Moestuin Zuylestein in Leersum is a 17th-century kitchen garden where visitors can pick their own seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. The garden grows a mix of modern and historic varieties, including pumpkins, carrots, lettuce, beans, thyme, basil, coriander, courgettes, New Zealand spinach, Jerusalem artichokes, palm kale and potatoes. In season, there are also apples, mulberries, medlars, strawberries and soft fruit such as currants and gooseberries. Along the walls, trained fruit trees produce old varieties of apples and pears.
You pick what is ready and pay by weight. The garden is open for picking on Fridays and Sundays from 11.00 to 16.00, and on Saturdays from 11.00 to 15.00. The farm shop in the orangery sells the same produce, along with eggs, pork from the estate’s free-ranging pigs, homemade jams, bread baked from Zuylestein’s own grain, and cut flowers. The shop also serves tea, coffee and homemade cakes on a terrace overlooking the pond.
The garden is part of a historic estate that includes woodlands, meadows and walking trails. The estate is open daily from dawn to dusk. Parking is limited near the garden; visitors are advised to park opposite the entrance and walk the short distance. The farm occasionally closes due to extreme weather, so check ahead if travelling from further away.
What visitors say
Visitors come for the historic 17th-century castle garden, where rows of organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers grow in a walled plot. The selection includes unusual varieties like red kale and palm cabbage, and most agree the produce is fresh and well-tended. Picking is straightforward, though some note the shop is only open on weekends—check the website for exact hours. The farm also keeps forest pigs, a hit with children, and sells their meat in the shop.
The atmosphere is relaxed, with self-service coffee and homemade cakes on offer. Most find the prices fair, though one visitor thought they were on the high side. Staff and volunteers are friendly, though a few mention slow service when it’s busy. The garden is a pleasant spot for a stroll, especially in summer when everything is in bloom. A few visitors were disappointed by hygiene or food quality, but most describe it as a charming, low-key outing.