melons

Pick Your Own Melons in the Netherlands

There’s something wonderfully silly and satisfying about wandering through a Dutch field in late summer, on a mission to find the perfect melon. Yes, melons! In the Netherlands, several farms invite you to step into the patch, bend over, and give a few of these golden orbs a gentle sniff and a tap. It’s like a treasure hunt, but the treasure is juicy and you can eat it on the spot (just maybe wipe the dirt off first).

How to pick the best one:
Don’t be shy – get your hands involved. A ripe melon should feel heavy for its size, smell sweet at the stem end, and have a slight give when you press the blossom end (the opposite side of the stem). If it sounds hollow when you tap it, you’ve found a winner. Bring a basket or a sturdy bag, and prepare for a few laughs as you and your friends pretend to be melon connoisseurs, comparing sizes and arguing over which one has the best “thump.” It’s a perfect activity for a sunny day – kids love the treasure hunt, and adults love the excuse to be outside.

Once you’re home: what to do with your haul
Melons are ridiculously versatile. You can slice them for a breakfast bowl, cube them into salads, or blend them into drinks. But since we’re talking melons, let’s get two recipes for cooking (yes, you can cook melon!) and one cocktail to cool you down.

Two Cooking Recipes

Grilled Melon & Halloumi Skewers

Cut your melon (cantaloupe or galia work best) into 2-inch cubes.
Cube halloumi cheese into similar-sized pieces.
Thread melon and halloumi alternately onto skewers.
Grill over medium heat for 3–4 minutes per side, until the halloumi is golden and the melon has light grill marks.
Drizzle with a little honey and a pinch of flaky salt. Serve warm as a quirky appetizer or side dish.

Melon & Ginger Chutney

Peel and dice 4 cups of melon (any variety).
In a pot, combine the melon with 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger, and a pinch of chili flakes.
Simmer on low heat for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and jammy.
Let cool. Use this sweet-spicy chutney on grilled chicken, roasted pork, or slathered on a cheese sandwich. It keeps for a week in the fridge.

One Cocktail Recipe

Melon Basil Smash

In a shaker, muddle 6 fresh basil leaves with 1 tablespoon simple syrup.
Add 1 cup cubed ripe melon (watermelon or cantaloupe), 2 ounces gin (or vodka), and 1 ounce fresh lime juice.
Shake vigorously with ice for 15 seconds.
Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a basil sprig and a thin melon wedge.
Sip, smile, and toast to your successful day at the farm.

So grab your friends, head out to a U-pick farm, and have a melon of a time. Just don’t blame us if you come home with more than you can carry – it’s impossible to resist a perfectly thump-able melon.

Bij Buurman

vegetables, flowers, herbs

friesland

Groente bij Buurman is a self-harvest garden and flower picking farm located in Kortehemmen, in the Dutch province of Friesland, situated between Beetsterzwaag, Drachten, and Boornbergum. Founded out of a passion for sustainable and regenerative agriculture, the garden offers members and visitors the opportunity to connect directly with nature, harvest their own fresh produce, and experience the joy of working with the land. The farm holds a strong Google rating of 4.8 out of 5 and is confirmed as a family-friendly destination.

Stadslandbouw Mooieweg

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs

gelderland

Stadslandbouw Mooieweg is a community-driven urban farming initiative located on a plot of land in Arnhem-Zuid. Run entirely by volunteers, the farm cultivates fresh vegetables, herbs, and small fruits using organic and permaculture methods. The majority of the harvest is donated to the local food bank, Voedselbank Arnhem, to support those in need. The site also serves as a green meeting place for the neighborhood, offering opportunities for recreation, education, and social connection.

Landwinkel Arkelandshoeve

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs

gelderland

Landwinkel Arkelandshoeve, located on a farm in the buurtschap Telgt near Ermelo, is a landwinkel (farm shop) and poultry farm that also features a Groente & Bloemen pluktuin (vegetable and flower pick-your-own garden). The farm raises ducks and chickens without antibiotics, and the shop sells its own meat (duck, chicken, lamb, pork, veal, and beef) along with a selection of regional products, cheese, and gift packages. The self-pick garden, Groente & Bloemen pluktuin Arkeland, offers seasonal vegetables and herbs that are grown without pesticides. Visitors can also harvest flowers to create their own bouquets. The specific months for picking are not listed, but it operates during the growing season. Pre-picked produce is also available for purchase at the farm shop.

Martinushoeve Pluktuin

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries

noord-brabant

Martinushoeve is a small-scale agricultural project located in Ossendrecht, Netherlands, where participants can harvest fresh produce directly from the fields. Operating on a community-supported agriculture model, the farm grows a wide variety of crops without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or artificial fertilizers. The growing methods focus on working in harmony with nature, promoting biodiversity, and maintaining healthy soil. The self-picking season runs annually from May 1st to October 31st. During this period, members can harvest vegetables (including peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, corn, pumpkins, root vegetables, cabbages, and leafy greens), fruits (such as apples, pears, cherries, plums, strawberries, raspberries, red currants, rhubarb, and melons), and a selection of culinary and tea herbs (including parsley, rosemary, chives, thyme, sage, oregano, basil, dill, coriander, mint, and more). Additionally, the farm offers cut flowers from cultivated beds and a wildflower meadow, as well as edible flowers like nasturtium, borage, and calendula. Participants can also collect fresh eggs from the free-range hens and enjoy honey produced by the farm’s beehives.