Hoofddorp sits in the middle of the Haarlemmermeer, a polder drained in 1852 that was once Holland’s largest lake and is now one of the most productive agricultural areas in the Netherlands. The clay and sandy loam soils of the polder are ideally suited to vegetable growing, bulb cultivation and fruit production, and in spring the fields around Hoofddorp come alive with the yellow and pink of tulips and other bulb flowers. More and more growers and farmers in the Haarlemmermeer are opening their operations to visitors who want to pick, harvest or visit the farm shop. The flat polder landscape and broad cycle paths make a trip to a pick-your-own farm here especially easy.
U-Pick Farms in and around Hoofddorp
Around Hoofddorp, Nieuw-Vennep, Aalsmeer, Lisse and Badhoevedorp you’ll find a variety of pick-your-own farms and flower gardens where you are very welcome. You can pick tulips, summer flowers, strawberries and fresh vegetables in the polder-rich surroundings of the Haarlemmermeer. Also take a look at u-pick farms in North Holland or South Holland .
The best u-pick farms near Hoofddorp: our picks
Hoofddorp sits in the middle of the Haarlemmermeer, the polder drained in 1852 that was once the largest lake in Holland and now ranks among the most productive agricultural areas in the Netherlands. The fertile clay soil, the wide plots and the proximity of bulb growing make the surroundings exceptionally well-suited for picking gardens. Ten minutes from Schiphol, genuine farm experiences await.
Eight kilometres from Hoofddorp, towards Amsterdam Nieuw-West, Pluk! Boterbloem CSA offers its organic vegetable harvest to members from May to November. The plot sits at the edge of city and polder — a combination that showcases the quality of Haarlemmermeer soil.
In Roelofarendsveen, fourteen kilometres towards Leiden, Kwekerij Eko Logisch is a biodynamic nursery with organic seasonal vegetables. The principle is strict: no pesticides, no artificial fertiliser. Pure from the soil.
Thirteen kilometres from Hoofddorp, towards Amsterdam, Pluktuin Amstelveen offers the best flower range in the wider area: narcissi, peonies, tulips, zinnias and dahlias through the season, on a certified organic plot with its own tea garden.
Zorgboerderij De Hoop in Ter Aar, fourteen kilometres towards Gouda, combines day activities with a farm vending machine: fresh produce from its own land available 24/7, even outside opening hours.
At thirteen kilometres, Anne-Marie Fontijn offers a small-scale personal picking character — the right address for a quiet afternoon away from the Haarlemmermeer bustle.
Tip: the bulb fields around Hoofddorp turn spectacular in April. Combine a picking farm visit that month with a cycle ride through the Haarlemmermeer.