Dutch cheesemakers have been hit by a spate of top-end thefts, prompting a dairy federation to warn farmers to tighten security around their storerooms.
At least six cheesemakers have been burgled in the last year, with criminals seeming to have a nose for ripened Boerenkaas, or farmhouse cheese, which is a Dutch speciality protected by an appellation.
“We’ve never had a problem before last year, when at least six farmers were burgled and had their cheeses stolen,” said Irene van de Voort, chair of the Dutch Dairy Farmers’ Producer Federation (BBZ).
“We are worried about the situation and have advised our members to increase security,” she told Agence France-Presse.