Lying safely behind the green shoulders of the West Frisian Circular Dike is the village of Lutjewinkel, the little sister of the nearby village of Winkel. Lutje means ‘small’, but that name is relative as the village has a few large companies within its borders.
In love with gardening
Step into the green world of Versicolor, which is open to the public on many weekends from May to August. This plant paradise owned by Marianne Greiner and Frans Meijer is situated at the end of a dead-end street, partly hidden behind hedges. As you walk around the twenty-five hundred square metre garden, you'll quickly understand that this must be the work of people with a passion for colours and plants. Borders separated by colour, a barefoot path, fragrant roses, a butterfly garden, a pond full of frogs: basically, a place to fall in love with!
The secret of Lutjewinkel
The village also hides a well-kept secret: this is where North Holland Blond is made; a really delicious cheese that bears the Red Seal. The cheese factory keeps the recipe under lock and key, which ensures that it remains the best-kept secret of Lutjebroek. It is known, however, that it is made from the milk of cows that graze on the zalty North Holland pasturelands. As a result, the cheese contains less salt and has a unique, full flavour. Guess what they put in their sandwiches here in the mornings!
Tip: come in August (usually the 3rd weekend), when the village takes part in the ‘Nazomeren’ event. Visit a wealth of gardens, expositions, art exhibitions and music and theatre performances held at over 100 locations in 9 local villages