Fruittuin Verbeek in Oldebroek is a family-run pick-your-own farm with over 15,000 fruit trees, including apples, pears, cherries, plums and soft fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants. The farm also grows dahlias and gladioli for cutting. The picking season runs from early summer to October, with different fruits ripening in stages: cherries in June and July, summer fruit in July and August, and apples and pears from late August to October. The last fruit to ripen is the Veluws appeltje, a crisp, sweet apple available from early October.
You pick fruit directly from the trees or bushes and pay by weight. The farm provides containers, but you can also bring your own. Picking is only allowed in the designated fields, and eating while picking is permitted, though not to excess. The farm is open Wednesday to Saturday, 9.00 to 17.00, with the orchard, café and play area open from 10.00 to 16.30. From July to mid-October, the farm is also open on Sundays from 12.00 to 17.00.
Alongside the orchard, Fruittuin Verbeek has a farm shop selling fresh produce, homemade jams, juices, local delicacies and seasonal gifts. The on-site café serves coffee, tea, homemade cakes and light meals on a large terrace overlooking the orchard. A play area with a trampoline, sandpit, pedal tractors and climbing frames is available for children. The farm also keeps a small herd of alpacas, which can be seen in their paddock near the café.
Fruittuin Verbeek is wheelchair-accessible, though the orchard paths are partly grass. Dogs are welcome on leads but cannot enter the picking fields. The farm hosts seasonal festivals, workshops and events, including a cherry festival in July and a winter market in November. It is also a licensed wedding venue.
What visitors say
Visitors come to pick their own fruit—mostly apples, pears, cherries, and soft fruit like raspberries and blueberries—straight from the trees and bushes. The orchards are well-kept, though a few mention weeds and stinging nettles near the lower plants, which can be tricky with small children. You pay by weight, and while some find the prices fair, others call it expensive, especially when the selection is limited later in the season.
The farm works well for families. There’s a playground with tractors, a sandpit, and climbing structures, and parents can sit on the terrace with coffee and cake while keeping an eye on the kids. The on-site shop sells fresh produce, homemade jams, and local products, though a few note the prices are higher than supermarkets. Staff are generally friendly and helpful, though a handful of recent reviews describe brusque or inconsistent service.
A few visitors have been disappointed by unexpected closures or limited picking options, so it’s worth checking ahead. Opinions on the food and drinks vary—some praise the quality, others find it overpriced. The alpacas and seasonal events, like apple festivals, get positive mentions.