The park was founded by Ben van Ooijen as a showcase for sustainable and varied garden design.
It hosts an annual 'Garden of the Year' competition where professional designers compete to build new model gardens.
The park uses a changing exhibition model where older garden designs are regularly demolished to make room for contemporary landscape concepts.
There is a dedicated area focused on 'Edible Gardens' demonstrating how to integrate vegetable patches into aesthetic designs.
The location is situated in the Land van Maas en Waal, a region historically shaped by river silt deposition.
The site acts as an outdoor laboratory for testing how various plant species perform in Dutch climate conditions.
The park emphasizes 'Plant of the Month' displays to educate visitors on seasonal bloom cycles.
The Gardens of Appeltern is the largest inspiration park for garden design in the Netherlands, featuring over 200 distinct model gardens. Established in 1988, the park serves as a living library of landscaping styles, plant species, and hardscaping materials. The grounds are curated to showcase varying garden sizes, from small urban courtyards to large rural landscapes, to provide visitors with actionable design ideas. A dedicated 'Plant Market' area allows visitors to purchase specific vegetation seen throughout the displays. The site includes extensive water features, perennial borders, and experimental sustainable garden structures. It functions as a primary resource for professional landscapers and homeowners seeking landscape inspiration. The layout is designed for self-guided exploration through interconnected walking paths.
The central bridge overlooking the water gardens provides a panoramic view of the varied landscapes.
Bring a notebook or camera to capture specific plant combinations or layout ideas as you walk.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the paths cover a significant, sprawling area.
Check the 'Garden Route' map at the entrance to ensure you do not miss hidden sections of the park.
Do not attempt to walk the entire grounds in under two hours; you will miss the intricate details of the smaller model gardens.
Open daily from early spring through late autumn; closed during the winter months.
Stay on marked paths to protect the delicate plantings and refrain from picking flowers or clippings.
