At Boer Gijs in Houten you pick your own apples, pears and flowers during the plukseizoen. The farm grows several varieties, including the Zonneglans apple, a yellow, crisp apple with a sweet and tangy flavour. Zonneglans is low in allergens and keeps its colour and texture longer than most apples. Visitors can also pick blueberries and other seasonal fruit when available.

The farm is open on Saturdays from 10.00 to 16.00. You pay by the kilo for the fruit you pick. The shop sells fresh produce, Zonneglans apple juice and other products from the farm. Parking and the entrance are wheelchair-accessible.

Boer Gijs is a family-run fruit farm with 28 hectares of orchards, half apples and half pears. The farm uses solar power to run its cold storage, which holds up to two-thirds of a million kilos of fruit. The farm has been in the same family for four generations.

What visitors say

Visitors pick fresh apples and pears straight from the trees, with some also gathering flowers and berries. The fruit is consistently praised for its top quality—crisp, flavourful, and clearly well-tended. The farm’s staff are friendly and eager to explain the different varieties, and you can walk through the orchard freely, sometimes with a guided tour on how the trees are maintained. Schools are welcome, and children seem to enjoy the experience.

Most agree the produce is worth the trip, though there’s no mention of prices. A few highlight the peacefulness of picking without crowds, calling it a nice tip for quieter visits. The only downside noted is that the low-hanging branches mean some bending or crouching.

Facilities in this u-pick farm

Farm shop Farm shop

Stadsboerderij Koppelsteede | Utrecht Natuurlijk

1.6 km — utrecht

Stadsboerderij Koppelsteede in Utrecht runs a pick-your-own garden where visitors harvest seasonal vegetables, herbs and edible flowers from June to mid-November. The garden grows over 50 different crops, including familiar varieties such as peas, maize, tomatoes and lettuce, alongside less common ones like palm kale, New Zealand spinach and radicchio. Each week, five to seven types of vegetables are ready to pick, along with fresh herbs and flowers. The farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. Visitors buy an annual share, which covers the costs of seeds, plants, compost and the grower’s work. In return, they harvest their own produce weekly. Shares are sold at three price levels: a basic rate, a standard rate that covers costs, and a higher rate for those who want to support others. Payment can be made in one or two instalments, and the U-pas discount applies.

Landwinkel Nieuw Slagmaat

2.2 km — utrecht

Landwinkel Nieuw Slagmaat in Bunnik is a mixed farm where you can pick your own fruit, berries and pumpkins. The main crops are apples, pears, plums, cherries, kiwiberries and pumpkins. The farm also grows kiwis, though these are not available for picking. Picking is organised on set days, usually Fridays and Saturdays, with some events on Sundays. In June and July you can pick cherries; in July and August plums and summer apples; in September apples, pears, kiwiberries and pumpkins; and in October pumpkins. Exact dates depend on the weather and are announced on the farm’s website and in its newsletter. During the apple-picking weekends in September, the farm opens on Sundays as well.

Stadstuin Food for Good | Utrecht Natuurlijk

3.2 km — utrecht

Stadstuin Food for Good in Utrecht is a community garden where visitors can pick their own flowers and seasonal vegetables. The garden grows a variety of produce, including herbs, vegetables, and flowers in a dedicated cutting garden. You can harvest what is in season, with the selection changing throughout the year. The garden is open Monday to Thursday from 09.30 to 16.00. There is no entry fee, and you pay for what you pick by the item or bunch, with prices starting at €0.50. Freshly harvested produce is also available for purchase at the on-site stall. The garden encourages sustainable practices, such as using your own containers for picking.

Koningshof

3.5 km — utrecht

Koningshof in Utrecht is a pick-your-own flower farm and urban agriculture project where visitors can cut their own bouquets from June to October. The flower field is open on Saturdays, with workshops on arranging seasonal blooms held throughout the season. You pay for your flowers at the farm stall, where prices are set per bunch. The farm also grows vegetables in its greenhouses and allotments, which are sold fresh at the stall on Saturdays alongside local produce such as honey, eggs, cheese, and preserves. A small café serves coffee, tea, and light meals in the orchard during opening hours.