Sleeping in the Pioneer House of Tralaluna Casita on Wheels

Walking past all those different kinds, sizes and colours of apples and pears, I first look for the greenhouse. Because besides the fact that it does dry out here in Frederiksoord, this is also the place where summer activities are regularly organised by the Fruithof. This time, it is the turn of storyteller Niels Cotterink, who talks in full style about caterpillars, butterflies and other growing animals.

I continue my way through the orchard. It is August and so the trees are full of fruit. And yes, these really are some 550 varieties. Trees full of apples, pears and history because: the Fruithof is not only an orchard, but also a library of fruit trees that contributes to the preservation of almost extinct apple and pear varieties.

And then, hidden among the trees, bushes and sheep, I see my real reason for staying: the super-cute Pioniershuisje of Tralaluna Casita on Wheels.

The pioneer house tells a story: the story of the Frederiksoord area, which was named a Unesco World Heritage Site last year. There are also stories in the details of the cottage itself: in fact, everything in the house has had a previous life. The corner sofa, the durable wall insulation and the solid kitchen worktop: everything has been gathered together by owners Martin and Manilde themselves. This makes for a cosy and durable unit.

The toilet and shower building is also a sustainable undertaking: by using the compost toilet, we do not use any water. What does get wet (fill in what yourself ;)) is cleaned via a helophyte filter and drained into the ground. The solid is collected in a bucket of sawdust and ends up in the clicker.

Despite the rain, it is summer and so we sit in the hanging chair with the doors open, listening to the rain. Meanwhile, the sheep graze in the meadow next to us and we enjoy the silence and tranquillity this house breathes.

No TV, no entertainment. Just the simple simplicity of nature and this cottage is enough. We like life at the Fruithof in Frederiksoord.

Still, we are quite happy when the next morning the rain has stopped and we see the occasional sunrise. We decide to explore the surrounding area: the former test colony Frederiksoord.

This is the first 'Colony of Weldadigheid', founded in 1818. In these colonies, underprivileged families were given the chance to build a 'beneficent' life: they moved to their own little farm with a piece of land around it. The younger children could go to school, the older children helped in the fields and the family learned to build a new life as a farmer. At Museum de Proefkolonie, we see how the colonies came about and how the newly settled farmers fared.

From here, there are various walking and cycling routes that show visitors to the Fruithof the most beautiful places in Frederiksoord. We choose a short walk along the old farms, through the Sterrebos and past the old (1884) Horticultural School.

The latter in particular is a place not to be missed when visiting Frederiksoord. Walk through the old, overgrown greenhouses and the large garden. If you buy a ticket, you can also visit the old school itself.

We wander through the large vegetable garden and conclude our walk with lunch in the French garden of the Horticultural School. Proceeds from this income go towards the renovation of this complex. Former teachers and students have recently been committed to giving new life to the greenhouses and buildings, which have been empty since 2005, with a focus on health and culture.