Experience Dutch Care Farming in Practice
Discover how care, farming, animals and outdoor life come together in the Netherlands.
Welcome to de Boerderijck.
We are a Dutch care farm where children and young people receive support in a small-scale, safe and practical environment. Our farm, animals and outdoor surroundings provide opportunities to learn, develop, participate and build confidence.
Through Boerderijck International, we welcome international professionals, care organisations, educators, researchers, policymakers and delegations who want to experience Dutch care farming in practice.
Visit us. Learn from our experience. Exchange ideas. Take new insights home.
Table of contents
Dutch Care Farming. From Theory to Daily Practice.
The Netherlands has a well-developed care farming sector in which agriculture, social care, education and participation come together.
At de Boerderijck, we open our doors to international visitors who want to understand what this looks like in real life.
We do not offer a theoretical tour.
We invite you into our daily practice.
During your visit, we share how we organise care and day activities, how we work with children and young people, how animals and horses are incorporated into our programmes and how we balance care, quality, organisation and animal welfare.
There is plenty of time to ask questions, discuss challenges and exchange experiences.
What can you learn at de Boerderijck?
Care Farming in the Netherlands
Discover how care farming has developed in the Netherlands and how farms can provide meaningful care, participation and personal development.
Care & Day Activities
- Learn how we create structured and meaningful days for children and young people who need additional support.
- We discuss routines, activities, individual support, group dynamics and the importance of a safe and predictable environment.
Horses & Animals
- Animals are an important part of life at de Boerderijck.
- Learn how horses and other animals can contribute to contact, responsibility, confidence, relaxation and development.
Animal Welfare
- Using animals within a care environment also creates responsibilities.
- We share how we consider the needs and welfare of our animals while involving them in daily activities and support.
Funding & Organisation
- How is Dutch care financed?
- Who refers participants?
- How do care farms work with municipalities and other organisations?
- How do you organise staffing, administration and continuity?
- We openly discuss the organisational side of running a professional care farm.
Quality & Professional Care
Care farming is more than providing a pleasant place to spend the day.
We share how we work on care plans, reporting, quality standards, safety, professional development and continuous improvement.
International Study Visits
Visit de Boerderijck with your organisation
Our International Study Visits are designed for professional groups that want to explore Dutch care farming.
A typical programme can include:
- Welcome and introduction to de Boerderijck
- Introduction to Dutch care farming
- Guided visit of the farm and facilities
- Care and day activities in practice
- Working with children and young people
- The role of horses and animals
- Animal welfare
- Dutch care funding and organisation
- Quality and reporting
- Practical examples and case discussions
- Questions and international exchange
- Programmes can be adapted to the interests and background of your delegation.
Duration: to be decided (larger groups are welcome outside opening hours)
Group size: typically 2–20 participants
Language: English or Dutch (via interpreter)
Location: de Boerderijck, the Netherlands
Why de Boerderijck?
A real care farm. Real daily practice. Real experience.
de Boerderijck is not a demonstration centre. It is an active Dutch care farm.
Every week, children and young people come to our farm for support, structure, meaningful activities and personal development.
Our international visitors therefore experience care farming where it actually happens.
Small-scale care
We believe in personal attention and adapting support to the individual.
Learning through experience
Farm activities, nature and practical tasks create natural opportunities to learn and develop.
Animals at the heart of the farm
Horses and other animals are part of our everyday environment.
Professional care
Behind the informal farm environment is a professional organisation focused on quality, safety and responsible care.
Open knowledge exchange
We believe international visitors should be able to ask real questions, including about challenges, financing and the practical realities of running a care farm.
International Visitors
Sharing knowledge across borders
Interest in Dutch care farming reaches far beyond the Netherlands.
de Boerderijck welcomes international professionals and organisations who are interested in the combination of care, agriculture, outdoor life and animals.
Every visit is also an exchange.
We share our experiences, but we are equally interested in learning how care, agriculture and social participation are organised in other countries.
This international exchange helps create new ideas, new relationships and new opportunities for cooperation.