On the doorstep of the Forest, near where I live, stands a farm, largely dairy. The present buildings date from the mid-19th Century and the site has been listed as protected rural heritage since 1980. And long may it continue to provide potatoes, onions and konynen, alles te koop, painted in an almost Basquiatian childish playfulness on scraps of board.
The Ferme Sainte-Anne’s milk is highly rated, and walking a field behind it, I was struck by almost bucolic excess. The meadow had turned bright yellow with meadow buttercups.
Here is a flower long associated with dairying. Traditionally it was said to produce the richest, creamiest, butter and this is echoed across the Germanic world - boterbloem, Butterblume, smörblomma and smørblomst.
In fact cows don’t really rate it - the rich colour of summer butter comes instead from the carotene in fresh grass and herbs.