More tree facts
Cutting down the tree
The Norwegians consider the selection and felling of the Gouda tree an important event for the city and its ties with Gouda. Many Gouda mayors attended this ceremonial ceremony.
A class from a neighboring school sings songs and dances. There is a campfire, and they are allowed to roast sausages and marshmallows.
During the felling, the tree is already suspended from the hoists of a tow truck to prevent it from falling over. Afterwards, there is lunch at the Knutehytta in the mountains.
The journey of the tree
Kongsberg- Kristiansand-Rotterdam- Gouda (1300 km)
Three weeks before Gouda by Candlelight, the tree is cut down, in recent years by mayor Kari Anne Sand personally with a chainsaw.
The crane, which already holds the tree during felling, hoists it onto a low-loader that transports it to the harbor. The low-loader transports the tree to the harbor of Kristiansand. Our tree then travels to the Netherlands on a regular scheduled vessel. From the harbor of Rotterdam, a low-loader then transports it to Gouda.
📸 Jan van den Berg
Transporting the tree to the Markt square
Transporting the enormous tree is a logistical undertaking. Maneuvering a low-loader over 20 meters long is difficult.
Since 2022, we have been celebrating the tree in the Market Square. A school class, the Celebration band of Gouda’s Harmonie de Pionier, and the children’s council walk ahead of the tree to the Market Square. It’s impressive to watch as the tree is brought to the Market Square via Kleiweg and Hoogstraat.
At the Market Square, the tree is symbolically presented to the Mayor of Gouda, and it’s time for hot chocolate!
📸 Astrid den Haan
Decorating the tree
The the tree topper is attached while the tree is still lying down, but then the Nederhoff crane lifts it off the low-loader and holds it above the steel pipe in the center of the star in front of stepd of the city hall. The pipe is lowered 2.5 meters into the ground. If necessary, the trunk is trimmed. Finally, the crane slowly lowers it into the pipe.
And once the tree is up, the real decorating can begin. Although… first, the tree is carefully inspected, and if necessary, it receives some cosmetic treatment: if there aren’t enough branches on one side, the lower branches are sawn off and inserted into holes drilled in the “bare” side of the tree. Often, branches are pulled up a bit with wire. Then the lights go in: 15,000 LED lights.
After that, the remaining 400-600 baubles are added, but then it looks magnificent.
