As a Dutch individual, I can verify we take our cheese very significantly in the Netherlands. Personally, there may be by no means a second we don’t have cheese within the fridge and our weekly farmer’s market go to all the time features a obligatory cease at our native cheese monger.
At present, I’ll take you alongside to a sustainable cheese farm in Holland and introduce you to Henri Willig Cheese. This model of conventional Dutch cheese makers I didn’t know a lot about myself, however I used to be stunned by it’s historical past – and wonderful choice of cheeses!


CHEESE FARM VISIT: HENRI WILLIG
WHAT IS REAL DUTCH CHEESE?
I’m certain you’re acquainted with our Gouda and Edam cheese, however gosh, there are such a lot of extra cities right here with wonderful cheeses, my very own Zaanstreek included. I dare say that a few of my favorite flavours you in all probability haven’t tried and even heard of, like komijnkaas (cumin cheese) and the salty 48+ oude kaas (aged cheese).
However I’ve a confession to make. There may be one Dutch cheese that I all the time seemed down upon a bit.
This cheese is from a model that you’ll find in devoted vacationer retailers all all through Amsterdam and different Dutch cities (you’ll acknowledge it by the rows of cheese wheels in entrance of the home windows), and on touristy areas such because the Zaanse Schans and the Edam Cheese Market.
This cheese is from the model “Henri Willig” and I all the time assumed the identify of this ‘cheese farmer’ was faux and simply there to make vacationers imagine its authenticity. However on a latest press journey to Laag Holland, I bought to go to one of many farms of Henri Willig and study the historical past behind this distinctive (and really actual) man’s thriving enterprise.


WHO IS HENRI WILLIG?
Cheesemaking historically was a girl’s process in Dutch tradition, with farmers’ wives passing their cheesemaking expertise onto their daughters. And the Netherlands boasts perfect circumstances for dairy farming, with fertile pastures and a gentle local weather.
Cheese markets, farms, and traditions have flourished all through our nation’s historical past, making cheese an important a part of Dutch id and a beloved export.
Henri Willig grew up surrounded by cows on the dairy farm “De Jacobs Hoeve” within the city of Katwoude in Holland. As the one son in a household of 5 kids, he accomplished agricultural faculty and took over the household enterprise in 1974. Collectively together with his spouse, Riet, the entrepreneurial couple quickly started exploring the concept of manufacturing their very own cheese.


WHAT KIND OF CHEESE IS HENRI WILLIG?
After attended a cheesemaking course, Henri and Riet Willig found the key to crafting glorious cheese: beginning with glad, wholesome animals.
That’s the reason Henri Willig’s dairy farm is targeted on natural, sustainable farming, freed from chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Their Jersey cows spend not less than 180 days a yr outdoor, for no less than 12 hours a day. This enables them to exhibit pure behaviors and ensures they’re as snug as attainable, decreasing the danger of sickness and enabling them to supply the very best high quality milk.
Most of their cheeses are constructed from pasteurized milk, which is heated together with rennet and a particular proprietary starter tradition for its signature Willig flavour. They produce all sorts of totally different cheeses, from delicate younger cheeses and smoked cheeses to a premium choice award profitable (previous) cheeses.
Some distinctive flavours they provide embody ‘inexperienced pesto’, ‘coconut’ and even ‘beer’ and ‘glowing wine’. In addition to cow cheeses, additionally they promote sheep and goats cheeses in addition to ‘cheese accompaniments’ equivalent to dips, liquors, honey and mustard.




WHERE CAN YOU BUY HENRI WILLIG CHEESE?
Henri Willig Cheese may be bought at devoted shops throughout the Netherlands and on-line. You’ll additionally discover their cheeses in lots of native markets and present retailers in cities equivalent to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delft, Utrecht, Den Bosch and Maastricht.
On the Zaanse Schans, you’ll find Henri Willig on the ‘Catharina Hoeve’ farmhouse and so they even have a store on the Edam cheese market (the Kaaswaag).




VISIT CHEESE FARM JACOBS HOEVE KATWOUDE
The city of Katwoude is situated on the IJsselmeerdijk (dike) between the cities of Monnickendam and Volendam. Upon arrival, workers in authentic costumes will present you ways cheese is ready. Afterwards, you’ll be able to go to the cheese store.
What’s nice is that almost all of the cheeses are already pre-packed and match completely in present packages, as a result of the cheeses can simply be disregarded of the fridge for a while. They’re packaged in a method you can additionally carry them on a airplane residence.
You may as well go on a self-guided tour to the next-door Henri Willig natural Jersey farm. Right here you study extra concerning the farm, the sustainable farming of Henri Willig and rise up shut with the attractive Jersey cows. We have been instructed that the massive imaginative and prescient of the Willig household is to additionally construct a brand new expertise the place you’ll be able to see the manufacturing technique of the cheese from up shut as properly, so hopefully this will get added within the close to future!
Deal with: Jacobs Hoeve, Hoogedijk 8, 1145 PM Katwoude. Admission and parking are free, and as a person customer, you don’t want to ebook upfront.
Open each day from March to October from 09:00 to 18:00 and from November to February from 09:00 to 17:00. Closed on December 25, 26 and January 1st.






VISIT CHEESE FARM CATHARINA HOEVE ZAANSE SCHANS
On the iconic Zaanse Schans, know for its windmills, you already really feel such as you’ve stepped again into time, however on the Catharina Hoeve you get this sense much more with the shopkeepers wearing conventional costume.
In addition to a fantastic purchasing expertise, you may be taken via an expert demonstration in the best way cheese is ready at ‘de Haal‘. On this former hay barn, the story of Henri Willig and his ardour for animals and high quality cheeses is instructed. The story may be listened to through an audio tour utilizing a QR code. This audio tour is obtainable in 6 languages; Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian. There may be additionally room for numerous enjoyable picture alternatives.
Deal with: Catharina Hoeve, Zeilenmakerspad 5, 1509 BZ Zaandam. Admission is free and you don’t want to ebook upfront.
Open each day from October to February from 08:30 to 17:00 and from March to September from 8:00 to 18:00. Opening hours through the holidays: December twenty fifth 8:30-14:00, December twenty sixth 8:30-16:00 and January 1st 10:00-17:00.


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