U-pick farm Sprankenhof

Sprankenhof is a biodynamic farm, garden, farm shop, and kitchen located in Udenhout, in the province of North Brabant. Situated on a historic “boshoeve” (forest farm) dating back to 1779, the farm is run by a family committed to ecological and sustainable agriculture. The business has been certified 100% organic since 2007 and has been Demeter-certified biodynamic since October 2024. The on-site kitchen holds the EKO Gold 100% certification, ensuring all food and drinks served are fully organic. The farm is LGBTQ+ friendly and run by a female entrepreneur.

Visitors can self-pick a wide variety of organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs directly from the picking garden. The specific produce available changes with the season and is updated regularly on a current harvest board. In addition to seasonal vegetables and herbs, the garden includes a fruit orchard where visitors can pick fruit. The farm also grows larger field crops such as rye and camelina (huttentut) and sells straw and herb-rich hay.

The farm, garden, and shop are open year-round. Regular hours are Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. During the high season, from May 1st to September 30th, Saturday hours are extended to 6:00 PM, and from June 1st to September 30th, the farm is also open on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. No reservation is needed for general admission, and there is no entrance fee. The farm provides baskets, containers, and cutting tools for picking. Facilities include a pinautomaat, free parking, and a charging point for electric bikes and scooters. The garden, kitchen, and restroom are wheelchair accessible, and visitors with mobility issues may drive up to the shop. Dogs are welcome on the terrace but not inside the picking garden or the shop.

What visitors say

This self-picking farm generally offers a unique and enjoyable experience, especially for families seeking an educational and fun outing. Visitors consistently praise the opportunity to pick their own fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even collect eggs, often finding it a rewarding activity for children, with helpful online information regarding seasonal availability.

Beyond the fields, guests appreciate the on-site shop, which stocks a variety of organic products, including cheeses, jams, and delectable cakes. The pleasant terrace and friendly, hospitable staff contribute to a welcoming atmosphere, making it a popular spot for relaxing, enjoying a coffee, or partaking in activities like treasure hunts. The farm also caters to events, team sessions, and cooking workshops, providing delicious organic meals and an engaging environment for various celebrations and group activities.

However, several common points of criticism emerge. Pricing is a significant concern for some, who describe both the self-picked items and the shop’s offerings as unexpectedly expensive. Maintenance of the picking areas is another area for improvement, with mentions of overgrown nettles, unclear paths, and instances where popular produce like raspberries had been picked clean. One family with young children found the play facilities inadequate and potentially unsafe, missing typical playground equipment, and felt there was a lack of staff guidance on what to pick. There were also isolated reports of limited offerings in the catering facility and lapses in the organization of pre-booked activities. A particularly negative experience involved a visitor being met with unhelpfulness and rudeness by staff when attempting to inquire about the farm on a closed day. It’s also worth noting that the availability of produce is, naturally, seasonal.

Facilities in this u-pick farm

Farm shop Farm shop

Pluktuin ut ouw goed

7.7 km — noord-brabant

Ut Ouw Goed is a family-run picking garden and food forest located in De Moer, Netherlands. Originally a tree nursery, the property was transformed starting in 2017 into an experience garden that combines a flower picking garden, a food forest, and a nature pond. The site also features an apiary with beehives, making it a haven for pollinators. The garden is designed for relaxation and exploration, with wheelchair-accessible paths, a barefoot path, a sandbox for children, and a Jeu de Boules court.

FlowerWise

8.8 km — noord-brabant

FlowerWise is a sustainable, poison-free flower garden and creative studio located in Tilburg, at the address Koningshoeven 62. The garden is part of the location known as “Un bietje groen” and focuses on growing flowers in harmony with nature. It serves as an educational space and a place for personalized floral creations, including memorial arrangements. All plants and flowers are cultivated without chemicals, supporting local biodiversity and pollinators. Self-picking of flowers is only available when booked as part of a workshop or when ordering memorial flower arrangements. Visitors cannot simply come to pick on their own; picking is integrated into a guided experience. The workshop options include creating a bouquet on a vase, making a dried wreath, or learning to sow and grow flowers. These activities are available throughout the whole year, with the content adapted to the current season. The garden itself is open by appointment only, and the telephone line is available Monday through Saturday. Pick-up hours for orders are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, while Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday are closed for pick-ups.

Pluck van het veld

9.3 km — noord-brabant

Pluck van het veld is a self-picking farm and community garden located in Cromvoirt, in the countryside near Den Bosch. The farm grows over 70 varieties of vegetables, herbs, small fruits, and flowers using no-dig, regenerative methods without chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Members can join a seasonal subscription (Pluckabonnement) that runs from May through mid-December, offering weekly access to pick 5 to 15 types of vegetables and herbs, with additional small fruits and edible flowers throughout the season. The picking field is open every day during daylight hours for subscribers, and a gardener is typically present on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The flower picking garden (Bloemenpluktuin) is available from late May to mid-October, and from 2026 onward it operates solely through seasonal subscriptions; a separate tulip picking event takes place in early spring (late March to early April) with over 7,500 organic tulip bulbs. The farm also hosts workshops (bouquet making, vegetable gardening), courses for aspiring market gardeners, guided tours, and corporate team events. A solidary pricing system allows members to pay according to their means. General contact hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:00–17:00; Wednesday, Friday 9:00–16:00; Saturday 10:00–12:00) apply for inquiries, while the picking grounds remain accessible to subscribers throughout the season.

't Fazantje

10.2 km — noord-brabant

’t Fazantje is a farm and activity center located at Fazantenweg 51 in the rural area of Dongen, North Brabant. The farm offers a variety of seasonal outdoor activities suitable for families, groups, and children’s parties, including a corn maze, a flower picking garden, a pumpkin hollowing activity, bird feeder making, an escape room, boerengolf (a type of farm golf), and family bike and scooter rentals. The farm also sells produce from its own cultivation, such as broad beans and potatoes starting in early June, pumpkins from the beginning of September, and Christmas trees from the end of November.