Melkveehouderij Hoeve Meijer, Otterlo (Veluwe)
The farm and surroundings
You are going to be staying with Frits and Jennie Meijer, their three children, Manon, Niels and Esmee. , Bart's father , used to the run the farm and is still involved in daily farm life; you’ll see him feeding the calves,- and pony "Redman" who is 36 years old!. Redman lives a quiet life now, but not long ago, Manon was winning many prizes riding him in competitions.
The farm and its location
In the Gelderse Valley on the edge of the Hoge Veluwe National Park lies the original style farm. The typical Veluwse farm radiates tranquility and hospitality and takes you back to the country life of years gone by. From the tent, there are far reaching views of the forest and farmland, in the summer, this environment is further enhanced by
the sound of the many songbirds. The corn fields grown up to 2 metres high and provide shelter for animals, you may be lucky enough to see a deer.The corn is used for animal feed during the winter.
The original farmhouse was built around 1910 and cost 600 guilders at that time, in those days that was a large amount of money. Bart's grandfather bought the farm from the first owner in 1950, unfortunately not for that amount! At that time, the farm had just 6 cows, 6 sows and 600 laying hens. When Frits and Jenny got married, they moved into the original farm.
This place is an ideal base to enjoy the peace and space of the Veluwe Countryside. The countryside, forests and colorful surroundings make it ideal for cycling and walking. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy a range of activities within cycling distance of the farm from sports and nature to the local culture: horse-drawn carriage rides organized by the neighbours; an art gallery at the end of the street; and of course the Kröller Müller museum.
Farming Activities
The farm has several cattle breeds: "Roodbonte", "Zwartbonte" dairy and the Double muscled Belgian blue. There is also a calf shed (looked after by Grandpa Bart) which has up to 75 calves all needing to be fed...
The 
cows graze the fields during the Spring and Summer months, coming inside twice a day to be milked. Frits milks the cows every day in a traditional Dutch "grupstal".
A grupstal is an old type shed for cattle in which the animals stand side by side and their droppings are collected in a the 'grup'.
Less than 2 miles from the farm is one of the most interesting National Parks of the Netherlands, National Park De Hoge Veluwe. The history of the park is one of idealism and vision. The park was founded at the beginning of the twentieth century by Anton and Helene Kröller-Müller. Anton was a passionate hunter and bought, in 1909 (in several phases) a hunting area, now called "De Hoge Veluwe". Helene 
was a passionate art fan and collected works of art. Anton and Helene created an ideal combination of nature and culture for the public to enjoy. In the period 1909-1923, the foundations were built for the park that you see today. The park was fenced and animals were introduced. The St. Hubertus hunting lodge ( home to the family) was built and fine artworks were added to the collection. They started to build a museum. Unfortunately, in 1923 there was a severe economic crisisand they were forced to stop the building works. In 1935 the family found a solution to their problems designating the estate the National Park de Hoge Veluwe. The art collection was donated to the State of the Netherlands and they built the museum, nowadays this is the old part of the Kröller-Müller Museum.
Lunteren and Ede are near the Ginkelse Hei about 12 km from the farm. Starting in Otterlo there is wonderful cycle route. You’ll see plenty of nature from sheep to Highland Cattle and the occasional horse. Near the sheep there’s restaurant called "Juffrouw Tok" where you can eat delicious chicken while you relax on the terrace, a tip coming from the Meijer family, who also often choose this route.
There is a great area in Ede to see wildlife from red deer to wild boar. There are lovely walks you can do in this area. If you want culture closer to the farm, you can visit the Guus Kuit’s gallery. Guus has been etching for over 33 years. He specialises in various etching techniques. Working with this rough materials such as zinc and copper and the excitement of the first printing of the etching plate, are elements that Guus over the years continue to be fascinated by. In the summer you can visit the old Veluwse markets in Barneveld. In Arnhem there’s an open- air museum where you can see how people used to live in times gone by. Other suggested day trips are a visit to Burgers Zoo, Het Loo, the Apenheul and Koningin Juliana Tower in Apeldoorn.
The BoerenBed Tent
The tents are situated around the farm maximizing the views of the meadows and forests.
Unique to this farm
Almost every day, Frits's father takes care of the calves so there’s a chance to see these animals close up.
A wonderful experience and an exciting opportunity for your children....
>>>>Click here to make a reservation at Hoeve Meijer.
