The Achtzalighedenboom ('Tree of Eight Blessings' or 'Tree of Beatitudes') is a grove den near Rollekensberg in the Lille woods. The tree is known for its whimsical shape. The Tree of Eight Blessings has been a tourist attraction for years.
The tree, named after Christ's eight beatitudes, owes its name to the fact that it originally had eight trunks. It is said that during the war, when a German sawed off a trunk at night with the aim of felling the whole tree for firewood, it caused thunder and lightning of the like which had never been seen before. Frightened by the sudden storm, the German left the rest of the tree untouched. But some prefer another story: the former forest ranger of Wechelderzande caught a couple of nocturnal poachers from the area red-handed. The poachers were sentenced to heavy fines, and to avenge themselves on the forest ranger, they cut down one of the trunks of the Tree of Eight Blessings one dark night. This was because they knew that the forest ranger took great care of this remarkable tree and was very proud of it.
Its exact age cannot be determined with certainty. It was noted, however, that the oldest growth ring on the drill core was formed in 1824. In any case, the tree already received a mention in a 1910 work on Belgium's most remarkable trees.
You can find more stories at the local history circle: www.hklille.be
