roses

Roses aren’t just for gazing at over a romantic dinner—they’re for picking, sniffing, and even snacking. Thanks to a handful of Dutch farms that open their fields to eager pickers, you can spend a sunny afternoon wading through rows of fragrant blooms, scissors in hand, playing garden stylist. Go solo for some quiet flower therapy, or make a day of it with friends and family—there’s something wonderfully silly about everyone walking around with a bouquet already in hand, smelling each rose like they’re tasting fine wine. Pro tip: snip early in the morning when the petals are dewy and firm, and cut at an angle. Don’t be shy about mixing colors—the Dutch love a bold palette.

Once you’re home: Roses are the gift that keeps giving. Here’s how to make them last:

Decorate like royalty: Pluck off the heads and float them in shallow bowls of water as romantic table decor. Or strip the leaves, bundle six stems together, and hang them upside down in a dark, dry place for two weeks to create dried roses that will last all winter. Scatter the petals on your dinner table, or stuff them into a glass vase for a rustic, shabby-chic centerpiece.
Potpourri – combine dried petals with a few drops of rose essential oil, cloves, or dried lavender. Place in little bowls around the house.

For tea lovers—a rose-infused brew: Gather about a cup of fresh, unsprayed rose petals (red or pink work best). Rinse gently. Boil two cups of water, pour over the petals in a teapot, and steep for 5 to 7 minutes. Strain and add a spoonful of honey and a squeeze of lemon. It’s floral, calming, and tastes like a hug in a cup. Bonus points if you sip it from a fancy teacup.

For cocktail hour—Rose Petal Gin Fizz: Drop a handful of fresh rose petals into your shaker along with 60 ml gin, 25 ml fresh lemon juice, and 15 ml simple syrup. Shake like you mean it. Strain into a highball glass over ice, top with soda water, and garnish with one perfect rosebud. It’s pink, it’s fizzy, and it makes you feel like you’re in a Dutch garden party—even if you’re just on your couch.

Eric Sleutjes Bloemen en Planten

flowers

noord-brabant

Eric Sleutjes Bloemen en Planten is a family-run operation in Sint-Michielsgestel that has been a staple in the local community for over 65 years. The business combines a plant nursery, a flower shop (bloemisterij), a pick-your-own flower garden (pluktuin), and a seasonal tea house (theehuis). The pick-your-own garden is open from July until the first frost, offering roughly 80 to 90 varieties of flowers. Visitors can pick asters, roses, delphiniums (ridderspoor), phlox, cosmos, dahlias, zinnias, and sunflowers to create their own field bouquets.

Plukhoek Mookhoek

fruit, flowers, berries

zuid-holland

Plukhoek Mookhoek is a pick-your-own flower and fruit garden located on Strijensedijk 14 in Mookhoek, within a historic 80-year-old orchard. The garden is part of a social enterprise that combines nature, community, and care, and is open to the public during the season. It provides a space for visitors to harvest flowers and seasonal fruit while supporting local youth services. The property covers 5 hectares and includes a flower garden, fruit orchard, and a small farmyard with chickens.

De Langendam Droogbloemen

flowers, herbs

noord-brabant

De Langendam is a family-run flower farm, dried flower shop, ceramics studio, and holiday accommodation located at ’t Vaartje 108 in Waspik, North Brabant. The farm has been in the family for generations and has been growing flowers on the land for around 40 years, with the pick-your-own garden opening in 2005. The business focuses on sustainably and naturally grown flowers, with no pesticides used. In addition to the flower garden, there is a year-round shop selling dried flowers, a ceramics workshop, and a B&B called ’t Schuurke.