The “World´s Tallest Christmas Tree”

Dear Visitor,

We welcome you on our website, which as you have noticed is in Dutch.
This short factsheet will give you at least some background information in English, until we have a full English language website available for you.

The “World´s Tallest Christmas Tree” is situated in IJsselstein, at the heart of Holland.
This “tree” is, as you can see, not a typical christmas tree like the one you would place inside or around your home. This tree is in fact a communication tower, 375 meters tall. From this tower the signals for television and radio are transmitted in order to reach 16 million people in The Netherlands.

The idea to transform this communication tower into a Christmas Tree was conceived in 1991 by two brothers: Martin and Ton Westland. They discussed the possibility to transform the communication tower into a Christmas Tree with the owners and operators of the tower: Nozema and PTT telecom. After one year of investigation, all technical equipment necessary for the realisation of the idea had been determined. Philips Lighting delivered special lights, Nozema and PTT Telecom arranged for the lights to be mounted on the supportwires for the communication tower.
A newly established Association Chirstmas Tree “Stichting Kerstboom” was born with the sole purpose of effectively organise and fund an annual lighting event.

In 1992 the tree was lit for the first time. After noticing some minor damage to the supportwires caused by the lights in 1995, a new and costly system of separate hoist and light wires had to be put in place.
Because of this cost factor, it was decided to light the “tree” only once every five year!

Since 2001 the “World’s Tallest Christmas Tree” was lit yearly (except in 2006) thanks to the “Kerstboom” foundation.

We wish to thank all Sponsors and Donators for their essential support.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

If you are able to visit the Netherlands between December and early January you may see this “World´s Christmas Tree” in reality, since it can already be seen –weather permitting- at a distance of 50 kilometers from IJsselstein.