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Fam.Rooijakkers

The story of Maarten and John Rooijakkers, who have been farmers all their lives.

An 11-year-old boy came to visit our pig farm with his class 20 years ago. From a skybox, he had a great view of our piglets. The children were amazed at what they heard and saw. They loved being able to see the piglets through the windows. After our story, the children were allowed to ask questions of the farmer. The little boy asked where do we bury the piglets when they are dead? We told him that we are not allowed to bury the piglets and that the piglets are for meat production. He did not know this. In fact, he did not know why we kept piglets. Surely it was disturbing to us to find that knowledge about where our food comes from is rapidly declining. Not surprising since the knowledge about where our food comes from is less and less present in schools or at home. While food really is an important part of our existence.
 
Therefore, we decided to convert our pig farm into a recreational experience center in 2020; PorcusCampus. The 11-year-old boy of that time is now a father of children himself and can now learn about our now 16 different pig breeds in a fun and recreational way at PorcusCampus. Each pig with its own story about its origin, culture, production and method of consumption. So they can learn in a new way about where their food comes from.
 
But PorcusCampus now has even more to offer for the little boy of old. And it's all about the piglets. He can now even choose to sleep with his family in luxury hotel rooms above the piglets, with each room housing a theme that specifically applies to piglets. They can even become owners of one of the pig breeds. In addition, for relaxation and experience, there is a large event hall where they can also see our piglets again.

Hi,

I am Maarten Rooijakkers.

From a young age, I have always been interested in people and animals.

For me it was therefore logical that I wanted to become a farmer as a child. To this day, I have a pig farm. In addition, I was active in local politics for a period of time and represented the interests of the members at ZLTO as a director. This has allowed me to get to know many new people, but also to become acquainted with a variety of social issues. It has enriched my life.

In Porcus Campus, it all comes together. A new challenge to bring people and animals together.

Finally, I continue to enjoy family, friends and acquaintances, with my wife Marion surely being the real centerpiece.

Hello,

I am John Rooijakkers born in Beek en Donk on September 6, 1962.

Married to Berdie and we have three daughters who are already out of the house .

My hobbies are hiking in the mountains of Switzerland, motorcycling and biking in the area.

In addition, I am fascinated by nature, probably because I grew up in the countryside on a farm. Because of this, I spent a lot of time in the woods with friends from a young age.

In 1997, together with I.V.N. Hunters Association and ZLTO, I founded the Laarbeeks Landscape Foundation. From there projects arose such as protection of meadow birds, construction of flowery field edges, pruning of fruit trees, maintenance of pollard willows and the construction and maintenance of pools.

After that I served on the board of ZLTO Laarbeek for several years.

From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a farmer. Together with my brother Maarten, we took over our parents' farm. At that time it was a mixed farm with piglets and dairy cows in Beek en Donk. Due to the increase in scale and specialization, we started building a new sow farm in Aarle-Rixtel with the first visible barn in the Netherlands. From then on we divested the dairy branch.

It has always been our passion to convey to the outside world where our food comes from. Even now, after we have ended sow farming, this passion does not leave us. This is how Porcus Campus was born from that.

Where everyone can discover and experience where our food comes from.

Happy to be your host who can take you endlessly through the history, present and future of our wonderful and healthy food that we can all be proud of!

Want to know more? Then get in touch with us!

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