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At the Aat Grootes Cattle Museum in Aartswoud, everything revolves around old Dutch cattle breeds. Red and black Blaarkop, Lakenvelder, a Witrik and a red-and-white Friesian: they all roam freely here. The museum brings together traditional breeds and continues to breed them to maintain their purity.
You’ll find the museum in a West Frisian farmhouse on the outskirts of the village. So it’s not the sort of museum where everything is behind glass. Here, you can hear the mooing, see things moving about, and sometimes spot a calf standing right next to its mother.
In the past, there were many more different breeds of cattle grazing in Dutch pastures. Nowadays, the majority of the dairy herd consists of Holstein Friesians. At the Cattle Museum, however, you can discover the breeds that are less commonly seen. In the summer, the cows and their calves graze outdoors in the meadow.
The museum is named after Aat Grootes, who used to live and work on this farm. He kept twenty cows there. In summer, he milked them outdoors in the fields; in winter, they were kept in the barn.
Aat was…
You’ll find the museum in a West Frisian farmhouse on the outskirts of the village. So it’s not the sort of museum where everything is behind glass. Here, you can hear the mooing, see things moving about, and sometimes spot a calf standing right next to its mother.
In the past, there were many more different breeds of cattle grazing in Dutch pastures. Nowadays, the majority of the dairy herd consists of Holstein Friesians. At the Cattle Museum, however, you can discover the breeds that are less commonly seen. In the summer, the cows and their calves graze outdoors in the meadow.
The museum is named after Aat Grootes, who used to live and work on this farm. He kept twenty cows there. In summer, he milked them outdoors in the fields; in winter, they were kept in the barn.
Aat was quite attached to Aartswoud. He wasn’t really keen on travelling far afield. Life centred around the village, the countryside and the farm offered plenty. His stories therefore provide a lovely insight into twentieth-century West Frisian rural life.
During a visit, you’ll learn more about the different breeds of cattle and farm life. The museum also regularly organises activities, demonstrations and exhibitions centred on agriculture and nature. In 2026, for example, the programme included scything, sheep shearing and modern GPS techniques in agriculture.
Visiting as a group? Groups of six or more can book a guided tour by appointment. Group visits are also possible outside normal opening hours.
Address: Schoolstraat 43, 1719 AT Aartswoud
Email: info@rundveemuseum.nl
Telephone: 06 - 12568365
Opening hours 2026:
19 April to 20 September:
Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1.00 pm to 4.30 pm.
From mid-September 2026 to mid-April 2027, the museum will be organising a monthly ‘Open Stable Sunday’. Please check the current calendar in advance.
Admission:
Adults: €5
Children aged 4 to 12: €2.50
Children under 4: free.
You can see various traditional Dutch cattle breeds there, including Blaarkoppen, Lakenvelders, a Heidekoe and a Witrik. The animals are bred to maintain the purity of the breeds in order to preserve their traditional characteristics.
Yes. Children can see the cows up close, and the museum regularly organises activities for young and old alike. The exact activities vary depending on the date.
Yes. For groups of six or more people, a guided tour can be arranged by appointment. Groups can also book outside normal opening hours.
Are you the owner of the Aat Grootes Cattle Museum? And would you like to report a change? .
Are you the owner of the Aat Grootes Cattle Museum? And would you like to report a change?