Denise and Kasper have an alpaca farm in Spain: ‘We are less concerned here’

Maybe you’ve ever seen them pass by in the program ‘Het Roer Op’ … Denise (48) and Kasper Bisschops (57) moved from Zoetermeer to Spain in 2021 and have an alpaca farm there.

Five years ago, Denise and Kasper decided to take the big leap: they bought an old farm in Andalusia and left their Dutch life behind. It was a big gamble because the couple bought the farm without ever having seen it. They were also not yet familiar with the Spanish culture and language or having a farm. Yet the couple, together with their then 9-year-old son Beau, left for the Spanish countryside.

Rudder

The couple was followed by the ‘Het Roer Op’ program of RTL. Denise: “The program makers contacted me in response to a message that I had posted on Facebook. We decided spontaneously to participate in the program and the period that followed went pretty messy. Our things were already sold in Spain and our house, but we still lived temporarily with my parents in Zoetermeer. Afterwards we are not very happy with how everything was shown.” Once arrived in Spain, it also turned out that the farm was in much worse condition than expected. “We knew that we had to do odd jobs, but we didn’t expect that extremely neglected.”

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Animals and olive trees

Denise and Kasper put their shoulders underneath and recovered the farm step by step. Denise: “If I now look back on that period, I think we should have done some things differently. We have underestimated the entire company. Fortunately everything worked out well and we certainly do not regret our decision.” Denise and Kasper are now satisfied owners of a large piece of land with an olive tree grain and a farm full of animals. Tourists can come by To walk with the alpacas and they can also stay on the site.

We don’t regret our decision

Take care of animals

The couple had no experience with keeping farm animals, but now everything goes without saying. “The care is not that difficult. Once a year someone comes by to shave the alpacas and twice a year the vet comes to check and vaccinate all animals. Furthermore, we naturally give them daily care and especially a lot of love,” says Denise. In addition to the alpacas, the couple also have donkeys and dogs. “We absorb neglected animals, we can pay for that with, among other things, the proceeds from our olive tree grain.” Enthusiasts can ‘adopt’ a Spanish olive tree remotely. “Then they get a certificate and once in a while they receive a bottle of olive oil from their own tree,” says Denise.

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New plans

The couple is currently busy realizing an extra tourist stay. “We already have a spacious home for about six people, but we also want a stay for smaller groups.” In addition to the work on the farm, Denise and Kasper mainly enjoy the peace. “Spanish life is very pleasant and you feel safe here. I have to worry less here than in the Netherlands, also about the safety of my child.” Furthermore, the Spanish pace is a lot lower than in the Netherlands. “They hurry they don’t know here. Of course that can sometimes be annoying, but you get used to the rhythm.” The older daughter of Denise and Kasper, who is already an adult, now also has plans to settle in Spain.

Lovely

Homesick for Zoetermeer, the couple hardly have any. “Kasper goes back occasionally because he still has a cleaning company in the Netherlands. On the other hand, I have only been back three times and every time I am fed up with the crowds after a few days. I find peace here in the countryside. Seeing friends and family is sometimes difficult, the distance to the Netherlands is big and we live. Fortunately we can call and app.”

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