vanStijns

vanStijns is a small pig and poultry farm on the Holyweg just outside Vlaardingen that sells its own pork and eggs from vending machines on the yard and through a webshop.

The pigs, a cross of Piétrain and Dutch landrace, come in as weaners of about 25 kg from selected breeders, since no sows are kept, and are outside all day with mud baths and a straw bed to retreat to. Their website says they are raised without antibiotics or growth promoters and grow at their own pace before slaughter at a small abattoir, where the meat is cut, vacuum-packed and frozen. The brown laying hens range outdoors and are given no antibiotics or other medicines, though not every egg is theirs, because some are bought in from other suppliers. Chicken is bought in from Veldhoeve and is not credited here, and the beef, game, dairy and vegetables from other producers are not yet confirmed.

The vending machines on the yard are stocked seven days a week, and webshop orders can be collected at the farm on Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00, delivered on Friday evenings in Vlaardingen, Schiedam and Maassluis, or sent frozen anywhere in the Netherlands.

A cycle path runs past the farm, so the pigs can be seen rooting outside by anyone passing.