Kerstbomenverkoop Ezendam

At OLGARDEN in Deurningen you pick your own flowers from a pluktuin stocked with dahlias, annuals and perennials. The season runs from mid-July to the end of September. Scissors are provided; you pay a fixed price for each bouquet you make. The pluktuin is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11.00 to 16.00, and by appointment at other times. Groups of eight or more can book an evening workshop in July, August or September. For weddings or funerals the owner will open the field outside regular hours.

At Kerstboom kwekerij Gebr. Vije in Enschede you pick your own Christmas tree while it is still standing in the ground. The nursery has been growing trees here for 40 years and the trees are tended all year round. It grows five species: fijnspar (Norway spruce) with fine, prickly needles; zilverspar (Serbian spruce), a narrow dark-green tree with a silvery underside; blauwspar (blue spruce), a broad tree with a strong pine scent; Koreaanse spar (Korean fir), slim with distinctive upward-pointing branches; and the Nordmann spar, with soft, large needles and good needle retention. Trees range from small sizes up to ten metres high, suitable for a business entrance or a neighbourhood square. On site, trees are available with root ball, in a pot, or freshly cut; prices start at €8.00 for a fijnspar, €10.00 for a zilverspar, €13.00 for a blauwspar and €18.00 for a Nordmann.

At Lammersen Kerstbomen in Boekelo you choose your own Christmas tree from the field. The Lammersen family has grown trees here since 2000 and now grows ten species in sizes from 0.60 metres to 7.00 metres. The selection includes Norway spruce (Picea abies), Serbian spruce (Picea omorika), blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Glauca’), Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana), Korean fir (Abies koreana), Fraser fir and others. From St Nicholas Day (6 December) until Christmas the trees are sold directly from the land, cut fresh when you choose them. Smaller trees up to 1.20 metres are available in pots with a root ball or bare root; larger trees are sold sawn with a root ball. The farm also sells cut greenery, including Nobilis, Koreana and Nordman, and supplies material for wedding arches.

At Kerstbomenkwekerij Beuvink in Lonneker, between Enschede, Oldenzaal and Hengelo, you choose your own Christmas tree straight from the field. The nursery grows five species: Norway spruce (Fijnspar), Serbian spruce (Servische spar), Nordmann fir, Korean fir and blue spruce. Trees range from small potted ones to specimens up to seven metres tall for streets, squares and large indoor spaces. The sales season runs from 28 November to 23 December. In that period the farm is open Monday to Saturday from 09.30 to 20.00 and on Sunday from 11.00 to 17.00. You walk among the trees and select the one you want; you can reserve a chosen tree and collect it later when it suits you. Staff advise on the best tree for your home and how to keep it fresh indoors. Payment is by cash only, as there is no card machine. The nursery delivers trees in the evening after 17.00. It is also possible to rent a Serbian spruce, which is grown with a compact root system so it survives the weeks it stands indoors.