In Haarlem there have been real knights active to save trees. At the moment they are fighting for the trees on the Haarlem Houtplein, which is only one of the front lines. The Haarlem Tree Knights are convinced that trees contribute substantially to the well-being of citizens and they therefore consider every tree worth a fight.
“It is badly needed because Haarlem has the dubious honor the most petrified city of the Netherlands,” says Harry Hobo, a tree knight from the very beginning. In some places, such as the Houtplein, this is remarkable. One of the few large parks in the city, the Haarlemmerhout, is located in this area.
But Hobo relies on scientific research by consultancy Cobra Groeninzicht, which shows that the so-called crown density in Haarlem one of the lowest in the Netherlands is† Crown density is research jargon for the amount of trees per square metre.
Necessary for health
“Research by TNO shows that even a houseplant can contribute to your mental health,” says Hobo exuberantly as he talks about the many benefits of greenery in your area. Not only will your mood improve, but so will the air you breathe. CO2 and particulate matter are filtered from the air by trees and they bring oxygen back into the city, which is of great importance for a fossilized city like Haarlem.
We speak to Harry at one of the oldest trees in Haarlem, the plane tree on Houtplein, which is more than a hundred years old. This is not in danger for the time being, unlike the row of trees in front of the shops on the sidewalk of Houtplein.
It looks like those trees won’t return after the major renovation of the square† But the tree knights don’t give up. They will continue to discuss the fate of these and other trees in the Spaarnestad with the municipality.