Zorgboerderij De Hoop is a farm located in Ter Aar, within the Groene Hart region. It primarily functions as a care farm, providing day activities for children aged 8 and above with disabilities, as well as for older adults who may be experiencing early-stage dementia, physical limitations, or social isolation. Here, participants engage in various activities, including caring for the farm animals and tending to the vegetable and flower gardens. The farm also hosts a weekly walk-in session for local adults seeking a peaceful environment, social interaction, or light, active engagement.
The farm operates a self-service shop equipped with vending machines, accessible from Monday to Saturday between 8:00 and 20:00, and on Sundays from 12:00 to 20:00. Payments are made contactlessly. The range of products available for purchase includes:
- Beef, sold frozen, from the farm’s own cows, specifically Belgian Blue and Blonde d’Aquitaine breeds.
- Fresh eggs laid by the farm’s free-range chickens.
- Homemade jam, crafted with assistance from the farm’s participants.
- Cheese varieties, such as herb, young mature, and mature, supplied by local cheese farm ‘De Vossenburch’.
- Dairy products from local producer ‘Melktap ‘De Hoef’’, featuring seasonal yogurts, custards, quark, chocolate milk, kefir, pasteurized milk, and buttermilk.
What visitors say
This highly-rated farm offers a delightful experience, distinguished by its commitment to animal welfare and its dual role as a traditional farm and a care farm (zorgboerderij). Visitors consistently praise the well-cared-for animals, noting their comfortable living conditions and the visible respect for their natural life cycles, particularly observing baby animals with their mothers.
The farm provides a wide array of excellent quality, fresh, and honest local products directly from their own operations. These include eggs from happy chickens, various cuts of meat from their own cows, dairy, cheese, and homemade jams. Many of these items are conveniently available through user-friendly vending machines in a well-organized farm shop, allowing for direct purchases most of the time.
Beyond its agricultural offerings, the farm is celebrated for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, fostered by kind, friendly, and knowledgeable people. It serves as a meaningful social hub, offering engaging activities and a sense of community for elderly participants and providing young people with disabilities valuable work experience and social connection, preventing isolation. Families appreciate the enjoyable open days, which are often described as well-organized events with entertainment for children. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful surroundings, whether it’s a lovely garden, a pick-your-own area for vegetables and flowers, or simply a picturesque view, making it a place people are happy to revisit, even if it requires a bit of a drive.