The holidays are over now and we are already a few weeks into 2023. On January 7^th, OVDD (Entrepreneurs Association “de Driehoek Dronten”) organised a party night. At this event, the final winners were announced for the election of Retailer and Entrepreneur of the Year in the municipality of Dronten. We congratulate Klamer bicycles from Biddinghuizen as Retailer and MooiWater as Entrepreneur of the Year 2022. We felt honoured and privileged to have been nominated as Retailer of the Year by OVDD.  Watch the video here of our company that was shown during the event.

Due to the heavy rain there are no activities on our land for the time being. We now mainly focus on the production of our cheeses and all the other jobs which are always there on the farm. We are proud that more and more customers find their way to our milk tap. There honestly is nothing better than enjoying a delicious cup of chocolate milk made from creamy cow’s milk during this cold weather!

We hebben al lange tijd niets van ons laten horen, maar zeker niet stil gezeten. Ondanks het verlies van Marc proberen we de draad op de boerderij weer op te pakken. Zo hebben we zijn laatste project, het melkhuisje, verder afgemaakt. Met hulp van vrienden en de familie van Marc is er een prachtig kunstwerk gekomen bij het melkhuisje. Op het terras kan het verhaal van De Kandelaar en Flevoland worden gelezen en beleefd. Het grote kunstwerk geeft aan hoe ver we hier onder de zeespiegel zitten. Vanaf de hangstoel, nog gemaakt door Marc, kun je op een heerlijke manier van het Flevolands landschap genieten. En natuurlijk mag de herinnering aan Marc niet ontbreken op Marc’s terras. Daarom prijkt zijn foto op het terras.

Op 1 juli jl is de melktap officieel geopend door Marc’s vader, Pierre van Diepenbeek en Jos van Kempen. De opening werd omlijst met een kleine gezellige markt, waarbij vele belangstellenden een kijkje kwamen nemen. Daarnaast hebben we met familie en vrienden de opening feestelijk gevierd met een BBQ.

De melktap is 7 dagen per week geopend van 7 tot 20 uur. De melk kan rechtstreeks worden getapt in een zelf mee gebrachte fles of kan, maar in de boerderijautomaat zijn ook flessen verkrijgbaar. Betaling vindt plaats middels muntgeld of contactloos met bankpas. De komende tijd proberen we de kaasproductie weer in gang te zetten, waardoor ook regelmatig kaas verkrijgbaar is. Binnenkort start de oogst van aardappelen weer en zullen ook aardappelen via de automaat verkrijgbaar zijn.

We have resumed the running of the B&B De Kandelaar following the abrupt closure after the unexpected loss of Marc.  Our guests are more than welcome again in the Bed & Breakfast De Kandelaar. Life on the farm continues and keeps us busy with looking after our livestock and land.

In collaboration with IVN, there will be a fun 2 hour nature Challenge in the coming month. Get some fresh air in the local area and experience how good it is to be around nature. Take on the Challenge this fall! Sign up for the Challenge for free and receive cool Challenges in the mail throughout October to go and explore nature for two hours a week.

Since last Sunday night/Monday morning, there has been a lot of disbelief and sadness at De Kandelaar. During one of his favorite activities, the straw harvest, Marc died in an accident. We are deeply saddened. We will miss him, dear husband and buddy of Mariska, a very proud father of Marlies and uncle to Kaylee, a helpful brother-in-law for Joris and Lisette, a wonderful son-in-law of Jos and Maria. We will miss his drive, his professionalism and great enthusiasm for our farm.

We will say goodbye to him privately on Tuesday 24^th August.  It is possible to follow the farewell service via this livestream. You can leave condolences here.

Due to this intense sadness, our Bed & Breakfast is closed for the time being. We hope for your kind understanding and consideration.

At the beginning of May it was announced that we were one of the winners of “Dronten’s best idea”! Following this win, we will start to organise workshops and birthday parties in our cheese factory. In particular for children from low-income families and children from primary schools in Dronten. We would like to teach and inform everybody about the origin of our food from their immediate environment. The children will take a look at our calves, cows and of course all the other animals we keep at the farm. Then they get to see a film about cheese making, followed by making their own cheese! They will have to be patient as it needs to store for three weeks first before the children receive their “own” cheese at home to enjoy. If you would like to know more about the possibilities of a workshop or organise a birthday party, please send us an email.

Tulip Route Flevoland has now come to an end. In recent weeks it has been very busy at De Kandelaar. Many visitors to Tulip Route Flevoland also visited De Kandelaar to take a look at the farm and the cheese factory. Our farmhouse cheeses and cheese platter-to-go were a great success. In the coming period we will work hard to replenish the stock. If you are looking for a particular flavour, please let us know and we will make your cheese to order.

Finally, work continued on the land as well. The potatoes have been planted, the sugar beets and corn have been sown and the first cut of grass has already been mowed. With the current rain fall, it will not be long before the first plants become visible. Fingers crossed for a nice summer!