Christmas tree producers across Belgium are raising urgent concerns as thefts intensify just weeks before the festive season. What began as an occasional nuisance has grown into a costly recurring problem, hitting growers during their busiest period of the year.
A recent report by RTBF highlights the mounting pressure on producers in the province of Namur. Among those affected is John Renier, who operates a 6,000-tree plantation in Floreffe. Renier has already recorded six stolen trees this year, a loss he estimates at around €2,000.
Renier explains that thieves are cutting mature trees directly from the parcel, sometimes sawing trunks just 50 centimetres above the ground before carrying them away. For growers, every stolen tree represents up to 15 years of cultivation. Last year alone, Renier counted 27 missing trees, a trend that has pushed him to consider night patrols despite the increased workload.
The situation is no different in Bièvre, where another prominent grower, Benjamin Gosse, sells roughly 10,000 trees each season. He says theft is far from a new issue but has become noticeably more frequent in recent years. According to Gosse, the culprits usually arrive in small vans, taking five or six trees at a time.
Gosse stresses that he has never found evidence of an organised criminal network. Instead, the thefts appear to be carried out by individuals seeking to avoid the rising retail price of natural Christmas trees. However, the effect on producers is significant enough to prompt new security measures.
To discourage intruders, Gosse has installed barriers and surveillance cameras at his plantation’s main access points. But he warns that fully protecting the entire area would require substantial investment. The cost of securing hectares of open farmland would ultimately be reflected in higher consumer prices, placing further strain on the market.
Producers fear that if thefts continue to rise, the combined losses and increased security costs could threaten their livelihoods. Many plantations operate on tight margins, and the theft of even a few dozen trees can upset the economics of the season.
Industry representatives argue that growers in rural regions need more support from local authorities. With limited patrol coverage in agricultural areas, producers say they are left vulnerable during the weeks when trees are most valuable. Some growers have suggested coordinated patrols or seasonal monitoring to help deter offenders.
Demand for natural Christmas trees remains strong across Belgium, with many families preferring the authenticity and scent of real firs. But the growing problem of theft risks disrupting supply and undermining consumer confidence. For producers like Renier and Gosse, the festive season is increasingly overshadowed by the need to safeguard their plantations.
As Belgium enters the final countdown to Christmas, growers hope that heightened awareness and better cooperation with authorities will help stem the seasonal wave of thefts. Until then, many remain on alert—protecting not just their trees, but years of hard work.
