Setting up an innovative enterprise in a historic building to strengthen the regional and local agricultural economy, while promoting employment and tourism.
Cheese production plays a central role in the Woerden area. Thus in 2014, local stakeholders decided to create a cheese academy to provide training for workers and make them employable in the sector and serve as a tourism attraction. Governments, educational organizations and entrepreneurs signed a declaration of intent to work together for that purpose. Support under the LEADER measure supported the conversion of a historic building, into the experience centre. Other activities supported include developing the training programme, creating a network of enterprises and organisations as users of the facility for educational purposes, etc.
The conversion of an old cheese warehouse into the experience centre was completed;
The management organisation as a foundation was set up including volunteers and a coordinator;
In the first year after opening there are at least 2000 paying visitors.