Apple picking season in the Netherlands and fall vacation
It is fall/autumn vacation (herfstvakantie) in the Netherlands, so…what to do with the children during autumn vacation? One of my favorite activities to do with the children is: piking apples or as the Dutch will say: appels plukken.
During the year, there are many farms and orchards that let you pick your own flowers, veggies and fruits, there is no entry fee, you just pay a parking ticket and for what you’ve picked. The apple picking (appels plukken) season in the Netherlands starts in late September and it ends at the end of October, perfect for a day out with the children during the autumn vacation.
One of the most famous, beautiful and biggest orchards is ‘De Olmenhorst’, as you can find on their website: ‘De mooiste boomgaard van Nederland’ 😊 and I think it really is.
For easy access, you will need a car (~45 minutes from Zaandam) or if you are more adventurous, a bike (from Zaandam: 34 km, around 2 hours biking). If is not raining, it is worth it, enjoying some fresh air and site seeing!
Here you can handpick yourself different types of apples and pears and pay for what you’ve picked. While paying for the fruits, you can also buy a parking ticket (3 euros). Why do we all like to go here? Well….it is pretty well organized, it is big enough so you don’t feel it is crowded between the trees, even in the days that it is 😊. They have a restaurant with all the facilities and you can eat goodies made from fruits and veggies from the farm. Next to it there is a generous playground (speeltuin) for the kids, picknick tables and riding ponies if the little ones want to 😊.
It is a very nice place to spend an autumn day outside! It is nice if you are prepared with farm boots (regen larzen) as between the trees it can be pretty muddy.
And as I promised myself that I’ll try to appear more in our photos (not only in selfies 😊), I took my gear with me and shared it with my husband and my 6 year old. Now we all have photos together and I also appear in these photos! Enjoy!
