The SBNL Nature Fund annually holds the Tree of the year-election. These twelve trees were declared the most striking trees in the Netherlands in 2023.
1. The Marialinde – Brabant
The most beautiful tree in our country can be found in the historic heart of the Brabant city of Oisterwijk. It concerns the imposing Marialinde. This approximately 650 year old lime tree was placed by the Celts to protect the community from disaster.
It is striking that the Marialinde does not have one clear trunk, but fused, loose trunks. These are probably so-called adventitious roots, which have replaced the original trunk from the inside over time.
The article continues below the photo.
2. The red beech of the Baroniestad – Utrecht
This beautiful beech from Utrecht took second place. It was planted about 250 years ago by the then city doctor of IJsselstein. The old tree is surrounded by many monumental buildings, creating a beautiful ensemble. With a height of 24 meters, a trunk thickness of 4.75 meters and around 800,000 leaves, the beech towers high above the buildings.
The article continues below the photo.
3. The tree that gives air – North Holland
The third prize fell in Zaandam. There is a beautiful, wide wingnut there. In the densely populated neighborhood, where there is little greenery, the tree forms a kind of green oasis.
The article goes further below the photo.
4. The Gnome Tree – Gelderland
In the Gelderland village of Beek you will find the so-called Gnome tree. At 450 years old, this sweet chestnut tree is probably the oldest in our country and therefore attracts many tourists. You wouldn’t say it, but he has endured a lot: from lightning and arson to shell fire during the Second World War.
According to legend, the holes and crevices in the hollow trunk provide an excellent home for gnomes. Hence the name!
The article continues below the photo.
5. The black poplar of Count Adolf – Groningen
Groningen nominated this black poplar from Oldambt and took fifth place. The thick tree has a rich history. It was planted in 1873 during the unveiling of the Count Adolphus Monument and – in view of the events of the Eighty Years’ War – it symbolizes death, despair and sadness.
The article continues below the photo.
6. The Domineeseik – Overijssel
This glorious pedunculate oak stands in an old cemetery in the village of Heemse in Overijssel. A pastor wanted an imposing tree on top of his grave as a tribute to God, and so it happened. Many graves in the cemetery have been cleared, but the pastor’s resting place remained untouched. The cast-iron fence around his grave has now even grown into the oak.
The article continues below the photo.
7. De Huuskesboom – Limburg
The 250-year-old Huuskes tree is located in Libeek, Limburg. The name comes from an old border guard house that stood on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium before the war. In the past, this lime tree served as a medicinal ‘nail tree’, where clothing of the sick was nailed into the bark. For that reason, a wooden statue of Jesus still hangs on the trunk.
The article continues below the photo.
8. The silver maple next to ‘t Wold primary school – Flevoland
The city of Zeewolde in Flevoland is the youngest municipality in our country. In 1984, a number of primary facilities were built there, such as a town hall and a primary school. To decorate the place, a number of trees were planted. When the very first school moved to another location, this tall silver maple moved with it. The tree therefore symbolizes the still developing community.
The article continues below the photo.
9. The Mondrian yew – Zeeland
This tree in Oostkapelle in Zeeland is named after the painter Piet Mondriaan. At the beginning of his career he liked to paint trees, including this one taxus baccata. The work bears the title The gray tree and is characterized by the strikingly curved trunk. Unfortunately, it remains to be seen whether you can admire the tree for a long time. Climbing children and a too high groundwater level seriously affected his condition.
The article continues below the photo.
10. The gatekeeper of the past – South Holland
This enormous pedunculate oak is also rooted in a cemetery. The more highly regarded a person was, the closer he or she was buried to the tree. This applied, for example, to the founders of Numansdorp in South Holland, where the cemetery is located. The original oak has now been replaced by a copy from 1960, which will probably last another hundred to one hundred and fifty years.
The article continues below the photo.
11. The solitary oak – Drenthe
About a hundred years ago, this pedunculate oak was planted to provide shade for a farm in Hollandscheveld in Drenthe. The tree is now twenty meters high and the agricultural landscape in which it was planted has turned into a busy industrial estate. Local residents managed to save the oak through a petition, so it now symbolizes solidarity and involvement.
The article continues below the photo.
12. The Murder Tree – Friesland
The Murder Tree in Balk, Frisian, received no more than 113 votes, but still has a fascinating story. In 1841, the lifeless body of a farmer’s daughter was found under the foliage. Mysterious, indelible ‘blood stains’ and the word ‘murder’ then formed on the trunk. What exactly happened remains a mystery to this day.
Do you want to make your bedroom a little greener? These beautiful plant species have a positive effect on your night’s sleep:
Source: SBNL Nature Fund
Tags: twelve beautiful trees Netherlands
-
