A fire broke out in a park on the Bandalaan in Eindhoven around half past three on Thursday night. The fire damaged a monumental tree in the middle of the park. The trunk is blackened. Much of the park was destroyed by the fire.
The fire brigade had arrived with two fire engines to fight the fire. The monumental tree stands in the middle of the park. The tree, a plant tree, is known as the Spotted Southerner and was planted 262 years ago.
The trunk of the tree was damaged by the fire. The deck around the tree was also destroyed by the fire. In 2009 this tree was declared the first ‘world tree’ in the Netherlands. The tree is also used to marry or mourn.
The police suspect arson.