The invention relates to a picking-up device for bales (14) formed by compression of an, in particular, long-stemmed plant material, comprising a first side part (48), a second side part (50) spaced apart relative thereto in a first spatial direction (42), and connection units (66) for connecting the side parts (48, 50) along the first spatial direction (42), wherein the side parts (48, 50) are designed to assume a transport state relative to one another in which a receiving space (40) is defined between the side parts (48, 50) and bales (14) are positioned, for transport purposes, between the side parts (48, 50) in the receiving space (50), and to assume a filling state in which the side parts (48, 50) are at a greater distance relative to one another in the first spatial direction (42) than in the transport state and in which the bales (14) are instertable into the receiving space (40) along a second spatial direction (44) transverse to the first spatial direction via an insertion opening (68) arranged between the side parts (48, 50). In addition, the invention relates to a picking-up system with such a picking-up device.