Good Practice - Project

Setting up a cheese experience centre in Woerden

Setting up an innovative enterprise in a historic building to strengthen the regional and local agricultural economy, while promoting employment and tourism.
  • CAP Implementation
  • Programming period: 2014-2022 Netherlands
    Programming period: 2014-2022 Netherlands

    General information

    RDP Priority
    • P6. Social inclusion and local development
    RDP Focus Area
    • 6B: Local development
    RDP Measure
    • M19: LEADER/CLLD

    Summary

    Cheese production plays a central role in the Woerden area. Thus in 2014, local stakeholders decided to create a cheese academy to provide training for workers and make them employable in the sector and serve as a tourism attraction. Governments, educational organizations and entrepreneurs signed a declaration of intent to work together for that purpose. Support under the LEADER measure supported the conversion of a historic building, into the experience centre. Other activities supported include developing the training programme, creating a network of enterprises and organisations as users of the facility for educational purposes, etc.

    Results

    The conversion of an old cheese warehouse into the experience centre was completed;

    The management organisation as  a foundation was set up including volunteers and a coordinator;

    In the first year after opening there are at least 2000 paying visitors.

    Promoter

    Foundation Kaaspakhuis Woerden

    Funding

    Total budget 402 692 (EUR)
    EAFRD 100 000 (EUR)
    National/regional 100 000 (EUR)
    Private 58 612 (EUR)
    Other 144 080 (EUR)

    Ressources

    English language

    gp_nl_cheese_experience_woerden_web.pdf

    (PDF – 548.91 Ko)