News

Special birth at De Kandelaar

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On Friday 16th October our Jack Russel, Pukkie, made us happy with 4 beautiful puppies; 2 dogs and 2 bitches, all taken good care of by ‘mum’ Pukkie. Their eyes are now open and it will not be long before they will run around. Pip, the black bitch, will become Kaylee’s buddy. We are looking for a nice place for the other 3 puppies where they get a lot of attention and room to run around.

Last month, we have been very busy with the harvest. At the beginning of October, the corn was chopped and ensiled. After the many rain showers, the potato harvest followed. A lot of the potatoes that have been brought in will end up as fries.

Tulpenboer ‘tulip farmer’ de Wit was also busy on the land during the nice weather. We have again plowed almost 15 ha and planted uncountable tulip bulbs. It promises to be a lot of colour in the spring!

After many years of waiting, we have finally been connected to the fiber optic network. What a difference to the ADSL connection!  With thanks to Greenet, we can now offer our Bed & Breakfast guests many different channels; including German, English and French channels.  Something for everyone!

12.5 years Bed & Breakfast & Walk-in day ‘Optidee’

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This month, 12.5 years ago, we officially started a Bed & Breakfast. After a thorough renovation we created 4 bedrooms with en-suite. Recently, De Kandelaar B&B was again awarded with 4 tulips by the Bed & Breakfast Nederland organisation.

Walk-in day

In the last 5 years, Mariska has also worked as an advisor for Optidee.  All the beds in the Bed & Breakfast have the wonderful bedding from Optidee; from the comfortable mattress cover with fitted sheets to pillows with beautiful and comfortable pillowcases.

On Saturday 26th September, we are organising a walk-in day from 10:00 to 16:00 where everybody can get acquainted with the latest Optidee products.  Each visitor receives a ticket which gives a chance to win a wonderful Optidee article.

 

 

Jubilee

This month our Bed & Breakfast is officially 12.5 years ‘old’.  In the early years we were a member of “Friends on the bike”. There was an increasing demand for rooms with an en-suite (a private shower and toilet). To this end, we renovated the former office building of the test farm. In recent years we have welcomed many visitors from the Netherlands but also abroad.

Farm

Meanwhile, work on the farm is in full swing thanks to the beautiful weather. The onions are harvested and stored in the shed. The harvested land is immediately enriched with solid compost and sown with grass. It will stay busy the coming period, because the maize will soon be chopped, the potatoes can soon be harvested and the tulip bulbs will be planted in October.

 

Bed & Breakfast De Kandelaar celebrates its anniversary with 4 tulips!

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Yesterday our Bed & Breakfast has been officially classified as four tulips. This is the second highest quality category of the Dutch classification system for bed & breakfasts. Bed & Breakfast De Kandelaar received the four tulips after a visit by a mystery guest from the Foundation Bed & Breakfast The Netherlands.

Since June the Bed & Breakfast De Kandelaar has opened their doors again for visitors and guests. Fortunately, this ended a very quiet period during the lock-down due to Corona. Bed & Breakfast De Kandelaar receives many guests through Bed & Breakfast The Netherlands. A foundation that provides information and awards qualification of Bed & Breakfasts (1 to 5 tulips).

To classify the Bed & Breakfast, a mystery guest visits the B&B for assessment. The mystery guest’s report for De Kandelaar stated: “Something for everyone: there is a lot to do in the area, plenty of information about restaurants and activities. The breakfast was ample: sandwiches, all kinds of fillings and spreads, yogurt and fruit on a nicely set table. Outside there is ample place to sit, a picnic table with benches and a view of the farm. A look around the farm is also a fun activity; it all looks very neat and tidy”

“A Bed & Breakfast with four tulips will have an excellent level of quality. The interior of four tulip Bed & Breakfasts is luxurious and a lot of care has been given to the interior and the exterior of the property. You can expect high quality with many amenities and facilities plus excellent service when you stay at a four tulip B&B”, according to the Foundation Bed & Breakfast The Netherlands.

This award comes at a special time as this coincides with our 12½ anniversary of B&B De Kandelaar in September.  It shows we guarantee quality and good care of our guests.

Unique anniversary at De Kandelaar

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On 21st June 2020, it was exactly 20 years ago that the first cows were milked with the “VMS” at De Kandelaar.  Definitely a moment to remember with the people of the first hour at DeLaval, Steenwijk, and our current dealer Van der Sluis Agri.  We were surprised with a delicious cream cake, flowers and a BBQ.  We made it into a great reunion and everybody was there who have helped us during the setup of the “VMS”.

Twenty years ago milking a cow with a milking robot was still in its infancy, however, the milking robot has now grown into a reliable milking machine.  Thanks to the “VMS”, we have a healthy herd with increased milk production and less udder inflammation.  We are happy with the flexibility that the milking robot has created for us; more time for social activities and meals at regular times.

Our “VMS” is the oldest DeLaval milking robot in the world and has now completed 1.9 million milking cycles.  With two major updates in recent years, we are well on the way to the 25th silver anniversary.

Guests are welcome again at Bed & Breakfast

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It is already May! The month of April seemed to have passed us by without the crowds for the Tulip Route, no lunches and/or excursions, no meetings and no guests in our Bed & Breakfast. With following the guidelines and regulations of the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), such as the 1.5 metre regulation, guests are welcome again at De Kandelaar.

Despite the lack of crowds there has been plenty of activity on the farm. The potatoes are planted, corn and sugar beets have been sown. Unfortunately, it currently is very dry and despite the few showers over the past few days, the reel will start up again. The crops now really need moisture to grow.  And yes, we are delighted with the birth of goats, lambs and kitties.  In short, plenty of spring life!

Because of the quietness, we were able to enjoy the beautiful tulip fields and the beautiful weather more intensely. The tulip heart has blossomed beautifully and we are sure it will be back next year. In April 2021 we hope to let everyone enjoy the beauty of the tulips again. For now, stay healthy and look after each other. We hope to meet again soon. Check out the video on the Bed & Breakfast.

Life does not stand still on the farm.

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What a turbulent time we are experiencing. The world has been affected by the misery surrounding the Corona virus. It is very quiet at De Kandelaar; no visits from guests or meetings in the Bed & Breakfast and no visits from representatives.

The girls are home from school and do the tasks they have been given. Fortunately, they can play outside and there are still the animals to look after.

The organisation of Tulip Route Flevoland has also been affected by the Corona virus. All work has been halted and the decision has been made not to plan any routes or organise activities. We really sympathise with the people affected by the Corona virus, but also with the entrepreneurs, including the tulip farmers. Fortunately, our tulip farmers can enjoy all the beauty

that is currently blossoming on the land. We are waiting for enough drought and will then start sowing sugar beet and corn and planting potatoes. If everything continues to grow, the first grass cut will start in April. The “dry” cows have already taken their first steps outside and enjoy the sun and their walk outside.

In short, life does not stand still on the farm, but it is quiet. We wish everyone a lot of strength at this time, take care of yourself and your loved ones!

 

 

Off to the New Year!

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At the end of the year we look back to the past year. 2019 has been an eventful year for the agricultural sector in The Netherlands. Yes, we have also visited The Hague with our tractor.  These protests are desperately needed because current political decisions are often made on the basis of emotions instead of actually looking at the figures and listening to experts. We hope 2020 will bring more wisdom concerning the agricultural sector and not only to the politicians in The Hague but also the Dutch and the press.  We try and do our bit by providing our guests at the De Kandelaar with correct and honest information.

  

We will do during Tulpenroute Flevoland 2020. The opening is planned for Friday 10th April 2020 (Good Friday).  De Kandelaar will then be open daily until 5th May. We would like to take this opportunity to showcase our company; explain the tulip cultivation, but above else let everybody enjoy the beauty of the tulips. In the context of this year’s theme, “75 years of freedom”, we have planted a mosaic of tulips in the shape of the freedom symbol.  However, we have also planted a beautiful heart of tulips and of course the Dutch flag.

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A special carnival in 2020. Marc and Mariska have been asked by Prince Pieter II and Princess Yvonne in ‘t Bokkenriek in St. Hubert (south of The Netherlands) to join their court; Marc as adjutant, Mariska as the court lady.  Regularly they are all on the road with the St. Hubert carnival club De Bokken.

A warm, growing summer

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During the second “heat wave” I wrote this new message from De Kandelaar. In Flevoland we also reached temperatures of 39C. Fortunately it remained 10 degrees cooler in the stables with the help of two large fans and a small sprayer. The cows remained calm hence milk production has remained equal.

With the showers from time to time we have been able to cut the grass for the 5th time this week (normally half is the standard). In the meantime, the grass seed harvest is more than a month ago and we now wait for the month of September (removed comer) when we will harvest corn, potatoes and onions.

Today we made a start on the construction of a new path to reach our fields better; a nice smooth concrete path which will soon be used to bring in the harvest..

This week we were also mentioned in the local newspaper ‘Flevopost’ with an article written by Flow Media about our guests who have been staying with us each year during the Lowlands for more than 10 years. You can read the article from Flevopost.

Finally a photo of our young kittens; Nala, Simba and Sarabi were born on 4th August.

 

 

Tulip route Flevoland approaching kickoff!

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Preparations for the 2019 Tulip route Flevoland are being finalized. The opening will take place at Bed & Breakfast De Kandelaar on Saturday 13 April. From 10:00am everybody is welcome and the official opening will be performed by representatives of the municipality of Dronten, Lelystad and Zeewolde at around 10:30am.

At the opening there will also be the Tulip Market where you can gain information on the cultivation of tulips or this year’s tulip routes (walk, bike or car) or the Floriade. As part of the Golden Age theme Batavialand will show and promote the foundation’s preservation and commercial operation of the heritage park that represents, describes and exhibits the history and characteristics of the Netherlands, living on the boundary between land and water, with old crafts. Or you can take a selfie with the Golden tractor of Team Agro, Polderzoom will showcase and sell their cheeses from the region, IJsbrouwers will cater with their homemade icecream and Vaya Con Dios perform their music. In addition, there are appealing and alluring tulip gadgets available, from tulip umbrellas to tulip shopping bags and tea made from tulips. The Tulip Market is open until 5:00pm.

From 13 April to 5 May 2019, Bed & Breakfast De Kandelaar is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm.Whilst you are enjoying a cup of coffee, tea or a soft drink with a piece of home-made cake on our covered terrace, you can get more information about the tulip cultivation. There will also be a number of stalls selling tulip items. Also every day fresh tulips will be available directly from the tulip farmers. On 22 April, Easter Monday, there will be another large Tulip Market with even more tulip art and the male choir „Flevo’s mannenkoor“ will perform between 1:00 and 3:00pm. Bed & Breakfast De Kandelaar is located on the car route of Lelystad. More information about all routes can be found at www.tulpenrouteflevoland.nl

 

 

Into the new year!

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2018 was a year which brought much uncertainty for dairy farms. We monitored the news regarding Phosphate Regulations with trepidation.

2018 was also a year of extreme drought across much of Europe. Fortunately the soil on the farm is heavily clay based with water retaining properties and therefore not as susceptible to drought conditions. However, with the drought conditions in mind we did try a few things a little differently than in previous years:

  • we sprinkled the potatoes six times, while we normally would never do that and the yield proved to be good.
  • we did not irrigate the sugar beet, which resulted in a slightly lower yield but with a sugar content of 17.5%, there was more than enough sugar cubes generated from one hectare.
  • we also managed to harvest more than enough grass and maize silage which we attribute to the clay soil

Sustainable farming and living is something we pride ourselves on. In a bid to contribute more to sustainability, we decided to install Solar Panels onto our farm buildings’ roofs. As a result our homes now use and produce only green energy.

Looking forward into 2019, the first few months will be dedicated to preparing for the Tulip Route and these are in full swing. Join us on Saturday 13 and Monday 22 April 2019 for the Tulip Market, where various local companies will present their produce, products and services. The Flevoland Tulip Routes are open from 13 April to 5 May 2019. More information can be found on Tulpenroute Flevoland.