Trip to the Netherlands was one of the first trips we took upon arriving in Europe. We wanted to branch out a little and figured this would be the perfect place. We were part of a bus tour. I don’t always like taking bus tours but one thing I do love about them is the people you meet. We met people from that trip that we’re still friends with to this day and they have become family.
Clara Maria Cheese Farm and Clog factory
We arrived at Clara Maria, the Gouda cheese farm and the clog factory early that morning. Clara Maria is a 160-year-old farm that still honors the traditions from the past. We were welcomed to a Dutch breakfast and a delicious cheese tasting. I’ve had gouda before but definitely not the flavored ones. We were able to taste several, including natural, Italian, truffle, ginger, and garlic & chives. We were at the tables with others from the bus so we would just pass around the different cheeses until we had tried them all. They were all delish, however I think my favorite was the chili. I like spice. I enjoy the little details, so when I saw the cow milk server I fell in love. The owners, which were there for the tour had the cutest story. Katrina, from the US, was on a tour herself years ago and saw the son of the owner, Kees-Jan van Wees ( from the Netherlands) and the rest was history. They fell in love and Katrina decided to stay. The chemistry between the two is fun to see.
After the tasting, we were directed to the area where the cheese is made. It was very interesting to see the process that it takes to make cheese. They use this huge barrel with a paddle in it to mix the milk which was inside. The end result is amazing Gouda!! The shelves were filled with rows and rows of cheese to choose from so you can take some home with you. They also had cheeses that had different ages as well.
We then moved over to the clog making area. They still use an old-fashioned yet still effective machine to make their clogs. You can pick out clogs from the varied selection they have and get them etched with your name and year, which is what we did. There’s also a souvenir area where you can find some Dutch treasures to bring home. You can also order online as well and have it delivered to your door. If you ever find yourself in the area make sure you stop by Clara Maria Cheese Farm and Clog Factory.