Discover U-Pick farms

Field of corn ready to be picked

Discover U-Pick farms

Corn farms

Forget the supermarket maze of identical ears in plastic wrap—it’s time to get out into the Dutch fields and feel the real thing. Corn season in the Netherlands runs from late July to early October, and there are plenty of farms where you can wander the rows, twist off your own cobs, and fill a bag with sweet, sun-warmed goodness.

The Great Corn Hunt

First, you want to find a cob that’s ready to party. Look for one where the husk is still bright green and snug, not dry or yellowing, and the silks at the tip have turned brown and dry. Give it a gentle squeeze through the husk—you want it to feel plump and firm, not mushy. Now for the fun part: grab the ear firmly, pull it downward with a quick twist, and snap. No knife needed. That sound? That’s the sound of a perfect afternoon. Best done with a friend or three, because corn picking is a social sport. Morning is the best time to go, while it’s cool.

What to do with your haul

First rule: get that corn into the kitchen as soon as possible. Sugars turn to starch fast, so freshness is everything. Keep the husks on and store the cobs in the fridge in a perforated bag; eat them within 3–5 days. Here are two classic ways to use it.

Recipe 1: Dutch Street-Cart Corn (straight-up grilled)

A favourite way to eat corn at a Dutch barbecue? Over an open flame. Pull back the husks (but don’t remove them entirely), yank off the silk, then pull the husks back over the cob. Soak the whole thing in cold water for 15 minutes. Grill over medium heat for about 15–20 minutes, turning often, until the husks are charred and the kernels are tender. Serve with a generous smear of butter and a pinch of coarse sea salt. That’s it. No fancy nonsense—just summer on a stick.

Recipe 2: Corn & Coconut Chowder

This one’s for a rainy Dutch day when you need a bowl of sunshine.

Ingredients: 4 ears of corn, kernels sliced off (reserve the cobs), 1 onion (diced), 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1 can coconut milk, 1 cup vegetable stock, 1 red chili (optional), salt, pepper, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

In a big pot, sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add the corn kernels and chili, cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk and stock, and drop in the bare cobs (they add deep corny flavor). Simmer 20 minutes. Remove cobs, blend half the soup roughly with an immersion blender, leaving some whole kernels for texture. Season with salt, pepper, and a big squeeze of lime. Top with cilantro. Hug in a bowl.

Pluktuinderij Aardbei en zo

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries
noord-holland

Pluktuinderij Aardbei en zo in Nederhorst den Berg is a pick-your-own farm where you can harvest unsprayed strawberries, herbs, vegetables and flowers. The season runs from late May until early October, depending on the weather. Strawberries are the main crop, with a second harvest in late summer. Other produce includes tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, beans, beetroot, fennel, Swiss chard, pumpkins, kale, garlic, onions and dahlia flowers. The farm also grows fruit such as quinces, redcurrants, gooseberries, blackberries and figs.

'T Leeuweriksveld

vegetables, berries, herbs
drenthe

At ’t Leeuweriksveld in Emmen you pick your own vegetables and herbs from April to October. The farm grows a wide variety of seasonal produce, including leafy greens like spinach, lettuce, and kale, root vegetables such as carrots, beetroot, and parsnips, and crops like beans, peas, and courgettes. Herbs like basil, parsley, and oregano are also available for picking. The selection changes throughout the season, with early crops like radishes and spring onions giving way to tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins later in the year.

C.V. De Horsterhof

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries
gelderland

At De Horsterhof in Duiven you pick your own organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers from May to October. The farm grows over 80 types of vegetables, including tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, beans, spinach, broccoli, fennel, pumpkins and sweetcorn, as well as seasonal herbs and flowers. You can also harvest olives, pears and mangoes when they are in season. The farm does not use pesticides or chemical fertilisers. You pay a fixed price for a season-long subscription, which allows you to visit as often as you like between Monday and Saturday, 08.30 to 19.00. The subscription costs €360 for adults and €110 for children aged 5 to 13; children under 5 go free. You bring your own scissors, knife and basket or bag. The farm provides guidance on what is ready to pick and how to harvest it. The subscription is not transferable, and you must continue to pay even if you do not visit.

Sfeer van Willems

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries
gelderland

At Sfeer van Willems in Wijchen, visitors pick their own seasonal vegetables, herbs, and soft fruit from a one-hectare plot. The farm grows over 40 varieties, including spinach, kale, leeks, courgettes, tomatoes, aubergines, strawberries, and an assortment of herbs like basil, dill, and coriander. The selection changes with the season—spring brings early greens and radishes, while autumn offers pumpkins, Brussels sprouts, and root vegetables. A weekly email or on-site notice board lists what’s ready for harvest.

Tuinderij Eyckenstein, Biologische groenten

vegetables, flowers
utrecht

Tuinderij Eyckenstein is a certified organic pick-your-own farm on a historic kitchen garden in Maartensdijk. From early May to mid-October, visitors can harvest a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, including carrots, beetroot, beans, courgettes, pumpkins, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, fennel, spinach, kale and more. The farm also grows soft fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries, as well as herbs and flowers. The farm operates on a self-service basis during opening hours: Wednesdays from 13.00 to 17.00 and Saturdays from 10.00 to 15.00. You pick what you want from the fields and pay by weight at the farm’s stall, where you can also buy freshly harvested produce if you prefer not to pick your own. Payment is by card or cash. The stall is outside in dry weather and in the orangery when it rains.

Stadsboerderij Koppelsteede | Utrecht Natuurlijk

vegetables, herbs, flowers
utrecht

Stadsboerderij Koppelsteede in Utrecht runs a pick-your-own garden where visitors harvest seasonal vegetables, herbs and edible flowers from June to mid-November. The garden grows over 50 different crops, including familiar varieties such as peas, maize, tomatoes and lettuce, alongside less common ones like palm kale, New Zealand spinach and radicchio. Each week, five to seven types of vegetables are ready to pick, along with fresh herbs and flowers. The farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. Visitors buy an annual share, which covers the costs of seeds, plants, compost and the grower’s work. In return, they harvest their own produce weekly. Shares are sold at three price levels: a basic rate, a standard rate that covers costs, and a higher rate for those who want to support others. Payment can be made in one or two instalments, and the U-pas discount applies.

Moestuin Leyduin

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries
noord-holland

Moestuin Leyduin in Vogelenzang is a pick-your-own vegetable garden where visitors harvest seasonal produce directly from the fields. The farm grows around fifty types of vegetables, including pumpkins, beets, lettuce, fennel, kale, herbs, and root vegetables like carrots and parsnips, as well as twenty varieties of herbs, soft fruit, apples, pears, and flowers. The selection changes weekly depending on what is ready to pick. The farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. Participants buy a harvest share at the start of the season, choosing from three price tiers (€339, €399, or €449 in 2026) to ensure affordability. In return, they visit the garden each week during the harvest season—from mid-April to mid-November—to pick their own vegetables. The harvest is shared among all participants: if the yield is low, everyone takes home less; if it is abundant, there is more to go around. The farm does not use chemical fertilisers or pesticides, focusing instead on natural soil health and biodiversity.

Tuinderij Mooi Weerdinge

fruit, vegetables, herbs, berries
drenthe

Tuinderij Mooi Weerdinge in Weerdinge is a pick-your-own vegetable garden and food forest where visitors harvest their own produce from May to November. The farm grows a variety of seasonal vegetables, including pak choi, beetroot, lettuce, peas, beans, courgettes, tomatoes, peppers, maize, potatoes, pumpkins, and leafy greens like chard and spinach. In the food forest, you can pick small fruits such as berries, raspberries, and plums, as well as perennial vegetables and herbs like rosemary and szechuan pepper.

Ecologische Tuinderij De Tilgrupshof

vegetables, herbs, berries
friesland

At Ecologische Tuinderij De Tilgrupshof in Appelscha you pick your own organic vegetables and herbs from mid-May to November. The farm works on a membership system called oogstgenoot, or harvest partner. You pay an annual fee at the start of the season, which covers the whole household. The standard fee is €275 per share, but you can choose to pay between €200 and €350 depending on your budget. Children under 10 pick for free, and those aged 10 to 18 pay half price.

Hof Bredelaar

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries
gelderland

Zelfoogsttuin Hof Bredelaar in Elst is a pick-your-own garden where visitors harvest their own organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and edible flowers. The farm grows a wide range of seasonal produce, including tomatoes, courgettes, various types of lettuce, beans, spinach, radishes, rabarber, kohlrabi, turnip greens, mint, pumpkins, kale, Brussels sprouts, leeks, Jerusalem artichokes, carrots, beetroot, sage, thyme and rosemary. The selection changes through the year, with the greatest variety in high summer.

Martinushoeve Pluktuin

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries
noord-brabant

At Martinushoeve Pluktuin in Ossendrecht, visitors pick their own vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers and eggs from May to October. The farm grows a wide range of produce, including tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, peppers, beans, peas, carrots, beetroot, potatoes, leeks, onions, various types of cabbage, spinach, lettuce, strawberries, raspberries, apples, pears, plums and cherries. Herbs include basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, mint and dill. There is also a wildflower meadow and a selection of edible flowers. Fresh eggs are available from the farm’s chickens, and honey from its beehives.

Stadsakker Wageningen

vegetables, herbs, berries
gelderland

Stadsakker Wageningen is a pick-your-own vegetable farm on the Wageningse Eng, where members harvest their own produce year-round. The farm operates on a seasonal subscription basis: adults pay €279 for the season (April to January), with reduced rates for children and a maximum household fee of €837. There is currently a waiting list of 3 to 5 years for new members. The farm grows over 40 types of vegetables, including strawberries, carrots, courgettes, beans, beetroot, kale, pumpkins, and spinach. The selection changes with the seasons, with a wider variety available in summer. Members receive a weekly harvest list indicating what is ready to pick, and can visit any day of the week, 24 hours a day. Picking is done according to household size, and crops are intended for fresh consumption unless stated otherwise.