Pumpkin fields get all the attention once October hits, but apple picking in the Netherlands actually starts weeks earlier and gives you a much longer window to catch good weather. From late August through October, orchards across the country open their rows to families, hand out a bag or a picking crate, and let the kids do the rest. Here’s where to go, region by region, and what each place is actually like once you’re standing in the orchard.
Most of these are working fruit farms, not staged photo-ops, so expect mud, wasps near the fallen fruit, and the odd tree picked half-bare by the time you arrive on a Sunday afternoon. That’s part of it. If you’re already planning your herfstvakantie, this pairs naturally with our pumpkin picking guide, since several farms below let you do both in the same visit.
North Holland
Landgoed de Olmenhorst in Lisserbroek is the one most Amsterdam parents already know, and for good reason. It’s a genuinely huge organic orchard, easily reached in half an hour from the city, and the 2026 self-pick season runs from 5 September to 25 October. You can pick Wednesday afternoons from 13:00 to 17:00, and all day Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, with daily opening during the autumn holidays. Apples and pears cost €3 per kilo, cash or card, and there’s a pony corner and other kids’ activities running on busier days. Weekend parking needs to be booked in advance and costs €5 per car, so sort that before you drive out.
Fruittuin van West is the option if you don’t want to leave the city at all. It’s an urban orchard just past Amsterdam Nieuw-West, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 to 18:00, and getting in is free, you only pay for what you pick. The farm shop, café and small collection of animals are worth the trip on their own, and because it’s biking distance for a lot of west-side families, it works well as a spontaneous afternoon rather than a planned day out. Check what’s ripe before you go, the picking list changes through the season.
Utrecht
Boer Erik, officially Landwinkel Drogenbroek, sits between Amsterdam and Utrecht in Loenen aan de Vecht, right along the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. September is when the apple picking days happen, and school classes from the area come out for it every year, so it has a proper community feel rather than a tourist one. The farm shop itself runs Thursday to Saturday year-round if you miss the picking days and just want the apples pre-picked.
Boerderij Nieuw Slagmaat in Bunnik grows an unusually wide range, Elstar, Jonagold, Goudreinet, Cox’s Orange and more, plus pears and kiwiberries. Their dedicated apple picking weekends run through September and October, and beyond the orchard there’s a corn maze with a lookout tower and a hay wagon ride out to the trees, which makes it one of the better options if you’ve got kids who’ll lose interest in fruit after ten minutes. Exact dates move with the weather, so it’s worth following their newsletter rather than guessing.
Gelderland
Fruittuin Verbeek in Oldebroek already came up in our pumpkin guide, and it earns a second mention here because it’s genuinely one of the better all-round fruit farms. The orchard and playground are open Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 16:30, and picking works by buying a small crate at the farm shop rather than paying by weight, no need to book ahead. There’s a play forklift and a tractor course for the kids, and a café that does a proper homemade apple pie once you’re done.
Streeckerij De Betuwe sits in the Betuwe, the region most Dutch apples actually come from, growing Jonagold and Goudreinet without spraying. Parking is free and it’s a low-key, local spot with a small play area for younger kids. Availability shifts year to year depending on the harvest, so they ask that you call ahead before driving out to confirm the trees are ready.
South Holland
De Buytenhof in Rhoon, just south of Rotterdam, grows Delcorf, Elstar, Goudreinet and Jonagold apples across its orchard, open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 to 17:00, closed Sundays and Mondays. It’s part of a working farm with a shop and tea room attached, and there’s a playground on-site so younger siblings who aren’t interested in picking have somewhere to go. If you’re timing a visit around the school break, note it’s closed on public holidays, which sometimes catches people out.
Tips for your visit
- Ring or check social media before driving to any farm that doesn’t list fixed picking dates, several run on short-notice announcements once the fruit is actually ready.
- Bring your own bags or boxes where you can, some farms sell crates on-site but it’s one less thing to sort out.
- Wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy or covered in fallen, fermenting apples, wasps tend to gather under the trees.
- Closest to Amsterdam if you want a short trip: Fruittuin van West for a bike ride, or Olmenhorst if you’re driving.
- Most farms are cash-friendly but a growing number now take card too, worth checking if you’re relying on one or the other.
Apple picking in the Netherlands stretches nicely across the whole of September and into October, so it’s an easy one to slot into an autumn school break without fighting for a specific weekend. If you’re building out the rest of the season, our Halloween with kids guide and our piece on pancake houses, boats and farms both fit the same kind of outing. For more ideas year-round, our school holidays activity guide and the full places directory are worth bookmarking.
FAQ
When does apple picking start in the Netherlands?
Most orchards open in late August or early September and run through October, sometimes into early November for the last of the pears. September tends to have the best selection since trees haven’t been picked over yet.
Do I need to book ahead?
It depends on the farm. Olmenhorst asks weekend visitors to reserve parking, and some of the smaller Betuwe orchards want a phone call to confirm the trees are ready before you drive out. The bigger fruit gardens like Fruittuin van West and Fruittuin Verbeek don’t require booking.
How much does it cost?
It varies by farm and by how they charge, some price per kilo, others sell a fixed picking crate. A few, like Fruittuin van West, don’t charge for entry at all, you only pay for what leaves the orchard with you.
Can toddlers join in?
Yes, most farms are fine with young kids, though the appeal for a two or three-year-old tends to run out faster than the appeal for a seven-year-old. Farms with a playground attached, like Fruittuin Verbeek or De Buytenhof, are the easier choice if you’ve got a mixed-age group.
