De Colonjes Wine Estate
The Netherlands
"To me, being a winegrower is the greatest joy in life one could ever wish for…"
Groesbeek battlefields of World War II
The village of Groesbeek, home of Dutch wine estate De Colonjes, played a major role towards the end of World War II and witnessed a large-scale military operation. It is located in the eastern part of the Netherlands, near the border with Germany. During the airborne operation Market Garden in September 1944, one of the assigned drop zones for American paratroopers was located just outside the village. The main goal was to advance into Nazi Germany, an operation that became known as The Rhineland Offensive. We walked through the vineyards of De Colonjes, and you can’t help but realizing these vines were planted in the footsteps of those men.
The Liberation Route near the village of Groesbeek is a historical trail that commemorates the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II. It is part of a larger international network that spans several countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It aims to preserve the memory of World War II and promote understanding and remembrance of the sacrifices made for freedom and peace.
New generation of Dutch winemakers
After his retirement, Freek Verhoeven turned his love for wine into a serious hobby. As an amateur winemaker he planted a first hectare of vines in 2001 and soon got his brother involved as well. Not being youngsters anymore they realized soon they needed some help.
Adam Dijkstra was in the right place at the right time. His intention was to follow a winemaking study in South Africa. While his bags were already packed, ready to go, he decided to make a different choice and follow a viticulture education in Germany instead. The opportunity to contribute to the future of a Dutch winery was one that you do not encounter every day.
One of the largest Dutch wine brands
De Colonjes is now one of the largest wineries in the Netherlands. The vineyards are situated in three locations around Groesbeek. From the beginning Freek’s mission was to work as sustainable as possible. The obvious choice was to plant hybrid grape varieties like Johanniter, Solaris, Muscaris, Helios and Cabernet Blanc to produce white wines.
They even had the honor to name a new hybrid after their vineyard, the Cabernet Colonjes. Red wines are produced from Regent, Pinotin and Cabernet Cortis. What started merely as a hobby in 2001 has now become a 13 hectares winery.
Winetasting and winetour at De Colonjes Wine Estate
You can find information about a variety of tours and tastings at Dutch Centre for Viticulture that opened its door in Groesbeek in 2017. The bottle shop is open daily from Tuesday until Sunday. In the basement of this building is where the magic happens as the wine cellar of De Colonjes is located here.
Combine your trip with a visit to the National Liberation Museum 1944-1945. The nearby serene and peaceful Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial will leave you with an everlasting impression.
Updated: 05-04-2025
