Campsite and vineyard on historic land in Wierden: “Peace and space along the River Regge”

This is the domain of Henk and Anja Baan. A few decades ago, the Baan family’s dairy cattle grazed on this site right along the Rij. Now there is a vineyard, a cart place and a terrace. Not only campers, hikers and cyclists can go here; pleasure boats on the Regge can also dock here, as Baan has its own pier.

Dairy farming

From cows and grapes to the cart. “At first it was a family business with 30 cows, over the years that number increased to 90, but due to the milk quota that number had to be reduced to 30 again. My father-in-law continued dairy farming until 2009,” says Anja Pan, laughing. “Until then, we sometimes had to go out at night when a cow gave birth.”

First chrome

Henk and Anja chose to switch from dairy farming to vineyards; from cows to wine. “The first sticks arrived in 2005.” The vineyard was about five hectares. Several red and white grape varieties were grown, including Johanniter, which did well in the sandy soils of Twente.

Monastery of the Order of Johanniter

Part of the vineyard, by chance, was on historical land. “Where the vineyards are now, there was once a monastery and a chapel of the Johanniter Order. This monastery was demolished around 1100, because the inhabitants always stood here with their feet in the water during the winter. The sandstone with which the monastery complex in Bad Bentheim was built has disappeared,” says Anja.

winery

The stable, where the cows were kept, has been converted into a wine tasting room, winery and cellar. The family makes their own wine.

Camping place in Wierden

Pan also had another iron in the fire and was in contact with the municipality of Wierden about creating a place for the cart. The permit was there, but all the time and attention was focused on the generosity. Until around 2010, the NKC, the Dutch cart club, came to the municipality of Wierden to discuss a place for the cart in the municipality. “The municipality referred us to the NKC, because we had the necessary papers for this for some time.”

Walking trails

NKC’s enthusiasm for the location near Regge, where cycling and walking trails could be followed from the family yard, meant that the first campers headed to the farm shortly afterwards. There were six places initially.

Selling the vineyard

Wijngaard Baan continued to exist next to the campsite until 2016. “I had a triple hernia and working in the vineyard became too physically demanding for us,” explains Anja Baan. The vineyard was sold to De Wijnmakers, who still grow grapes there. A small part of the vineyard is still owned by the Baan family.

International Camp

After the vineyard was sold, the campground was expanded. There are now twenty spacious spaces. Campers come from all over. “Including Hungary, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Lithuania, South Africa and Australia. The average stay is three nights. Some campers leave after one night, while others enjoy the area for a little longer. Regular customers come here several times a year.”

Lots of comfort

What is the most special thing about this campsite? Anja Baan doesn’t have to think about it for long: “So much comfort. Really so much peace. We are in the triangle of the A1, the A35 and the railway from Rijssen to Wierden, and you don’t hear anything here.”

The camping site Wijngaard Baan is located at Kloosterhoeksweg 15 in Wierden.
www.wijngaardbaan.nl