Open Greenhouse Weekend in the Netherlands

We’ve just walked in the door from visiting our local greenhouses. One weekend a year greenhouses all over the country open their doors to visitors. This special weekend is called Kom In De Kas Kan Alles. You have a chance to peek inside and see the many wonderful things growing in your backyard.

We live less than two miles from a huge greenhouse area in Pijnacker, just East of Delft. Twelve of the greenhouses, all located off the same road, have their doors open for this special weekend.

The road is closed off to non business traffic, but open to bikes and walkers. There are shuttle busses from a main parking area in Pijnacker if you want to drive. (As with most things around here going by bike makes everything a bit easier.)

We made it to about six of the greenhouses before we headed back for an afternoon rest. Each of the greenhouses had different things to offer the kids. Several had bounce houses – some indoor, some outdoor – perfect for a spring day where we were warm one moment and cold the next. The kids both jumped their hearts out at each place we found. We gained a nice collection of balloons, bags and pens from sponsors set up in the greenhouses.

There were cars and trucks everywhere, which is enough for my two and four year old.

There was plenty to taste as well. We could taste all the bell pepper types on their own and in a pepper smoothie! There was a taste competition between cherry tomato growers too. We tasted a few and cast our votes!

Even without all the kid-centric activities our kids were amazed at the workings of the greenhouses. We saw the little “trains” the bell pepper pickers sit on to pick the peppers. The daisy warehouse had their conveyer belts working, and what child doesn’t love watching machinery?

There is more than enough for adults as well. Seeing the greenhouses is stunning. All those beautiful flowers and plants!

I participated in a flower arranging workshop for €2 where I took home my arrangement. Isn’t it pretty! (See below!) H picked out flowers for his own arrangement – which he loved.

There were also plenty of places to stop and enjoy a glass of wine or beer, for those people not chasing kids around. If only that wine tasting were next to a jump house… hum..

We weren’t sure what to expect so we packed a lunch. Many of the parking lots were full of food vendors though. We supplemented our packed lunch with fresh tomatoes from one of the greenhouses and poffertjes piled high with powdered sugar and butter.

We purchased some fresh produce and of course flowers! I just can’t resist all those beautiful flowers. The bike was an easy place to store the goodies we amassed throughout our morning.

Open greenhouse weekend is worth checking out. (It seems to always happen the first weekend of April.)  Head over to the webpage to find greenhouses near you.