Utrecht farms

Koningshof is an urban agriculture initiative situated on the eastern outskirts of Utrecht, established in 2012. Its mission is to safeguard and enhance the region’s agricultural heritage while connecting people with a healthy and sustainable food system. The farm serves as an educational hub for all ages, offering opportunities to learn about cultivating, harvesting, preserving, and preparing homegrown vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Visitors can engage with the farm through several avenues:

Moestuin Vollenhoven is a historical and regenerative kitchen garden nestled on Landgoed Vollenhoven. This garden operates with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, cultivating all its produce biologically without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides. It features unique historical glasshouses dating back to 1800 and 1854, which are still actively used today. Visitors to Moestuin Vollenhoven can engage in several activities and offerings: One of the primary self-picking activities is flower picking, available throughout all four seasons using a special clipping card. The variety of flowers for self-picking changes with the seasons:

Glitter Gladiool is a self-picking flower garden situated on a meadow next to Tuincentrum Steck in Utrecht. This garden cultivates approximately 50 different varieties of flowers, all grown in a nature-friendly manner, meaning they are seasonal, pesticide-free, and locally sourced. Visitors can self-pick a wide array of flowers, with the selection varying weekly and being most diverse during the summer months. Access to the garden is primarily facilitated through a harvest share subscription, which offers exclusive picking rights from early July through mid to late October. Subscribers can choose between weekly or bi-weekly picking options, allowing them to harvest 20 flower stems per session. While primarily for subscribers, the garden may occasionally open its gates to non-subscribers during periods of abundant blooms. There are also ambitions to extend the picking season to include spring and autumn offerings from 2026.

Tuinderij De Groenteboer is an organic self-picking farm and flower garden located in Kamerik, near Woerden, on the grounds of Boerderij De Boerinn. The farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, where participants become ‘shareholders’ to harvest their own produce. The self-picking garden offers approximately 60 different varieties of seasonal organic vegetables, herbs, and small fruits. Throughout the year, visitors can harvest a diverse range of produce: Spring: Spinach, broad beans, snap peas, turnip greens. Summer: Carrots, beets, broccoli, strawberries. Autumn: Parsnip, pumpkin. Winter: Kale, leek. Example weekly harvests might include items like celeriac, lettuce, endive, fennel, New Zealand spinach, and potatoes. Vegetable harvesting is available for approximately 32 weeks, typically from May to December. Adjacent to the vegetable plots, a vibrant organic flower picking garden is open from June to mid-September. Here, visitors can create their own bouquets from a wide array of blooms, including phlox, cornflower, sunflower, rudbeckia, zinnia, aster, poppy, delphinium, snapdragon, strawflower, cosmea, and amaranth (foxtail). Shareholders have weekly access to the flower garden, and non-shareholders can also purchase passes for flower picking.

Vrijhof Oostwaard is a farm situated on the Vecht river near Oud-Zuilen, nestled between Utrecht and Maarssen. Functioning as a former monastery outlying farm, it is dedicated to edible nature, relaxation, and culture, aiming to connect urban and rural life through circular agriculture. The farm features a vegetable garden, established in 2021 on the fertile riverbank, and a food forest, which has been cultivating nuts, berries, seeds, fruits, leaves, wood, and flowers since late 2015.

Boerderij De Oude Ruif is a five-generation family farm dedicated to small-scale, nature-inclusive agriculture, fostering a connection between farmers and citizens. It offers visitors the opportunity to experience food production firsthand through its self-picking garden, also known as the “oogsttuin.” In the self-picking garden, visitors can harvest a wide array of fresh produce. Fruits available for picking include common varieties such as redcurrants, raspberries, blackberries, and blackcurrants, alongside more unique types like Japanese wineberry, tayberry (a blackberry-raspberry cross), honeyberry (related to blueberry), jostaberry (a blackcurrant-gooseberry cross), and black raspberries. While the apple, pear, and plum trees are still young, they are expected to yield a larger harvest in three to five years. The vegetable and herb selection features lettuce, beets, carrots, cabbages, zucchini, pumpkins, and various culinary herbs. Garlic and walnuts from the farm’s own trees are also offered, and flower seeds are available for purchase.

Pluktuin ’t Lage Erf is a self-picking flower garden located at Laagerfseweg 30 in Woudenberg, offering a serene outdoor experience for visitors to create their own fresh bouquets. Founded in 2023 by Marieke, the garden provides a space to enjoy colors, fragrances, and relaxation. The garden is open for self-picking on Wednesdays from 11:00 to 15:00, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00. The self-picking season begins in April with tulips, followed by a variety of pick-your-own flowers available from July through October. The garden is currently closed for the season but reopens in April. Due to potential weather-related closures, visitors are advised to check the website, Instagram, or contact the garden before planning their visit.

Vereniging EreBloem is a community-driven picking garden located in Nieuwegein. This neighborhood association aims to bring residents together, fostering connections in a friendly, sustainable green environment. The garden is maintained and cultivated on a voluntary basis, serving as a central point for community engagement. Visitors can enjoy self-picking a variety of produce from the garden. These include vegetables from its dedicated vegetable patch, fruits from espalier fruit trees, and various berries from the berry bushes.

Pluktuin Maarsbergen Maarn is a natural, small-scale self-picking flower garden located at Halmweg 1 in Maarn. The garden is open for visitors to pick their own flowers from June through September. Regular opening hours are every Wednesday from 9 AM to 12 PM. Should the Wednesday be rainy, the garden endeavors to open on a Thursday or Friday evening instead. Groups of 10 or more persons can arrange a picking session by appointment. Visitors are encouraged to bring a bucket to keep their freshly picked flowers hydrated.

Boer Gijs, operating as Fruitbedrijf Jongerius, is a family-run orchard business located in Houten, situated between Utrecht, Houten, and Nieuwegein. The farm features an orchard shop, open every Saturday from 11:00 to 16:00, where visitors can purchase delicious fruit. During the harvest season, the farm offers a unique self-picking experience. Guests are invited to pick their own fresh fruit directly from the orchard, which primarily consists of apples and pears. A special highlight is the Zonneglans apple, a unique new yellow variety known for its sweet, tart flavor, firm bite, and low allergenic properties, also available as 100% pure apple juice. In addition to fruit, visitors can also pick their own flowers from dedicated flower strips within the orchard. The farm cultivates fruit on 28 hectares and stores its produce sustainably year-round using cooling facilities powered by solar panels.

Moestuin de Haar is a 1.5-hectare self-picking garden situated on the historic production grounds of Kasteel de Haar (De Haar Castle) in Haarzuilens. Operating on the principles of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), it invites participants to become “harvest members” by purchasing an annual share, which allows them to weekly pick their own fresh produce and flowers. The garden emphasizes organic farming, biodiversity, and seasonal cultivation, using no artificial fertilizers or pesticides to ensure healthy food for both people and the environment.

This network of urban farms and gardens, known as Utrecht Natuurlijk, offers various green spaces and activities across Utrecht, the Netherlands. These locations serve as community hubs for nature education, sustainable food production, and recreational activities for all ages. Visitors can engage in self-picking at several of these locations. They can pick their own flowers at Stadstuin Zuilen (from mid-June on Sundays, bring own scissors), Kasteeltuin Nijevelt (Friday and Saturday mornings during summer months), Stadstuin Food for Good (mid-June to end October), Stadstuin Kanaalweg (for a small fee when available), Stadstuin Klopvaart (from late June), and Steede Hoge Woerd (during summer). Seasonal vegetables are available for self-harvest at Stadstuin Zuilen (May to October on Fridays). Additionally, at Kasteeltuin Nijevelt and Stadstuin Food for Good, visitors may be able to gather their own vegetables, herbs, and fruits by asking staff. Stadstuin Klopvaart offers self-harvesting of vegetables and herbs from its harvest garden after consultation, and Stadstuin Plutodreef sometimes allows visitors to pick their own vegetables and herbs by inquiring with the staff. Stadstuin Kanaalweg also features a food forest that grows large and small fruits and mushrooms.

Van Ginkel fruitteeltbedrijf is a fruit cultivation company situated in Achterveld, at Emelaarseweg 3b. It is located in the rural area between Leusden, Achterveld, and Hoevelaken, to the east of Amersfoort. The farm’s primary focus is on blueberry cultivation, which is grown on the largest scale. Visitors have traditionally been able to self-pick blueberries, with their harvest season typically running from early July until late August. In addition to blueberries, the farm also cultivates plums, which are harvested from mid-July to mid-September, and figs, picked from early September to mid-October.

The Tuinen van Kraaybeekerhof is a biodynamic farm and garden estate located in Driebergen-Rijsenburg, operating on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model where members can self-harvest their own produce. During the main growing season, which spans approximately 30 weeks, members can weekly pick a wide variety of biodynamically grown vegetables, typically taking home 5 to 8 different types. These seasonal offerings are extensive, including items such as potatoes, onions, carrots, red beets, savoy cabbage, celeriac, endive, and lamb’s lettuce, among many others. The garden also provides opportunities to self-pick various small fruits, including strawberries, currants, gooseberries, rhubarb, and raspberries, along with a diverse selection of herbs.

Boer Erik is a farm located in Loenen aan de Vecht, situated between Amsterdam and Utrecht. It invites visitors to experience fruit growing firsthand, from observing trees in blossom in spring to seeing ripe fruit in the orchards. The farm offers self-picking opportunities for apples during dedicated apple-picking days in September. Many individuals and school groups assist in harvesting the apples. Beyond self-picking, the farm provides access to other fresh produce. In summer, visitors can observe cherry harvesting and enjoy freshly picked cherries on the spot. Sweet, extra-ripe strawberries are also available for direct purchase. Additionally, fresh raspberries, blackberries, and red currants are sourced from friends of the farm.

Hof van Gunterstein is an organic farm situated on the historic Gunterstein estate, dedicated to fostering biodiversity, community, and sustainable practices. The farm offers a variety of engaging experiences and products. Visitors can actively participate in harvesting their own food through the self-harvest garden (zelfoogsttuin). As members, they can come weekly during the season to pick a wide array of organic vegetables and herbs. The garden cultivates over 60 different kinds of produce, including turnips and broad beans in the spring, and palm kale and winter purslane in the autumn. For flower enthusiasts, the flower picking garden (bloemenpluktuin) allows guests to gather their own organic flowers from June/mid-July until September.

Biologische Tuinderij Kansrijk is an organic self-picking farm situated in Groenekan, the Netherlands, operating on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. The farm is dedicated to cultivating over 50 different varieties of seasonal vegetables, herbs, and small fruits, ensuring a direct “soil to plate” experience free from pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and artificial fertilizers. Members can purchase a harvest share, which provides weekly access to the garden from May to December to pick their own produce. Throughout the year, harvesters can expect items like turnip greens and radish in spring; zucchini and strawberries in summer; and pumpkin and kale in autumn. A typical August harvest might include celeriac or pumpkin, lettuce or endive, carrots or parsnip, leek or fennel, spinach, potatoes, and mixed beans. The farm employs a ‘solidarity payment’ system, allowing members to contribute according to their financial capacity, and accepts U-pas for harvest shares to enhance accessibility. Self-picking is available on Mondays (9:00-17:00), Wednesdays (14:00-20:00), and Saturdays (9:00-17:00), with harvesters bringing their own tools and containers.

This family-run farm and garden, known as De Haarse Gaard, is located in Haarzuilens and boasts a rich history as a fruit cultivation business, which has expanded into a comprehensive countryside shop. It offers a wide array of fresh produce and regional products, with a strong emphasis on local and sustainable sourcing, backed by GlobalGAP certification for quality and food safety. At its farm shop, visitors can discover a diverse selection of seasonal vegetables, including endive, zucchini, bell peppers, leeks, green beans, chicory, various types of cabbage (cauliflower, pointed, white, and red), lettuce, carrots, root vegetables, and onions, many of which are sourced from Dutch soil. The fruit assortment features apples, pears, plums, and blackberries grown in their own orchards. Specific apple varieties include Alkmene, Cox, Elstar, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Pinova, and Wellant, while pear varieties consist of Conference, Doyenne du Comice, and Gieser Wildeman. Other fruits like strawberries, pineapple, bananas, grapes, cherries, kiwis, mandarins, mangoes, and oranges are also available.

Utrecht Natuurlijk manages a network of five city farms and six city gardens spread across Utrecht, serving as vibrant community spaces dedicated to nature education, sustainable food production, and enhancing urban biodiversity. These locations offer a diverse array of activities for all ages, opportunities for volunteering, and some feature farm shops or cafes selling local and seasonal produce, including items harvested from the gardens and honey from resident bees. The organization emphasizes accessibility, with many sites offering wheelchair-friendly paths and facilities.

Tuinderij Eyckenstein is an organic vegetable farm situated on the historical kitchen garden of Landgoed Eyckenstein in Maartensdijk. The farm cultivates a wide diversity of seasonal, certified organic vegetables. The farm offers a self-picking program where participants can purchase a season-long share, allowing them to harvest their own organic vegetables once a week from late April to mid-October. Each week, a selection of five different vegetables is made available for self-pickers, with guidance provided by the growers.

Utrecht Natuurlijk operates a network of five city farms and six city gardens spread across Utrecht, providing green spaces and educational experiences for people of all ages. These locations offer visitors the chance to engage with farm animals such as donkeys, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, and chickens, and feature accessible natural playgrounds for children. Many sites also include farm shops that sell fresh local produce and cafes offering refreshments. Several of these locations provide opportunities for self-picking:

Utrecht Natuurlijk operates a network of five city farms and six city gardens across Utrecht, designed to connect the community with nature, sustainable food production, and ecological practices. These lively locations offer a diverse range of activities for all ages, including interaction with farm animals, engaging playgrounds, educational workshops, and nature-themed courses. Visitors have opportunities for direct harvesting experiences, varying by location and season. At several sites, such as Eilandsteede, Kasteeltuin Nijevelt, Stadstuin Food for Good, Stadstuin Klopvaart, Stadstuin Zuilen, and Steede Hoge Woerd, flowers are available for self-picking, often for a small fee, allowing guests to create their own bouquets.

This network of city farms and gardens across Utrecht offers urban residents various ways to connect with nature and sustainable living. Visitors can explore vibrant green spaces, interact with farm animals, and engage in numerous activities and educational programs focused on nature, environment, and sustainability. Several locations feature opportunities for self-picking: Flowers: During the picking season, typically from mid-June to late October, various city gardens, including Stadstuin Food for Good, Kasteeltuin Nijevelt, Stadstuin Kanaalweg, Stadstuin Klopvaart, Stadstuin Zuilen, Steede Hoge Woerd, and Eilandsteede, offer self-pick flower gardens. Guests can often collect their own beautiful, unsprayed, bee- and butterfly-friendly bouquets, sometimes for a small fee.

Landgoed Zuylestein is a historic food-producing estate situated on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug in Leersum. This expansive estate, part of the Stichting Twickel, offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and fresh, locally sourced produce. Visitors are welcome to explore the extensive forests and walking paths, which are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Guided tours can be arranged for groups, focusing on the estate’s rich history, innovative agricultural techniques in the kitchen garden, or general estate management. A special themed walk through the historic 17th-century kitchen garden is also available every Friday, offering a sensory experience of the diverse plants. Modern technology is embraced with smartphone audio tours for individual exploration.

Geertje’s Hoeve Haarzuilens is an experiential farm located near Utrecht, dedicated to making farm life tangible for visitors of all ages. The farm features goats and pigs, an on-site cheesemaking facility, a farm shop, and a lunch restaurant. Visitors can engage directly with the farm’s produce through self-picking opportunities. From July through September, guests can pick their own bouquets of biological flowers from the farm’s fields on specific weekend mornings. Additionally, the farm hosts potato harvest days in mid-August, providing a chance for guests to collect their own potatoes. While pumpkins and courgettes are grown on the farm and sold in the shop, self-picking is not explicitly mentioned for these, though pumpkin carving workshops are available in autumn.

This network consists of five city farms and six city gardens scattered throughout Utrecht, providing vibrant green spaces for the community. These locations are generally open year-round, offering nature education programs, activities for all ages, and opportunities to engage with farm animals. Visitors can explore extensive vegetable gardens, orchards, and dedicated flower-picking areas. Many sites feature farm shops and cafes that sell fresh, local, and seasonal produce, often including items harvested directly from their own gardens, alongside eggs and honey from local beekeepers.

Utrecht Natuurlijk operates eleven green locations across Utrecht, including five city farms and six city gardens. These sites are open to the public, offering a range of activities, nature education, and opportunities to connect with animals and local food production. Many locations feature farm shops or cafes selling fresh, local produce. For those interested in self-picking, several city gardens provide this experience: At Stadstuin Klopvaart, visitors can pick beautiful bouquets of flowers for a fee from the flower picking garden, typically available from late June. It may also be possible to harvest some vegetables and herbs after consultation with staff. Kasteeltuin Nijevelt allows self-picking of flowers on Friday and Saturday mornings during the summer, and visitors can ask staff about gathering their own seasonal vegetables, fruit, and herbs. Stadstuin Food for Good offers self-picking flowers from mid-June to the end of October, and harvesting of vegetables, fruit, and herbs can be arranged upon request. Stadstuin Kanaalweg provides organic flowers and certain herbs for self-picking at a small cost when they are in season. At Stadstuin Plutodreef, self-harvesting of vegetables and herbs is occasionally possible, requiring prior inquiry with staff. Finally, Stadstuin Zuilen invites visitors to self-pick vegetables from its harvest garden every Friday from May to October, and also offers a flower picking garden open on Sundays from mid-June for creating personal bouquets. What visitors say This expansive urban garden in Utrecht, nestled in the Overvecht neighborhood, is widely cherished as a beautiful and well-maintained green oasis. Visitors consistently praise its stunning grounds, which feature charming winding paths, often covered with wood chips, making it an ideal destination for families with young children to explore and learn about nature.

Utrecht Natuurlijk manages a network of five city farms and six city gardens located throughout Utrecht, offering diverse opportunities to connect with nature and engage in sustainable practices. These green spaces provide vibrant community hubs for visitors of all ages, featuring farm animals, natural playgrounds, and educational workshops. Across several of these locations, opportunities for self-picking are available. Visitors can often harvest their own fresh flowers from designated picking gardens, particularly during summer months. At some gardens, seasonal herbs and vegetables are also available for self-collection, sometimes by arrangement with staff. For example, Stadstuin Zuilen offers self-picking for vegetables every Friday from May to October. Kasteeltuin Nijevelt also allows visitors to gather their own flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, while Stadstuin Food for Good cultivates vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers for the community, with flower self-picking available during the season. Stadstuin Kanaalweg and Stadstuin Klopvaart also offer self-picking for flowers and herbs, and sometimes vegetables upon consultation. Produce that is not self-picked is often available for purchase at harvest stalls or farm shops located at various sites.

Utrecht Natuurlijk operates a network of city farms and gardens across Utrecht, dedicated to nature education, sustainable food production, and community engagement. Several of these locations offer visitors the chance to pick their own produce and flowers. At Stadstuin Zuilen, located in northern Utrecht, individuals can harvest their own vegetables from the “oogsttuin” (harvest garden) during the growing season, which typically runs from May to October. Additionally, the “bloemenpluktuin” (flower picking garden) allows visitors to gather their own bouquets of flowers, usually available from mid-June on Sundays. This garden is open year-round, and a garden café, open from May to October, also sells seasonal produce from its beds on weekends.

This network of five city farms and six city gardens spread across Utrecht provides a variety of engaging experiences for all ages, fostering a connection with nature and promoting sustainable living. These locations are generally open throughout the year, inviting visitors to interact with farm animals, explore diverse gardens, and participate in educational and recreational activities. Many sites offer self-picking opportunities. Visitors can pick their own flowers from designated picking gardens, typically available during the summer season. Depending on the specific location and the time of year, it is also possible to harvest various vegetables, herbs, and some fruits directly from the gardens. Certain locations feature a “harvest cabinet” or a dedicated stall where freshly picked seasonal produce can be purchased.

De Eekhoeve, located in Veenendaal, is a long-standing farm, family-run since 1943, offering a diverse range of experiences. It encompasses a farm shop, a cozy tea house named “Bij Kees & Sien,” a care farm, and expansive picking gardens. Visitors have the opportunity to pick their own fresh produce and flowers directly from the gardens. The self-picking options available include: Vegetables Fruit Herbs Flowers, allowing guests to create their own field bouquets, with over 100 varieties of dahlias blooming in the summer months. Beyond the self-picking experience, the farm shop provides a selection of local and artisanal products such as farm cheese, honey, fresh beef from their Hereford cows, local pork, barn eggs, and their unique “Veens Kaatje” (a local egg liqueur). The tea house offers a relaxed setting for coffee, homemade apple pie, lunches, and high teas, featuring a child-friendly menu and a nearby playground. The farm also provides various activities for all ages, including an exploration route with a treasure hunt, and opportunities to meet farm animals like cows, donkeys, sheep, Indian runner ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, and squirrels. Workshops, such as flower arranging, and interactive games are also part of the program. Additionally, De Eekhoeve operates a care farm that supports adults and seniors through day activities focused on animal care and gardening, and offers catering services along with custom gift and Christmas packages for both private and corporate clients.

Boerderij Nieuw Slagmaat is a welcoming, eco-conscious farm located in Bunnik, situated near Utrecht and Houten, within the historic Kromme-Rijn region. It operates as a traditional mixed farm with a modern, environmentally-friendly approach to cultivation and animal husbandry, having received various awards for its sustainable practices. Visitors are invited to experience farm life, explore the grounds, and enjoy a variety of activities. The farm features a shop, a tea house with a terrace, and a play area, open on Fridays and Saturdays. Guests can take a look at the farm animals, which include Blaarkop cows (a rare Dutch breed known for quality meat), horses (part of a small boarding stable), sheep, goats, chickens, cats, and a dog. The farm also contributes to nature conservation, providing habitats for various bird species and even protected grass snakes.

Tuinpark Laakzijde is an ecological garden park located in Amersfoort, Vathorst, dedicated to promoting biodiversity and ecological gardening. It serves as a vibrant hub for community interaction and education for both local residents and visitors. The park offers several opportunities for individuals to connect with nature and obtain fresh produce. Through a self-harvest garden, participants can subscribe to a “harvest share” that allows them to pick their own organic vegetables and herbs weekly, eating seasonally. Produce available for self-picking from this garden, depending on the time of year, includes spring items like turnip greens, spinach, and broad beans; summer crops such as tomatoes, beans, and courgettes; and autumn harvests like kale, celeriac, and pumpkins. Other common vegetables often found for self-harvest are lettuce, endive, carrots, potatoes, and cucumbers. Additionally, a flower picking garden operates from mid-June to mid-October, inviting visitors to pick dahlias, marigolds, zinnias, and various other summer flowers.

De Moestuin Maarschalkerweerd is a biological farm and garden located in Utrecht, dedicated to providing a green space for community engagement and social impact. It operates as a social enterprise, offering activation and learning-work programs to individuals who are seeking to re-enter the labor market. Visitors to the farm have the opportunity for self-picking during the harvest season, which runs from approximately April to December. Those with a self-picking subscription can typically harvest 4-5 different types of vegetables and fruits each week. The extensive vegetable garden cultivates over 50 varieties, including capuchin peas, lettuce, beans, palm cabbage, tomatoes, sweetcorn, Jerusalem artichokes, and pumpkins. For fruits, strawberries, red currants, blackberries, black currants, and raspberries are available for picking in season. The farm also features apple, pear, cherry, and quince trees, as well as grapes and figs grown in a greenhouse. Additionally, a dedicated flower field allows visitors to gather their own bouquets, with a colorful selection of blooms such as dahlias, sunflowers, cornflowers, safflower, marigolds, coreopsis, amaranth, wild carrot, summer asters, liquorice plant, snapdragons, verbena, flax, sweet pea, knotweed, love-in-a-mist, and cosmos typically flourishing from July to September. A diverse herb garden boasts 75 types of culinary, medicinal, and dye herbs.

This network of urban farms and gardens across Utrecht offers a variety of green experiences for visitors of all ages. It features five city farms and six city gardens, each contributing to a greener, healthier, and more sustainable city environment. Visitors can enjoy interacting with farm animals such as pigs, goats, sheep, cows, chickens, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, birds, and cats. Some locations host rare agricultural breeds like Frisian dairy sheep and Blaarkop cattle. The sites also provide natural playgrounds for children to explore, climb, and engage in imaginative play, some even equipped with accessible features. Educational programs and workshops focus on nature, gardening, sustainable food production, and animal welfare.

Steck Utrecht presents itself as a vibrant green city oasis that combines a garden center with diverse community and nature-focused experiences. Visitors have opportunities to engage in self-picking activities, especially during warmer months. At the Pluktuin Glitter Gladiool, guests can pick their own bouquets of colorful, unsprayed seasonal flowers. For those interested in cultivating their own food, the Zelfoogsttuin De Gagelgaard offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, where members with a harvest share can weekly gather their own vegetables, including Swiss chard, arugula, beans, cabbages, carrots, and various herbs and root vegetables.

De Achterdijk, also known as Kromme Rijn Fruit, is a fruit farm and country shop situated in Bunnik, near Utrecht, within the fertile Kromme Rijn region, proudly referred to as ‘The Fruit Garden of Utrecht’. The farm specializes in cultivating a wide array of fruits, which are sold directly through its country shop, a 24/7 fruit vending machine, and an online shop for local pickup. For customers, the country shop is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30 to 17:00, with extended hours during cherry season (Monday to Thursday, 12:00-17:00). The fruit vending machine operates daily from 7:00 to 22:00, offering cooled produce with PIN payment. Beyond direct sales, De Achterdijk provides corporate fruit delivery services to businesses in the surrounding Utrecht area and creates custom gift packages featuring their own products and other regional delicacies. Group arrangements, including farm tours and cherry tasting, are also available.

This collection of city farms and gardens across Utrecht provides green spaces for residents and visitors to connect with nature, offering opportunities for active participation and relaxation. Many of these locations feature areas where visitors can self-pick produce during certain seasons. Flowers are available for self-picking at Kasteeltuin Nijevelt, Stadstuin Food for Good, Stadstuin Kanaalweg, Stadstuin Klopvaart, Stadstuin Zuilen, and Steede Hoge Woerd, generally during the summer months or designated picking season, sometimes for a small fee.

This garden is a destination for those interested in cultivating and picking their own flowers, emphasizing a colorful and biodiverse approach. It provides guidance and resources, including workshops and special kits, to help individuals design and grow their own vibrant cutting gardens, attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. The flowers available for self-picking or cultivation, suitable for creating beautiful bouquets, include a wide variety of both annuals and perennials. Among these are:

This green city oasis in Utrecht provides various opportunities for hands-on harvesting and enjoying local produce. Guests can self-pick colorful, unsprayed flowers at the Glitter Gladiool Picking Garden during the summer months. While often structured around harvest shares, the garden also welcomes individual pickers when there is a plentiful supply of blooms. Additionally, the site features De Gagelgaard Self-Harvest Garden, where members with a harvest share can regularly gather their own fresh vegetables. The seasonal yield from this garden includes chard, arugula, beans, cabbages, carrots, and various herbs. The broader location also encompasses the Voedseltuin Overvecht, a communal food garden where residents contribute to cultivating and harvesting a range of crops.

Pluktuin Stoutenburg is a self-picking garden and tea house situated in the picturesque Utrechts Landschap area. Visitors have the opportunity to pick their own flowers and pumpkins during the growing season. The farm features a charming tea house, housed in a renovated old bakery, where guests can enjoy coffee, tea, and a selection of homemade cakes. Offerings include apple pie and a weekly special crafted with seasonal, locally sourced fruits. Farm-made scoop ice cream from Hoeve Ruitenbeek is also served. The tea house provides a comfortable setting with a terrace for warmer days and infrared heating for cooler periods. Electric bicycles can be charged while guests relax or explore the garden.

De Groene Ham is a self-picking farm and country store situated in Vleuten, within the picturesque Groene Hart region and near the historic Ridderhofstad Den Ham. Established in the 1950s, the farm began with the cultivation of apples and pears, later expanding to include cherries, plums, and red currants. The farm’s Landwinkel (country store) offers a wide selection of fresh produce directly from its own orchards and fields. This includes a variety of apples (such as Delbare, Wellant, Elstar, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Pinova, and Goudreinet), pears (including Doyenné du Comice, Conference, and Gieser Wildeman stewing pears), cherries (Burlat, Merchant, Kordia, Karina, and Regina varieties), red currants, and plums. Beyond fruit, the store stocks a rich assortment of fresh vegetables like cauliflower, endive, various beans and lettuces, bunched carrots, beets, chicory, broccoli, leek, spinach, red and green cabbage, winter carrots, celery, spring onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, chestnut mushrooms, radishes, and cucumber, alongside seasonal options such as Brussels sprouts, kale, and traditional sauerkraut.

Amelis’ Hof is a biodynamic market garden situated on an approximately one-hectare 18th-century vegetable garden, part of the historic Amelisweerd estate near Utrecht and Bunnik. This farm, which has been cultivating produce biodynamically since 1984, focuses on preserving historical varieties and sustainable farming practices. The garden cultivates a rich diversity of produce, including about 100 different types of vegetables, 25 kinds of herbs, small fruits, and numerous flowers. Among the vegetables are known varieties alongside forgotten ones like primeval beetroot and winter broccoli, and old-fashioned options such as Swiss chard, runner beans, silverbeet, parsnip, and Jerusalem artichoke. Depending on the season, produce also includes strawberries, sprouts, and Moroccan mint. The farm also sells local apple juice and eggs from their rare Uilebaarden chickens.

De Gagelgaard Utrecht operates as a self-picking garden, offering a direct and sustainable way to obtain fresh produce. Members can purchase a harvest share for 435 euros, which grants them weekly access to the garden to pick their own vegetables and herbs from May through December. This initiative emphasizes local, sustainably grown food, cultivated directly from the earth without supermarket intervention or extensive transport chains. The garden is managed by gardener Mark Verhoef, who oversees the cultivation of the produce. It is designed as a beautiful, biodiverse space intended to be a natural food landscape, enriching the urban environment with plants, flowers, insects, and birds, while also serving as a place for learning and community engagement.

De Bongerd Fruit Tree Association is a community initiative located in the Langerak 1 district of Leidsche Rijn, Utrecht, established in 2000. Its primary goal is to maintain the neighborhood’s fruit trees and foster community connections. The association manages five orchards spread across areas such as Westraklaan, Slingeraklaan, Molenrakhof, Zijlsterraklaan, Gouderaklaan, Zandweg, Skageraklaan, and Langerakbaan. Residents can participate in various activities throughout the year, including spring and summer pruning sessions, and an annual harvest festival in the autumn. During the harvest festival, members can self-pick a bounty of apples, pears, and cherries from the un-sprayed trees in the local orchards. Any remaining fruit is often pressed into juice, which is also available for purchase, typically a mixed juice of apples and pears. Beyond fruit-picking, the association organizes social events like a green decoration evening where participants create Christmas arrangements, and jubilee celebrations featuring activities such as insect hotel building and a fruit cake baking competition.

Wilde Weide is a biological flower nursery and self-picking garden located in Kamerik (Woerden), set within the grounds of BoerBert, a biological dairy farm. This 1500 m² garden operates with an official SKAL bio-certification, cultivating flowers without the use of pesticides, toxins, or artificial fertilizers, and utilizing biological bulbs and seeds to promote biodiversity. Visitors can enjoy self-picking a diverse range of sustainably grown flowers. The season typically begins with vibrant tulips and elegant ornamental alliums, continuing through summer and into October with a colorful variety of dahlias, alongside other annual and perennial blooms.

Moestuin de Haar is a 1.5-hectare self-picking garden established on the historical production grounds of Kasteel de Haar. Operating on the principles of community-supported agriculture (CSA), it invites participants to purchase an annual harvest share, granting them weekly access to harvest fresh vegetables, small fruits, herbs, and flowers during the growing season. The garden is committed to biological farming, prioritizing biodiversity, seasonal cultivation, and maintaining healthy soil without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides. This approach aims to provide wholesome food while contributing positively to the environment. Moestuin de Haar also functions as a vibrant community hub, offering various activities such as harvest festivals, workshops, and educational programs for schools. It serves as an inspiring location for team outings and teambuilding, and volunteers are actively involved in its upkeep.

Tuinen van Hartstocht is a self-picking garden located on Boerderij Hartstocht, an organic city farm in Abcoude, near Amsterdam. It operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) principle, where members pay an annual contribution to harvest their own produce throughout the season. The garden offers two main self-picking areas: The Vegetable Garden: Members can harvest fresh, naturally grown vegetables weekly for approximately 30 weeks, from late April to mid-November. The farm cultivates without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Available vegetables for self-picking include various types of lettuce, bok choy, beets, chard, kale, Tuscan kale, beans, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, fennel, red cabbage, peppers, and various herbs. They also grow less common varieties like blue kohlrabi, spicy Asian salad, and edible flowers.

This farm offers a delightful self-picking experience, inviting visitors to harvest a wide array of seasonal produce directly from its fields and orchards. Guests can enjoy picking various fruits when in season, including strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, redcurrants, apples, pears, and plums. For those interested in savory harvests, the farm provides opportunities to self-pick various vegetables, such as pumpkins and courgettes, as well as a selection of fragrant herbs. Additionally, certain sections of the farm feature seasonal flowers for picking. Some areas also offer foraging for walnuts and medlars.

Orchard “de boswachter” is a family-owned local attraction situated at Ockhuizerweg 41 in Utrecht, Netherlands. This establishment has garnered a strong reputation, with a 4.4-star rating based on 34 customer reviews. The location is highly accessible, offering wheelchair accessibility, easy entrance, and available parking. Visitors are welcome for walk-ins or can schedule online appointments and consultations. For convenience, various payment methods are accepted, including credit cards, debit cards, cash, and mobile payments. Orchard “de boswachter” operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

This urban green space offers a unique opportunity to explore a diverse collection of private and historic gardens hidden behind the facades of the city center. Many of these tranquil oases feature stunning garden architecture, historical elements, and a rich variety of plant life. Visitors can encounter gardens ranging from formal French styles to ecological designs, some with grand old trees like Japanese knotweed, Oriental plane trees, ginkgo bilobas, and ancient beeches. Ornamental flora abounds, including hydrangeas, ferns, rhododendrons, lavender, wisteria, jasmine, and various bee- and butterfly-friendly plants like agastache, eupatorium, and globe thistles. Vertical gardens and meticulously restored historical landscapes are also part of the experience.