The Beginning of a New Adventure
In 2019, the emigration journey began for André and Marieke Banning. Together with their daughter (13) and son (11), they started exploring the idea of leaving their dairy farm in the Netherlands behind for a new life abroad. They attended webinars from Interfarms and explored their options. Sweden was briefly considered, but it still felt "too much like Europe." Canada had been on their minds for much longer, especially for Marieke, who had previously completed an internship there and felt immediately at home.
The
Start of the Canadian Adventure
On December 27, 2021, they traveled to Ontario, Canada for the first time. The country appealed to them instantly, but they also realized that the emigration process would be complex. In the summer of 2022, they expanded their search to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In these regions, investment requirements are lower, and you can purchase more agricultural land with less own capital than in places like Ontario. Still, Ontario continued to feel like the best match, it became the province they focused on. In October 2022, they visited Alberta as well, but their preference remained Ontario.
Searching for the Right Farm
In the winter of 2022, three dairy farms came onto the market that matched their requirements and budget. They immediately placed an offer on the first farm, and it was accepted. Coincidentally, the selling family had emigrated from the Netherlands themselves back in 2013. There was an instant connection.
The sale of their Dutch farm had not yet taken place at that time, a reversed order that caused some stress. But in February 2023, an offer on their farm was accepted as well, and on May 28, 2023, the conditional sale was finalized.
“Suddenly, we owned two farms.”
Once the Canadian purchase was completed, they flew back in May to prepare everything. For two months, they were responsible for financing both farms, their Dutch business and their new farm in Ontario. Fortunately, the Canadian bank was willing to provide a bridge loan. “That was our luck,” André explains.
They moved to Canada with a work permit for operating their own business. André had completed his English language test in March 2023, and they knew they would score enough points to be selected from Ontario’s Entrepreneur pool.
Once the Canadian purchase was completed, they flew back in May to prepare everything. For two months, they were responsible for financing both farms, their Dutch business and their new farm in Ontario. Fortunately, the Canadian bank was willing to provide a bridge loan. “That was our luck,” André explains.
They moved to Canada with a work permit for operating their own business. André had completed his English language test in March 2023, and they knew they would score enough points to be selected from Ontario’s Entrepreneur pool.
“In the beginning, it’s complicated.”
André reflects: “In the beginning, it’s complicated. Without a farm, you can't start a permanent residency application because you never know when the right opportunity will come along. But once the offer in Canada was accepted, everything suddenly moved quickly.”
Family Life in Canada
The children felt at home immediately. They never experienced homesickness, partly because they were still in primary school. Their new school is nearby, and life in Ontario feels surprisingly familiar. “Distances here aren’t extremely large, and everything you need school, sports, shops, is right in the village.”
Waiting for Permanent Residency
The application for permanent residency has now been submitted. Their provincial nomination for Ontario was approved in December 2024. The program has since officially closed. “We were very lucky,” Marieke says. “After our purchase, barely any other farms came up for sale in the area.”
Why Canada?
What attracts them most to Canada is the appreciation for farming life. “Here, you can truly be a farmer again,” André says. “You do your own thing and decide what’s best for the cows and for the land.” The people are friendly, approachable, and take more time for one another.
“Emigrating is a matter of trust,” he continues. “Nothing is certain. You’re really thrown into the deep end.”
Not everything went smoothly. Passing the written test for the Ontario driver’s license turned out to be a challenge. “You can choose from 27 languages, but Dutch isn’t one of them. And without a driver’s license, you can’t buy a car. That was a bit tricky.”
More Time for the Family
In the Netherlands, they had 160 dairy cows; now they run a farm with 90 cows. “We’ve halved in size, but our income is the same or even higher,” Marieke says. “And we have much more time for the children.”
In Conclusion
“If you really want something, you just have to take the leap,” they conclude. “At the moment, nothing is for sale in Ontario. So we truly acted at the perfect time.”
