Open Monuments Weekend, 12 & 13 September – see the estate’s enormous diversity and visit the 15th-century gate tower, 11 am to 5 pm.
Hidden in the green
On the edge of Gendt, behind a driveway lined with walnut trees, lies a country estate where people and nature have been building together for 45 years.
Three buildings, one moat
A driveway of walnut trees leads to three buildings. Inside the old moat stand the 15th-century gate tower and the 19th-century listed manor house, Huize Poelwijk. Just outside lies a large outbuilding with a very special guest studio: Studio Zuidkant.
All around are low-lying meadows, the Gendt polder and the Waal dike. The estate borders the southern edge of the village, yet feels like a world of its own.
A living landscape
Guests wander through orchards, herb garden, kitchen garden and greenhouse, along moat and pond, through woodland and wilderness.
Orchards
Standard and half-standard orchards with old and unusual fruit varieties.
Herb & kitchen garden
Vegetable garden, berry garden and pumpkin field – the edible landscape in practice.
Greenhouse & nursery
Cutting beds and a greenhouse with a wood stove to relax in, even on cool days.
Butterfly garden & meadow
Flower garden and flower meadow full of insects, butterflies and birds.
Moat & pond
The old castle moat and a natural pond: water defines the character of the place.
Woodland & notable trees
More than 100 tree species, including paulownia, mulberry, medlar and box elder.
No subsidies, plenty of conviction
Since 1981 Carla Linssen and Koen Meijaard – both former physical education teachers – have transformed the 3.5-hectare estate from meadow into a varied living environment for people and animals.
Without any form of subsidy, and against the locally rather traditional current, they keep creating. The result is enormous biodiversity: of the 280 points available on the Dutch national biodiversity scale, Poelwijk scores 260.
We are lovers of permaculture, the edible landscape and natural movement.
Dozens of places to pause
Around the grounds are dozens of benches, each offering a different view of the estate – made from reclaimed, natural materials.
Stork nest & hide
Watch the birds on the flower meadow and the nest by the chestnut avenue from the observation hut.
Willow lane & chestnut avenue
Mown paths lead you along avenues, hedges and surprising vistas.
Beneath the tower
Read a book in the shade of the gate tower, at the edge of the moat.
“No tidy borders, no geometric lines – nature decides the picture.”
Explore for yourself?
Look at the map and plan a visit to the gardens, or read more about staying in Studio Zuidkant.