Dutch cheese thieves baffle police

  • 09/01/2016
(iStock)
(iStock)

Thefts of specialist Dutch farmhouse cheeses worth thousands have left questions over the security of the cheese.

At least six cheese-makers have been burgled in the past year, with Boerenkaas or farmhouse cheese, a Dutch special, as the target.

Irene van de Voort, chair of the Dutch Dairy Farmers' Producer Federation (BBZ), told Agence France-Presse that famers had never had a problem before last year.

"We are worried about the situation and have advised our members to increase security."

It was reported by NRC that at least 8.5 tonnes of cheese worth €90,000 (NZ$150,200) had been taken.

It said a large theft in the small southern town of Hellow saw about 200 cheeses worth €26,500 stolen from a cheese-maker in one night.

Another 150 cheeses weighing 12kg each were stolen from the southwestern city of Bergen op Zoom.

Police officials say the thefts are being investigated as isolated incidents, but no clues have been left behind leading to the cheese thieves.

However, cheese farmer Marjo Huijsmans told NRC it appeared the thieves knew their cheese, only taking the ripened ones and ones destined for the export market.

"Boerenkaas is a specialised skill and it takes special knowledge to make it. It's a very valuable product," Onno Boersma of the Dutch Dairy Trade Association told NRC.

"These farmers are hard-working people, who not only have to milk their cows but hand-make their cheese. Imagine how frustrating it is when you realise that your hard work has disappeared."

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