This rural retreat, “Boerenrustcamping De Kermisrose” and its tea garden “De Stokroos,” is located in Nieuwerkerk, Zeeland. It is managed by Andre, who also runs an agricultural business, and Jacqueline, who crafts delicious homemade cakes and meals for the tea garden.
The tea garden provides a serene setting where visitors can enjoy a wide selection of over 50 types of tea or coffee, paired with fresh homemade cakes, including seasonal varieties and a classic apple pie. The menu extends to lunch options like pancakes and farmer’s lunches, alongside three-course dinners that highlight regional and fresh ingredients, offering choices of fish, meat, and vegetarian dishes. Desserts often feature fresh fruit, and seasonal vegetables are incorporated into dishes like cheese fondue. High tea, mini high tea, and various buffets, such as a “Boerenbroodmaaltijd” (farmer’s bread meal) with homemade soup and local specialties, are also available. The tea garden can accommodate private events, family celebrations, and business meetings for up to 35 guests.
For stays, the “De Kermisrose” campsite offers 12 spacious pitches, most equipped with private sanitary facilities. Unique accommodations include a vintage caravan, an English double-decker bus, two “pipowagens” (traditional gypsy wagons), two Finnish “Kota” cabins, and a “Flower Power City bus.” The campsite provides free WiFi and welcomes dogs. Children can engage in activities such as pony riding, an animation morning during peak season, and interact with farm animals like geese, chickens, sheep, and rabbits, with opportunities for egg collecting. A jacuzzi is available for rent, with an option for a private inflatable jacuzzi at your pitch. The location is convenient for cycling and walking, with the Dijkwater nature reserve and Grevelingen lake nearby.
The establishment is committed to sustainability, generating its own electricity with solar panels, managing its water purification system, and sourcing meat directly from a local, antibiotic-free cattle farm. The agricultural business employs satellite imagery to minimize the use of crop protection products and fertilizers, actively stores CO2 in the soil, and maintains biodiversity-rich field margins that also enhance water quality.
While the tea garden utilizes fresh and seasonal produce, and children can participate in egg collecting, the available information does not indicate any opportunities for visitors to self-pick fruits, vegetables, or other plant produce from the farm or garden.
What visitors say
This delightful destination, operating as both a farm campsite and a charming tea garden, consistently earns high praise for its tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. Visitors frequently commend the friendly and hospitable owners and staff, who cultivate a cozy, almost romantic ambiance with numerous inviting seating areas nestled within a beautifully maintained garden, some even described as “hidden corners.”
The culinary offerings are a major highlight, with guests raving about the delicious homemade cakes—the apple pie and strawberry tart being particular favorites—as well as the excellent coffee, teas (including ginger tea), and other meals like fresh tomato soup and pancakes. The food is generally considered wholesome, tasty, and reasonably priced, although a couple of isolated comments mention perceived high prices or specific items being dry or selling out quickly.
For families, the location is a paradise. It’s notably child-friendly, featuring a fantastic playground and a variety of farm animals such as ponies, chickens, geese, pot-bellied pigs, and rabbits, offering children unique experiences like pony rides and collecting fresh eggs.
Accommodation options are diverse, ranging from spacious camping pitches to unique stays in shepherd’s huts (pipowagen), Finnish Kotas, or even a converted English bus. A standout feature for campers is the clean and convenient private sanitary facilities. While one reviewer noted that a newer camping section lacked mature natural screening for privacy, this was a minor point in an otherwise overwhelmingly positive experience.
Overall, guests cherish this spot as a wonderful escape, perfect for unwinding, enjoying quality food and drink, and providing ample entertainment for children. Despite a few rare criticisms regarding service speed or isolated incidents, the sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many considering it a “well-kept secret” on Schouwen-Duiveland and enthusiastically planning return visits.