De Lekbongerd is an historic high-stem orchard located at Lekdijk West 85 in Schoonhoven, serving as a rest stop, a place for regional products, education, and a picturesque photo location. Owned and operated by Elize, Joost, and their children since 2016, the orchard dates back to around 1937.
The farm cultivates a diverse array of fruits. Plums include varieties like Opal, Reine Claude, and Victoria. Apples feature numerous types, ranging from cooking apples such as ‘Schone van Boskoop’ (Green Reinette) and ‘Goudreinet’ (Red Reinette), to dessert apples like ‘Melrose’, ‘Ingrid Marie’, ‘Sterappel’, ‘Benoni’, ‘Jonathan’, and ‘Elstar’, among others. Pears are also abundant, with dessert varieties like ‘Beurre Hardy’, ‘Triomphe De Vienne’, ‘Legipont’, and ‘Doyenne du Comice’, alongside stewing pears such as ‘Saint Remy’, ‘Zoete Brederode’, and ‘Gieser Wilderman’. Additionally, the orchard grows walnuts and a selection of small fruits, including thornless blackberries (‘Loch Ness’), gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, rose hips, and black mulberries. A vegetable garden also hosts various vegetables, primarily for educational purposes.
While the farm generally aims to host self-picking days in the autumn, there will be no self-picking events in 2023, 2024, or 2025 due to poor harvests affecting the fruit setting.
Visitors can still enjoy the farm’s amenities, which include a rest point with a toilet, benches, and picnic tables. Regional products are available for purchase from the barn, including homemade apple-pear juice, plum jam, local honey, and organic pear-apple syrup. The orchard hosts “Open Blossom Days” in the spring, offering opportunities for picnics, photography, and children’s activities like crafts and scavenger hunts. The location is also available for photoshoots. Educational programs focusing on food and fruit cultivation are provided for primary school children.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm consistently receives high praise from visitors, who describe it as a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable destination. Many appreciate the opportunity for apple picking during the appropriate season, highlighting the spacious and beautiful orchard filled with trees. The atmosphere is often described as cozy, with comfortable seating areas where guests can relax and indulge in coffee, delicious apple pie, and other treats.
It’s considered an ideal spot for various visits, including group outings, and the “blossom days” are particularly noted for their festive charm. Families with small children will find the farm welcoming, as it provides toys and ample space for them. While there are plenty of apples to pick, including complimentary cooking apples with minor blemishes, it’s worth noting that cherries are not available. Beyond picking, the farm is also a popular place to obtain fresh apple and pear juice, and its hospitality is consistently well-received by guests.