Storm Fells Centuries-Old Elm in Leuven’s Historic Kruidtuin

A severe thunderstorm that swept across central Belgium on Saturday, May 30, has felled a centuries-old elm tree in Leuven’s historic Kruidtuin (Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis) botanical garden. The city has announced plans for a memorial event to honor the iconic tree, which had stood since the garden’s opening approximately 200 years ago, making it the oldest elm in the botanical collection.

The storm, which prompted a Code Yellow warning from the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI), caused widespread damage across central Belgium. The fire brigade zone Oost-Brabant received approximately 80 calls, with 65 concentrated in and around Leuven, where some 15 streets were flooded, according to VRT NWS.

A Silent Witness Falls

For generations of Leuven residents, the elm was more than just a tree. It was a silent witness to daily life in the city, offering shade and shelter to people, birds, insects, and countless other forms of life.

“The oldest elm of the Kruidtuin fell during the enormous rainfall and storm this morning,” Alderman Bieke Verlinden (Vooruit), who oversees cemeteries, parks, and green spaces, wrote on social media. “Generations of Leuven residents walked past this elm. It offered shelter to people, birds, insects and countless other forms of life. Perhaps we are losing more than just a tree.”

Verlinden’s post, which asked the public whether such a tree deserves a farewell, received significant engagement and support, underscoring the deep community attachment to the landmark. As Leuven Actueel reported, the tree had grown into an integral part of the familiar cityscape.

Ecological Grief and Public Mourning

The loss of the elm has brought attention to a growing phenomenon: ecological grief. Verlinden noted that there is increasing understanding for the concept, as people feel sadness when familiar places change or landscapes they feel connected to are lost.

“Due to drought, heat, and extreme weather conditions, many tree species are under pressure,” she said. The storm that felled the elm was part of a broader weather system that caused flooding, tunnel closures in Brussels, and disruptions at Zaventem airport, where three planes were diverted and multiple flights delayed — including the return of King Filip and Queen Mathilde from the United States, as VRT NWS reported.

A Memorial and a New Beginning

The city is now planning a memorial event to honor the fallen tree, though the exact format and timing are yet to be announced. Verlinden outlined several possibilities: “It could be a quiet memorial moment, or something ritualistic, where we rework part of the tree into a kind of monument or a bench. But it could also be an opportunity to reflect on the tree stock of today and tomorrow.”

In the short term, the city has confirmed that the felled elm will be replaced. The green department is currently determining which species would best thrive on the same spot, taking into account the changing climate conditions.

Climate Adaptation in Leuven

The loss of the elm comes against a backdrop of proactive climate adaptation efforts in Leuven. Five years ago, the city established a “Plantenlabo” (plant laboratory) on the Stadsbegraafplaats (city cemetery) to test which plant species thrive in a warming climate with more hot and dry days.

According to VRT NWS, approximately 70 species have been tested so far, including hop-hornbeam, willow-leaved oak, and yellowwood. Successful species are being integrated into the city’s green spaces. Landscape architect Joeri Steeno noted that while some plants thrive, others struggle — and many monumental beech trees in the city are now described as “palliative.”

The initiative reflects a growing awareness that urban greenery must adapt to survive. A KU Leuven study on the famous “Boom van ‘t Groot Verdriet” (Tree of Great Sorrow) found that residents were willing to pay an average of €17.50 to save the tree, totaling €2.5 million — a testament to the value communities place on their arboreal heritage.

What’s Next

The city will communicate concrete details of the memorial event and replacement planting in the coming weeks. The choice of replacement species will be closely watched as an indicator of how urban green management is evolving in response to climate pressures. For now, Leuven residents are left to mourn a tree that stood for two centuries — and to reflect on what its loss says about the changing world around them.