We would like to invite you to the horse farm of farmer Gert Jan and his family. At this lovely place, surrounded by greenery and a stone’s throw from Enschede, it’s not just about the horses and ponies that live here. Together with the team, farmer Gert-Jan ensures that everyone will have a top holiday. Guaranteed!
This peacefull place used to be a dairy farm. Gert Jan’s father kept 80 cows here. To stay afloat, in 2005, they added boarding horses and this suited them so well that the cows slowly disappeared. Dad also slowly disappeared into the background, but still lives next to the farm and enjoys a chat with the guests.
The daily operation is in the hands of farmer Gert Jan but of course he is helped by a friendly team of young people. They take care of all the horses and ponies and give riding lessons. On weekends, you will also meet Gert Jan’s 2 children, Xander and Anouk, on the farm. As will Gert Jan’s wife, Patricia. Rather than horses, her love lies with children. She therefore spends all week teaching in a primary school.
The farm now accommodates 75(!) horses and ponies and serves as a boarding stable and 5-star (FNRS) riding school, where both beginners and advanced riders get their money’s worth. Join in a riding lesson in dressage or jumping, have your own private lesson under the guidance of a qualified instructor, walk with one of the lovely walking ponies, play games with the ponies and, of course, help groom and pamper them extensively. The lead role is for shetlander Mex. Every day, he will take a walk around the tented field and loves to be cuddled and brushed.
But of course, ‘non-horse geeks’ have also been thought of 😉. They can have hours of fun on the playing facilities in the yard. Chilling in the bird’s nest swing, spinning around in the carousel for hours, doing flips on the trampoline, playing table tennis or football, messing about with sand and water at the water track or exploring the farm on the go-kart. The meadow is also home to Dinkey and Donkey, the sweet and curious donkeys, who love a good cuddle, as do the rabbits in the cuddle barn. And every morning you can help feed the chickens and, of course, collect an egg for breakfast.
Farmer Gert Jan and his staff Kim and Dewi also love to have fun and organise amusing games, a handicraft hour or light the campfire to roast marshmallows. And how about a trip in the horse-drawn wagon through the area (if there is enough interest) while playing bingo?
And while the kids have fun on the farm, you can enjoy a drink in the canteen. By the way, you can also get chips, snacks and delicious pizzas here. Saves another evening of cooking and washing up. Nice and easy 😉. And if you really can’t see a horse for a while, get in the car and grab a terrace in Germany.
The possibilities are endless as you can read and farmer Gert Jan and his team are eager to welcome you here!
What a great choice!
Guaranteed to enjoy the horses and ponies at this top equestrian centre!
This is what makes this farm so much fun!
Just outside the beautiful city of Enschede and a stone’s throw from the German border lies Gert Jan’s five-star FNRS riding school, Holzik Stables. At this farm, sustainability is of paramount importance, as energy is generated using solar panels which are then used to power both the farm and the tents.
At Holzik Stables, you sleep in one of 10 luxury Farm tents with air conditioning. These tents are equipped with every luxury and have a bathroom with shower in the tent!
This FarmCamps farm is located on a quiet, through road and is surrounded by beautiful nature. Near the farm, you will also find the Aamtsveen, a nature reserve that stretches across the Netherlands and Germany.
The 10 luxury Farm Tents are located on a beautiful field right behind the stables, surrounded by the horse pastures. That means waking up with a view of all those lovely horses and ponies!
No farm adventure would be complete without learning a thing or two from the professionals. No farm adventure would be complete without learning a thing or two from the professionals. And farmer Gert Jan and his colleagues Kim and Dewi personally make sure of that. Here, everything revolves around the sweet horses and ponies that you can help look after, cuddle and, of course, ride every day.
Dinkey and Donkey, the super sweet donkeys, also love to be cuddled. Farmer Gert-Jan also has very lovely chickens that you can help feed every day and, of course, collect their eggs.
If you rather like to play, you will certainly also enjoy this yard. You can spend hours on the carrousel, swinging, jumping on the trampoline, racing on the go-karts or messing about with water and sand.
At check-in, children will receive FarmCamps’ Farmers Passport. This contains fun and educational assignments. Your mini-farmers can discover and experience real life on a farm. For each completed task they will receive a stamp in their Farmer’s Passport.
During each stay, farmer Gert Jan gives a Tour de Boer (farmer’s tour) of the riding school. He not only shows you the stables themselves, but also introduces you to the horses that live here.
Of course, you can also take riding lessons at Holzik Stables. Join one of the many group lessons at the stables and choose from jumping or dressage lessons at your own level. Lessons last one hour.
If you have riding lessons at a FNRS riding school at home, bring your Riding Passport with you.
Holzik Stables is a five-star FNRS riding school where qualified instructors teach riding lessons six days a week. If you want to improve your riding skills, book half-hour private lessons on the spot. Holzik Stables offers this for both children and adults.
Do you fancy a walk with a sweet pony? Then head out and walk a mapped route across the yard and polo field.
Do you like crafts? Then have fun crafting with Dewi and Kim and make the most beautiful creations, all in a horse theme, of course. You’ll have a nice souvenir to take home with you!
Gert Jan, Kim and Dewi regularly organise fun games with ponies at the farm. If you book this activity, you will spend about 1.5h doing fun games and activities with the ponies.
The sweet quadrupeds at the riding school obviously need enough cuddles in a day, and of course you don’t mind doing this at all!
Of course, Gert Jan also organises a cosy campfire during your stay. What a fun way to end the day! The parents sit chatting cosily around the fire while the children enjoy their own roasted marshmallows.
Would you like to take your own horse or pony on holiday? Good news, because at Holzik Stables it is also possible to bring your faithful friend. The price includes box, straw, hay, water, biks and grazing.
If you like to play, this is the place to be! Here you can have a blast swinging on the bird’s nest swing, making sand cakes in the sandpit, climbing on the climbing frame or somersaulting on the trampoline. So there is something for everyone!
Looking for ultimate relaxation? Your breakfast will be delivered to your tent in the morning. And if you fancy an evening BBQ, you don’t need to leave the site for that either. You can also order fresh rolls every day. Gert Jan and his team arrange it all for you!
The equestrian centre also has a canteen where you can go every day between 15.00 and 20.00 for a drink and, for example, a tasty chip, sandwich or oven-fresh pizza.
No one likes going home with a bag of dirty washing, Then order the Towel Pack and rent the one and only FarmCamps farmer’s overall for the kids. Your mini-farmers will not only look great but their clothes will not get so dirty either!
You can order all your extras at the point of booking, but if you are not sure yet don’t worry, you can also order them on the spot.
A deliciously fresh farmers breakfast delivered to your tent including fresh bread, milk, juice, yoghurt, eggs (you cook these to your own liking) and of course a variety of condiments.
A sandwich service is also offered every day. Order sandwiches for the next day and pick them up fresh in the morning.
Treat yourself to a tasty farmers BBQ including local artisan meats, salads, bread and sauces and of course it wouldn’t be complete without a treat for the kids. The barbecue (charcoal or gas) is included in the price.
No need to lug around your own baby gear! This package includes a baby bed, high chair and a changing mat. Don’t forget to bring your baby’s own bed linen though.
Not only will your mini-farmers look very cool in these red overalls but you’ll be sure their clothes don’t get ruined!
Includes 1 x large and 1 x small, thick white towel. Perfect for leaving washing behind at the end of your holiday!
We know from experience that you probably won’t leave the farm. Simply because there is so much to do at FarmCamps Holzik Stables and the kids won’t be bored for a minute. And then the parents have a good time too, right?
If you do want to see something of the surrounding area, this part of Overijssel offers plenty. Beautiful nature, lovely villages in the area, and within a 10-minute drive you can even reach Germany! So there’s something for everyone.
Water
Close to the farm, you will find this swimming paradise where you will find an indoor and outdoor pool. And swimming is not the only thing you can do here, there is also a white-water course, a rapid and two slides!
Water
Rutbeek has something for everyone. Here you can swim, relax on the beach, play in the play forest or go hiking or cycling. One thing is for sure, you won’t get bored here any time soon.
Water
Go for a day of swimming across the border! Just across the border near Gronau you will find the lake the ‘Dreiländersee’. This lake with sandy beach lies on the border between North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. Have a nice swim and cool off on hot summer days.
Photo: Stadtmarketing Gronau
Playing
Less than 5 kilometres from the farm, you will find FunZone Enschede. In this indoor playground and trampoline park you can have the time of your life and play glow mini-golf too!
Playing
For a day full of fun, Go Planet Enschede is the place to be. Here you can go bowling, karting, mini golf and even diving. Monkey Town is also here and there are several places where you can go for a snack and/or a drink.
Playing
At theme park De Waarbeek, less than 20 kilometres from the farm, you can play all day long and have unlimited food and drinks. What a party!
Playing
At Ballorig in Enschede, you can play, climb and clamber for hours. There is also a restaurant where you can enjoy a nice snack or drink.
Nature
Just across the border in Germany you will find the Aamsveen. This nature reserve is one of the last raised bog areas in Western Europe. Here you can enjoy hiking and spot different animals.
Nature
In Gronau’s Stadspark, you will find the Gronau Zoo. This animal park is free to enter and is open every day. There are many different animals to discover, such as colourful birds, coatis, capuchin monkeys, Bennet’s kangaroos and many more animals.
Photo: Hartmut Springer
Nature
The most unique species of trees can be found in this area of Natuurmonumenten, just under 20 kilometres from the farm. Here you can enjoy a nice walk and see all kinds of special species of trees and shrubs.
Photo: Natuurmonumenten
Culture
In the centre of Enschede, you’ll find this museum which houses an incredibly large collection of classical and contemporary art. It also hosts up to 10 different exhibitions each year, and has a lovely museum café.
Culture
For a fun and educational outing, visit Museum Buurtspoorweg. This museum has two locations: Haaksbergen and Boekelo. Step into the station buildings and then visit the workshop, goods shed or museum depot. Fun for young and old!
Culture
Just across the border you will find the German town of Gronau. Here you will find, among other things, the rock’n’pop museum, as well as a city swimming pool, nice shops and all kinds of restaurants and cafés.
Culture
FarmCamps Holzik Stables is located in the outskirts of Enschede, a nice city with numerous shops, parks, terraces and sights. Here you will also find the Grolsch brewery, where you can take a tour and taste different beers afterwards.
The kids will never be bored at FarmCamps Holzik Stables
Do you have a question? You can always email us.