De Waelde Tuin is a 6-hectare historic orchard located near the village of De Waal on the island of Texel. Operating since late 2023 under new stewardship, the farm embraces a nature-inclusive, permaculture-based approach, with no pesticides used. The property includes an orchard, a permaculture vegetable garden, a food forest in development, agroforestry plots, and an eco farm camping site. The farm also features a shop and a roadside stall selling products from the land.
The orchard offers a wide variety of tree fruit for self-picking, including apples, pears, plums, apricots, peaches, and cherries, featuring both old, forgotten varieties and classic types. The vegetable garden yields produce such as carrots, turnip tops, beets, and tomatoes. The food forest, planted in spring 2025, includes hazelnuts, walnuts, elderberries, and blackberries. Self-picking availability is seasonal, generally aligning with the summer and early autumn harvests.
The farm’s roadside stall is open 24/7, while the main shop opens when the harvest allows, typically from mid-May. The eco farm camping and the garden are open during the summer months. The property is closed in winter. The farm is wheelchair accessible with accessible parking and entrance. Parking is free.
What visitors say
This highly-regarded local fruit farm provides a cherished opportunity for visitors to pick their own exceptionally fresh, ripe, and delicious apples, pears, and plums straight from the orchard. Customers consistently laud the excellent quality of the traditionally grown fruit and praise its unparalleled freshness. Beyond the engaging self-picking experience, a variety of farm products, including their well-known ‘Kees’ appelsap’ (apple juice) and delightful stew pears, are readily available for purchase both at the on-site barn shop and through wider distribution across Texel.
The farm is celebrated for its serene natural setting and the genuinely friendly, helpful, and honest staff, who foster a welcoming atmosphere. Many guests appreciate the informative tours through the orchards, which offer insights into the diverse produce cultivated here. For those desiring a deeper connection with nature, the farm offers comfortable and well-equipped glamping tents for overnight stays, complete with delicious breakfast options from the farm shop. While generally praised as a fun and immersive nature escape, and appreciated for its long-standing presence, visitors are advised to check current opening hours. The farm operates a self-service model for its shop, with payment via QR code or a roadside cash stall, a system that, while efficient, occasionally leads to confusion if not clearly communicated to all visitors.