Trees in the city
Zoetermeer is a green city. The trees in public spaces and also the trees on private property make an important contribution to this. Trees contribute to a healthy living environment.
Trees are durable, valuable green elements in the city. It takes years for a tree to fully grow. This is especially true of trees such as chestnut, oak, sycamore, ash and elm. Trees are not removed just like that. There are rules for granting an environmental permit. These rules are detailed in the General Local Bye-Law Zoetermeer (APV).
Monumental
Monumental trees deserve extra attention. In Zoetermeer there are 223 trees on the list of monumental trees, 81 of which are private trees.
Care of trees
The municipality manages and cares for the city's trees. Every four years, all avenue and street trees are checked for safety and pruned where necessary. For some (old) trees, this frequency is even higher. Trees along roadways and bikeways are pruned to the required clear clearance height. Facades and roofs are cleared. Loose and dead branches are removed. New trees are planted each year in various locations throughout the city. Wounds to trees caused by collisions, mowing damage, vandalism and fire are treated when possible.
Tree stock Zoetermeer consultation
You can view the tree stock on a map of Zoetermeer. This map allows you to enter an address, after which the map zooms in on that location. The map shows all 'public' trees (i.e. those owned by the municipality of Zoetermeer) and all monumental and all memorial trees (including private trees). In the outlying areas and parks, not all unique trees are shown in the map. These trees are considered forest planting and are managed as a whole. What can be retrieved from the trees are the number by which the tree is known to the municipality, the (Latin) name, vitality, how often the tree is checked and the planting year. In addition, a link is displayed to show Google images. It is not possible to search for tree species.
In Zoetermeer, there is no need to apply for a felling permit to cut down one's own tree, unless it is a monumental tree or a tree located in the so-called protected areas. These areas are also indicated on the map. However, the municipality itself must have a felling permit for each tree to be felled.