anne frank tree in better days
We write 2010. After 170 years the famous chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) located next to the Anne Frank House at the Prinsengracht in the Netherlands is gone.
Anne Frank mentions the tree three times in her dairy “The Dairy of Anne Frank”, translated in many languages around the world.
The tree that saw everything
Due to strong gale winds or maby a downburst the massive tree “that saw everything” at august 23 the tree crased onto a part a a real-estate agency located near the Anne Frank House garden. No personal injuries were reported. The foundation Anne Frank Tree was depressed by the incident and will try to get back some of the costs for restauration of the tree in 2007.
anne frank tree down
In 2007 there was a national discussion about the state of the tree as it was affected by an agressive fungus (Ganoderma applanatum or “Artist’s Conk”) which rotted the wood and undermined the tree’s stability. Since then a metal support helped the old tree to survive heavy storms.
Athough this has cost over 100,000 euro it did not do what is meant to do: support the Anne frank tree for the next 25 years.
Baby
Nice for later: In 2008 a small spout of the famous tree has been grown up in a greenhouse so in some months the Anne Frank Tree will be there again, or her daughter.