02/11/2026
Tree protection was already written into Koningshof’s property deeds in 1926. A century later, its mature trees face a new challenge: major infrastructure works. 🌳
Growing up, Koningshof was practically my backyard. This summer, I returned as a tree consultant to assess the street trees ahead of the planned works.
These trees do much more than give this historic neighbourhood its character.
They provide welcome cooling during hot summers, help reduce surface runoff during heavy rainfall and support biodiversity. Some even contain valuable habitats that have taken decades to develop.
Installing new sewers is necessary. But working among mature trees requires careful planning, especially when their root systems extend well beyond the canopy.
Our initial assessment establishes the trees’ current condition and provides the foundation for evaluating how different construction scenarios may affect them.
The challenge Lokaal Bestuur Schoten is not simply to fit new infrastructure between old trees. It is to design and build it in a way that preserves as much of their value as possible.
Because mature trees are already infrastructure. And replacing what they provide takes generations.
