About Dutch Farm Experience
Dutch Farm Experience is an independent initiative specialized in inspiring individuals and organizations worldwide about sustainable Dutch livestock initiatives, with an emphasis on dairy farming. The history of Dutch dairy farming clearly shows that it would be wise for each country to develop its own dairy development strategy – starting with its own resources and local circumstances – rather than simply copying the dairy system from the Netherlands.
The mission of Dutch Farm Experience is a better world in which milk and other livestock products are produced in a sustainable way: a way in which soil is enriched, animals live well, farmers get a decent income, and the milk produced is healthy – without chemicals.
(PLEASE NOTE that Dutch Farm Experience is a company linking you with Dutch dairy farmers, Not a dairy farm itself)
See also: Powerpoint presentation
Dutch Farm Experience: Experiences and Lessons Learnt in Dutch Dairy Farming (new version)
Approach
The history of Dutch (dairy) farming clearly shows that it would be wise for each country to develop its own dairy development strategy – starting with its own resources and local circumstances – rather than simply copying the dairy system from the Netherlands. Dutch Farm Experience will show you the background details of Dutch dairy farming, exposing both successes and challenges.
About Katrien van ’t Hooft
Born in 1956 I have graduated as a veterinarian in Utrecht, the Netherlands. During my 12-year fieldwork with various farmers’ organizations and ministries of agriculture in Latin America (Nicaragua and Bolivia) I have gradually learned to combine technical experience in animal production systems with innovative methodological approaches.
Clients of Dutch Farm Experience
Dutch Farm Experience is an independent consultancy firm, that cooperates closely with other initiatives with similar objectives:
Organization and partners
Dutch Farm Experience is an independent consultancy firm, that cooperates closely with other initiatives with similar objectives:
Impressions
In this section you can see several slideshows and videos of different tailor made programs that Dutch Farm Experience has organized. The slideshows provide a great practical understanding about what you can expect from Dutch Farm Experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
The content and cost of the tour depends on the details of your request: major interest, number of participants, length of the tour and number of farmers to be visited. The most popular programs have 1 day duration for a group of 20-30 participants, and include:
- Arrival and reception at farm 1 (to be selected)
- Introduction: history of Dutch dairy farming and lessons learnt
- Introduction to farm 1 + on-farm tour
- Lunch with (organic) farm produce
- Travel to farm 2 (to be selected) – or additional training on farm 1
- Evaluation of tour
The cost of such a tour is between 1.250 and 1.650 Euros, including lunch – excluding transport. Please send an e-mail detailing your request for a more exact cost estimate of the tour of your choice. Please note that tours are not possible on Sundays
Dutch Farm Experience does not organize training in the Netherlands for individual farmers, only for groups. This is, amongst other difficulties, related to visum acquisition challenges and cost involved. We can only work through formally registered institutes and companies.
Dutch Farm Experience links you with Dutch dairy farmers, but is in itself a NOT a dairy farm.
If you are visiting the Netherlands you are welcome to visit a farm with a farm shop. Dutch Farm Experience does not organize this. Farmers/individuals visiting the Netherlands and interested to visit a Dutch farm: please go to the nearest farm during the opening hours of the farm-shop – review the possibilities at https://www.lekkerder.nl/ or https://landwinkel.nl/
Dutch Farm Experience does not organize internships nor working places on farms . For more info on internships at organic farms, please visit WWOOF https://wwoof.net/.
Dutch Farm Experience does not provide services for exporting Dutch cattle or goods related to dairy farming.