Henk(35)

I grew up on an arable farm in Zeeland — potatoes, onions, sugar beets. Beautiful work, but land prices in the Netherlands are insane. For what one hectare costs in Zeeland, you can buy twenty hectares in Saskatchewan. My father understood immediately when I said I wanted to go to Canada: "There you can really farm, son."

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has a specific category for agricultural entrepreneurs. You need to submit a business plan, demonstrate relevant experience and make an exploratory visit. I flew to Saskatchewan twice to look at farms and talk to local farmers. The second time I bought an 800-hectare farm near Moose Jaw — for less than what our farm in Zeeland was worth.

The scale of farming here is unimaginable for Dutch people. My fields are so large that I use GPS-guided tractors — you literally cannot see the end of the field. I grow wheat, canola and lentils. The growing season is short but intense: from May to September everything grows like crazy. The harvest in August-September is the busiest time of year.

Community life in rural Saskatchewan was a surprise. I expected isolation, but the opposite is true. The small towns have a tight community — everyone knows everyone. There's a local hockey league, potluck dinners at the church and neighbors who come to help without being asked when your combine breaks down. It reminds me of how Zeeland used to be.

The winters are the biggest adjustment. November through March is real winter — minus 30 to minus 40 degrees, snowstorms that keep you indoors and a sun that sets at four o'clock. But the farm keeps going: livestock needs feeding, machinery needs maintenance and administration for the next season needs to be done. In winter I plan, in summer I execute.

After two years I have my PR status, a growing business and a life I could never have led in the Netherlands. The distances are enormous — the nearest city is an hour's drive — but the space, the freedom and the feeling that you're building something are priceless. My tip for Dutch farmers: if you love the land and aren't afraid of space, Saskatchewan is your place.