{"id":69963,"date":"2025-07-11T08:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T06:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/bruno-doedens-fietst-5-000-kilometer-door-europa-met-een-boom\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T14:58:30","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T12:58:30","slug":"bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

\u201cA tree is cycling through Europe\u201d<\/strong>: that\u2019s the name of the new project by landscape artist Bruno Doedens. Together with four other sports enthusiasts and<\/em> a holm oak, he\u2019s cycling through nine countries. Along the way, they\u2019re handing out 5,000 birthday trees. It\u2019s a unique initiative, and Trees for All is proud to be a partner.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

On the road with a 5-metre tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anyone spotting Bruno and his team on the road will likely do a double take. Is that really a tree cycling by? Indeed it is. Alongside some regular bikes, there\u2019s an electric cargo bike carrying a 5-metre Quercus ilex<\/em> (holm oak), plus a few smaller trees. Together, they\u2019re crossing mountains, borders and surprising many onlookers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their route traces an imaginary 5,000-kilometre circle through nine countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France and Belgium. \u201cWe\u2019re getting so many reactions,\u201d Bruno says cheerfully when we catch him during a cycling break. \u201cBeeping drivers, waving children, people cycling along with us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

\u201cWith these birthday trees, we\u2019re giving something back to the Earth.\u201d<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

A tree for your birthday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What makes it extra special: everyone who is \u2013 or soon will be \u2013 celebrating a birthday receives a birthday tree. \u201cThey can plant it along the route,\u201d Bruno explains. \u201cTogether, we\u2019re creating a huge artwork of birthday forests across Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People often ask what the trees cost. \u201cBut we want to behave like nature does: to give more than we take. By giving away birthday trees, we\u2019re giving something back to the Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Holding up a mirror to people<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Trees for All\u2019s mission aligns perfectly with this: we aim to inspire people to live more consciously and to actively contribute to a green future. Just like Bruno, you can do that by giving a birthday tree<\/a>. It\u2019s a gift that makes someone happy and<\/em> helps the climate and biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruno often hears that his approach holds up a mirror to people. \u201cWhen they see a tree on a bike, they ask themselves: how do I<\/em> treat nature? I hope it spurs them into action \u2013 to come up with their own creative ideas.\u201d Because positive stories about nature are badly needed, says the landscape artist.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Circle4Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This bike journey marks the start of Bruno\u2019s larger, multi-year landscape art project Circle4Change<\/em>. The aim is to connect Europeans with nature and with one another. The circle symbolises the Earth and runs from Leeuwarden, European Capital of Culture in 2018, to Nova Gorica-Gorizia, on the border of Italy and Slovenia, the Capital of Culture in 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Challenges along the way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The cycling tree set off from Leeuwarden on Friday 11 April. According to the route map<\/a> on the website, it\u2019s now more than halfway. The journey is expected to finish on 14 September, when the tree will be planted in a place of honour in the Frisian capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be fair, the journey isn\u2019t always easy. Plenty has gone wrong: flat tyres, broken brakes, dead batteries. \u201cThe muscle aches aren\u2019t too bad, but it\u2019s tiring to stay so alert. The tree bumps along pothole-filled roads, its branches brushing against others. A holm oak isn\u2019t really meant to cycle 5,000 kilometres, but it\u2019s for a good cause.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Unexpected encounters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Their days are packed: they often cycle around 70 kilometres, and in the evenings they update social media, write the travel log, contact local and international media, book overnight stays, or plan meetings with mayors or organisations en route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the most special moments? Those are the unexpected encounters with passers-by. \u201cWe call them \u2018TOs\u2019: \u2018harvesting coincidences\u2019. We have a leaflet in every language. If someone peers over a hedge, we hand it to them \u2013 and before we know it, we\u2019re drinking tea in their garden. Or being offered a beer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Trees for All’s contribution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To make the journey possible, a crowdfunding campaign<\/a> was launched. In addition, Circle4Change<\/em> is working with project partners such as Trees for All. Thanks to a contribution from our donor Hotels for Trees, we can plant 5,000 native trees along the route. \u201cThat\u2019s one tree per kilometre,\u201d Bruno explains. \u201cIncredibly valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotels for Trees<\/a> is supported by hotels across Europe. For each guest who skips interim room cleaning, the hotels donate a tree. This helps to reduce CO\u2082 emissions and encourages sustainable travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Future plan: a forest on wheels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From now on, Bruno wants to organise an event on or along the circle route every three years. For 2028, he\u2019s imagining a whole forest cycling the circle route in six months. \u201cAnd how great would it be if the route became a pilgrimage trail? That every European would say: \u2018Have you done the Circle4Change on foot or by bike yet?\u2019\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Your own birthday tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Would you like to plant or give a birthday tree yourself? You can do so via our website<\/a>. Or click here<\/a> to give a tree as a company<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n Gift a tree<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":69573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree - Trees for All<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With a 5-metre holm oak, landscape artist Bruno Doedens is cycling through 9 countries. Along the way, he\u2019s handing out 5,000 birthday trees. A unique initiative proudly supported by Trees for All.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree - Trees for All\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With a 5-metre holm oak, landscape artist Bruno Doedens is cycling through 9 countries. Along the way, he\u2019s handing out 5,000 birthday trees. A unique initiative proudly supported by Trees for All.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Trees for All\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-11T06:01:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-16T12:58:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/C4C_Er-fietst-een-boom-door-Europa-_-H.R_By-Floris-Leeuwenberg-32-kopie-3-1024x683.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elaine Fleur\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Elaine Fleur\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/\",\"name\":\"Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree - Trees for All\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/C4C_Er-fietst-een-boom-door-Europa-_-H.R_By-Floris-Leeuwenberg-32-kopie-3-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-11T06:01:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-16T12:58:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#\/schema\/person\/b16516a7a122bd5a9afb2c6566acc2a2\"},\"description\":\"With a 5-metre holm oak, landscape artist Bruno Doedens is cycling through 9 countries. Along the way, he\u2019s handing out 5,000 birthday trees. A unique initiative proudly supported by Trees for All.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/C4C_Er-fietst-een-boom-door-Europa-_-H.R_By-Floris-Leeuwenberg-32-kopie-3-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/C4C_Er-fietst-een-boom-door-Europa-_-H.R_By-Floris-Leeuwenberg-32-kopie-3-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1067},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/\",\"name\":\"Trees for All\",\"description\":\"Bomen planten en CO2 compenseren vanaf \u20ac 10\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#\/schema\/person\/b16516a7a122bd5a9afb2c6566acc2a2\",\"name\":\"Elaine Fleur\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5b6331ee69f12133e45664fb3fe0d6e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5b6331ee69f12133e45664fb3fe0d6e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Elaine Fleur\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree - Trees for All","description":"With a 5-metre holm oak, landscape artist Bruno Doedens is cycling through 9 countries. Along the way, he\u2019s handing out 5,000 birthday trees. A unique initiative proudly supported by Trees for All.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree - Trees for All","og_description":"With a 5-metre holm oak, landscape artist Bruno Doedens is cycling through 9 countries. Along the way, he\u2019s handing out 5,000 birthday trees. A unique initiative proudly supported by Trees for All.","og_url":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/","og_site_name":"Trees for All","article_published_time":"2025-07-11T06:01:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-16T12:58:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":683,"url":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/C4C_Er-fietst-een-boom-door-Europa-_-H.R_By-Floris-Leeuwenberg-32-kopie-3-1024x683.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Elaine Fleur","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Elaine Fleur","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/","url":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/","name":"Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree - Trees for All","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/C4C_Er-fietst-een-boom-door-Europa-_-H.R_By-Floris-Leeuwenberg-32-kopie-3-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2025-07-11T06:01:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-16T12:58:30+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#\/schema\/person\/b16516a7a122bd5a9afb2c6566acc2a2"},"description":"With a 5-metre holm oak, landscape artist Bruno Doedens is cycling through 9 countries. Along the way, he\u2019s handing out 5,000 birthday trees. A unique initiative proudly supported by Trees for All.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/C4C_Er-fietst-een-boom-door-Europa-_-H.R_By-Floris-Leeuwenberg-32-kopie-3-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/C4C_Er-fietst-een-boom-door-Europa-_-H.R_By-Floris-Leeuwenberg-32-kopie-3-scaled.jpg","width":1600,"height":1067},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/bruno-cycles-5000-kilometres-through-europe-with-a-tree\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#website","url":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/","name":"Trees for All","description":"Bomen planten en CO2 compenseren vanaf \u20ac 10","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#\/schema\/person\/b16516a7a122bd5a9afb2c6566acc2a2","name":"Elaine Fleur","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5b6331ee69f12133e45664fb3fe0d6e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5b6331ee69f12133e45664fb3fe0d6e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Elaine Fleur"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69963"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69965,"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69963\/revisions\/69965"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/treesforall.wptest.go2people.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}