Pick-Your-Own Garden

Who is this a real day out for?
For flower lovers who’d rather be amongst the flowers themselves than pick up a ready-made bouquet from the shelf. Whether you’re with your partner, friends or family, this is the sort of relaxing outdoor outing where you naturally find yourself lingering a little longer. Anyone who loves nature, the changing seasons, gardening and taking home a tangible souvenir will feel right at home here.

When will you be popping by?
From May to October, the garden is constantly changing colour. In spring, the first fresh flowers appear, whilst summer becomes increasingly exuberant and, later on, dahlias, amongst others, create a wonderful atmosphere. A dry, not too hot day is lovely for a peaceful spot of flower-picking. In extremely hot weather, picking times may be adjusted, so please check the latest update on the website before you set off.

What can you expect?
As soon as you walk through the old kitchen gardens of the Mookerheide Estate, your pace naturally slows down. Amongst historic greenhouses and green borders, Zelfgeplukt grows a colourful assortment of seasonal flowers that you can pick yourself to create your own bouquet. You’ll be given a picking vase and a pair of secateurs, and can take your time choosing what takes your fancy: from airy cosmea and cornflowers to sunflowers, delphiniums and, later in the season, exuberant dahlias. The selection is constantly changing, precisely because the flowers here are grown in harmony with the seasons.

Behind the garden is Doris Nielen, who started Zelfgeplukt in 2020 and, following her training in organic farming, focused entirely on nature-friendly cut flowers. Together with a dedicated team of volunteers, she demonstrates that beautiful flowers can go hand in hand with biodiversity and a rich insect life. Did you know that around 75 species and some 160 varieties grow here throughout the season? As a result, your next visit might well look completely different.

Picking a standard bouquet costs €16 and a small bouquet €11; all materials are provided and you can pay by debit card at the garden. Those who wish to return more often can also opt for a discounted multi-visit ticket for picking.

Why this will become your favourite stop in the region
Picking your own flowers takes on extra charm thanks to the surroundings. You’re not just picking flowers in any old field, but in the historic gardens of the Mookerheide Estate, with the restored Art Nouveau hunting lodge, old greenhouses, the parkland and the Mookerheide within easy reach. From the garden, you can stroll straight into the countryside. This makes it easy to turn a bouquet of flowers into a whole afternoon spent outdoors. Molenhoek is also situated in the very north of Limburg, about a ten-minute drive from Nijmegen: ideal as a green stop-off during a day out in this special part of North Limburg.

Practical information:
Allow around 45 to 60 minutes to browse at your leisure and pick your bouquet. Feel free to set aside more time if you’d like to explore the estate or the Mookerheide afterwards; the surroundings alone will easily keep you occupied for half an afternoon. Molenhoek feels surprisingly green and rural here, even though Nijmegen is nearby.

For cars, there is a large car park at Landgoed Mookerheide on Heumensebaan 2. Since 2026, paid parking has been in force there for non-members of Natuurmonumenten: €2 per hour or €8 for a full day. Members and volunteers of Natuurmonumenten can park for free with their membership card, and guests of the restaurant at the hunting lodge can obtain a free exit code there. The car park also has a disabled parking space.

Dogs are welcome on the estate’s paths provided they are kept on a lead. For visitors in wheelchairs, there are accessible routes on the estate; on the Landgoedpad, assistance is recommended due to a few sloping sections.

When are the gates open?
In May, you’re welcome on Fridays from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm to pick the first flowers of the season. From the start of June until the end of October, you can come and pick flowers on Fridays from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm and on Saturdays from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm. On extremely hot days, for example, Zelfgeplukt may adjust the times and open earlier in the day. Any updates will be posted on the website and in the newsletter.

Our tip
Visit at the end of August, when the flower garden is still bursting with colour, and combine your flower-picking session with a walk across the Mookerheide. It is precisely around this time of year that the heather turns purple, giving your flower-picking trip an extra touch of natural beauty.

A quick check beforehand
We do our best to provide you with the correct information, but always check the venue’s own website before you set off for the very latest updates.