Farmer and toy seller: why be a farmer if you can't make a living from it?

The Houdijk-Roos family in Abbenes, located in the Haarlemmermeer region, balances traditional arable farming with creative side ventures to maintain their livelihood. Due to the limited financial return from potato farming alone, the family manages a toy shop specializing in miniature tractors and agricultural machinery. Additionally, Maurice Houdijk supplements the farm's income by working as a feed salesman. While his father-in-law Piet Roos finds the necessity of these extra activities challenging to reconcile with his own farming experience, he remains proud that the farm will continue under the next generation. The oldest sons, Niels and Joost, intend to take over the business despite expecting to maintain full-time jobs outside the farm to survive financially. Driven by a deep passion for the outdoor lifestyle and the independence of farming, the siblings view the work as a way of life they cannot abandon. Despite the volatility of the agricultural market, the family remains committed to keeping their farm operations running together.