Dead spruce trees removed

Along Gentiaanlaan, there is a group of 88 dead Douglas firs. These trees have died due to extreme weather conditions. For your safety, we are removing them. 

The map below shows where these trees are located.

What's going on?

The Douglas firs died as a result of extreme weather conditions. In 2023–2024, the forest area was very wet for months due to prolonged rainfall. This resulted in the soil receiving too little oxygen and the trees' fine root system dying off. As a result, the trees lost their absorption capacity and quickly weakened.
This was reflected in the severe loss of needles. A Douglas fir normally retains its needles for several years. A tree that loses all its needles loses its source of energy and no longer forms new branch shoots. 
Due to the root damage, the trees no longer had any reserves to cope with additional stress. The prolonged flooding of 2023–2024 was followed by an exceptionally hot and dry summer in 2025. This succession of first too wet and then too dry conditions proved fatal for the trees.

Why are we removing these trees?

The safety of residents and passers-by is paramount.
The dead trees are within falling range of homes, Gentiaanlaan, and in the middle of a busy recreational forest area. Due to poor root anchoring, they could fall unexpectedly. For safety reasons, we are removing all 88 trees.

What does this mean for the environment?

The canopy has an impact. The trees now form a clear border along Gentiaanlaan. After the work, the forest area is temporarily open and looks bare. We understand that this is a big change.

What comes next?

After felling, we will restore the forest area. We will replant the plots with a variety of deciduous tree species that are suitable for this location. In the first quarter of 2026, we will plant the new trees, at the same time as constructing the new forest edge along Gentiaanlaan. In this way, we are building a future-proof forest with more variety, better soil, and greater resilience to extreme weather conditions.

When will we carry out the work?

The work will take place during the week of December 15 and will take approximately three days. The exact schedule depends on the progress of other forestry work in Son en Breugel. During the felling, we will temporarily close off the area for safety reasons. We will limit any inconvenience as much as possible.