De Horsterhof is an organic farm located near Arnhem in Duiven, dedicated to reconnecting people with nature through sustainable food production. The farm cultivates a wide variety of local and seasonal produce using 100% organic and regenerative farming methods.
Visitors can engage with the farm in several ways, including a self-picking program. With a self-picking subscription, available from May 10th to November 1st, individuals can harvest their own fresh, seasonal produce and flowers directly from the fields and unheated greenhouses. The farm welcomes self-pickers from Monday to Saturday, between 08:30 and 19:00.
Produce available for self-picking includes:
- A diverse range of seasonal vegetables: This encompasses root vegetables such as red beets, yellow beets, winter carrots, yacon, potatoes, celeriac, and kohlrabi; various leafy greens like winter purslane, lamb’s lettuce, red cabbage, white cabbage, savoy cabbage, kale, palm kale, turnip greens, chard, lettuce, and endive; and other vegetables including futsu squash, butternut squash, chicory, leeks, Brussels sprouts, paprika, green beans, fennel, shallots, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants (the latter typically grown in their greenhouses).
- Seasonal fruits: The farm has planted fruit trees and aims to offer an increasing amount of its own fruit.
- Fresh herbs and flowers.
In addition to self-picking, the Horsterhof offers weekly organic vegetable boxes, which can include fruits and eggs from their own chickens. There is also a farm shop that sells their own seasonal produce, supplemented with organic vegetables from regional farmers and citrus fruits. The shop also stocks organic dairy products from a local biodynamic farm, bread from an organic bakery, dry goods, and seasonal meat packages (pork) from their own pigs. For those unable to visit, a webshop offers gift packages and art prints featuring their vegetables. The farm is operated by Eline and Matthias, who emphasize knowing where one’s food comes from and the positive impact of an organic diet.
What visitors say
This self-picking farm and its accompanying farm shop receive overwhelmingly positive feedback, celebrated for its steadfast commitment to organic and biodynamic farming practices. Customers consistently laud the exceptional quality, freshness, and rich flavor of the produce, often remarking on how vegetables like tomatoes taste like they “used to” and how eggs are significantly tastier than supermarket alternatives.
A cornerstone of their offering is the weekly (or bi-weekly in winter) vegetable and fruit subscription boxes. These packages are highly praised for their varied and often surprising seasonal contents, which encourage subscribers to explore new ingredients and cook more aligned with nature’s cycles. The convenience of numerous local pick-up points and the helpful communication, including advance lists of contents and recipe suggestions, are frequently highlighted. Many reviewers appreciate the direct relationship with the farmers, who are described as passionate, knowledgeable, and working with “heart and soul” to support sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. The farm also provides other quality products like bread, dairy, and meat, and offers a pleasant atmosphere, with opportunities for self-harvesting in summer and events like plant markets.
While the vast majority are highly satisfied, a few isolated comments noted that a trial package’s quality was “not super good” or that prices were “slightly higher” than some organic supermarket options. One specific, strongly negative review highlighted a perceived instance of very poor value and low quantity in a trial subscription, along with finding pests in the produce. However, these appear to be exceptions amidst widespread commendation for the farm’s ethos, products, and service.