Traditionally, AquaZoo Leeuwarden takes back Christmas trees after the holidays

As soon as the holidays are over, regular visitors to AquaZoo and residents of the villages and towns around the park now know what is coming. At the zoo in Leeuwarden, people can hand in their Christmas tree with root ball for a free ticket. This time, collection can take place on Friday 3 January between 10:00 AM and 03:00 PM at the car park of AquaZoo Leeuwarden. In this way, the park is trying to prevent people from putting their Christmas trees in the bulky waste, thus promoting a piece of sustainability.

‘It takes years before a Christmas tree is sufficiently grown for sale,’ explains Jeroen Loomeijer, General Manager of AquaZoo Leeuwarden. ‘Then people buy a tree, put it in the house for a few weeks during the dark month of December and then throw the tree away. This is of course a shame, as there are many places where these trees can get a good second chance. One of these places is our zoo, where trees have been taken for several years and planted in (new) areas, such as last year in the recently opened Churchill area. This year, they will again be planted in various places in the park,’ Loomeijer said.

‘Or they are used as enrichment for some animal species,’ adds Head of Animal Care William Kreijkes. ‘In previous years, for example, the trees have been used as enrichment for the tigers and polar bears, among others.’

Martine de Lange, responsible for park maintenance at AquaZoo, is already looking forward to it. ‘It is a celebration every year when the trees are handed in en masse. We make people happy with a free ticket and are ourselves busy planting the trees in the first weeks of the new year.’

Win a half-day with a zookeeper at AquaZoo!

Do you have the tallest tree? When the Christmas trees are handed in, each tree is measured, the height of the tree is noted and you can leave your details. Who knows, maybe you'll soon be joining one of our zookeepers!

Of course, there are some conditions attached to handing in:

  • Hand-in day Friday 3 January 2025 (park closed on Wednesday 1 January 2025);

  • Time between 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM;

  • Christmas tree must have a root ball;

  • Christmas tree must be viable (no brown branches, etc.);

  • Minimum length of Christmas tree: 1.5 metres;

  • No remnants of artificial snow, glitter, etc.;

  • 1 Christmas tree = 1 free ticket to AquaZoo;

  • Maximum 1 Christmas tree / free ticket per person;

  • Validity of free ticket: until 14 February 2025;

  • Free tickets cannot be exchanged for cash.