Bosbessenkwekerij La Francaise is a blueberry nursery and farm located in Enschede, Netherlands, with fields at both the Willemsbeekweg and the Kwekkeboomweg in Buurse. The farm specializes in the cultivation of American blueberries (often referred to as blue berries), grown without the use of pesticides. The bushes produce large, sweet berries and are accessible for self-picking. The self-pick season runs from approximately mid-July to mid-August. For the 2025 season, self-picking starts on July 19th and is held on select dates through early August, with the farm open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on those days. Visitors pick berries from bushes around two meters high and pay by weight, with prices decreasing for larger quantities. Outside of the self-pick season, the farm is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (until 4:30 PM on Saturdays) for the purchase of frozen berries, jams, juices, syrups, and other local products. The farm also offers seasonal employment for young people.
What visitors say
Patrons of this self-picking farm have shared varied experiences, though many highlight positive aspects. There’s appreciation for the broad selection of produce and the friendly nature of the staff. This helpfulness extends to customer service, as exemplified by one visitor who gratefully noted the exceptional dedication of employees who assisted in searching for a lost hearing aid belonging to an elderly relative.
However, not all feedback is glowing, particularly concerning the self-picking experience itself. One customer strongly advised against it, expressing frustration that the ripest berries were apparently reserved for sale rather than for patrons to pick. They also described an unfriendly encounter when being redirected from certain areas and found the designated picking zones to offer very few ripe berries. To compound the disappointment, even the berries purchased at the farm were considered to be of poor quality.