In the heart of Amsterdam, a street of breathtaking beauty holds a dark and unbelievable secret. A leafy green tunnel, celebrated by photographers and adored by locals, forms a perfect archway over the historic homes of Lomanstraat. Most believe this natural cathedral is a simple quirk of nature.
But an old, whispered story suggests a more sinister reason for its survival, a tale of wartime desperation, chilling fear, and the unlikely protection offered by the very presence of Nazi officers. Believe it or not, this fairytale street may owe its existence to the darkest chapter of the 20th century.
A Tunnel of Green
Tucked away in Amsterdam’s charming Oud-Zuid district, Lomanstraat is a true spectacle. For the length of the street, majestic London plane trees planted more than a hundred years ago lean dramatically towards each other. Their branches interlock high above the road, creating a magical, enclosed canopy.
In spring and summer, dappled sunlight filters through a ceiling of lush green leaves. In autumn, the tunnel transforms into a brilliant archway of gold. Even in the starkness of winter, the web of bare branches creates a quiet, elegant beauty against the sky. It is a peaceful retreat from the bustling city, a living sculpture that seems to have sprung from a fantasy novel.
The Official Story
Ask a city planner or a tree expert, and they will give you a perfectly logical explanation for this marvel. An article celebrating the street claims its formation was a complete accident. A certified tree inspector who studied the area supports this view, stating that the trees simply grew towards the light. Trapped between tall brick townhouses, the trees naturally stretched towards the brightest spot, the open sky at the centre of the road.
Over decades, this slow and steady reach for the sun caused them to bend and meet, forming the tunnel we see today. Experts have even checked the roots and confirmed the trees are perfectly stable. It is a simple, scientific, and believable story of nature adapting to its urban home. But it might not be the whole story.
A Secret History
According to a story passed down through generations, the tunnel was no accident at all. A long-time resident shared a tale their grandmother told them, a tale that turns the simple explanation on its head. She claimed that before the Second World War, it was a common practice for city gardeners to guide and shape young trees, creating artistic and dramatic avenues.
Lomanstraat, according to her, was one of many such streets, its trees intentionally trained to form a perfect arch. This alone makes the street a rare survivor of a forgotten art, but the reason for its survival is where the story takes a chilling turn.
Saved by Fear
During the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, the city faced grim times. The winters were harsh, and fuel was dangerously scarce. Desperate for firewood, citizens began cutting down the beautiful trees that lined their streets and parks. Dozens of avenues, potentially including others shaped like Lomanstraat, were stripped bare, their trees turned to ash to keep families warm.
Yet, the trees of Lomanstraat remained untouched. No one dared bring an axe or a saw to this particular street. Why? Because, as the old story goes, it was where high-ranking Nazi officers had chosen to live. One resident even remembered hearing that a senior SS officer occupied a house at the end of the street. The constant presence of these officials cast a shadow of fear over the neighbourhood. People were too terrified to risk drawing attention to themselves by cutting down trees right outside the homes of the occupiers.
And so, while other parts of Amsterdam lost their green canopy, fear unknowingly acted as the guardian of Lomanstraat. The trees were saved not by admiration, but by terror. Today, this leaves us with an incredible question. Is this beloved spot a miracle of nature, or is it a beautiful relic preserved by an ugly and unbelievable twist of history?
