IT ALL STARTED IN 2003

In 2003, father-and-son combo Bert and Rick de Mooij went on an adventure to South America to collect some alpacas to start a herd back home in the Netherlands. They returned to found the Alpacahoeve and have been running the family farm ever since, with the entire herd descended from the first animals they brought over.

A close relation of the slightly larger llama, alpacas are native to the mountainous Andres region of South America, and are particularly common in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. They are rare in Europe, with alpaca exports not permitted until 1983. After Bert and Rick introduced alpacas to the Dutch public, appreciation for these special animals and their unique wool has only grown around the Netherlands. Fortunately, thanks to years of experience, they are well able to meet this increasing demand. Today, their alpacas regularly win prizes at prestigious shows and the wool production of the Alpacahoeve is of very high quality.

VISION AND PURPOSE

Alpacas are special animals, exhibiting playful social behavior and a unique sense of curiosity. We think it is important not only to excel as a breeding farm in the Netherlands, but also to raise public awareness of these wonderful creatures. Feel free to reach out if you would like to come and check out our alpacas and the farm.

To ensure that our alpacas receive the best care and can compete with the most beautiful animals in the Netherlands and all over Europe, we have relationships with foreign organizations such as the AZVD (Alpaca Zucht Verband Deutschland) and the BAF (Benelux Alpaca Federation). With these organizations, we ensure careful screening of our animals and their wool. Our mares are also covered by stallions from the Netherlands, Germany, England, Australia, and New Zealand.