coreopsis

A field of golden coreopsis is one of the most cheerful sights you’ll find in the Netherlands. Forget tulips for a moment—this sunny, daisy-like flower is a joy to pick yourself. Grab a basket, bring the kids or your best friend, and wander the rows at a local farm. The blooms are sturdy, the bees are busy, and the vibe is pure, uncomplicated summer.

How to Pick Them
Look for flowers that are fully open, with bright petals and firm centers. Give the stem a gentle snip close to the base—don’t yank, it’s not a tug-of-war. If you want a longer vase life, pick in the morning when the plants are still dewy. And leave a few for the butterflies, okay? They’re part of the family now.

When You Get Home
Coreopsis stems are surprisingly strong, so you can arrange them loosely in a big mason jar or mix them with lavender and fennel fronds for a wild, meadowy look. To keep them happy, strip off any leaves below the water line and change the water every two days. They’ll last about a week, and they’ll make your kitchen look like a painting.

Decoration Ideas

Float a few flower heads in a shallow bowl of water as a centerpiece.
Dry them upside down for a rustically charming wreath or dried bouquet.
Press a few blooms in a heavy book, then frame them for instant wall art.
Use single stems in tiny bud vases along a dinner table—each one a little golden smile.

Bonus: Coreopsis Tea
Yes, you can drink these petals! Coreopsis contains antioxidants and has a mildly earthy, slightly floral flavor. Steep a handful of fresh petals (rinsed) in a cup of just-boiled water for 5 minutes. Strain, sweeten with a little honey, and sip while staring out the window at your own slice of summer. Some folks add a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint, but it’s lovely plain too.

Pluktuin de Melkweg

flowers, herbs

overijssel

Pluktuin de Melkweg is a self-picking flower garden located in Oud-Bergentheim, on the farm of the Timmermans family. The garden is part of a larger farmyard that also includes a young cattle barn, an agricultural daycare center, and an art studio. The name “Melkweg” (Milky Way) is a nod to the dairy cows that left the farm in 2020. The garden was first planted in spring 2021 on a piece of fallow land and has since expanded, including the addition of a greenhouse in 2023.

Bloemenboerderij Pluktuin Hof Zjevernie

flowers

zeeland

Hof Zjevernie is a flower farm and pick-your-own garden located on a former 1922 farmstead in Oostburg, Netherlands. The farm grows a wide variety of field flowers on fertile clay soil without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, following a natural seasonal rhythm. In addition to the pick-your-own flower fields, the farm features a tea garden with a terrace, a nursery selling plants and flower bulbs, and a farm stall offering fruit, vegetables, (goose) eggs, juices, and jams—grown as naturally as possible. The farm is a member of SlowflowersBelgium.

De Moestuin Utrecht

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs

utrecht

We are a social enterprise and biological farm located on the eastern side of Utrecht, set on a 2.5‑hectare site that once belonged to a monastery and later became a city nursery. Today, the garden serves as a working farm, lunch café, farm shop, event venue, and recreational space. All cultivation is organic, and the farm provides work and training opportunities for people who have difficulty finding employment on the regular labour market. The site includes a large terrace, a children’s playground, an animal meadow, beehives, a herb garden, and a greenhouse called De Oranjerie that can be rented for parties, weddings, and business meetings.

Voedselbos & Pluktuin Heer ikigai

vegetables, flowers, herbs

noord-holland

Stichting Heer Ikigai is a non-profit foundation centered around a food forest and a pick-your-own flower garden located in Stompetoren. The organization focuses on sharing knowledge about agroforestry and connecting people with nature, aiming to create a sustainable and blooming community. Visitors can experience the magic of nature while contributing to a local, ecological initiative. The pick-your-own garden offers a wide variety of flowers for self-picking during the summer season, typically opening at the end of June. The selection includes a diverse mix such as Cornflower, Cosmea, Sunflower, Poppy, Flax, Gypsophila, and many more. In addition to flowers, the on-site farm stand offers fresh organic vegetables for purchase on an honor system via QR code. A gift voucher for creating a personal bouquet is also available.

Flora Marita

flowers

overijssel

Flora Marita is a seasonal pick-your-own flower garden located in Hasselt, Netherlands. The garden focuses on providing fresh, locally grown blooms that are cultivated without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Visitors can pick their own flowers to create a custom bouquet directly from the field. In addition to the pick-your-own experience, the farm offers handcrafted wooden seed storage boxes and a starter seed package containing seeds harvested from the garden. During the picking season, which runs from July through September, the garden is open on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings from 09:30 to 13:00, and is closed on all other days. The farm accepts payment via QR code, cash, or Tikkie. In addition to picking flowers, visitors can enjoy coffee or tea with a homemade slice of cake. Group visits are welcome with prior reservation, and the maximum group size is 15 people. The garden is family-friendly and children are allowed to accompany adults.