strawflower

A trip to a pick-your-own farm in the Netherlands is a lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon, and if you’re looking for something that brings a splash of cheerful, everlasting color to your home, look no further than the strawflower (also known as helichrysum or everlasting flower). These little bursts of sunshine look like stiff, papery daisies and come in a rainbow of shades—from fiery orange and deep red to soft pink and buttery yellow.

Picking Your Strawflowers The best part about strawflowers is that they are wonderfully tactile and forgiving. Head out to a field with your friends or family, bring a pair of small scissors or pruning shears, and a basket. You’ll want to pick them when they are about half to three-quarters open—the outer petals will feel dry and crisp, while the center is still a bit softer. Don’t be shy! Grab the stem about 15 cm (6 inches) from the head (longer if you want tall stems). Snip cleanly. Because they are so fibrous, they almost feel fake, which is why they are perfect for little hands—kids love how they don’t wilt instantly. As you gather, you’ll notice they have a faint, honey-like scent. Just don’t wait until they are fully open, as they will be more prone to shattering later. A warm, dry day is ideal for picking.

What to Do With Them Once You’re Home

Since this is a flower, skip the cooking—strawflowers are for your eyes, not your stomach! Their main superpower is that they are the ultimate dried flower. Here are some whimsical ways to use them:

Everlasting Bouquets: The moment you get home, strip the lower leaves from the stems and tie them in small bunches with a rubber band. Hang them upside down in a dark, dry, airy spot for two weeks. Once dried, they will hold their color and shape for years. Pop them into a simple terracotta pot or a vintage vase. No water needed.
Wreaths and Garlands: Because they don’t break easily, strawflowers are perfect for crafting. Use a wire wreath frame and some floral wire. Weave in a few fern leaves or eucalyptus, then tuck the strawflowers in—you can even glue them. This makes a stunning door wreath that lasts all winter.
Pressed Flower Art: Pick a few of the smallest, flattest flowers. Gently press them between the pages of a heavy book (wait a week). The papery texture makes them perfect for framing in a little shadow box, or you can glue them onto greeting cards for a personal touch. They won’t turn brown like other flowers—they stay bright.
Potpourri & Scent Sachets: Once fully dried, you can pull the petals off the heads. Mix them with dried lavender buds and a few drops of essential oil (like citrus or rosemary). Put the mix in small muslin bags to tuck into your drawers or linen closet. They look beautiful and will gently scent your clothes for months.

So, grab your basket, gather your favorite people, and have a colorful adventure in the Dutch fields. You’ll come home with a piece of summer that will make you smile for the rest of the year.

Tuinderij De Groenteboer Biologische zelfoogsttuin

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries

utrecht

Tuinderij de Groenteboer is a biological self-picking farm and flower garden located on the grounds of Boerderij de Boerinn in Kamerik, just north of Woerden. The farm focuses on natural cultivation methods, working with the seasons and biodiversity to grow a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, soft fruits, and flowers without artificial fertilizers or pesticides. As a self-picking garden, members can harvest approximately 60 different types of seasonal vegetables and soft fruits. The picking season runs from May to December, about 32 weeks per year. Spring offerings include spinach, broad beans, pea shoots, and turnip tops. Summer brings carrots, beets, broccoli, and strawberries. Autumn offers parsnips and pumpkins, while winter features kale and leeks. Members receive a weekly harvest mail with guidance on what is available.

Hanna's Pluktuin

flowers, herbs, grasses

friesland

Hanna’s Pluktuin is a sustainable flower garden located just outside Makkinga in Friesland, offering visitors the chance to pick their own seasonal blooms directly from the field. This family-run garden focuses on sustainably grown flowers, providing a colorful and relaxing outdoor experience. Visitors can pick a wide variety of flowers, including dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, strawflowers, amaranthus, ornamental tobacco, matthiola, limonium, salvia, paper daisies, scabiosa, fountain grass, calendula, statice, echinacea, achillea, lamb’s ear, snapdragons, ammi majus, nigella, bronze fennel, phlox, gomphrena, lion’s ear, and marguerites, among many others.

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.

Bloemenpluktuin en Mini-kwekerij Volvelds

flowers

gelderland

Volvelds is a flower picking garden and mini nursery located on the historic vegetable garden of Landgoed Keppel in Laag-Keppel. The farm cultivates cut flowers, herbs, and vegetables in an unsprayed, biological manner. The flowers are available for self-picking, while the herbs and vegetables are used in the on-site charcuterie, pickled preserves, and flavored salts. The picking garden is open from June through September, with plant sales beginning in May. Visitors are welcome anytime during daylight hours, and the operation is entirely self-service. Available flowers for picking include zinnia, cosmea, scabiosa, dahlia, cornflower, snapdragon, amaranth, statice, strawflower, and sunflower, alongside an increasing selection of perennial blooming plants. Bouquet prices start at €7.50, and payment can be made via QR code, bank transfer, or cash. A bouquet card, a strip card for multiple visits, and a subscription for the full season are available.

de Warmoes

fruit, vegetables, flowers, berries

gelderland

De Warmoes is a historic market garden located in Lent, near Nijmegen. Rooted in the traditions of the “warmoezeniers” (the historical market gardeners who supplied the city), this non-profit foundation cultivates over one hundred different varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs year-round. Farming is done without chemical pesticides, focusing on biodiversity and circular methods. The garden also features an orchard with high-stem fruit trees, a flower garden, greenhouses, and bee colonies, all spread across approximately one hectare.

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.