Hoeve van der Meulen 's-Heer Abtskerke

Hoeve van der Meulen 's-Heer Abtskerke is one of Zeeland's oldest settlements, with a history stretching back more than 800 years. On the edge of the village stands Hoeve van der Meulen, a monumental 17th-century farm and a rare example of the oldest Zeeland farmstead type, where living quarters and barn are joined together. After years of neglect, the farm was purchased in 2006 by the Zeeland Landscape Foundation and fully restored. The original farmland around it has been revived, with small arable fields, meadows, hedgerows, drinking ponds and arable wildflowers. Sheep, cattle and draught horses graze the land. On the farmyard stands an old standard-tree orchard — a precious piece of natural and agricultural heritage. A 0.7-kilometre orchard trail leads you through the fruit trees. Since 2024, the farm also hosts a Herenboerderij: a cooperative of more than 200 households working together towards nature-inclusive farming, biodiversity and a healthy local environment. Their motto: not just taking, but giving back.