In South Limburg, unmarried men, also called youngsters, can continue their traditional May Day celebration: the felling of a large pine tree.
At first, Staatsbosbeheer no longer wanted to participate in the felling of trees. But a solution has been found together with the municipality of Eijsden-Margraten.
Vijlenerbos
This year the youngsters can get their spruce in the part of the Vijlenerbos that is owned by Hank van der Vleuten. “Six have already done so. Meerssen has already selected a tree. They will come to cut it at the end of April. And I like to experience that,” says owner Hank van der Vleuten.
Tradition
The maiden is always cut in the spring. In some villages this is at Easter, in others at Pentecost. There are several stories about the origin of the festival, but the tradition is still honored every year in more than ten places in South Limburg. Certainly in villages such as Banholt, Noorbeek and Mheer, the event has been taking place for hundreds of years.
State Forestry
Two weeks ago, Staatsbosbeheer informed the youngsters by letter that it would no longer cooperate from this year. No more pine was allowed to be cut in the area. Staatsbosbeheer found that the youngsters did not fulfill their agreements. Safety would also be at stake with the felling and there would not be many pines that qualify anyway.
furious
Youngsters in South Limburg reacted furiously to the decision: an age-old tradition was in danger of going under. Planting the maypole is a sign of fertility, praying for a good harvest.
Not infinite
Van der Vleuten’s help is a one-off, because he cannot do without pines indefinitely. According to him, there are even more private owners of Norway spruce who can help maintain the tradition.
A structural solution has therefore been sought for the following years. Acting mayor Sjraar Cox van Eijsden-Margraten says that the tree will then be collected in Voeren, across the border in Belgium.