Who is behind Zelfpluktuinen.nl?
Hi there! I’m Tiago, a software developer based in Amsterdam. Beyond my work in tech, I’m a nature lover with a deep passion for farming and everything that grows. In the south of Portugal, my family has a small farm as well. That experience has changed the way I look at food and my connection to the land forever.
Why Zelfpluktuinen.nl?
This platform was born from a simple but important goal: helping people discover local farms and pick-your-own gardens across the Netherlands. We want to make it easier to find fresh, honest, high-quality produce — straight from the farmer.
Our local farmers are struggling. Globalisation of the food chain is pushing them aside in favour of cheap imports, often of lower quality and with a massive ecological footprint. Meanwhile, just around the corner from our homes, there are people growing incredible produce with heart and soul. They deserve to be found.
Zelfpluktuinen.nl maps these farms so you can see what’s growing near you, what’s in season to pick, and where to go for the tastiest vegetables, the juiciest fruit and the most beautiful flowers.
Support your local farmer
We’re at a crossroads. The choices we make as consumers have a direct impact on the future of local agriculture. By buying from a pick-your-own farm or farm shop, you choose:
- Freshness and flavour — harvested when it’s ripe, not when it needs to be shipped
- Transparency — you know exactly where your food comes from and how it was grown
- Sustainability — short supply chains mean less transport, less packaging and less waste
- Community — you support the people behind the food and keep the countryside alive
Get outside, discover a pick-your-own farm near you and taste the difference. Your plate, your health and your local farmer will thank you.