Seasonal strawberry picking jobs in Belgium: where, when and on what terms

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Belgian strawberries: a long growing season

A large share of Belgian strawberries is now grown off the ground, on raised gutters inside glasshouses or tunnels. This tabletop system stretches the season considerably and lets pickers work standing at waist height, which changes daily work a lot compared with traditional field picking.

Farms hire picking crews but also staff for grading, filling punnets, crop maintenance and preparing glasshouses between plantings. Volumes swing sharply from week to week depending on sunshine, so working hours tend to be irregular and announced at short notice.

Main growing areas to target

The Antwerp Kempen around Hoogstraten produces the bulk of Flemish strawberries and has its own cooperative auction. Limburg and Flemish Brabant also have many growers. In Wallonia, Wépion near Namur remains the historic home of the Belgian strawberry and its local brand.

When does picking take place?

In heated glasshouses the first strawberries arrive in March or April. The field and tunnel peak runs from May to July. Everbearing varieties and staggered plantings then extend the harvest into October, sometimes longer in the best-equipped glasshouses.

A typical working day

Pickers hold each berry by the stalk, place it straight into a punnet by grade and discard damaged fruit. The pace is fast and quality is checked constantly. In open fields the work is done bent over or kneeling, which requires good stamina.

Who can apply for strawberry work?

Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland can work in Belgium without a work permit. A valid identity document is enough; the employer handles the Dimona declaration and registration with Belgian social security before the first shift.

A status open to students and employees

The horticultural occasional worker status suits students on holiday, employees on leave, pensioners and some jobseekers. Anyone receiving benefits should check combination rules with their payment body in advance to avoid repaying allowances later.

Workers from outside the EU

Third-country nationals need a seasonal work authorisation issued by the region where the farm is located before arriving. For stays over 90 days the employer applies for a single permit combining work and residence, in line with the EU Seasonal Workers Directive.

Annual day cap

Since 1 July 2023 an occasional worker may work up to 100 days a year in horticulture and 50 days in agriculture, with the combined total limited to 100 days. The royal decree of 14 April 2026 applies the same caps to agency workers placed with growers.

Pay and conditions in strawberry growing

Occasional workers in horticulture are entitled to at least the category one wage of their sub-sector. As a benchmark, that rate reached 12.64 euros gross per hour in fruit growing on 1 January 2024, before later indexations set by the sector agreements.

Productivity bonuses and deductions

Many growers add a bonus linked to the number of punnets picked, but the minimum hourly wage remains due. Withholding tax is 11.11 percent for Belgian residents and 18.725 percent for non-residents, according to information published for 2026.

Social contributions for occasional workers are calculated on a legal flat daily amount. For fruit and vegetable growers, a partial exemption from paying over 1.30 euros of withholding tax per hour is planned from 2026, with no effect on the gross wage owed to workers.

Hours and accommodation

Picking starts early, often at 6 am in summer, to harvest fresh fruit and avoid glasshouse heat. Days can exceed nine hours at peak. Some growers house their crews; rent and charges should be agreed in writing before arrival.

Steps to get hired

Growers often build their crews during the winter for the following season. Here is the route for EU candidates; non-EU candidates can only start once their authorisation, requested by the employer, has been granted.

1. Fix your available dates, ideally May to July when demand peaks.
2. Search VDAB and Le Forem job portals for aardbeien plukken or cueillette de fraises.
3. Target growers around Hoogstraten, Wépion or in Limburg.
4. Send a simple CV stating availability, languages and farm experience.
5. Get status, hourly wage, bonuses and housing confirmed in writing.
6. Hand over ID and bank details for the Dimona declaration.
7. Keep a daily record of hours and days worked.

Summary table: pay, costs and documents

This table gathers the points to check before accepting an offer. Wage figures come from the sector agreements; housing and transport costs vary between farms and must be confirmed individually with each employer.

Pitfalls and scams to watch for

Strawberry picking adverts circulate widely on social media, sometimes posted by dubious intermediaries. A few simple habits help avoid most of the problems seasonal workers run into on Belgian farms.

• Paying admin or visa fees to a recruiter: the job must remain free for the worker.
• Working without Dimona or payslips, and therefore without accident cover.
• Accepting pay per punnet only, falling below the hourly minimum.
• Handing your passport to an employer or landlord.
• Travelling without a contract or the farm's exact address.

Can I pick strawberries without speaking Dutch?

Yes. Around Hoogstraten instructions are often in Dutch, but crews are highly international and English or Polish are widely used. In Wépion, French is the usual working language for growers and their teams, including seasonal staff.

Is glasshouse picking less tiring?

On raised gutters pickers work standing, which spares the back. However, glasshouse heat can be intense in summer and the required pace remains high. Drinking regularly and taking scheduled breaks are essential for a full season.

How much can a strawberry season pay?

Earnings depend on hours, the indexed wage scale and productivity bonuses. At the sector minimum and with 38 to 45 hours a week, a regular picker earns several hundred euros net per week, before any housing deduction.

Can strawberry work be combined with other harvests?

Yes, many seasonal workers move on to pear and apple picking in Haspengouw from late August. They must, however, keep an eye on their total occasional days, capped at 100 per year across all employers.