Taste Real Dutch Tradition || The Travel Tester

WHAT IS REAL DUTCH CHEESE?

I’m sure you are familiar with our Gouda and Edam cheese, but gosh, there are so many more towns here with amazing cheeses, my own Zaanstreek included. I dare say that some of my favourite flavours you probably haven’t tried or even heard of, like komijnkaas (cumin cheese) and the salty 48+ oude kaas (aged cheese).

But I have a confession to make. There is one Dutch cheese that I always looked down upon a bit.

This cheese is from a brand that you can find in dedicated tourist shops all throughout Amsterdam and other Dutch cities (you’ll recognize it by the rows of cheese wheels in front of the windows), and on touristy locations such as the Zaanse Schans and the Edam Cheese Market.

This cheese is from the brand “Henri Willig” and I always assumed the name of this ‘cheese farmer’ was fake and just there to make tourists believe its authenticity. But on a recent press trip to Laag Holland, I got to visit one of the farms of Henri Willig and learn the history behind this unique (and very real) man’s thriving business.

WHO IS HENRI WILLIG?

Cheesemaking traditionally was a woman’s task in Dutch culture, with farmers’ wives passing their cheesemaking skills onto their daughters. And the Netherlands boasts ideal conditions for dairy farming, with fertile pastures and a mild climate.

Cheese markets, farms, and traditions have flourished throughout our country’s history, making cheese a vital part of Dutch identity and a beloved export.

Henri Willig grew up surrounded by cows on the dairy farm “De Jacobs Hoeve” in the town of Katwoude in Holland. As the only son in a family of five children, he completed agricultural school and took over the family business in 1974. Together with his wife, Riet, the entrepreneurial couple soon began exploring the idea of producing their own cheese.

WHAT KIND OF CHEESE IS HENRI WILLIG?

After attended a cheesemaking course, Henri and Riet Willig discovered the secret to crafting excellent cheese: starting with happy, healthy animals.

That is why Henri Willig’s dairy farm is focused on organic, sustainable farming, free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Their Jersey cows spend at least 180 days a year outdoors, for a minimum of 12 hours a day. This allows them to exhibit natural behaviors and ensures they are as comfortable as possible, reducing the risk of illness and enabling them to produce the highest quality milk.

Most of their cheeses are made from pasteurized milk, which is heated along with rennet and a special proprietary starter culture for its signature Willig flavour. They produce all types of different cheeses, from soft young cheeses and smoked cheeses to a premium selection award winning (old) cheeses.

Some unique flavours they offer include ‘green pesto’, ‘coconut’ and even ‘beer’ and ‘sparkling wine’. Besides cow cheeses, they also sell sheep and goats cheeses as well as ‘cheese accompaniments’ such as dips, liquors, honey and mustard.

WHERE CAN YOU BUY HENRI WILLIG CHEESE?

Henri Willig Cheese can be purchased at dedicated stores across the Netherlands and online. You’ll also find their cheeses in many local markets and gift shops in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delft, Utrecht, Den Bosch and Maastricht.

At the Zaanse Schans, you can find Henri Willig at the ‘Catharina Hoeve’ farmhouse and they also have a shop at the Edam cheese market (the Kaaswaag).

VISIT CHEESE FARM JACOBS HOEVE KATWOUDE

The town of Katwoude is located on the IJsselmeerdijk (dike) between the towns of Monnickendam and Volendam. Upon arrival, employees in original costumes will show you how cheese is prepared. Afterwards, you can visit the cheese shop.

What’s great is that the majority of the cheeses are already pre-packed and fit perfectly in gift packages, because the cheeses can easily be left out of the fridge for some time. They are packaged in a way that you can also bring them on a plane home.

You can also go on a self-guided tour to the next-door Henri Willig organic Jersey farm. Here you learn more about the farm, the sustainable farming of Henri Willig and get up close with the beautiful Jersey cows. We were told that the big vision of the Willig family is to also build a new experience where you can see the production process of the cheese from up close as well, so hopefully this gets added in the near future!

Address: Jacobs Hoeve, Hoogedijk 8, 1145 PM Katwoude. Admission and parking are free, and as an individual visitor, you do not need to book in advance.

Open daily from March to October from 09:00 to 18:00 and from November to February from 09:00 to 17:00. Closed on December 25, 26 and January 1st.

VISIT CHEESE FARM CATHARINA HOEVE ZAANSE SCHANS

At the iconic Zaanse Schans, know for its windmills, you already feel like you’ve stepped back into time, but at the Catharina Hoeve you get this feeling even more with the shopkeepers dressed in traditional costume.

Besides a great shopping experience, you will be taken through a professional demonstration in the way cheese is prepared at ‘de Haal‘. In this former hay barn, the story of Henri Willig and his passion for animals and quality cheeses is told. The story can be listened to via an audio tour using a QR code. This audio tour is available in 6 languages; Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian. There is also room for various fun photo opportunities. 

Address: Catharina Hoeve, Zeilenmakerspad 5, 1509 BZ Zaandam. Admission is free and you do not need to book in advance.

Open daily from October to February from 08:30 to 17:00 and from March to September from 8:00 to 18:00. Opening hours during the holidays: December 25th 8:30-14:00, December 26th 8:30-16:00 and January 1st 10:00-17:00.