Jolande directed her message to D66, CDA, VVD, and PRO, sharing the story of Hans, a retired firefighter from Westland. He wrote that during a cycling trip through Overijssel and Gelderland, he visited farms to see for himself how farmers worked. Hans said that he did not see overcrowded pastures, mega-farms, or smoking farms, but rather well-maintained fields and meadows. According to him, a farmer and his wife welcomed him kindly and explained that they had been making adjustments in response to government measures for years. He described the farm as a place where attention was given to animals and land. The farmer showed him, among other things, a biogas installation and milking installations, and explained what investments the measures had required. Hans wrote that his visit had increased his appreciation for farmers. He felt that the Netherlands should cherish its farmers and feared that otherwise food would be imported that had been sprayed with agricultural chemicals or genetically modified. He also mentioned seeing new houses, which he considered expensive, bungalows, and large residences along the road. He wondered whether farmland intended for housing or nature areas was being sold at a profit to wealthy buyers. Hans wrote that he had little confidence in leaders who, in his opinion, lacked sufficient practical experience with farms. He emphasized that he had no knowledge of agriculture himself, but that his visit had given him a positive life lesson. #Boeren #Platteland #Duurzaamheid (translated)
