The farmer from the Netherlands loves life in Falköping
There’s a shortage of agricultural land in the Netherlands, but no shortage of people. And as ever more homes are built, farmers are pushed aside. For dairy farmer Marjolein van Rooijen and her family, the solution was to move to another country. Since 2022 they’ve been running their farm outside Falköping.
- Who?
Marjolein van Rooijen
- What?
Boer uit Nederland die naar Falköping verhuisde
“Land is already in short supply in the Netherlands, and because we have children who want to be farmers just like us, we felt we couldn’t stay. Once we’d decided to move to Sweden we began looking at various locations. The very first time we visited Falköping I felt as though I’d come home,” says Marjolein.
It took about one year from our decision until the moving truck left for Sweden. Marjolein tells us that they’d already found a soccer team in Kinnarp before they moved. Their son began his first training session with the new team the first day after the family arrived in Sweden, and a couple of days later he began school. She tells us he soon made new friends, both in the soccer team and at school, and that today he’s the member of the family who speaks the best Swedish.
“Hearing him speak, you can’t tell he’s from the Netherlands, all you hear is the local Skaraborg accent!”
Upgraded the farm
The farm the family purchased covers 420 hectares. When they took over, there was only room for young stock. In order to keep dairy cows, they had to build a barn.
“Things were not all that easy back then. We couldn’t speak Swedish when we moved here. But at the same time, having to speak to others about things we needed to get hold of was useful. Everyone was so very polite and helpful!”
Today she has 300 young animals and 300 dairy cows on the family farm. There are naturally major similarities in running a farm in the Netherlands and in Sweden, but are there any differences?
“In my experience, Swedish regulations do not change as often as those in the Netherlands. There are extensive regulations in both countries, but new regulations come more often in the Netherlands. Here, there are regulations that are good for the animals and the land over the long-term.”
Planning to stay in Falköping
Marjolein has three sons, all of whom now live in Falköping. The oldest son moved to Sweden a couple of months after the rest of the family as he had to finish his studies in food technology first. Today he works at Falbygdens Dairy.
“We have no plans to move back; we want to grow old here! Falköping is a pleasant town with great services and a good selection of restaurants and other things a person might need.”
We have no plans to move back; we want to grow old here!
Not only are they pleased with their farm and living in Falköping, but everyone in the family has also made new friends.
“We've been so well received by everyone. I think it’s important to join clubs and associations to meet new people. I work out with a group and we always stop for fika afterwards. We also have neighbors who drop by for a coffee and invite us to their midsummer celebrations!”
Marjolein’s tips for anyone thinking about moving to Sweden
- Start learning Swedish! Don’t be afraid to use the language when you get here; its the best way to learn.
- Find clubs and associations in your new town and get involved. It's where to make new friends.
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