Neighborhood Gardens

In Zoetermeer there are 5 neighbourhood and school gardens. On this page you will find more information about these gardens.

Nature in the community garden

In the various community gardens, an attempt is made to create as much of a natural environment as possible. For example, the community gardens Noordhove, Zegwaartseweg and Rokkeveen have a nature-friendly pond. Community garden Rokkeveen also has a hedgehog garden, an animal garden and a low-maintenance bird garden. Various community gardens have fruit trees and small fruits such as blackberries, raspberries and currants. Jam and juice are made from fruit and this is sold on open evenings, for example.

All neighbourhood gardens also have a herb garden with, for example, chives, parsley, celery and mint. You can pick herbs there for free, in consultation with the manager.

Activities in the community gardens

Various activities are organised for young and old in the neighbourhood gardens. For example, children can show their garden to their parents, family and friends. And during the summer holidays there are activities in the context of SpeelmeerPaspoort, such as making flower arrangements and baking bread. Adults can get information about, for example, environmentally friendly gardening, composting, herb gardens and fruit trees.

Volunteers

Volunteers are essential in the garden. They help with school garden lessons, open evenings and days, activities for children and the maintenance of the garden. New volunteers are always welcome. If you like working outside, come and have a look at one of the gardens. Experience and knowledge of gardening is nice but not necessary. Enthusiasm is much more important.

Renting a garden

Don't have your own garden? In a few neighbourhood gardens you can rent a garden from early April to mid-October and grow your own organic vegetables and flowers. In addition, there is limited space for permanent gardens where you can garden all year round.

School garden program

Children in group 5 follow a school garden program during a school year. They start after the summer vacation with 6 theme lessons about flowers, bees, herbs and soil animals and weather influences. With vegetables and herbs from the garden they make their own soup and herb butter.

In April they get a garden, where they grow and harvest vegetables and flowers. They also create a group garden for the new group 5 after the summer holidays. We do not use chemical pesticides or artificial fertilizers in the garden.

Do you have any questions?

Please contact us via the contact form or call us on 14 079 .

Addresses and opening hours

  • Neighborhood garden Noordhove, Da Sangalloruimte 10
  • Neighborhood garden Rokkeveen, Spectrumsingel 50
  • Community garden Zegwaartseweg, Zegwaartseweg 25b
  • Community garden De Weidemolen , Burgemeester Middelberglaan 2
  • Community garden Het Buitenbeest, Belvedèrebos 270

Please note: the opening hours of the community gardens vary per season. For full information, it is best to visit one of the community gardens, or ask your question via telephone number 14 079 .

School and community garden Het Buitenbeest

Address: Belvédèrebos 270

School and community garden Het Buitenbeest is located in the Meerzicht district, next to the play and city farm of the same name.

Gardening with school children

From spring to summer, children from groups 5/6 of local primary schools come here to garden as part of their curriculum. On these days, it is a lively place, full of children getting to work in their own gardens. Up to 300 children's gardens can find a place here - and most years, they are all occupied.

Vegetables, flowers and pumpkins

In addition to the school gardens, we also grow vegetables for the animals on the city farm. In the spring, we fill flower pots with colorful flowers and in the summer, once the school gardens are empty, we plant pumpkins for the Halloween event on the play farm.

Plant house and theme lessons

At the play farm there is a large cold greenhouse. In the spring and summer we show how plants grow. In the fall the greenhouse is used for theme lessons for school children.

An inspiring place for everyone

The Buitenbeest is a special place, not only for children and visitors, but also for volunteers. Here you get energy from gardening, learning and working together.

Do you have any questions?

You can reach us by telephone on 14 079 .

Neighborhood garden Noordhove

Address: Da Sangalloruimte 10

Wijk- en schooltuin Noordhove may be the smallest of the 5 neighbourhood gardens in Zoetermeer, but it is definitely worth a visit. Hidden between schoolyards, an apartment building and a parking lot you will find a surprisingly green oasis.

In this cozy garden you can enjoy a herb garden, beautiful old fruit trees and a small selection of year-round rental gardens. Noordhove also offers school gardens where children can learn about nature and sustainability in a playful way. The garden is also a meeting place thanks to the additional location of Piëzo, where neighborhood activities and workshops are organized.

Do you have any questions?

You can reach us by telephone on 14 079 .

Rokkeveen community garden

Rokkeveen Neighborhood Garden: the green heart of the neighborhood

At Spectrumsingel 50 in Zoetermeer lies the Rokkeveen neighbourhood garden, a flourishing meeting place for local residents and nature lovers. Managed by the Friends of the Rokkeveen neighbourhood garden foundation, in collaboration with the municipality of Zoetermeer, this garden offers a range of activities and facilities for young and old.

What makes the Rokkeveen community garden special?

Green education and workshops: The community garden regularly organizes workshops and events to share knowledge about gardening and sustainability.
Activities: Every first Saturday of the month there is an 'Open Green Hands Day', where volunteers come together to maintain the garden and enjoy each other's company. These days promote social connection and offer an opportunity to actively contribute to the neighborhood.
Local produce sales: Visitors can visit the sales stall for fresh garden produce, including herbs and seasonal vegetables. A great way to get locally and sustainably grown produce.

Opening hours

Wednesday: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (April to mid-September)
Every first Saturday of the month: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Come along and join in!

Whether you have green fingers, want to participate in a workshop or simply want to enjoy the green surroundings, the Rokkeveen community garden welcomes you.

On the page of the Rokkeveen Community Garden Foundation you will find more information and an overview of activities.

School garden De Weidemolen

School garden De Weidemolen : learning and growing at the city farm

Address: Burgemeester Middelberglaan 2

At the city farm De Weidemolen school garden is located in Oosterheem De Weidemolen , a unique place where children from group 5 learn about nature, sustainability and healthy food in a playful way. The garden is divided over 4 plots of land and offers pupils an inspiring environment to get their hands dirty.

What makes the school garden special?

  • Learning about biodiversity: The school garden is a living example of biodiversity, with flower gardens that attract bees and butterflies, a berry garden and an orchard. Children discover how plants grow and why a healthy environment is important.
  • Connecting with the urban farm: The collaboration with the urban farm De Weidemolen makes gardening even more special. Children are not only taught gardening, but also learn how nature and animals together form an ecosystem.
  • Practical learning: Groups 5 of primary schools in Oosterheem have their own gardens, where they grow vegetables and flowers. It is a place where they can proudly harvest what they have grown themselves and where curiosity and creativity are stimulated.

For primary schools in Oosterheem

School garden De Weidemolen is intended to give schools the opportunity for pupils in group 5 to learn outside the classroom. To let them learn about nature and experience how fun and valuable gardening can be.

Do you have any questions?

You can reach us by telephone on 14 079 .

Community garden Zegwaartseweg

Zegwaartseweg community garden, a place where nature and residents come together

Address: Zegwaartseweg 25b

Here, gardening is done with care and love, as much as possible organically and always without pesticides. It is a green oasis where children and adults can discover how fun and valuable gardening is.

What can you do here?

  • School gardens : Group 5 pupils grow vegetables and flowers in their own garden. With their hands in the soil, they learn about sustainability, healthy food and being proud of their own harvest. Think of crisp lettuce or bright orange marigolds - all home-grown!
  • Rental gardens : For residents who do not have a garden of their own, the neighbourhood garden offers the opportunity to rent a piece of greenery. Whether you want a small summer garden or want to garden all year round - here you can grow your own vegetables, fruit and flowers and enjoy the peace of nature.
  • Local delicacies : Buy delicious honey from your own beekeeper, fresh fruit or homemade jam.

Opening hours

From April to October:

  • Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (not during school holidays).
  • If the gate is open you are also very welcome, but please report to a volunteer.

Help us

The community garden is run by an enthusiastic group of volunteers and new faces are always welcome. Whether you have green fingers or just like being outside, there is always something to do. Your enthusiasm to make the garden bloom together with others is the most important thing!

Do you have any questions?

You can reach us by telephone on 14 079 .