THE MOEIER TREE ON THE MARKET IN ETTEN-LEUR. TREE OF THE YEAR OF BRABANT 2020 !
TREE OF THE YEAR OF THE NETHERLANDS 2020 !
IN FEBRUARY 2021 THE NETHERLANDS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESTIGIOUS ELECTION 'EUROPEAN TREE OF THE YEAR 2021'!
You can vote for the Moeierboom between February 1 and 28 here.
One of the most famous spots in Etten-Leur is the Moeierboom on the Markt. The Moeierboom is a large-leaved lime tree (Tilia platyphyllos). The tree does not have the normal shape of a lime tree, which should have been 20 meters tall given its age. Probably due to lightning or a storm, the tree lost its top. Because of her age, the heavy branches are supported by an iron frame. Through consistent care and "bonsai-like" pruning, the tree has always maintained its distinctive crown shape.
In Etten-Leur there are about 1,350 linden trees of different species. Their heart-shaped leaves symbolize love, their blossoms fertility and calmness. The oldest lime tree stands on the Market, the Moeierboom. The tree was planted more than 345 years ago. It was planted on the spot where justice was administered in the Middle Ages. A place where criminals were sentenced and innocents were acquitted.
Symbol of connection
The Moeierboom has been a symbol of connection for all these years. Deeply rooted in the heart of Etten-Leur. The characteristic tree is a place for meeting, fraternization and entertainment on sunny days and because of its more than 8,000 lights a beacon of light in the winter months.
1001 stories
The tree cherishes 1001 events, stories and emotions. Primal loves have blossomed under its long gnarled branches. Everyone remembers that first kiss under the tree. The Moeierboom saw Vincent van Gogh strolling here and Van Gogh saw the tree standing here....
Election
The Moeierboom was voted The 2020 Tree of the Year in last October's national election. This with an overwhelming majority of 3,593 votes. At number 2 ended the two-stemmed wingnut in Middelburg (province of Zeeland) with 2,450 votes. In 3rd place ended the red beech in Domies Toen in Pieterburen (province of Groningen) with 2083 votes. This election is organized annually by SBNL Natuurfonds in Leersum.
Importance and beauty
This election aims to make people aware of the importance and beauty of trees. The Moeier tree is iconic in the area where it stands and forms a beautiful ensemble with the buildings around it. Moreover, she is a true multi-tasker. The tree fulfills a function in the production of oxygen, the storage of CO2 and water. She is also a bastion of biodiversity, as she can host up to 30,000 critters and microorganisms. And where this tree is also ironclad is that it promotes social cohesion. All this makes the Moeier tree an ideal candidate for the election.
"In short, the Moeierboom has been the great pride of Etten-Leur for over 345 years, but now also of Brabant and of the Netherlands.
And who knows, soon also of Europe!"
Practical information
For one month from February 1 to February 28, all Europeans may vote on the nominated trees for the European Tree of the Year election. People are asked to vote for two trees. at www.deboomvanhetjaar.nl. Sixteen countries are participating in this European election. The results will be announced in March at the European Parliament in Brussels.
You can vote for the Moeierboom between February 1 and 28 here.
(Photography: Ria Mol, Mark Kohn, Egon Zitter, Ed Michels and Pierre van Damme; postcards Regionaal Archief West-Brabant)
