If you find yourself in the Netherlands or Switzerland these days, don’t be surprised if someone suggests you go on a cow hugging tour.
Hugging cows first started in the Netherlands, and the Dutch call it “koe knuffelen,” but the trend quickly spread to other European countries and the US.
You can see it as the latest self-care craze that looks silly or as a way to get closer to nature and animals. The only thing you need in order to try it is access to a farm that offers the service.
You’d typically start with a tour of the farm and continue to a 2-3 hour session of cow hugging. Cows are warm, big, and have a slower heartbeat than humans, so the experience is very calming.
The trend started around 10 years ago, and today it’s a part of a bigger movement to help people get closer to nature. And if you’re worried about the cows, don’t be—a 2007 study showed that they actually enjoy this type of bonding very much! It’s good for you, it’s good for the cows, so you really don’t have an excuse not to try it.