The Tree That Saw It All, Remarkable tree in Bijlmermeer, Netherlands
The Tree That Saw It All is a grey poplar displaying distinctive eye-shaped markings on its trunk, located in the Bijlmermeer district. It stands as a natural memorial among residential buildings in Amsterdam's southeastern area.
The poplar survived the crash of El Al Flight 1862 on October 4, 1992, when a cargo aircraft struck nearby apartment buildings. This event reshaped the neighborhood and made the tree a symbol of resilience.
The tree forms part of Het Groeiend Monument, where residents gather each year to remember those who died in the 1992 aviation disaster. This annual gathering has made it a place where people share memory and loss together.
The tree is accessible by metro to Kraaiennest station and sits among residential buildings in southeastern Amsterdam. It is an open, easily accessible spot that can be visited during daylight hours.
Two support cables connect the tree to neighboring trees because it lost much of its root system during soil remediation work. This support structure shows how the tree is actively kept alive.
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