Kids to go: the nicest petting zoos in the Netherlands, where the sweetest animals live
Oink oink, bééehhhh, kukeleku and oink. Once the little one manages to imitate even one of these sounds, you're stuck with it. Watching the critters! Because it remains something very special in the eyes of those children. And we think that is a spectacle. Win-win. But fortunately, as parents we still have a choice. We did the research and found the nicest petting zoos in the Netherlands - divided by province so that wherever you are, a petting zoo is never far away - where more often than not you will find a nice cafe, restaurant terrace or at least a nice farm shop . These places are fun for the kids, but also for us. Kaching, double win! On to where the sheep, chickens, pigs and the rest of the animals live.
- Riddammerhoeve, Amstelveen: In the middle of the Amsterdamse Bos, anyone who wants to get acquainted with real farm life while the work continues as usual. There are a hundred dairy goats walking around the farm, right through the chickens, pigs, cows, horses (and visitors). In addition to feeding the goats, you can also have a drink on the terrace, go to the playground, celebrate a birthday party or go to the farmer's market on Saturdays.
- Miss Jansen, Hilversum: a great favorite. Not only because of the cozy grazers in the petting zoo (plenty of goats, sheep, but also chickens and cows) but also - especially - because of the nice terrace of the Tea House. Delicious cake and a good cup of coffee to warm up. And just as much fun, the petting zoo is adjacent to a real farm (dairy cattle) where you can also spend a day cheating.
- The Haunted Forest, Eemnes: sounds exciting, doesn't it, provided the little ones still find the animals a bit scary. In addition to being a petting zoo, the Spookbos is also a breath of fresh air and if you can't get enough of it, staying over is also an option. If the kids think it's a good plan, they can immediately visit the rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, sheep, donkeys and horses again the next morning.
- The Ruiterhuys, Castricum: you already expected it: there are horses. But also free-roaming pigs (very large ones) and chickens. You can hug them all (even if you like). Mom and dad can sit on the terrace in the sun and kids can run around in the grass or in the mega sandbox, where those pigs often are. By the way, those chickens also walk through the restaurant, so be careful where you walk!
- Urban farm Darwin Park, Zaandam: once the largest petting zoo in the Netherlands and still a great day out with the kids. Kids spend all day with the animals or in the playground and you watch everything happening from behind your cup of coffee on the terrace. Or a delicious ice cream, they have that too. And before the day is over, stop by the farm shop to stock up on fresh products. Wonderful day.
- Helderse Valley, Den Helder: the city farm of Den Helder and actually also a beautiful nature park that will keep you busy all day long. There is plenty to do (walking, climbing, cycling and more), but for the little ones the petting zoo with its deer, cows, water birds and rabbits is the biggest party of the day.
- De Strubbert, Laren: another wonderful place. At the Kleine Carroussel (or Strubbert) you can watch the animals, (sometimes) pet them and, above all, have a delicious lunch in the restaurant…
- Blacksmith's Garden, Leiden. a lovely estate with animals everywhere: we mention sweet horses, ponies, bleating sheep and especially lots of clucking chickens.
Go fill your bags with NaturNes organic meal jars (because it fits so well into the whole and everything falls apart anyway NaturNes Bio recommended) and on to the petting zoos of the Netherlands. After all, those farm animals also deserve a sweet pat from children's hands.
- Geertjeshoeve, Utrecht: with its beautiful farm (hello, cozy shutters on the windows) and the funny 'farmer's terrace', Geertjeshoeve is a pleasant place in Utrecht. Goats and pigs stroll around, while you keep an eye on the offspring from your lazy chair (and delicious apple pie) while they roll and frolic around the grounds.
- The Brink, Zeist: another friendly place and that is because De Brink is not only a petting zoo, but also a care farm. Brink's biggest hit? You can buy a bag of food from the shop on site and the kids will go crazy. Feed the animals! There's nothing more fun at a petting zoo than that.
- The Vechtse Hoeven, Maarssen: exactly the kind of petting zoo you want, namely in the middle of a park with a terrace where you can also order a beer and bitterballen, while the children have fun on the bouncy castle or on 1 of the 100 bicycles.
- Schutterspark, Brunssum: the sweetest creatures stroll around the cozy farm. And these are not just your 'standard' donkeys, pigs and goats, no, at Schutterspark you will also spot alpacas, bearded dragons and wallabies. And are the children tired of farm animals? Then they automatically discover the large playground. And they're gone, no more looking back.
- Ophovenerhof farm, Sittard: this (beautiful) farm is home to a handful of sweet and gentle farm animals. Sheep, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, pigs, birds, donkeys, geese and bees live there. There is nothing more fun than seeing the little ones looking at the creatures in amazement. You can enjoy it for a long time on the lovely terrace of Ophovenerhof in the cozy courtyard.
- Alpacafarm Kerkwerve, Kerkwerve: squeaking guinea pigs, bleating goats and grunting pigs; we've seen them all. Secretly, we really enjoy seeing those funny Alpacas in real life. That's what Kerkwerve is for the place to be. Not so long ago, a real Alpaca farm opened here, where, with luck, you can also take a walk with the soft creatures. Nice! Just as sweet, so-called falabellas also live here, which are the smallest horses on this planet.
- Animal Valley, Waddinxveen: this is not just 'a petting zoo'. First of all, Dierendal is a beautiful place, including a landscaped garden for wild-growing flowers. And the animals are also nice. There are cats, peacocks and the more familiar farm animals such as goats and sheep.
- The Molenwei, Rotterdam: On the edge of Rotterdam's beautiful Zuiderpark in Charlois you will find the De Molenwei petting zoo. While you will be particularly impressed by this beautifully landscaped park, the children will not easily forget the farm animals...
- Pick! The Hague: the nicest place in The Hague to go on a beautiful (autumn) day. You don't just come here for the animals, but it is also wonderful among the fruit trees. Picking apples and cherries and taking the find home with you is one thing winner for the brood.
- Buyten, Delft: petting zoo and water playground, do we need to say more?! Yes: the most important thing to know is that it is a very beautiful place, including a restaurant where it is also really tasty (surprisingly from a petting zoo).
- The Court of Eckbergen, Eibergen: if you are in the area, expect large-scale events. The Hof van Eckbergen has quite a few farm animals, but on the same grounds you will find a real zoo with the somewhat wilder animals. We have been warned, nevertheless it is worth a visit. The petting zoo has been carefully laid out and is really not a punishment to walk through.
- Landerij de Park, Elst: we would rather move on to Elst, where things are a little nicer and all the animals are as docile as anything. For example, the little ones can help take care of the animals, they can mess around in the vegetable garden, mess around in the playground and gain energy on their lap or in the car on the terrace of restaurant DREAM! Which promises to have a delicious apple pie…
Spotting more critters? That's possible here, all in the Netherlands.
- The Elzenhoek, Oss: we also think it's so sweet: here you can brush the cozy goats together with the kids. And if that doesn't get the minis excited, there are also funny donkeys and cheerful alpacas. Just don't get too close, because there is a 'beware, they spit' sign for a reason...
- Wolfslaar, Breda: oh what a pleasant atmosphere in Charlotte's Tea House. A hot cup of tea and muster up the courage to brave the autumn air. It's okay, just take a quick look at the animals and quickly return to the warmth of Charlotte.
- Stubborn, Eindhoven: do we like it because of that name? Certainly, but also because of the stubborn animals in the various farm meadows. In the Philips van Lenneppark. Brownie and Broes live here together with the farm cats Trak, Tro and Coco, together with the cluckiest chickens, the sweetest lambs, the dirtiest pigs, the most beautiful peacocks and the craziest goats. We think it's the nicest.
- De Eelderbaan petting zoo, Groningen: the Eelderbaan is located near the city of Groningen. The farm stands out because of its modern building, surrounded by greenery. The minis can pet, cuddle and feed the animals with cups of biks and you can just stretch out on the chairs on the terrace. Deal? Deal!
- Petting zoo City Park, Groningen: all kinds of nice animals live in the middle of Groningen's cozy city park. From sheep, to deer, to donkeys and cows. But the show stopper from the farm is the pony rental. This is of course the most fun for the slightly older kids, although riding these ponies is possible from a very young age.
- Sneek petting zoo, Sneek: a cow, a pony and a donkey, but also pot-bellied pigs and a cuddly meadow with goats. Enough to see, but more is allowed than just looking. Smell, stroke and sometimes cuddle. In the summer you can romp around in the water garden and when the weather is less nice there is always the cable car, the pedal boats and the bouncy castle. Our favorite spot? The sunny terrace, where you can keep a close eye on everything. While enjoying something tasty, of course.
- Doniastate Stiens, Stiens: well, a petting zoo like what it was once created for. The home of cute petting zoo animals, where the offspring learn about the animals through play. Although Doniastate is not bad for the eye. The farm has something cozy and a bit of that 'back in the good old days'. Exactly how a petting zoo should be, enjoy watching the animals without too much fuss. With the sometime aww.
- Orphan lands, Zwolle: the most beautiful peacocks and strumming chickens walk between your legs. You imagine yourself zigzagging across the path across the large grounds at Wezenlanden. Where patient goats, chickens, pigs and sheep wait to be fed and petted. In the spring, baby versions of these animals also frolic around with great happiness. This petting zoo is located in the largest park in Zwolle (the Wezenlanden) where it is in itself a nice place to take a walk.
- Eekhout, Zwolle: in the middle of the former garden of Villa Eekhout are the cozy houses of this petting zoo. This sweet place takes the little ones aside to guide them through their very first introduction to fluffy creatures, without instilling fear. Then they get their own moment among the curiously sniffing creatures. Sweet!
- The Flintenhoeve, Orvelte: there are plenty of farms in this picturesque village. Those cozy ones with lace curtains on the windows and colored shutters. But De Flintenhoeve is the nicest. The petting zoo is almost a bit fairytale-like, with its cobbled roads and winding paths. Chickens strumming everywhere you can see and cozy cuddly creatures in their own meadows.
- The Drenthe Cow, Ruinerwold: besides the fact that countless animals live on the grounds of De Drentse Koe, there is also a lot of room for playing. Attractions everywhere, you almost forget that it is a petting zoo.
- Arends Hof, Laar: actually just across the border from Germany, but a beautiful place. It's a shame not to mention him. Especially if you are already in the area... In a nutshell, Arends-Hof is a large farm with sweet creatures everywhere to sniff and look at. The children are amazed.
COW IN THE KOST, OVERIJSSEL
For a portion of vitamin N(ature) for the whole family: go to farmer Frans and farmer's wife Truus. On a guest farm Koe in de Costa (top name of course) you can spend the night in the meadow between the cows!
You will stay in sustainable and comfortable accommodation Groundulows. Without television because then you can really relax. Extra fun: the holiday home also includes your own cow and everyone can really help out with all the farm activities from A to Z.
