Hof van Gunterstein is an organic farm situated on the historic Gunterstein estate, dedicated to fostering biodiversity, community, and sustainable practices. The farm offers a variety of engaging experiences and products.
Visitors can actively participate in harvesting their own food through the self-harvest garden (zelfoogsttuin). As members, they can come weekly during the season to pick a wide array of organic vegetables and herbs. The garden cultivates over 60 different kinds of produce, including turnips and broad beans in the spring, and palm kale and winter purslane in the autumn. For flower enthusiasts, the flower picking garden (bloemenpluktuin) allows guests to gather their own organic flowers from June/mid-July until September.
The farm also features a farm shop (hofwinkel), open on Fridays and Saturdays, which sells a selection of organic and artisan goods. These include fresh sourdough bread, seasonal vegetables, free-range eggs, meat from their rare Blaarkop cows, soup, pasta, and dairy products like yogurt and quark. Raw, organic milk is available for tapping daily. The farm plans to expand its dairy offerings to include homemade cheese and other dairy products from their Blaarkop cows. For convenience, weekly organic vegetable bags are also available for pickup.
Beyond its produce, Hof van Gunterstein offers overnight stays in “Het Zomerhuisje,” an 18th-century summer house. The farm organizes guided tours, workshops, and hosts corporate events in spaces like “Het Paardenhuisje,” which can include custom organic meals or hands-on activities like picking vegetables and flowers. The farm actively promotes biodiversity through its use of rare Blaarkop cows, a mobile chicken coop, and dedicated land management, contributing to a rich and thriving ecosystem.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm and its accompanying shop consistently receive high praise for offering a wide array of high-quality, fresh, organic, and pesticide-free produce. Visitors particularly commend the delicious raw milk available straight from the tap, often noted for its richer and superior taste compared to pasteurized supermarket varieties. Beyond milk, customers appreciate the excellent farm-produced meat, fresh fruits, vegetables, potatoes, and other dairy products.
The location itself is celebrated for its beautiful setting, featuring a well-maintained farmyard and a large picking garden that provides seasonal produce throughout the summer. Many describe it as a delightful discovery and a true “pearl” in the region. The clean, new shop is noted for its friendly and sympathetic staff, contributing to an overall positive experience. It also serves as a great spot to enjoy coffee, cake, or other snacks, and has been recognized for its family-friendly atmosphere, occasionally offering activities like games for children during special events.
While the organic and pesticide-free nature of the products means they are sometimes pricier, customers generally feel this is justified by the quality. Potential visitors should be aware of the shop’s specific opening hours, which are typically limited to Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 17:00. Although there was one instance of a customer expressing dissatisfaction over a perceived misunderstanding regarding a buttermilk deposit, the owner provided a thorough explanation clarifying the different pricing and deposit structures for their two distinct buttermilk brands. Overall, the sentiment towards the farm and its offerings is overwhelmingly positive.