How Pick-Your-Own Works in the Netherlands
Apple picking in the Netherlands is a seasonal activity rather than an everyday attraction. Most Dutch fruit is grown commercially and picked by professional crews, so the orchards that welcome the public usually do so on specific days or weekends during the harvest, often as part of a harvest festival (oogstfeest) or an apple-picking day (appelplukdag). The words to look for are "zelfpluk" (pick your own) and "appels plukken".
The main window is September and October. Early varieties are ready from late August, and later varieties hang on into October, but each farm opens only when its own trees are ready. Always check the farm's website or social media for the current year's dates before setting out.
Where to Go
A few examples show what is on offer; there are many smaller farms besides these.
- Landgoed De Olmenhorst, Lisserbroek (near Haarlem and Leiden): An organic estate that runs harvest festivals every weekend in September and October. In 2026 the season runs from 5 September to 25 October, with weekend opening from 10:00 to 17:00, Wednesday afternoons, and daily opening during the autumn school holiday. Organic apples and pears are €3 per kilo, and weekend parking must be reserved in advance for €5. Weekends include a regional market, music and children's activities.
- Fruithal Smits, Zeewolde (Flevoland): Holds apple-picking days in September; in 2026 they fall on 12 and 19 September.
- The Betuwe (Gelderland): The country's best-known fruit region, between the Rhine and the Waal around Tiel, Geldermalsen and Buren. Several fruit farms offer pick-your-own on set days, and many more sell freshly picked fruit and juice from farm shops.
Regional listing sites and local tourist offices publish autumn round-ups each year, which is the easiest way to find a farm near your base.
Which Apples to Pick
Farms usually tell you which rows are open and which varieties are in them. A few names worth knowing:
- Elstar: A Dutch-bred apple, crisp and sweet-sharp, picked from around early September. Good both raw and baked.
- Jonagold: Larger and sweeter, a popular eating apple later in the season.
- Goudreinet (Belle de Boskoop): A sharp, firm apple that holds its shape when baked; the traditional choice for Dutch apple pie.
Pick by lifting the apple and twisting gently upwards; a ripe apple comes away easily with its stalk. Do not pull or shake branches, and leave windfalls on the ground unless the farm says otherwise.
What to Bring
- Footwear: Grass between orchard rows is often wet in the morning, and paths turn muddy after rain. Waterproof shoes or boots are best.
- Layers: Autumn days can start cool and warm up, and showers are common.
- Bags or a crate: Some farms provide containers, others ask you to bring your own. Sturdy bags are useful for the walk back to the car.
- Payment: Most farms take cards, but a small stall may not, so a little cash is useful.
- Booking: Popular farms now ask you to reserve a time slot or parking, especially on weekends.
Baking a Dutch Appeltaart
The classic use for a bag of tart apples is appeltaart, a deep apple pie in a springform tin. The pastry is a rich, crumbly dough that lines the tin and is also used for a lattice on top. The filling is thick slices of a sharp apple such as Goudreinet, tossed with sugar, cinnamon and often raisins soaked beforehand, sometimes with lemon juice or breadcrumbs to absorb moisture.
A typical approach is to bake at around 170 to 180°C for about an hour, until the lattice is deep golden and the filling is bubbling at the edges. Let it cool before slicing, so the filling sets. In the Netherlands it is served with a spoonful of lightly whipped cream (slagroom).
Making a Day of It
Combine apple picking with something nearby. From De Olmenhorst, Haarlem and the coastal dunes are a short drive away. In the Betuwe, cycle part of a fruit route and finish in a historic small town such as Buren or Culemborg. In Tiel, the Flipje en Streekmuseum tells the story of the region's jam factory and its fruit-growing past, and the Fruitcorso parade takes place in September.
