Tree of great sorrow

In the courtyard along Naamsestraat stands a beautiful honey tree or "Sophora japonica." This tree is over 200 years old and was seeded by a clergyman who brought seeds of this species from Japan. Images from the early part of this century show that the tree was then almost twice as large, with its branches reaching up to the facades across the street. Leuven students used to call it the tree of great sorrow. Between 1921 and 1977, the Atrechtcollege was primarily used as a home for female students. The strict discipline that prevailed caused a lot of sorrow for the boys who, at the entrance, near the honey tree, saw their beloved out of reach (the girls had to be indoors by 7 PM). Currently, the Atrechtcollege is used by the study advice service. The China-Europe Institute is also located there.

The real name "honey tree" derives from the abundant nectar production that attracts many bees and other insects. This tree is the thickest of its kind in Belgium. The tree was planted in 1812.

Attention is drawn to the spot where the tree stands: close to the street/wall. Either the owner thought the tree would never grow so large, or perhaps precisely the opposite, and that is why he placed it far from his house? In any case, the roots exert great pressure on the wall. It is remarkable that it still looks so straight...

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