The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Belle de Boskoop apple



Belle de Boskoop was introduced in the 1850s in the Netherlands, and is still popular on the Continent. It is a large, lumpy, dull red apple, often with extensive russeting. There is also a modern "sport" with a darker red colouring but otherwise quite similar.

Belle de Boskoop is essentially a dual-purpose apple, suitable for both dessert and culinary uses. It works equally well in a savoury salad, or can be used sliced in continental-style apple pies and flans. Unlike the English Bramley cooking apple, Belle de Boskoop keeps its shape when cooked.

Eaten fresh, Belle de Boskoop is quite a sharp apple. This and its large size makes it unsuitable as a snack apple, but it can be nice cut into slices to share after a meal. The white-green flesh is dense with a very firm texture.

In summary, a versatile and unusual apple variety.

Last updated 18 Nov 2012.

A popular old dual-purpose apple from the Netherlands.

Belle de Boskoop photo tape

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Originates from: Netherlands
  • Introduced: 1850
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 109600

Identification

  • Bultitude apple group: 7. Flushed / striped, some russeting, sweet

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Good for cooking
  • Cooking result: Keeps shape
  • Vitamin C content: Low

Growing

  • Flowering period: Mid season
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Triploid: Yes
  • Poor pollinator: Yes
  • Vigour: Slightly large

Other qualities

  • RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993

Disease resistance

  • Bacterial canker  Pseudomonas syringae  - Some resistance
  • Scab  - Some resistance
  • Mildew  - Some resistance

See also:

  • Karmijn de Sonnaville - Thought to be the male parent of Karmijn de Sonnaville (even though it is a Triploid)

Belle de Boskoop identification photos from official fruit collections


ARS GRIN

©Copyright
ARS GRIN

UK National Fruit Collection

©Crown Copyright more >
UK National Fruit Collection

Belle de Boskoop identification photos from website visitors


Belle de Boskoop tape


Belle de Boskoop


Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 3.8 out of 5. Total votes cast: 8
 

Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments about this variety)

06 May 2013 Dave LiezenWA, United States
Alan, Picking up "The Best Apples to Buy & Grow" for the first time in a couple of years, I noted this about BdB: "This apple is moderately resistant to scab, resistant to canker and very resistant to fire blight." That, written by Ted Swensen, past president of Home Orchard Society, in Oregon, USA. I'd forgotten about this sterling endorsement. I have sampled it; an excellent apple.
30 Jan 2012 Alan R. BiggsWV, United States
I'd appreciate hearing about any disease issues, especially in comparison to more well-known varieties (i.e. more or less susceptible to scab than McIntosh; any disease comparisons relative to Golden Delicious). Thanks!
20 Nov 2010 Dave LiezenWA, United States
I think people in the States rely too heavily on loads of cinnamon (probably cassia, much sharper than true cinnamon, and not expensive, but that's how things are here) when cooking with apples. I use coriander. It seems to compliment any tartness and complexity in apple flavors.
07 Nov 2010 Janice PriceWA, United States
My Belle de Boskoop also came from Raintree Nursery, and it grows espaliered along the border of my small city lot. It bears very well - this year, despite our terrible spring weather, it bore at least 100 apples. I am wondering about texture. While previous posts commented on its ability to hold its shape when baked in a crisp, I have found the opposite to be true. Any comments? Suggestions on how to spice the applesauce?
15 Oct 2010 Dave LiezenWA, United States
I am reasonably sure BdB is triploid; John Bultitude comes to mind, for one source. I cannot confirm it by personal experience as yet, but I hope to graft it next spring and find out!
12 Aug 2010 MonevaMO, United States
Belle de Boskoop is one of the best, most delicious apples ever! There is no other with all the qualities it has: great taste, firm flesh, long keep... and just imagine this: in Paris (yes Paris, France, not TX, lol), these apples are sold in high-end delicatessen stores by the individual unit!! And they sell for about 5 bucks a piece! We French know what's good, trust me! I am right now hunting for a tree to plant in my yard. I hope I can find a place that has them available!
19 May 2010 Dave LiezenWA, United States
David Smith in Yorkshire: I have read repeatedly that Belle de Boskoop slices retain their shape when cooked. That may be another indicator of your cultivar.
03 Jan 2010 Kevin HauserCALIFORNIA, United States
We have the Red Boskoop sport we ordered from Raintree Nursery. It has done well here in Southern California despite our mid-fall heat; sweet/tart with a good crunch and lots of juice. The appearance is lousy but the flavor is heavenly. I hope to bake a pie with it next year.
18 Nov 2009 Rainer HoenickeNAPA, CA, United States
I fondly remember this apple variety from my childhood. We'd get a whole crate of Boskoop in October and store it in the cellar till Christmas. I loved the tartness of freshly picked apples and the sweetness of the slightly shriveled ones from the cellar. They would last throughout the winter. Every time I let a Gravenstein go too long and bite into mealiness, I long for a Boskoop. I particularly like the russet skin. My teeth are allergic to the glossy texture of most apples. Boskoop is heaven to me, and the only apply I can bite into whole.
26 Oct 2009 DanielleBURIEN WASHINGTON, United States
I was at the West Seattle market yesterday and hoped to buy a few Cox's orange pippins. They were gone ,so I bought the Bramleys,but I'd rather have the Boskoops! Do you know where I can buy them in the Seattle area? I bought my husband a Karmine de sanneville tree 8 years ago and we finally had enough apples to make 1 pie this year.....
14 Oct 2009 DorieLYNDEN, WASHINGTON, United States
We own BelleWood Acres and grow Belle de Boskoops as one of our 16 varieties. The demand for them is growing yearly. They make the best pies and crisp. We call them our "Granny Smiths with attitude". they are tart with a great flavor.
09 Jun 2009 Dave LiezenWA, United States
I have been looking at this variety for a couple of years. If one of the apple trees planted in my yard does not work out, Belle de Boskoop is the variety I want to replace it. My stock has all come from Raintree Nursery, in SW Washington, arriving in excellent shape. They carry the Red Belle de Boskoop, at overstock price this month.
27 Apr 2009 TomMAINE, United States
This apple tree is available from Fedco in Clinton, Maine. Search Fedco Trees and you will find their website. They sell mostly heirloom varieties.
03 Dec 2008 David SmithYORKSHIRE ENGLAND, United Kingdom
We think we have a Belle de Boskoop tree which was in the garden when we arrived. We seem to have the 'red sport' but also about 80% of the apples are normal size and only about 20% large as described above. Certainly our apples cook better than they eat, as it were, and are best left on the tree as long as possible. Ours will also keep well over winter. One thing which may help to identify them is that they go brown very quickly when cut or eaten. Does this ring any bells?
29 Oct 2008 Chris KellerBELLINGHAM, WA, United States
Bellwood Acres just North of Bellingham has these apples available. I think they are great snacking apples and yes they do make the best applesauce. I also think they make the best apple butter.
23 Oct 2008 JimCLOVERDALE BC, Canada
see October 7 Please tell Ramona from White Rock, BC there are many bags in the cooler and she may have some for the asking 604-576-7426 & Gord from Langley - the applesauce is great!
21 Oct 2008 Gord SpoorLANGLEY, BC , Canada
I have a 7 year old tree I purchased from Garden Works in Burnaby, BC and this year was loaded, unfortunately one branch broke had so many apples on it. Is a nice tasting apple, skin is a bit peculiar due to russeting, but generally a nice eating apple. Apples keep on tree a long time, even during frosts and winters well in cool place. Great in pies or crumble type deserts.
20 Oct 2008 RamonaWHITE ROCK,BC, Canada
I have used these apples for pies for years. Being of dutch decent, they have been used by our family for years but not always easy to find. Do you still have apples available?
07 Oct 2008 JimCLOVERDALE BC, Canada
very accurate description - now i know what these "different" trees are of which I have a dozen fully fruited trees. Unbelievable crop this year - now I need anyone to come buy and make use of them.
05 Oct 2008 CenCAMBRIDGE,MA, United States
actually in saratoga, ny at saratoga apple they have belle de boskoop
04 Oct 2008 Dave LiezenWA, United States
Raintree Nursery, here in Washington state, has the "red sport" mentioned above, as far as I can tell. I found their website a couple of years ago, ordered four apple trees (Belle de Boskoop was my fifth choice - ran out of room). Raintree has excellent info and reasonable prices. My trees are on semi-dwarf rootstock and doing just fine.
26 Sep 2008 Margaret RigbySHROPSHIRE UK, United Kingdom
I have an ancient specimen of this variety in my garden. It was almost destroyed in a wild storm four years ago, but a fallen branch managed to cling on to the trunk, and is rooting independently where it fell. The apples have a crisp texture and sharp taste with mellow honey undertones. They are a bit too acid for eating, but as cookers they are hard to beat because they hold their shape well for pies and tarts whilst also suitable for making a lovely smooth homogenous sauce.
14 Apr 2008 Enna KellerBURNABY, B.C., Canada
This is a great apple, and I have the tree in my back yard, purchage some 35 years ago from Art Knapp Plantland owned by Bill Vanderzalm, cut branches are easy to graft on to other apple trees, as I have given away lots of branches and was told that the grafting was very succesful. the apples make the best applesauce ever, it's a winter apple, and the apples will keep in a cool place until spring time.
17 Feb 2008 Peter B. WolfFARMINGDALE MAINE, United States
To Rick Anderson, thanks for the Info, Richard from Orange Pippin provided this link. Do you know how to get in touch with Bob Hartman? I might be interested. Peter
16 Feb 2008 Rick AndersonANDERSON ISLAND, WASHINGTON, United States
To Pierre B. Wolf in Maine: I recently got one of these trees from Bob Hartman in Puyallup, WA . . . he has one or two left, and might also be able to tell you where he got his if he can't ship you one. Try b-jhartman@juno.com.
09 Jan 2008 Filip FransenANTWERP, Belgium
Hello This apple if my favorite of all times. Especially in warm dishes but it is also very good eat fresh! The apple contains the most vitamine C, sugars and acids of all species I read somewhere. In Belgium we have a two Michelin star restaurant called after the Apple "Schone van Boskoop". Thank you for this great website Filip
03 Dec 2007 Peter B. WolfFARMINGDALE MAINE, United States
Please, anyone, help me find this Apple in the US.

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Fruit tree register

Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.

The following Belle de Boskoop trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.

You can also view these trees on a map.

United States

United Kingdom

Belgium

France

Germany

  • Moneva in Buehne-Borgentreich, Europe

Ireland

Netherlands

Sweden

Canada

New Zealand

Switzerland

Poland



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2013 season

  • 26th April  2013  - tree owned by Florian in Brush Prairie, United States

2012 season

  • 29th September  2012  - tree owned by Eric in Dunedin, New Zealand
  • 10th May  2012  - tree owned by John in MADEIRA PARK, Canada
  • 1st May  2012  - tree owned by Florian in Brush Prairie, United States

2011 season

  • May  2011  - tree owned by v in LUCKNOW, Canada

2010 season

  • 2nd May  2010  - tree owned by Moneva in Buehne-Borgentreich, Germany
  • 30th April  2010  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • 26th April  2010  - tree owned by Johan in GENT, Belgium
  • 15th April  2010  - tree owned by Richard in LUBEC, United States

2009 season

  • 24th April  2009  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.

Latest harvest records for this variety

2013 season

  • 4th week March  2013  - tree owned by Katrina in NELSON, New Zealand

2012 season

  • 1st week November  2012  - tree owned by John in MADEIRA PARK, Canada
  • October  2012  - tree owned by Johan in GENT, Belgium

2011 season

  • 1st week September  2011  - tree owned by v in LUCKNOW, Canada

2010 season

  • 3rd week October  2010  - tree owned by Richard in LUBEC, United States
  • September  2010  - tree owned by Moneva in Buehne-Borgentreich, Germany

2009 season

  • 2nd week October  2009  - tree owned by Johan in GENT, Belgium

Where to buy apple trees

The following fruit tree nurseries offer Belle de Boskoop apple trees for sale:

  • Keepers Nursery
    United Kingdom  More >>

Where to buy apples

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