The battle for six Elm trees: How one neighbour sparked a local movement

On November 30th, 2025, I sat down with my neighbour, Natalie van Rooy, someone who has called Wijttenbachstraat home for over 20 years. She has watched the elm trees along our street grow taller each season, softening the city’s noise, and giving our neighbourhood its familiar, gentle green rhythm. Now, six of these healthy elms have been marked for removal as part of an upcoming street reconstruction.

For many, this notice might have come and gone without a second thought. But Natalie couldn’t let that decision pass so easily. Feeling that cutting down the trees is unnecessary and harmful to the community, she brought neighbours together and started a crowdfunding campaign to challenge the felling permit and advocate for greener, more transparent choices for our street. In our conversation, she shared her connection to nature, how this initiative grew, and why these six trees carry far more meaning than just trunks and leaves.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a few things about your background?
My name is Natalie van Rooy, and I’ve lived on Wijttenbachstraat since 2003. We love living here, despite the hustle and bustle. I live with my husband, my 17-year-old son, and my two cats. We’ve watched the trees in the street grow over the years. I work as an independent HR consultant and an occupational health and safety expert.

Have you been engaged with environmental activism before?
I’ve been fascinated by nature from a young age, and especially the role of humans, which can be so decisive. I used to make posters myself to warn my neighbors to stop cutting down trees. Later in life, I participated in various protests for nature conservation, and I still do.

When was the first moment you realised the trees in this area were at risk?
When I saw the felling permit the municipality had requested for the six elms on our street. I had already heard about the redevelopment plans and read the brochures and information. The plans had also been discussed extensively in our homeowners’ association. The information provided didn’t clearly indicate that trees were being felled; it was described rather vaguely.

What inspired the idea of starting a crowdfunding campaign instead of other forms of action?
I wanted to involve the neighborhood and ask them to join me in this fight. I knew I wasn’t the only one who didn’t think it was a good idea for these trees to be cut down. I also knew that certain actions, like appealing the decision and creating pamphlets, cost money. By raising money, these actions could be launched more easily.

How have local residents responded so far? Any reactions that surprised you?
Many people have donated, which is incredibly nice. I’ve also received wonderful feedback from neighbours who are eager to help. It creates a sense of community, and I’m getting to know my neighbours better through this initiative - that’s a pleasant bonus. There are so many nice people living on this street.

What will the neighbourhood lose if these trees disappear?
The trees help cool the street in the summer. They also provide shelter and privacy. This will soon be gone if the trees are cut down. The street will become even more barren and gray. Even if new trees are replanted, there will be less greenery in the street. The new trees are much smaller, and it takes decades for them to reach full size.

It’s better if residents can choose from various proposals and are actively involved so that clear choices and considerations can be made

What systemic changes do you believe are needed to prevent situations like this in the future?
It’s important that residents are involved in redevelopment plans early on. This isn’t just done after the plans are finalised, with information meetings organised for appearances’ sake. As a resident, you have less to say or an opportunity to adjust things. It’s better if residents can choose from various proposals and are actively involved so that clear choices and considerations can be made.

I walked away from our conversation with a warm heart, feeling grateful about how much we both care for the place we live. When we stay connected to our surroundings, the city becomes more than scenery; it becomes the ground where community grows.