Fruithof Frederiksoord is an 8-hectare living outdoor museum dedicated to the preservation of historical fruit varieties, functioning as a vital gene bank. The farm cultivates approximately 800 different fruit varieties, with about half holding “urgent” heritage status, underscoring the critical need for their conservation.
Visitors can explore the park-like grounds, which include smaller orchards surrounded by flowering trees and shrubs, as well as a historical grape greenhouse. A “struunpad” (wandering path) provides an engaging experience for all ages, featuring an insect tower and beehive to support pollination.
The farm offers various activities and products:
- Self-picking: During the season, visitors are welcome to pick their own grapes, plums, apples, and pears for a small fee, allowing them to take home a large bag of fresh fruit.
- Farm Shop: A shop is open seasonally, selling freshly picked fruits and pressed apple juice, which sometimes includes pears for added sweetness.
- Courses: Fruithof Frederiksoord provides hands-on courses in fruit tree care, including grafting (to propagate specific fruit varieties) and winter pruning. A cider-making course has also been offered.
- Fruit Identification: Experts are available on certain Wednesdays during the summer months to help identify unknown fruit tree varieties from visitors’ gardens; a minimum of six ripe, undamaged fruits is required for this service.
While fruit trees are not available for sale currently, scions (grafting wood) of various old fruit varieties can be purchased on specific “Open Grafting Days.”
The farm is largely run by enthusiastic volunteers and is open to the public. Access requires an entrance ticket, obtainable for €2.50 at Museum de Proefkolonie, which includes a code to open the gate. For direct fruit or tree purchases (when available), visitors can come on Wednesdays between 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM, with prior notification recommended.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm and garden consistently garners positive reviews, celebrated for its beautifully maintained grounds and picturesque setting. Visitors frequently praise the wide variety of fruit trees, particularly the many different apple breeds, noting the affordability of fresh apples and homemade apple juice.
A significant highlight is the array of well-organized and enjoyable events hosted throughout the year, including the “Lentefair,” “Zomerfair,” and “Paard en Erfgoed” (Horse and Heritage). These fairs are consistently described as lively, engaging, and “gezellig” (cozy or pleasant), featuring numerous interesting stalls, diverse shows with horses and dogs, bird of prey demonstrations, and pony rides for children. Many appreciate the romantic ambiance of the orchard, offering ample space and shaded seating under the fruit trees. These annual gatherings are considered a must-visit, often enhanced by favorable weather.
Beyond special events, the location also houses a beautiful interactive museum and offers highly educational fruit tree pruning courses, taught by a dedicated group of volunteers focused on preserving ancient fruit varieties.
While the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, a few minor observations were made. Some visitors noted that certain fairs seemed a bit “slimmed down” or that shows felt rushed. There was also a comment about the increasing commercialization of some events, with a proliferation of clothing stalls. Other small remarks included lukewarm coffee, the occasional presence of caterpillars, and the wish for the fruit gardens to be open more often. Despite these minor points, the establishment is widely recommended as an enriching and delightful destination.