Discover the wild plants growing all around you
What if your next team activity involved discovering the edible and medicinal plants growing in Amsterdam?
Urban Herbology offers guided foraging walks and practical plant experiences for companies and groups. Led by medical herbalist, author and professional forager Lynn Shore, these sessions introduce people to the plants growing around us: how to recognise them, their traditional uses, and the surprising stories behind familiar species.
Whether you have 45 minutes between meetings or would like to spend a few hours exploring a park, there’s an experience to suit your group, the season and the time available.
These are enjoyable, hands-on experiences that bring people together through curiosity, practical learning and a fresh perspective on the city.
Guided Foraging walks
Discover edible plants in the city. Amsterdam’s parks, gardens and green spaces are full of plants with fascinating uses and histories. On a guided foraging walk, we’ll explore what’s growing around us, learning to identify edible and medicinal species, understand their place in the local environment and discover how people have used them over time.
Depending on the season and location, we might encounter nettles, dandelions, wild garlic, berries, herbs, trees, fungi and poisonous plants. We’ll look at how to identify plants safely, which are suitable for use, and why responsible foraging means knowing when to leave them undisturbed.
Walks are relaxed, practical and engaging, with plenty to discover whether you’re new to foraging or already have some experience.
Sessions are available in English or Dutch.
Medicinal plants & practical herbalism
Explore the plants that have helped people for generations
Many familiar plants have a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine. Discover the medicinal plants growing in Amsterdam’s green spaces, learn about their traditional applications and explore how herbal knowledge has developed over time.
Led by Lynn, a qualified medical herbalist, these sessions combine botanical identification with stories of herbal traditions and contemporary herbal practice.
Depending on the setting and duration, a session might include a closer look at medicinal plants, an introduction to herbal preparations, or a simple practical activity such as making a herbal infusion.
The emphasis is on understanding the plants, their history and their relationship with people, rather than simply memorising lists of uses.
Other ways to explore urban nature
Foraging and medicinal plants are natural starting points, but there are plenty of other ways to explore the living landscape.
Plants, People & Place
Discover the connections between plants, food, medicine, folklore and everyday life.
Seasonal Plant Experiences
Explore what the season has to offer, from spring greens and summer flowers to autumn fruits and seeds.
Trees & Urban Biodiversity
Look at the trees, habitats and ecological relationships that help support wildlife in the city.
Garden & Nature Projects
For groups interested in practical involvement, activities can be developed around gardening, cultivation or local nature projects, subject to the location and availability of suitable partners.
The content can be adapted to the interests of your group and the season.
Frankendael & Amsterdam-Oost
A historic estate with plenty to discover
Park Frankendael offers a particularly rich setting for exploring urban plants. Its historic Stijltuin, orchards, woodland, water and island provide different habitats to investigate, all within a short walk of one another.
Lynn has a long-standing connection with the park and its community, including coordinating volunteers who care for the Stijltuin and River of Herbs Orchards. This local knowledge brings an additional perspective to walks here, from the history of the estate to the plants growing in its gardens and wilder corners.
Experiences can begin or end at Huize Frankendael, with the possibility of adding refreshments or a meal at Restaurant Merkelbach.
Frankendael is one option among several possible Amsterdam locations. The best setting will depend on your group, the season and the experience you’re looking for.
Short sessions or a longer experience
Designed around your plans
Not every group has the same amount of time available. Some want a short, engaging activity to complement a meeting or event; others would like a longer walk with time to explore, ask questions and perhaps enjoy something to eat afterwards.
Experiences can be arranged in different formats:
- 45 minutes — a focused introduction to wild or medicinal plants.
- 90 minutes — a more in-depth guided foraging or medicinal-plant experience.
- Up to 3 hours — a longer exploration, with time for several themes, seasonal discoveries or a practical activity.
These are flexible formats rather than fixed packages. A short session can be combined with another theme, or an experience can be incorporated into a wider event or meeting-day programme.
I can work with you to find a suitable location, choose a theme and shape the session around your schedule. Where appropriate, meeting space, refreshments or lunch can also be arranged with a local venue.
A different way to experience Amsterdam
Urban Herbology brings together botanical knowledge, medical herbalism, foraging and a long-standing interest in the relationship between people and the natural world.
The aim is simple: to help people notice more, learn something useful and experience their surroundings differently.
Whether you’re planning a short activity alongside a meeting, a team outing or a seasonal exploration of Amsterdam’s wild plants, we can find an approach that works for your group.
To discuss a corporate experience, tell me a little about your group, the time you have available and what you’d like to explore.
Contact Lynn
About Urban Herbology
Urban Herbology brings expert plant knowledge and a deep connection with urban nature into experiences designed for modern teams.
Urban Herbology was founded by Lynn Shore, a medical herbalist, professional forager, educator and author based in Amsterdam. Lynn has been teaching about urban plants and foraging for more than 20 years, bringing together a background in biological science, education, horticulture and herbal medicine.
She is a member of the Association of Foragers and the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, the Gilde van Herboristen and author of The Green City Witch.
Experiences are delivered personally by Lynn, with trusted local partners involved where appropriate.