20 groups organise a protest party over 800 trees in Antwerp

Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Sunday, Aug 24, 2025, Collectief Ongehoord and 20 groups will protest in Antwerp’s Te Boelaerpark against the removal of over 800 trees in Deurne for tram and street projects, from 2–4 p.m.

As GVA News reported, on Sunday, Aug 24, 2025, Te Boelaerpark in Antwerp will host a protest party led by Collectief Ongehoord, a coalition of around 20 local action groups. The initiative brings together movements such as Extinction Rebellion, Juiste Spoor, Fridays for Future and Grootouders voor het Klimaat, along with several neighbourhood committees. 

“In too many places in Antwerp, trees are being cut down or threatened with being cut down, supposedly to promote progress in construction and redevelopment projects. The inestimable value of these (often mature) trees for the livability of our city is still too often forgotten,”

writes Collectief Ongehoord on Facebook.

What will Antwerp citizens and 20 groups do with over 800 trees?

The protest will be held in Te Boelaerpark in Antwerp. The organisers say the choice is not random. They point to the planned tram loop in Deurne as proof that green areas in the city remain vulnerable. The park is well known for its tall trees. By gathering there, the groups want to show that even long-standing green zones can be placed at risk when new projects are approved.

The protest will run on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The programme includes speeches from campaigners and guest speakers. Music and poetry will also be performed to support the call for change. The organisers say the mix of art and activism will highlight their demand to protect existing trees. They stress that new plantings cannot quickly replace the value of mature trees that are now being lost.

Tree felling started in Deurne, Antwerp, on August 18, 2025, for the building of a new tram loop and street works. The project includes a tram turnaround, but the removal of trees has led to protests from residents, environmental groups and opposition parties. Demonstrations have taken place since the works began, while an emergency court appeal failed to stop the cutting. 

Police intervened on several occasions, sealing off sections of Drakenhoflaan and taking protesters into custody after they refused to comply with orders to leave the site. Opponents fear damage to the local environment and the loss of green space, while the city argues the tram loop is needed for future development.