Bij Buurman in Kortehemmen is a pick-your-own vegetable and flower garden where members can harvest fresh produce weekly during the growing season. The farm operates on a membership basis, with the season running from May to November. Members pay a seasonal fee—€250 to €350 for adults, with children aged 5 to 17 paying ten times their age and younger children free—and can visit the garden from Tuesday to Saturday between 9.30 and 17.00 to pick what they need. The farm grows around 60 to 80 varieties of vegetables and herbs, including standard crops like lettuce, carrots and courgettes, as well as less common ones such as kohlrabi, parsnips and coloured carrots. A greenhouse now also produces tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Weekly newsletters and orange signs in the garden indicate which crops are ready for harvest.
For those unsure about committing to a full season, a trial membership is available for one month at €45 for adults and €10 for children aged 5 to 17. Non-members can visit the flower-picking field, open from late June, where a €10 fee allows you to pick a bouquet of seasonal blooms grown using regenerative farming methods. The farm also sells young vegetable plants from mid-April to mid-August, priced at €0.50 each or three for €1.
A small café, the Rustpunt, operates in good weather, serving coffee, tea and ice cream. There is a play area for children, and the farm keeps chickens and pigs, with eggs and occasional pork available for sale. Volunteers are welcome to help on set days, with meals provided. The farm follows regenerative agriculture principles, focusing on soil health and biodiversity without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides.
What visitors say
Visitors pick their own bouquets of organic flowers—dahlias, roses, verbena and more—for around €10, with a huge choice of colours and varieties. You walk through the rows with a basket and scissors, and the owner’s mother or other staff briefly explain how it works. Payment is cash or by QR code. The garden also has plenty of seating, and children can watch butterflies while parents pick.
For members, the farm offers seasonal vegetables grown using permaculture and bokashi, with a focus on healthy soil. You can help tend the plants, though it’s not required, and many enjoy the social side of the volunteer days. Non-members can still visit for flowers and a cup of tea in the garden. Most find the people running the place warm and welcoming.