At Zelfoogsttuin De Groentemeester in Maassluis, you pick your own organic vegetables, herbs and flowers from mid-May to mid-November. The farm grows around 90 to 100 different crops, including beetroot, carrots, parsnips, onions, leeks, lettuce, chard, endive, radishes, turnip greens, kohlrabi, courgettes, cucumbers, pumpkins, celery, broccoli, cabbages, rocket, fennel, broad beans, green beans, tomatoes, peppers and potatoes. There are also herbs and garlic.

To pick vegetables, you become an “oogstgenoot” (harvest member) for the season. You pay €440 for one share, which covers a weekly harvest for one or two people. Each week, you visit the farm to pick the crops that are ready, marked by red flags. You receive an email beforehand with instructions on what to harvest and how. The farm is open for picking on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00 to 17.00 during the season.

Anyone can pick flowers without a membership. The flower field has around 30 varieties, including sunflowers, dahlias, cosmos and zinnias. You pay for what you pick, either in cash or by QR code. The flower season runs from early June to mid-October.

The farm also offers guided tours on the third Sunday of each month from April to November, starting at 14.00. These cost €5 per person. Schools can book educational visits, with free excursions for local Maassluis schools.

De Groentemeester is run by Remko Boers, a former primary school teacher. The farm follows CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) principles, working without pesticides or artificial fertilisers. Volunteers can help with planting, weeding and harvesting.

What visitors say

Visitors come to pick their own flowers, vegetables and herbs—spinach, postelein, palm kale, pumpkins and fresh herbs are often mentioned. The farm is organic, well-organised and colourful, with clear rows and signs so you know what to harvest. Most say the produce is clean and healthy, and the flowers are beautiful. You can also grab a coffee or a homemade snack at the Weij Bar while you’re there.

Picking works on a subscription basis for vegetables, but anyone can come and pick flowers. Children enjoy helping with the harvest, and the farmer, Remko, is happy to explain how things grow. A few visitors have joined in on activities like a rain dance. The only downside some note is that if you’re cycling through, you might not have time to pick much. Honey tastings are also on offer, and those who’ve tried them call them delicious and well-run.

Facilities in this u-pick farm

Farm shop Farm shop

Pluktuin Schipluiden

7.9 km — zuid-holland

Pluktuin Schipluiden is a pick-your-own garden in Schipluiden where visitors can harvest flowers, vegetables, herbs and fruit. The season runs from mid-April to the end of October, starting with tulips and continuing with crops such as raspberries, blackberries, currants and a variety of unusual fruit trees, including pawpaw, black mulberry and American lilac. The garden operates on a pay-what-you-think basis. After picking, visitors scan a QR code at the exit to make a voluntary payment for their harvest. The farm is open on Saturdays from 10.00 to 13.00, though it may close in poor weather. Volunteers are usually present to assist with picking and answer questions about the plants.

Het Veldatelier

9.1 km — zuid-holland

Het Veldatelier in Schipluiden is a certified organic flower farm where visitors can pick their own seasonal blooms. The main picking season runs from spring to October, with flowers grown in open fields and a cold greenhouse. The farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, offering seasonal subscriptions that allow members to harvest flowers weekly or fortnightly. Non-members can purchase a “pluktuin strippenkaart” (picking card) for access to the fields, or order pre-picked bouquets for collection on Fridays and Saturdays.

De Pluktuin Rotterdam

12.7 km — zuid-holland

De Pluktuin in Rotterdam is a community garden where visitors can pick flowers, herbs and seasonal produce. The garden is run by local residents and focuses on maintaining green spaces in the area. The garden is open on Saturdays from 13.00 to 17.00. Access is via a small ferry across the Essenburgsingel, which operates from 13.00 on Saturdays. There is no entry fee, and visitors are welcome to pick what is available during the season.

Plukkerij Framblij

13.0 km — zuid-holland

Plukkerij Framblij in Monster is a pick-your-own farm where you can harvest over 15 types of fruit and vegetables, including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, tayberries, grapes, courgettes, peppers and tomatoes. The season runs from early June until mid-autumn half-term, with the farm shop remaining open daily until November. You must book a two-hour slot in advance through the website. Entry costs €4 per person, with children under two free. You pay for what you pick—typically €1.50 per 100 grams for fruit, while some vegetables are priced per item. The farm provides containers and scissors; you can take home as many boxes as you like. Picking is possible in two greenhouses and outdoors, with information boards explaining how to harvest each crop. After picking, you pay at the tea garden, where you can also buy coffee, tea, homemade muffins and ice cream. There are indoor and outdoor seating areas, a playground, a sandpit, a small petting zoo and a vintage second-hand shop.