The Christmas tree that will stand on the central market square in Brussels for the next couple of months has been chopped down and is on its way to the capital. Until Wednesday morning the 18-metre tree had stood in the front garden of a couple from Rixensart in Walloon Brabant.
Now Anita and Féli’s tree will be admired by tens of thousands of people that visit the market square (Grote Markt) during the festive season.
Anita told VRT Radio 2’s breakfast show ‘Goeiemorgen morgen’ that “It’s with a heavy heart they we’ve allowed our tree to be chopped down. But during the past three years we have been afraid that it would be blown over by high wind. It is a great honour that it is going to the Grote Markt. We will definitely go and admire it with the whole family”.
18 metres high
Pierre Demesmaeker of the company that chopped down tree Inter-Arbo told the VRT that "It is a Nordman fir tree that is around 18 metres high. Together with his team Pierre searches the whole country for ideal Christmas trees for squares in towns and cities across the country".
Once a suitable tree has been spotted, Inter-Arbo contacts the owner of the property where the tree is located. Sometimes people send photographs of their own tree as they want to see it shine during the festive season.
Chopping down and moving the tree is a big job as is ensuring that it gets to Brussels in one piece. The tree will be put into position on the market square on Thursday morning and will be decorated during the couple of days that follow.