Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated compost materials have been applied over the last few decades to agricultural fields in Germany, resulting in large-scale diffuse PFAS plumes. The leaching behavior of PFAS from the first two identified contaminated agricultural sites in Germany were investigated, one at Brilon-Scharfenberg, North Rhine-Westphalia (BS-NRW), and the other at Rastatt/Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg. The specific objectives of this study were to assess the longevity of the PFAS agricultural sources and compare standardized column percolation tests to long-term leaching of PFAS from contaminated sites. The advection-dispersion model (ADM) was used to compare the leaching behavior of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from standardized column percolation tests and long-term field leaching data from the BS-NRW site. Column leaching tests conducted with PFOS and PFOA contaminated soil simulated the initial rapid decline but did not predict the long-term behavior (tailing) observed at the field site over 12 years. Trend analyses of the PFAS field data from the BS-NRW showed that concentrations had stabilized and that individual PFAS exhibited distinct seasonal fluctuations; the latter is likely due to the ongoing transformation of precursors and a seasonal influence on production rates of mobile PFAS. Mass balances conducted at both sites indicate that complete removal of these compounds will likely take years to decades to occur, which is expected from the results of the column leaching tests. •12-years field-scale leaching data trends from the first documented PFAS contaminated agricultural site in Germany.•PFAS column leaching tests do not reflect the long-term tailing observed at the field site over 12 years.•Long-term tailing is potentially caused by transformation of precursor substances into PFOA and PFOS.•Field data of short chain PFAS show a distinct seasonal patter.•These case studies demonstrate that it will take decades for PFAS to leach from agricultural topsoils.