The Orchard is in a special place: near the bustling city of Utrecht with its cathedral tower and old canals. Close to Fort Vechten, the largest fort of the Dutch Waterline (World Heritage) and close to nature park De Utrechtse Heuvelrug with forests, estates and 'mountains'. You can walk in the area along the Kromme Rijn or in the beautiful forests.
You are so
Wherever you want to go, from our country estate you are so there. Towns and nature are within cycling distance. The NS-station is a ten-minute walk and by car you are directly on the arterial roads. You're never on the road for long to get to the most beautiful or cozy spots.
For detailed information on what to do in the area, check out Discover Utrecht, in our app and check out some of our outdoor hotspots below!
The fort is an attraction for young and old, with interactive exhibits about the water lines, the Romans and nature on the forts. One of the highlights is the oculus rift parachute jump over the water line. There are guided tours of the fort led by a guide who will tell you all about the forts and the water line and show you the beautiful, historic buildings.
The iconic Dom Tower is the pride of Utrecht. A special monument with a unique story. With a height of 112 meters, it is still the highest church tower in the Netherlands.
The tower has been the centerpiece of the city for centuries and has witnessed the joys and sorrows of its inhabitants. The tower survived fierce storms, occupations by foreign rulers and fires, but also saw celebrations, flourishing trade and city expansion.
Just outside the city limits of Utrecht lies this magnificent ancient building; the largest and most luxurious castle in the Netherlands. For children an ultimate fairytale castle and for adults a location to relive the old Middle Ages.
Discover the story behind 175 years of railroads in the Netherlands. See beautiful, historic trains and enjoy everything there is to do. The great discovery, dream trips, steel samples, the workshop, the trial by fire, jig station, work site and exhibitions.
On the site where in 1913 the Royal Army's Aviation Department was established stands, 100 years later, the National Military Museum. An impressive building with a spectacular 110 x 250-meter roof and 13-meter-high glass outer walls. Explore the Arsenal and wander among tanks and planes. There are also 6 themed rooms where the story of the armed forces is told. Personal stories of extraordinary people.
Down Under in Nieuwegein is an outdoor location for water sports like wavesurfing, water skiing, wakeboarding, cable tubing and bodyboarding as well as other outdoor sports. In their beach club you can enjoy drinks or a bite to eat.
Our favorite, not the 9 streets Amsterdam, but the seven alleys in Utrecht. One of the last working-class neighborhoods in the center of Utrecht. These characteristic working-class houses between Oudegracht, Pelmolenweg, Geertekerk and the former Martinuskerk are known for their small appearance and network of narrow corridors and alleys and super cute browse shops.
From country house Rhijnauwen, take a scenic drive through the woods to hidden gems in the greenery. Beautiful estates and a castle make this route a winner!
Den Treek
You follow the Old Rhine river basin to Oostbroek and Zeist estate, where tree-lined avenues pull the forest into town. A beautiful bike path leads you through Boswachterij Austerlitz, part of National Park De Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Forests, heathland, old estates: this is an enormously varied area. You pass Den Treek, an estate whose history goes back to the fourteenth century, with a beautiful nineteenth-century farmhouse and gamekeeper's house. What a picture!
