The discreet charm of the Dutch tea garden

By Bernd F Meier Aug 24, 2010, 12:23 GMT

Zuiderwoude, Netherlands - Some come by boat, others on a bicycle and a handful arrive by car. Their common destination lies tucked away on the edge of the sleepy Dutch town of Zuiderwoude - a genteel garden where afternoon tea is served outdoors.

Erigone Koolen's tea garden is one of many such establishments up and down the Netherlands where visitors can enjoy their favourite warm beverage in relaxed, rustic surroundings. Most of the gardens are located in idyllic rural areas far from the hustle and bustle of urban Holland.

The Koolen family started out ten years ago by selling ice cream from their smart little house on summer days. As time passed by guests kept asking whether they might have tea and a slice of cake. Mrs Koolen was happy to oblige and soon she found herself running a rural tea-room.

Erigone's 'Theeschenkerij' is now well-established. The garden is a comfortable one hour's bike ride from Amsterdam while other visitors glide across almost silently from neighbouring Broek in Waterland in an electrically-powered boat.

The guests enjoy gazing across the extensive local meadows as they take one of the more than 20 different teas on offer while munching a tasty piece of homemade cake.

The Netherlands can boast of hundreds of charming tea gardens run along these lines. 'The tradition hails from England and caught on here in the early 1980s,' said landscape gardener Jacqueline van der Kloet who lives in Weesp near Amsterdam. She was one of the first to serve tea and cake among the lawns and flowerbeds of her own garden.

Tea gardens flourish particularly in the Waterland region north of Amsterdam. Enthusiasts of the brew can spend a whole weekend cycling from one garden to the next and spend the night at a local farmhouse. Under the motto of 'De Boerenkammer' more than a dozen farmers have teamed up to offer a network of quaint and cosy rooms for tea aficionados.

Over at Marianne Tuyn's place in Lienden which lies in Gelderland province the emphasis is on flowers and trees. 'A lot of garden clubs get in touch before they come over so that we can tour the premises, admiring more than 50 different species of wild flowers,' said Tuyn. 'We round off the visit with a good cup of tea and a nice piece of homemade cake.'

The selection of cakes and pastries is perfect for summer weather and visitors can choose from cherry gateau, strawberry tarts or apple pastries served with fresh cream, a firm Dutch favourite.

A meandering path from across the German border in Dueffelward leads to the door of the 'Millinger Theetuin' and most of the people here come by bicycle. The route takes visitors through a swathe of unspoilt countryside before they reach the stylish garden on the banks of the River Rhine which features elements of oriental tea-garden tradition.

Erigone Koolen's garden in Zuiderwoude is renowned for its exquisite teas whereas visitors to Paula Hoff's 'De Heale Moanne' (Half Moon Garden) in the village of Dokkum are usually bowled over by magnificent floral displays covering 2,000 square metres.

Passionately green-fingered, Hoff has divided up her grounds into various green rooms. Outdoor easy chairs tempt visitors to take a tea break while admiring the hardy annuals and the themed areas are separated by trees and shrubberies.