De Gesteentetuin (Geo-garden)

‘Gesteentetuin’ literally means ‘Rock Type Garden’. The garden and its visitor’s center provide a wealth of information on the formation of rocks and the ice ages, as well as the history of Schokland. After the Noordoost polder was drained, a great number of rocks showed up on the ground. They are relics of the ice flows during the Ice Ages. In De Gesteentetuin a large number of these rocks have been collected and grouped according to origin and composition. A walk around the garden gives you a pleasant introduction to the variety of rocks brought here from Scandinavia.
In the visitor’s center the exhibition was entirely renewed in January 2008. It explains the formation of rocks on earth, different types of rocks are shown and many details are given about the history of Schokland and the animals and plants living here.
For children the attic is full of fun things to do: games, drawing, puzzles and much more.
Coffee, tea and chocolate are available.

Opening days
De Gesteentetuin (Geo-garden) is open to the public everyday from sunrise to sunset.

Opening times of the visitor’s center:
From November to February every Saturday and Sunday between 12 am – 4 pm.
From March to October every Saturday and Sunday between 12 am – 5 pm.
During school holidays in spring, summer and autumn, from Tuesday to Sunday. (School holidays in the Netherlands vary each year for the regions North, Middle and South. Consult a Dutch holiday calendar for details.)

Address: Keileemweg 1, 8319 AC, Schokland.

Activities Organized from the Visitor’s Center

Guided Tour of the Garden (Rondleiding onder begeleiding van een gids)
Every third Sunday of the month a guide tells you what you want to know about the rocks and other topics of interest in the garden. Since the group size is limited, it is advisable to book in advance.

Rock Sawing (Stenen zagen)
Every first Sunday of the month stones are sawn in De Gesteentetuin (Geo-garden). You can bring a stone yourself or buy one at the center. The inside of the stone may tell you what it is or where it came from.
Times: From 1 pm – 4 pm.

For youngsters there are many activities such as puzzle routes and treasure digging.
Arranged packages for tours and excursions starting from the visitor’s center are available on request.