Fruittuin Verbeek is a family-run farm and garden located in Oldebroek, in the beautiful Noord-Veluwe region of the Netherlands, easily accessible from Zwolle, Harderwijk, and Apeldoorn. It is renowned for its sustainable fruit cultivation and offers a variety of engaging activities and facilities for visitors.
The farm features extensive orchards with over 15,000 fruit trees, where visitors can immerse themselves in the fruit-growing process. A highlight is the self-picking experience, available seasonally. Guests can pick their own apples (including varieties like Pinova, Rode Dijkman, Veluws Appeltje, and Santana), pears (including stewing pears), cherries, plums, strawberries, raspberries, red currants, black currants, and blueberries. Beyond fruit, the farm also offers seasonal self-picking of dahlias and gladioli. For a more unique connection to nature, one can even adopt an apple tree and harvest its yield.
In addition to self-picking, Fruittuin Verbeek boasts a charming farm shop, offering fresh produce from its own orchards and local region, along with juices, jams, homemade chocolates, specialty teas, and various home accessories. The farm also has a spacious terrace and a “Tuinkamer” (Garden Room), serving coffee, tea, homemade cakes, lunches, and drinks. Children can enjoy a large orchard playground equipped with an air trampoline, a play forklift, and a tractor course. Educational activities include an interactive scavenger hunt and walking routes with information boards explaining fruit cultivation.
Adding to its appeal, the farm is home to a herd of alpacas, offering unique activities such as alpaca feed & greets, picnics among the alpacas, and photo opportunities.
Fruittuin Verbeek is also an official wedding venue and provides charming locations for jubilees, birthdays, and business meetings, offering tailored catering with local and homemade products.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm is widely celebrated as a charming and versatile destination, highly recommended for families with young children, group outings, and special events like weddings. Visitors consistently praise the enjoyable and educational experience of picking their own fresh fruit, including apples, pears, cherries, and blueberries, often highlighting it as a fun activity for kids.
The farm features a beautiful and well-stocked shop, offering a diverse array of fresh, often organic and local, produce, alongside homemade products like jams and juices, and a selection of unique gift items and home decor. A cozy cafe and spacious terrace provide a relaxing spot to enjoy coffee, delicious homemade apple pie, and various lunch options, often set amidst the picturesque fruit trees. Child-friendliness is a major draw, with extensive play areas featuring sandpits, bouncy castles, climbing structures, and farm vehicles that allow children to play safely, giving parents a chance to relax. The presence of alpacas adds another delightful element for younger visitors.
As an event venue, the farm receives high marks for its beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, its flexible and accommodating approach to planning, delicious catering services (including buffets and barbecues), and attentive staff, all contributing to memorable family celebrations and weddings.
However, some visitors note that prices in the shop and at the cafe can be on the higher side. Occasional concerns are raised about the availability of certain soft fruits, particularly after busy periods, and some picking areas have been described as poorly maintained with weeds and stinging nettles. While the majority of feedback for staff is positive, a few negative experiences highlight issues with unwelcoming or abrupt service, especially near closing times, and a lack of flexibility for certain event requests, such as sound limitations. There have also been criticisms regarding unclear communication about unforeseen closures, which has led to disappointment for some travelers. Furthermore, a specific concern about playground safety has been mentioned. Despite these points, the overall sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive, with many patrons enthusiastically recommending it as a delightful and engaging place to visit.