The Houdijk-Roos family runs an arable farm in Abbenes, in Haarlemmermeer, while also operating a toy shop on the farm and earning income from work outside the business. Maurice Houdijk said the family expanded its former farm shop to sell toys because crop farming alone no longer provided enough security. His father-in-law, Piet Roos, recalled that the shop had once sold only potatoes and said he found it difficult that family members now needed other activities alongside farming.

Maurice and Gertine Houdijk’s sons Niels and Joost plan to take over the farm together, although both already have full-time jobs and expect to keep them. They said the farm is unlikely to support their families on its own, citing poor returns in the previous potato season, when potatoes had to be given away. Their younger brother Tim does not want to become a farmer but helps on the land and in the shop. Niels and Joost nevertheless said they still want to farm because they value the outdoor life and cannot imagine another future.