How Alpacas Zeelandia came to be
The Alpacas Zeelandia adventure began in 2018, when Mara and Jacco made their dream come true. With the arrival of three female alpacas—Ada, Aafje, and Arenda, later joined by Alpha, Bonne, Amber, Evita, and Dana—they opened their doors. Their goal? To introduce people to these special, fluffy animals in an accessible, warm, and informative way.
What started as a small-scale passion project quickly took a deeply meaningful and necessary turn.
From passion to rescue
The birth of the shelter
The turning point came when Mara and Jacco received an urgent request from the Belgian police: could they take in four severely neglected and abused alpacas? The couple didn’t hesitate for a moment, opening their hearts and pastures to these animals.
This was only the beginning. The influx of in-need alpacas with various traumas and medical issues grew so large that a professional structure was required to support them properly. That is why, in 2020, the Stichting Alpaca Rescue Nederland was officially established.
Since then, the foundation has grown into a recognized and certified rescue center holding the CBF quality mark, ANBI tax-exempt status, and recognition as a Stichting DierenLot Beneficiary. Hard work continues on all fronts with great success: by the end of 2024, no fewer than 55 alpacas were in our care, and the waiting list had been completely cleared.
Healing and finding a new home
At Alpaca Rescue Netherlands, we rescue sick, neglected, and abused alpacas from across the Netherlands (and sometimes Belgium). Alpacas that can no longer stay with their owners due to unforeseen circumstances also find a welcoming home here.
Every animal is unique and receives a tailored recovery process:
- Physical recovery: Intensive medical care and proper nutrition to regain health and strength.
- Resocialization: Rebuilding trust in humans and integrating comfortably into the herd.
- Rehoming: The ultimate goal! We search for loving new homes. We thoroughly vet these locations, train the new owners, and continue to guide them afterward.
We do this together: Your visit makes all the difference!
Running a professional rescue center involves high, intensive medical costs. Mara and Jacco still cover a large portion of these expenses themselves, but they cannot do it alone. And that is where you come in!
When you participate in an activity at Alpacas Zeelandia—whether it’s a high tea, a beach walk, or a visit to the experience trail—you achieve two things at once:
- You create unforgettable memories together with your friends, family, or colleagues.
- You directly support alpacas in need. The proceeds from our activities serve as the main financial backbone used to cover their medical care.
Furthermore, human interaction during these outings plays an essential role in the resocialization process for our rescue alpacas. By walking or feeding them, you help them regain their trust in people.
