Green Giants - Amsterdam’s Trees
With its miles of glorious canals, you can’t miss all that leafy green reflected in Amsterdam’s beautiful blue waterways. While you’ll find that the grass is literally greener elsewhere, few cities have as many trees as Amsterdam – three times as many as Paris! - and it is the only city with its very own Municipal Tree Consultant. Since some of the trees are centuries old, they’ve earned a special place in the city’s history.
Over 400,000
Amsterdam has over 400,000 trees across the city, making it one of Europe’s leafiest cities. No wonder that the city boasts a world first – a Municipal Tree Consultant. This special city official advises Amsterdam’s district councils and green-loving citizens on all things arboreal. Most of Amsterdam’s trees are elms, many between 80 and 100 years old. The oldest privately-owned tree in Amsterdam is a Mulberry tree, planted in 1794. This over 215 year old beauty still bears its owner delicious fruit!
Amsterdam’s historically-protected trees
Amsterdam’s first communal trees were planted on the city’s defence fortifications in 1340. Amsterdam has always appreciated its leafy inhabitants and in 1454 a judge ordered someone’s hand be cut off for damaging a tree. Imprisonment and even exile were other punishments doled out. Amsterdam currently has 243 trees listed as historical monuments – often located close together and usually in good condition. Along Nikolaas Witsenkade there are 40 protected Plane trees (Platanus), and around a dozen are to be found together on Oostenburgergracht, Frederiksplein, Weteringschans and in Wertheim Park. Another famous historical tree is the Wilhelmina Lime (Linden) at the Amsterdam Museum, planted in 1898 to commemorate Queen Wilhelmina’s ascension to the throne. Amsterdam’s oldest protected tree is a Summer Oak dating back to 1750, which can be seen at Artis Zoo.
A historically-protected tree:
■ is at least 70 years old
■ adds to its surroundings
■ has cultural historic value
■ has ecologic value
Amsterdam’s famous trees
Perhaps the most famous tree in Amsterdam was the more than 150-year-old Chestnut tree behind Anne Frank House, planted in a courtyard on Prinsengracht, near Westerkerk's church tower. Anne Frank could see this tree from the secret annex while in hiding, and wrote about it several times in her diary.
Unfortunately the tree blew over in a storm in August 2010, but luckily one of its saplings has been cultivated, and there are plans to plant it on the site.
Amsterdam tree curiosities
Amsterdam’s widest trees are two Plane trees on the green space of Leidsebosje (across from the Barbizon Palace Hotel). They have a circumference of 6.5 metres and are valued at over 80,000 euros each! While admiring them, look out for the sculpture of a woodcutter sawing at the branch on which he is perched, placed by an anonymous sculptor. Of course, if you want to know more about Amsterdam’s trees, then head off to Amsterdam’s botanical gardens Hortus Botanicus. Or if you prefer a more active approach to tree admiration, why not grab your friends or grab the kids and get into the swing of things at Amsterdam’s Fun Forest.
Amsterdam’s trees play a unique role in the cultural history of the city - if only trees could talk, imagine the tales they’d tell!
- Tell a friend