“No matter how many cows we milk, we always care for our animals.”
Located just outside Krimpen aan den IJssel, Boer Bas is the family farm where Pieter and Emmie Verkuil–van der Bas are dedicated to their work around the clock. In addition to caring for their livestock and making cheese, they also run a thriving farm shop right at home.
Cheesemaking here is still done in an open cheese vat, with the curd being scooped out by hand — just like in the old days. It’s precisely this traditional craft that Pieter and Emmie cherish most.
the cooperative
After initially selling their cheese at the market, Emmie’s parents, Rinus and Wil van der Bas, began supplying cheese to Coöperatie De Producent about 45 years ago. As was common at the time, cheese was only made in summer, while in winter — with the cows in the barn — milk was sent to the factory due to lack of space for cheesemaking.
Fifteen years ago, a permanent cheesemaking room was built, allowing them to produce cheese year-round using all of their milk. Their focus is mainly on natural Boerenkaas in 12- and 16-kilo wheels, which they either supply to the cooperative or sell in their own farm shop.
There, alongside their own cheeses, you’ll also find vegetables, fruit, flowers, meat, and other local products — all contributing to a vibrant connection between farm and community.
farm life outdoors
The family milks around one hundred twenty cows. Some graze in the pastures near the house, while others stay further out in the fields all summer long, where they’re milked in the evenings using a pasture milking trailer.
For the family, it’s the most beautiful time of year — with the cows outdoors and the fields and grasses bursting with life and growth.
the future
Pieter’s passion for farming first brought him to Boer Bas as a milker — but it was his love for farmer’s daughter Emmie that made him stay for good.
The farm is currently in the process of being officially handed over to Pieter and Emmie. Once the transition is complete, they plan to build a new barn. What kind it will be — and how many cows it will house — is still uncertain, largely due to the current political climate.
One thing is certain, though: the care for their animals and the preservation of traditional Boerenkaas craftsmanship will continue, no matter what the future holds.
