Background

The Anne Frank tree, a white horse-chestnut, stood in one of the courtyards which the Anne Frank House overlooks. During the Second World War Anne Frank was hiding in this house at the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam.

Even in 1993 the tree already appeared to be seriously damaged due to, among others, heavily contaminated soil. Despite efforts to save the tree, it was decided in 2005 that it was no longer safe to leave it there: the tree was now also threatened by an aggressive fungus and the horse-chestnut leaf miner. A felling permit was issued, but end 2008 it was decided to save the tree. Various measures had to prevent the tree from falling down and damage the surrounding buildings.

Activities

The execution of the activities required a crane. Due to the location, surrounded by blocks of houses, it was not as simple as driving a crane into the backyard. That is why Saan’s largest tower crane, the Spierings AT 7, was erected along the Herengracht on 8 April 2010. This crane lifted a Linmac tracked crane over a block of houses and into the courtyard. This very convenient compact tracked crane was utilised for one and a half week. Then the Linmac was removed again by the Spierings AT-7.

Unfortunately, despite all our efforts the tree was blown down at the end of August 2010. Saan then assisted in removing the debris of the enormous chestnut. The tree was sawn in pieces which were lifted over the houses and removed.