Ypres (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A 21-meter recycled-plastic Christmas tree was installed in Ypres Market Square on Nov 24, 2025. It has an 8-meter base, a 5-year contract, and received mixed reactions from residents this holiday season.
As VRT News reported, a new Christmas tree was installed in Ypres’ Market Square this morning, Nov 24, 2025. The tree is 21 meters tall and shaped like a cone. It is made entirely of recycled plastic, replacing the traditional artificial tree that the city usually sets up. Officials say the tree is reusable and more environmentally friendly. It is expected to be one of the largest Christmas trees in the province.
What makes the Ypres 21 m recycled-plastic Christmas tree unique?
According to officials, the tree has a strong base to protect it from the wind. Its diameter measures 8 meters, and it is positioned behind market stalls to reduce the impact of gusts. Ypres has signed a 5-year contract with the company that installed the tree.
Reactions from the public are mixed. Some residents welcome the eco-friendly approach and the tree’s large presence in the square. Others prefer a traditional Christmas tree and feel the plastic design does not feel as festive.
“I think it’s a real asset,”
says one man.
“I think they have a Christmas tree like that in Madrid too,” says another woman. “Which is a cosmopolitan city.”
Other passersby are less impressed:
“It’s certainly big,” says one man, “but other than that, I don’t see anything special about it.”
On 13 November 2025, the city of Ypres announced that its holiday display will feature a 21-metre-high Christmas tree made of recycled plastic. The tree is part of the city’s “Kerst in Ieper” winter program, which runs from November 28, 2025, to January 4, 2026.
Before Ypres, Belgium had not installed a large public Christmas tree made entirely from recycled plastic. Most cities, including Brussels, have traditionally used real trees for their holiday displays.
Some artificial trees made from recycled or plastic materials are sold in stores, but they are small and not public landmarks. In the past, a few cities placed artistic or abstract trees in squares, like the steel-framed tree in Brussels in 2012, but none were made entirely from recycled plastic on a large scale.
