1/3 Police car rams switch pole during chase
The switch tree in the center of Den Bosch was knocked over by the police in the night from Friday to Saturday. That happened during a chase on Gasthuisstraat. You can place presents at the special Christmas tree or bring something you like. Initiator Maurice Koch was shocked Saturday morning when he saw the tree. “It’s been knocked over almost every year now.”
Images show how around a quarter past four in the morning an officer in a car chases a man who is fleeing. While the officer gets out of his car, the police car rolls a little, causing the switch pole to fall over. The officer manages to catch the man who ran off, but the meter-high tree is also well taken.
There was some damage to the switch tree, according to initiator Maurice. “The lights are broken. But we made a provisional repair, as well as some branches that broke off. We added some balls and put the stand back in order.”
“This can happen during a chase.”
Maurice doesn’t blame the police. “This can happen during a chase and we are not going to ask for compensation or anything. We will simply take this at our own expense.” The unfortunate officer left a note last night and tried to get the tree upright, but was unsuccessful.
The initiator removes the gifts every evening for safety reasons and only noticed on Saturday morning when he wanted to put them back that the tree was on the ground.
“People were looking in amazement.”
“There were already some people at the tree who were looking at it in amazement and tried to get it upright. But they couldn’t.” Maurice quickly went outside together with the neighborhood to put everything back in order.
“The tree is well secured, but of course it cannot withstand a police car,” says Maurice, laughing. The switch tree is now standing proudly again on the Gasthuisstraat and plenty of gifts are being delivered and collected again.
“Someone has jumped in before.”
The special Christmas tree has had to endure a lot in recent years. “Someone has already jumped in once, causing him to die, the tree has already blown over once and now a police car is driving into it,” says Maurice. But he can laugh about it, because more and more people are finding the tree to bring and take gifts with.
“We had three boys empty the tree on Friday, but fortunately not everything was hanging there,” says the initiator. The idea of his change tree is simple: You can donate gifts and take donated parcels with you. Sort of secret santa, but then gathered at a huge Christmas tree. “It doesn’t matter what it is. It’s about sharing and making others happy.”
“It’s moving.”
And that happens a lot now at the switch tree. “It is really moving to see how many people use it. Sometimes crafts are also taken as a thank you for a gift,” says Maurice. On Christmas Eve he organizes a final exchange and gift round together with the neighborhood. “We then hand out the last gifts from three o’clock in the afternoon while enjoying snacks, mulled wine, some music and a warm fire so that everyone can enjoy Christmas.”
Although Maurice must honestly admit that he is excited to see how the tree and the gifts will come through in the coming weeks. “Although I think that the gifts and the idea behind the switch tree will ensure that people stay away from it.”
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The changing tree: here you can place or take Christmas presents