with a friend. That's when love began. But… Ella didn’t want to emigrate to Canada. The short version of the story is that Bill’s parents eventually bought a farm in Friesland, and together we embarked on the adventure of milking cows. However, our son Michel and his brother didn’t want to milk cows, so we sold that farm, and for the past five years, we’ve been running this campsite and a young cattle rearing farm.

Why did you become a farmer?
Bill wanted to be a farmer since he was four years old because he enjoys working with animals. Ella comes from a flower bulb business, so she wasn’t used to all the animals, and had to adapt to the fact that living with animals ties you very much to home, but she managed just fine!

What do you like most about your job, and what do you like the least?
We enjoy interacting with the guests the most. Having a chat, serving people – that’s the best part of the job. Especially serving ice cream from the soft-serve machine. The hardest part is letting go. It’s difficult to leave when you have a farm like this. And if you have a party or something else in the family, it's hard to leave everything behind.

What does being a FarmCamps farmer involve, in addition to all the other work you do?
Organizing many activities and, of course, stamping passports!

Why did you want to become a FarmCamper?
We didn’t consciously choose it. When we took over this campsite, the previous owners and their wife were already part of FarmCamps, and we thought it would be fun to continue that.

What is the best experience you've had with FarmCamps guests?
The best part for us is that we have several guests who have stayed with us multiple times. The most exciting was when we welcomed a girl who was afraid of chickens. We tried everything, but the family ended up leaving, and their tent remained empty the whole weekend...

Bill and Ella's Favorites

Favorite vacation:
We love group trips. Seeing a lot and learning a lot from a guide. We’ve been to Morocco, Indonesia, and Brazil. Super fun!

Favorite hobbies:
Bill loves riding his horse and carriage. Ella paints candles, nameplates, and other items, and she works one day a week at a bakery, which is more of a hobby for her.

Favorite food:
Fries!

Favorite animal:
For Ella, it’s a dog, and for Farmer Bill, it’s his horses.

Our FarmCamps farms can be found all over the Netherlands. Curious? On our convenient farms page, you can find them all.

More stories from the farm

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01 September 2025

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01 September 2025

From Farm Holiday to Nature Experience: Exploring the Outdoors Together

What do small-scale farms and nature have in common? Both offer an environment surrounded by greenery, animals, and that wonderful “back to basics” feeling. Curious how to turn a week in the countryside into a true nature experience? In this article you’ll find out, including exclusive tips from Natuurhuisje.

04 June 2025

The New FarmCamps Season 2026: What’s Changing

Looking ahead? You can now book your FarmCamps holiday for 2026. From April to the end of October, you can enjoy the full farm experience again. What’s changing? Check-in is now always from 4 PM, some dates allow Thursday arrivals, and during school holidays you can also check out on Sundays at 5 PM. Prices will go up significantly in 2026 due to a VAT increase from 9% to 21%. Not our choice – and honestly, we don’t like it either. If the plan gets reversed, we’ll refund the difference. Book now with just a 10% deposit.

27 May 2025

Why the farm is so good for children

Are you in the middle of a holiday or just enjoying a day off and looking for something fun to do with your child? Then consider a visit to a farm. Whether you live in a city or a village, there's almost always a petting zoo or a farm campsite nearby. And it's not just fun — it's also educational and surprisingly relaxing. Fresh air, animals, space — it’s exactly what many children (and parents) need. That’s also why it’s becoming more and more popular. So take a look and see if there’s a farm near you that’s especially designed for kids to play and get to know the animals.

15 May 2025

Once FarmCamps, Always FarmCamps

There are just some places you love so much, once a year simply isn’t enough. For the Verhulst family, FarmCamps is exactly that kind of place. What started as a fun holiday on the farm has become a fixed part of their yearly routine. Sometimes, they even stay up to six times a year! In this blog, they share why FarmCamps feels like a second home, what makes it so special – and why they keep coming back.

18 April 2025

Camping on the farm is educational and a joy for children.

If you really want to make kids happy, put them among cows, chickens, and muddy puddles. Seriously. Forget that holiday park with water slides and animation teams – on the farm, they've got their own kind of entertainment. Think feeding goats, collecting eggs, brushing ponies, and romping in the hay. And the best part? They actually learn something too. Without even realizing it.

18 April 2025

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Camping on a farm? It might sound old-fashioned, but it’s not as bad as you think. This isn’t your typical campsite where you walk around with a toilet roll under your arm or hear your air mattress deflate at night. Here, it’s all about glamping. In other words, camping with a bit of extra luxury. Think of a comfy bed, your own toilet, a small kitchen, and sometimes even a hot tub next to your tent. You’re right in the heart of farm life, but without sacrificing comfort.

16 April 2025

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15 April 2025

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