wild plants

Ready to swap the supermarket aisle for a sun-drenched Dutch field? Forget the perfectly packaged produce—we’re going on a treasure hunt for wild plants. Think of it as nature’s own farmers’ market, where the crop changes with the seasons and the only “price tag” is a little bit of bending and a keen eye. From peppery leaves to nutty seeds, these resilient greens are the ultimate foragers’ delight. Grab a basket, round up your friends or family, and get ready to channel your inner hunter-gatherer. (Just remember your gardening gloves and a good field guide—some look-alikes aren’t so friendly!)

The Pick: A Gentle Guided Forage

Finding your wild bounty is half the fun. Look for patches of dandelion greens (yes, the “weeds” from your childhood are gourmet gold), wild garlic (the forest floor smells like a salad in spring), or nettles (don’t be scared—the sting vanishes with heat). When you spot a healthy cluster, use scissors or your fingers to snip the top leaves and stems. The general rule: leave at least two-thirds of the plant behind so it keeps growing. For the crispest, most tender harvest, go early in the morning after a light rain. It’s a fantastic group activity—one person spots, one snips, and someone else inevitably tries to identify a branch (usually wrong, but that’s part of the laughter).

What To Do With Your Wild Bounty

Once home, give your haul a thorough rinse in cold water to remove any dirt or tiny critters. Dry them gently in a salad spinner or on a clean towel. Now, the fun really begins.

Two Cooking Recipes (Vegetable/Fruit)

Since “wild plants” covers a broad category, let’s focus on two stars: wild garlic and stinging nettles.

1. Wild Garlic Pesto (Ready in 10 minutes) Wild garlic’s mild onion kick is perfect raw. This pesto is a jar of spring.

Ingredients: 2 cups wild garlic leaves (washed and chopped), ½ cup pine nuts (or walnuts), ½ cup grated Parmesan, ½ cup olive oil, juice of ½ lemon, salt & pepper.
Method: Toast the nuts in a dry pan until golden (2–3 minutes). In a food processor, pulse the wild garlic and nuts until finely chopped. Add Parmesan, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until smooth. Toss with pasta, smear on crusty bread, or use as a sandwich spread.

2. Nettle & Potato Soup (A Creamy Hug in a Bowl) Don’t worry—cooking kills the sting, leaving a rich, earthy flavor.

Ingredients: 500g potatoes (diced), 1 onion (chopped), 400g fresh nettle tops (wearing gloves!), 1 liter vegetable stock, 100ml cream, 2 tbsp butter, salt & nutmeg.
Method: Melt butter in a pot and sauté onion until soft. Add potatoes and stock, bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Add nettles (carefully) and cook for 3 minutes until wilted. Blend until velvety smooth. Stir in cream, season with salt and a pinch of nutmeg. Serve hot with crusty bread—a vibrant green bowl of goodness.

One Cocktail Recipe (Fruit)

If you’ve managed to find wild berries—like blackberries, elderberries, or rose hips—try this.

Wild Bramble Fizz

Ingredients: 1 cup fresh wild blackberries (or other berries), 2 tbsp honey (or simple syrup), 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 1 oz gin (optional), soda water, fresh mint.
Method: Muddle the blackberries with honey and lemon juice in a shaker. Add gin (if using) and a handful of ice. Shake well. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with soda water and stir gently. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a whole berry. Cheers to foraging!

De Wickevoorter Stadsboeren

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs

noord-holland

De Wickevoorter Stadsboeren is a biological urban farm and self-picking garden located in the new residential area of Wickevoort in Cruquius. The farm operates as a form of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), with a mission to reconnect people with each other and with their food. Spanning over 2.5 hectares, the farm grows a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and also keeps pigs, chickens, and sheep. Members of the self-picking garden can harvest from 50 to 60 different types of vegetables each season, with fresh herbs always available. The main harvest season runs from mid-May until Christmas, with a limited winter harvest available in January and February. Members can harvest daily from sunrise to sunset. Additionally, a flower-picking garden is open from July through the end of September, offering a changing selection of field flowers. For those who prefer a ready-to-go option, a weekly vegetable crate with seasonal produce can be picked up.

Pluktuin ut ouw goed

flowers, fruit, berries

noord-brabant

Ut Ouw Goed is a family-run picking garden and food forest located in De Moer, Netherlands. Originally a tree nursery, the property was transformed starting in 2017 into an experience garden that combines a flower picking garden, a food forest, and a nature pond. The site also features an apiary with beehives, making it a haven for pollinators. The garden is designed for relaxation and exploration, with wheelchair-accessible paths, a barefoot path, a sandbox for children, and a Jeu de Boules court.

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.

Blauwe Bessengaard op ´t Leeuweriksveld

fruit, vegetables, herbs, berries

drenthe

’t Leeuweriksveld is a biodynamic vegetable farm and orchard located in Emmen, in the province of Drenthe. For over 20 years, the farm has offered a wide variety of vegetables and fruit. Across the property, a blueberry orchard on a quarter-hectare of land is open for self-picking seasonally. The blueberry picking season typically runs from late spring through the end of August. In addition to blueberries, the farm grows other types of berries for picking, including blackberries and tayberries, as well as grapes, medlars, quinces, and apples.

'T Leeuweriksveld

fruit, vegetables, herbs, berries

drenthe

’t Leeuweriksveld is a biodynamic vegetable farm located in Emmen, Drenthe, that has been cultivating its land for over two decades. The farm focuses on producing a diverse range of vegetables using biodynamic methods and offers several ways to access its harvest, including a self-picking program, weekly vegetable subscriptions, and a farm shop. The farm is situated at Zandzoom 72 and is part of a wider initiative that includes a blueberry orchard.