Dutch pig farms to open nationwide for Weekend van het Varken on 12-13 September

Nationwide open days scheduled across Dutch farms

Dutch pig farmers across the Netherlands will open their facilities to the public on Saturday 12 September and Sunday 13 September 2026 for the annual Weekend van het Varken. The nationwide event will offer visitors access to working agricultural barns to observe animal housing conditions, feeding routines, and daily livestock management. Participating agricultural holdings will provide educational displays, allowing visitors to ask questions about animal welfare, pig diets, and hygiene directly to producers. Sites situated within a 30-minute drive of regional centers (including Enschede, Utrecht, Almelo, Den Bosch, Ede, and Eindhoven) will welcome guests across both days without requiring advance registration.

Viewing stables and specialized facilities

Multiple farms will provide dedicated viewing spaces behind glass to permit direct observation without disturbing the animals. At the Van den Berkmortel family farm on Houtsestraat in Sint-Oedenrode, guests will inspect farrowing groups, meat pigs, and feed preparation areas between 10:00 and 17:00 on both days, with a dedicated skybox overlooking maternal pens. In Hoge Hexel near Almelo, the Brummelhuis family will open an overhead skybox above the farrowing stable where sows nurse newborn piglets, alongside photo opportunities on an artificial pig named Albert. The Nijhof farm in Haaksbergen will present newborn litters through viewing glass, opting for an unguided format with educational videos and posters on Dutch pork production. In Stroe near Ede, the Denkavit family business will provide access through the visitor corridors of its Pig Farm.

Professional guidance and organic production

Several participating holdings will feature specialized production systems and technical experts on site. At the Leeyen family farm in Vinkel near Den Bosch, visitors will tour viewing pens while consulting with attending veterinarians, feed advisors, and neighbouring farmers. In Bunnik near Utrecht and Amersfoort, farmer Wim van Vulpen will guide tours across his organic pig farm. The holding houses approximately 100 sows and 500 meat pigs, providing open-air rooting space to accommodate natural behavior. In Horssen near Nijmegen, the Bosch family (Toon, Bea, and their son Mark) will receive guests at De Boschhoeve, hosting discussions on modern livestock farming from their outdoor terrace.

Family entertainment and local food tastings

Host farms will combine educational tours with children's programming and food sampling. At the Meulendijks farm on Wittedijk in Deurne, operating from 10:00 to 16:00 on both days, visitors will sample pork produced on site, review live barn camera feeds, and purchase products from an automated refrigerated dispenser. The Sint-Oedenrode venue will host a corn maze, a mega corn pit, pedal tractors, temporary tattoos, and a children's barbecue station where youth can prepare snacks. The Vinkel farm will feature a mechanical rodeo pig, bouncy castle, pony rides, and pedal tractors, while the Stroe location will provide colouring stations and serve pulled pork rolls. In Horssen, visitors will have access to homemade apple pie, ice cream, and refreshments on the farm terrace.