This year, the Haagse Bos officially celebrates its 450th anniversary as a protected forest. Thanks to the “Act of Redemption,” het Haagse Bos is both the oldest protected forest and the oldest city park in the Netherlands. The municipality of The Hague is celebrating this milestone with several partners, including the State Forestry Service (Staatsbosbeheer), the “Bos dat van zich is ” (Forest that belongs to itself) , and “Meer Bomen Nu” (More Trees Now) , with various activities. The kickoff will take place on Saturday, January 24th, with a tree distribution event on the Malieveld.
On Saturday, January 24, everyone can pick up a free set of plants containing one tree and two shrubs between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. This is to give the greening of The Hague an extra boost. At 10:00 AM, a very special guest will present the first tree to Paul Laudy (provincial head of Staatsbosbeheer) and Robert Barker (Alderman for Public Space, Groen van Den Haag). They will then present the trees to children from The Hague. The collection point is at Boorlaan(near Malieveld). The first 1,576 trees will receive a special certificate. There is also a free booklet about the history of the Haagse Bos. Alderman Robert Barker: “We have been protecting the Haagse Bos for 450 years. This has inspired us to protect even more nature reserves. It’s good to commemorate the importance of nature conservation in a green and festive way.”
What is the Act of Redemption?
On April 16, 1576, William of Orange signed the “Act of Redemption.” This document stipulated that no one would ever cut down trees in the Haagse Bos, the Koekamp, or the Malieveld. During the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648) between the Netherlands and Spain, the States of Holland needed a great deal of money. Therefore, they wanted to sell the Kloosterkerk (Monastery Church) and cut down the Haagse Bos. The people of The Hague opposed this. The Hague council raised 6,000 pounds (the currency of the time). This ensured that the church and the forest were preserved and protected forever.
Why does The Hague celebrate this?
The Act of Redemption is a significant moment in the history of The Hague. But it was also crucial for nature conservation in the Netherlands. For the first time, a forest in the Netherlands was protected. Thanks to the act, the Haagse Bos has remained a green haven for centuries. Every day, you see how important trees and nature are for people and animals, both past and present. More information about the 450th anniversary of the Act of Redemption:www.denhaag.nl/haagsebos .
Image: Haagse Bos in 1660, gemaakt door Roelant Rogman, used with permission from Gemeente Den Haag