Quercus Robur - Zomereik

Quercus robur, commonly known as English oak, is a widely cultivated tree which reaches full bloom during summer season. It can grow up to 40 meters high and has a lifespan exceeding 1,000 years. It is often referred to simply as the "common oak”, but often unnoticed. I believe it deserves greater recognition due to its ecological, cultural, and historical significance.

Within Germanic traditions, “Quercus robur” occupied a prominent symbolic position. The tree was believed to connect earth and heaven, while the whispering of its leaves was interpreted as messages from the death. Mature oaks were associated with Thor, God of thunder. Trees were celebrated and protected for multiple reasons. Ribbons were tied to their branches as a ritual to invoke prosperity and protection.

Elements of these traditions still persist in certain locations today. Ribbons and pieces of cloth continue to be attached to oak trees as expressions of personal or religious ritual practices. Selected photographs below reveals a variety of these encountered objects on English Oaks.

This series encourage a renewed appreciation of the English Oak as more than an ordinary woodland species.

2026 - ongoing

Featured in De Standaard “Zomerreeks”