De Fruitgaard is a self-picking farm and garden located just outside Haamstede in Zeeland, offering a range of rural activities and products. The site features a farm shop (Landwinkel), a mini-camping, and dedicated areas for visitors to harvest their own produce.
In its orchard, the farm cultivates various fruits. During annual “Appelplukdagen,” visitors can pick their own apples, including varieties like Delcorf, Elstar, Topaz, Goudreinette, Santana, and Wellant, as well as pears, specifically Conference and Gieser wildeman.
Additionally, a “Pluktuin” (picking garden) is available, where guests can pick their own fresh produce during the summer. This includes a variety of flowers (such as dahlias), fresh vegetables, berries, and blackberries.
The Landwinkel offers a wide selection of regional quality products sourced from the farm itself and local collaborators. Available items include various farmstead cheeses (such as organic goat cheese, fenugreek, and aged varieties), unprocessed Scottish Highlander beef, eggs, juices, and other farm delicacies. Custom gift packages featuring these local products are also available.
For those interested in an extended visit, a mini-camping operates in the orchard from April 1st to October 31st, providing quiet seasonal or tourist pitches. The camping offers amenities such as a children’s playground, a goat pasture, a beehive, and free showers and Wi-Fi. It’s important to note that the camping does not accommodate motorhomes/campers and observes Sunday rest, prohibiting arrivals or departures on that day.
The farm’s location provides easy access to local attractions, including nearby forests (Slotbos, Gadrabos), beaches, dunes, and nature reserves like “De Domeinen” and “De Schelphoek,” all within a few kilometers. The center of Haamstede village is also a 10-minute walk away.
The Landwinkel is open Wednesday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to 16:00, with special opening hours during certain holidays.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm and garden offers a delightful experience, largely centered around its well-stocked farm shop and associated campsite. The shop is consistently lauded for its diverse array of fresh, authentic, and high-quality regional products. Visitors particularly enjoy the selection of fruits such as apples, cherries, strawberries, and blackberries, alongside various vegetables, highly-rated aged cheese, nuts, homemade apple juice, and even Scottish Highland beef. Reviewers frequently commend the friendly, welcoming, and helpful staff, contributing to a cozy and pleasant shopping atmosphere with fair prices.
Beyond the shop, guests can explore a picking garden, with opportunities for harvesting flowers and vegetables, including apples. While one visitor noted that the picking garden primarily featured sunflowers and lacked strawberries during their visit, they still appreciated the chance to pick blackberries.
For those staying longer, the associated campsite is generally viewed favorably, described as a lovely spot with quiet and spacious pitches. It’s conveniently located near the town center, with the beach approximately 15 minutes away by bike. The campsite provides amenities for children, including swings, a slide, and a table tennis table. Opinions on the campsite’s facilities are mixed; one guest praised the exceptionally clean sanitary building and good WiFi, while another experienced unclean facilities, a lack of hot water for shaving, and found the site noisy due to proximity to busy roads, perceiving the owner’s primary focus to be elsewhere. Despite these differing experiences regarding the campsite, the overall impression remains positive for a pleasant stay alongside access to local delicacies.