More than 800 tree enthusiasts in The Hague have spoken through a public vote. They selected five atypical trees to receive the honorary title of “veteran tree”. The favourite is the Belvedere oak, a 180-year-old tree that obtained the highest number of votes.
Ten historic trees across the city
There were ten trees that were nominated for the title of veteran tree, ranging in age from 70 to 220 years old that are spread throughout The Hague. A veteran tree is one that is allowed to age naturally, without intensive human intervention. Over time, such trees may develop hollows in their trunks, lose branches, grow twisted limbs, shed bark, and accumulate dead wood.
The public’s five favourites
Residents vote online through the Haagse Groen and the five winners can be found on The Hague Tree Map:
- Belvedere Oak (180 years old) – 518 votes
Location: Belvedere dune, Scheveningse Bos
Tree number: 374 - Nessie, the Tree of Life (205 years old) – 407 votes
Location: Clingendael Estate
Tree number: 868 - The Flower Parasol (70 years old) – 420 votes
Location: Hyacintenplein
Tree number: 92 - Zuiderpark Poplar (110 years old) – 474 votes
Location: Speelweiland Zuiderpark
Tree number: 5225 - The Twelve Brothers (220 years old) – 473 votes
Location: Bosjes van Poot
Tree number: 73
"The special thing about veteran trees is that their management mainly consists of doing nothing. We let nature take its course. These trees are allowed to grow old without human intervention"
A Special Place on the Monumental Tree List
The very first veteran tree in The Netherlands is in The Hague, it is a lime tree planted around 1733 on the Clingendael Estate. It received veteran status in 2019. With the addition of the five newly selected trees, there are now six veteran trees forming a distinct category within the city’s monumental tree list.
Veteran trees play an important role in nature. Their cavities, cracks, and decaying wood provide shelter and food for many insects, birds, and small mammals such as hedgehogs, mice, and squirrels. Mosses and fungi thrive on damp, rotting wood, while soil organisms benefit from the organic material the tree gradually sheds. In this way, an aging tree becomes a living ecosystem.
What about the other trees?
The five trees that were not selected will continue to hold or will receive the status of monumental tree and will be maintained with care. The key distinction is that monumental trees could eventually be removed if they die or pose safety risks. Veteran trees, by contrast, are allowed to complete their natural life cycle. A protective fencing is installed around it for protection.
Through this initiative, The Hague demonstrates its commitment to preserving nature within the city and protecting trees that have been here longer than humans have.
Read more
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