Amsterdam is bursting with great plant shops, but where do you actually buy organic plants? Fortunately, we didn't have to figure that out ourselves. Reader Mila van de Wall, garden journalist and founder of De Inheemse Plantenwinkel, shared her favourite addresses with us. From hidden gems to well-known names, according to her these are the places you need to be to buy organic plants in Amsterdam.
Why organic is not always organic
In the plant world, quality marks and green claims are thrown around all over the place, but only the ‘organic’ quality mark, recognisable by the green Skal logo—you know, that green leaf with the little stars—guarantees that a plant has been grown without chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers. Why is that important? Simple. Everything you put in your garden becomes part of the ecosystem. Poison doesn't just stay neatly on one plant, but also ends up in the soil and can be harmful to bees, butterflies and other insects.
That doesn't mean, by the way, that growers without a Skal certification are necessarily doing it wrong. In fact, there are many small-scale nurseries that work pesticide-free, but don't (yet) have certification. Are you also looking for organic plants outside of Amsterdam? Also check out our overview of web shops, nurseries and shops throughout the Netherlands.
Here you can buy organic plants in Amsterdam
From small nurseries and hidden gems to an urban farm and organic supermarkets, Amsterdam has plenty of addresses where you can buy organic plants. Some sell exclusively organic or unsprayed plants, while others offer a fine organic range alongside their regular selection. And of course, we start with the tipster themselves: De Inheemse Plantenwinkel.
Buying organic plants in Amsterdam
- The Native Plant Shop (Amsterdam-West): in the courtyard garden of community centre Midwest you'll find a carefully selected range of native, unsprayed plants.
- Wiering Nursery (Nieuw-West): organic nursery with a lovely range of herbs and garden plants. A great place if you are looking for hardy plants grown without chemical pesticides.
- Northern Flowers (North): an organic nursery and flower-picking garden. You can buy plants there, pick your own organic bouquet in season, and ready-made bouquets are regularly available.
- De Tuinakker Nursery (Osdorp): organic nursery with a lovely selection of plants. Please note: this nursery will be temporarily closed in 2026.
- Green Delights (Westerpark): small-scale nursery at Nut & Genoegen allotment garden. Open on Sundays until the end of June, check the opening hours beforehand via Instagram.
- Hortus Store (East): the Hortus Botanicus shop sells a selection of organic plants, seeds and green gifts. It’s a lovely way to round off a visit to the botanical garden.
- Green Mill (Sarphatipark): a green initiative offering a varied selection of plants and placing great emphasis on biodiversity.
- CoCasa (Amstelveld & IJburg): sells plants at the plant market on Amstelveld (Mondays) and by appointment in IJburg.
- Sprinklr (Amsterdam-Noord): simply order online and collect your organic plants in Amsterdam-Noord.
Organic supermarkets
Good to know: the range varies by branch and by season. Therefore, always check whether a plant has actually been organically grown.
- Odin: as well as organic groceries, you’ll often find organic herb plants and seasonal plants here too.
- Ekoplazasells organic herbs and garden plants at various branches.
- The Beginning (De Pijp): an organic supermarket where, depending on the branch and the season, you may also find organic plants and herbs.
Buy pesticide-free flowers in Amsterdam
- The Organic Flower Shop (Amsterdam-West): sells home-grown organic bouquets during the Dutch flower season from West’s Fruit Garden.
- Northern Flowers (North): alongside organic plants, in season you can also pick your own organic flowers here or take away a fresh bouquet.
- Pluck Me (Weesp): Just outside Amsterdam, you’ll find this pick-your-own garden where you can put together your own pesticide-free bouquet.
- Slow Flowers Netherlands: a handy platform providing an overview of organic and pesticide-free florists, pick-your-own gardens and floral workshops.
- Annemieke’s Pick-Your-Own Garden (Noordermarkt, Jordaan): every Saturday Annemieke drives a van full of organic flowers from her nursery in Hillegom to the Noordermarkt. In the summer the stalls are full of colourful field bouquets, and later in the year you will also find organic flower bulbs and garden soil. A wonderful market stop if you are in town anyway.
Amsterdam florists selling organic flowers
- The Wild Way (Spaarndammerbuurt): in addition to the standard range, also sells organic flowers when they are available in season.
- The Beginning (De Pijp): also offers organic flowers during the season.
Good to know: organic flowers are a seasonal product. Dutch pesticide-free flowers are usually available from around April/May through to October/November. In winter, they are simply hardly available at all. In that case, it’s better to opt for a lovely bouquet of dried flowers, a few elegant branches, or flowers made of silk or paper. Read more tips on sustainable flowers here!
Locally grown vegetables, herbs and flowers
- Farmer in the Neighbourhood: via this platform you can find local community farms where you can take out a subscription for unsprayed vegetables, herbs and sometimes also flowers.
Buying organic plants in Amsterdam? Stay critical!
With these lovely spots, buying organic plants in Amsterdam is fortunately a lot easier. Still, it is important to remain critical. Some shops portray themselves as ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’, but alongside organic plants also sell plants that have indeed been grown with chemical pesticides. So feel free to ask where the plants come from and how they have been cultivated. Good luck with this green quest and enjoy your truly green plants!
You might also find this interesting
- Also see: why organic potting soil does not exist.
- Also see: handy list of ‘better’ potting soil and garden compost.
Photo credits: left: Evija Ciematniece (Pexels), right: Julia Volk (Pexels).
