Family of Dieijen

Family of Dieijen

Joost van Dieijen is our cheesemaker in Bodegraven. He has a long history: the "farming" began eight generations ago, and Joost is a fourth-generation cheesemaker. His cheeses are very popular. Cheese shop Remijn picks up their cheeses here no fewer than twice a week.

About the company

"Arcadia Hoeve" is the name of the farm. This beautiful farm is nestled amidst expansive meadows where some 450 dairy cows graze. That much milk can make a lot of cheese, and they do! "All the milk is processed into cheese here. Isn't that much more fun than having the milk transported away in trucks? At least then you know where it goes," says Joost.

Joost was born with both farm life and cheesemaking. "I remember my mother making cheese even before school," he says. From a young age, he was working with cows and helping out in the cheese dairy.

It's therefore a crowning achievement that the cheese won the Cum Laude award in 2025. It's an honorable recognition of the craft that has been passed down for generations at Arcadia Hoeve.

Our collaboration

"Our collaboration with Joost began in the winter," says Kees Remijn. "Back in the day, almost no farmhouse cheeses were made in the winter. The flavor of the cheese often left much to be desired because the cows ate hay instead of fresh grass. I then personally approached Joost van Dieijen and asked if he would also make farmhouse cheese for Kaashandel Remijn in the winter."

Joost then said, "I'd actually rather not... but if I say no now, you might never come back..." Luckily, he decided to give it a try anyway. Today, he still makes the most delicious farmhouse cheeses for us, both summer and winter.