Instagram posts overwhelm Bavarian farm with visitors

Visitors have overwhelmed the Reitsberger Hof experience farm in Vaterstetten, according to German broadcaster BR, leaving parking areas full and creating problems with rubbish and toilet use. The family running the farm has appealed to influencers and content creators to coordinate with them before posting about the site.

The farm, popular with animal lovers east of Munich, attracts visitors who watch the animals, walk across the meadows and eat at its restaurant. Anna Link, who runs the farm with her brothers and husband, said the number of visitors rises sharply after posts about the farm appear online, especially at weekends and in good weather.

Cars are being parked on the roads and beneath the apple trees when the main parking areas fill up. Link said the farm was receiving far more visitors than usual and could no longer cope with the crowds.

The Reitsberger Hof has been in the same family for more than 200 years. It has cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, geese, horses and ponies, as well as a riding school, bakery, cider press and restaurant. Like any food-service business, however, the restaurant has limited capacity.

In a recent Instagram post, Link asked influencers to contact the farm in advance. She said influencers had posted about the farm three times in a row without asking first. Advance notice would allow the family to provide more staff or set up an additional stand to prepare for the extra visitors and demand.

The post received largely positive and understanding responses. Some content creators also contacted the family directly.

Carina Pietzuch, who has about 70,000 Instagram followers and tests destinations for families with young children, said she understood the family’s concerns. She said she normally contacts destinations directly or reaches out by email through their websites, introduces herself and her account, explains her plans and obtains filming permission in advance.

That approach is not always common, Pietzuch said. Posts can leave popular destinations overcrowded and can sometimes spread incorrect information. She said she was increasingly asked to correct false information published through her account.

The Reitsberger family hopes creators will take its situation into account so the farm can continue operating as before. The family also wants to preserve its open farm concept, which Link’s father developed 31 years ago.