Our possibilities
Taste center
Classroom
Guided tours
Students
Demo kitchen
Orchard
Meeting rooms
About us
Experience Center: see, taste, smell, feel and hear
Van Gelder in Ridderkerk is in many ways the place to be for vegetable lovers in the Netherlands. The new Van Gelder building has a clear and recognizable appearance—one you can’t miss, yet it doesn’t shout for attention. The building also serves as the entrance to the Nieuw-Reijerwaard business park, which aims to become the most sustainable business park in Europe.
Van Gelder aims to raise the profile of the fresh produce (fruit & vegetables) sector both nationally and internationally. That’s why a true Experience Center has been created—a place where you can learn everything about the world of fruit and vegetables. From growers to end users, from source to plate. It serves as an important bridge between the consumer/citizen, the business world, and the grower/supplier who delivers fresh produce to Van Gelder daily.
Each week, various groups visit Ridderkerk to learn more about the fresh produce sector. Consumers, customers, students and government officials discover the world of fruit and vegetables during their visit to the Experience Center.
Taste center
Everyone is warmly welcome from Monday to Friday between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to discover all the possibilities with fruit & vegetables. There's no need to make a reservation in advance. Coffee with fruit pastries, salads, healthy sandwiches, or a warm pasta dish—it's all available in the tasting center. It’s the perfect stop during a bike ride or the go-to spot for a nutritious, healthy lunch.
The seasons determine the menu! Curious about the current menu? Click the button below.
Guided tours
Want to learn in an interesting and fun way what Van Gelder stands for? Then we would be happy to give you a tour of our state-of-the-art facility. During this tour, we will take a close look at our mechanized warehouse, show you our new vertical cultivation method, where crops are grown in multiple layers on top of each other in fully closed environments, and visit our cutting facility.
Meeting Rooms
Looking for an inspiring environment for a meeting? You can choose from a selection of fully equipped meeting rooms, each with its own atmosphere, designed by the suppliers and partners of Van Gelder. On the third floor, there is also a demo kitchen available for events or cooking clinics.
Demonstration kitchen
Do you have big food plans, culinary ambitions, or would you like to be the first to try out your new concepts in a luxurious kitchen? Do you want to get inspired for menu development or are you curious about the world behind vegetables and fruits? Then our demonstration kitchen is the perfect location for your event. If desired, it is also possible to have the product developer from Van Gelder join in.
Orchard
The experience of the Experience Center is not only found indoors. Outside the door, there is an orchard with 540 fruit trees of 75 different varieties that invite visitors to come and explore. At the same time, Van Gelder wants to contribute to educating local children about healthy eating. This orchard provides an opportunity to learn that fruit grows naturally in the wild.
About Van Gelder
The building is ideally located in a prime spot along the A15, A16, and A29 highways, on historical grounds where everything began for the family. The location is particularly suitable for anyone who wants to delve into or be inspired by topics such as sustainability, innovation, and health. The building is easily accessible by bike, public transport, and there is free parking available at the main entrance.
