How to recycle your Christmas tree in the Netherlands

The holiday season has brought joy, laughter, and – if you have a real Christmas tree – the sweet scent of pine into our homes. As the festivities wind down, it’s time to say goodbye to your beloved Christmas tree. As you're supposed to recycle it in the Netherlands, many municipalities have a pick-up scheme where you can get rid of your tree. 

Remove lights and decorations

Before recycling your tree, ensure it’s stripped of all decorations, including lights, ornaments, tinsel, and any other non-biodegradable items. Remove the pot or stand as well, as these can interfere with the recycling process.

Find a local collection point

Many municipalities in the Netherlands organize special collections for Christmas trees after New Year's Day. Check your local municipality below or contact them directly to find out the designated collection dates and points. Often, there are specific days allocated for picking up old Christmas trees to be recycled.

• Amersfoort
  On Friday, January 9, and Saturday, January 10, you can drop off your Christmas tree at a collection site in the neighborhood. Can't deliver your Christmas tree yourself? Give it to children who collect Christmas trees and earn pocket money. 
  
  
• Amsterdam
  Drop off your Christmas tree at one of the 2.300 drop-off locations between December 29 and January 18, 2026. Find the locations on the website of the municipality of Amsterdam.
  
  
• Arnhem
  PreZero collects Christmas trees in the second and third week of January. Check the digital waste calendar to find the day they will visit your street. Put your tree next to the nearest collection container. You can also take your Christmas tree to the waste disposal station at Beijerinckweg 9a or De Overmaat 17 yourself.
  
  
• Capelle aan den IJssel 
  In Capelle aan den IJssel, you can drop off your Christmas tree on January 3, 2026. You can do this at several collection points. You can recognize a Christmas tree collection point by the Christmas tree template on the ground and a yellow sign. 
  
  
• Delft
  From December 27 until January 12, 2026, you can put your Christmas tree next to the underground containers. Place it next to the metal plate, so the container can still be emptied. The municipality will pick it up. 
   
• Den Bosch 
  In Den Bosch, you can dispose of your Christmas tree in the week of January 5, 2026. Christmas trees can be placed next to the underground container. Put it outside before 7:00.
  
  
• Den Haag
  Put your Christmas tree on the curb during one of the collection days between January 5 and January 15, 2026. The municipality will come by once a week. Place it outside before 7:45.
  
  In some parts of Den Haag, they have a collection campaign, especially for children: ‘Verloot je boompje’. Children get a ticket and stickers, with which they can win prizes. 
  
  
• Diemen
  In Diemen, you can drop off your Christmas tree at the recycling square (Recycleplein) or one of the other collection points. The recycling square is open from January 2 to January 5, and on January 9 and January 10. 
  
  
• Dordrecht
  Dordrecht has many places where you can drop off your Christmas tree. You can do this on January 2 between 11:00 and 16:00 and on January 7 between 11:00 and 16:00. Would you like to turn in your Christmas tree after Wednesday, January 7? Then you can bring your tree to the Dordrecht waste disposal station at Baanhoekweg 8-12.
  
  
• Eindhoven
  Cure will pick up Christmas trees on January 11, 2026, between 10:00 and 16:00. There are several collection points in every neighborhood.
  
  
• Groningen
  In Groningen, they will pick up Christmas trees that are placed next to the underground containers. Don’t place it on the metal plate, but next to it. 
  
  
• Haarlem
  The municipality of Haarlem organizes a Christmas tree collection campaign. You can bring your Christmas tree to the collection point on January 7 and January 14, 2026, between 13:30 and 17:00. Children up to 15 years old get €0,50 for each tree and a ticket. With this ticket, they get a shot at one of the gift cards.
  
  
• Helmond
  The municipality of Helmond comes to fetch your Christmas tree between January 6 and January 10. You can place it on the curb in front of your home.
  
  
• Leiden 
  The municipality of Leiden will collect Christmas trees in the new year. Each neighborhood has its own collection day. On that day, you can put your Christmas tree out on the street.
  
  
• Maarssen
  From January 7, 2026, the municipality will collect your Christmas tree on collection days. On these days, the municipality will collect Christmas trees separately from other trash. Place your Christmas tree outside before 8:00 on the collection day. This can be done at the normal drop-off location for your garbage. On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, there will be special drop-off points at 25 locations in the municipality where children up to the age of 16 can turn in their old Christmas trees. For each tree handed in, they will receive a compensation of €1.
  
  
• Maastricht
  In January, you can put your Christmas tree outside at the curb of the street, together with your organic waste. They collect it on the regular collection days. You can also bring your Christmas tree to one of the tree waste disposal stations in Maastricht.
  
  
• Nieuwegein
  Cleaning company Midden Nederland (RMN) will start collecting Christmas trees after January 6. Put your Christmas tree at least 5 meters from the underground container, before 7:30 in the morning. You can also take your Christmas tree to the waste disposal station yourself.
  
  
• Nijmegen
  In Nijmegen, the company Dar picks up old Christmas trees. Put it next to the underground container. You can also bring your Christmas tree for free to the waste disposal station.
  
  
• Rijswijk
  You can put your Christmas tree next to the underground container from January 5 to January 14, 2026. Don’t put it on the metal plate. The municipality’s cleaning service collects these Christmas trees from Monday to Friday.
  
  
• Rotterdam
  Get rid of your Christmas tree from December 27 to January 31, 2026. You can put it next to an underground container, or you can take it to one of the collection points in the city. You can also take it to one of the sports and playground places that have signed up. Here, you can donate the €0,50 you receive to the place you bring it to.
  
  
• Sittard
  RWM will pick up old Christmas trees in Sittard in January. You can check the digital waste calendar to see when they will pass by your home. You can put your Christmas tree on the curb in front of your home.
  
  
• Tilburg
  You can place your Christmas tree at the curb of your street from January 7 to January 13, 2026. Put it there before 8:00 in the morning. The municipality’s cleaning company will come by and collect it. You can also bring your waste disposal station yourself for free.
  
  
• Utrecht
  The municipality of Utrecht picks up the trees at Christmas tree collection points several times a week. You do not have to put the tree down before a certain time. You will recognize the points by prominent banners that say 'Kerstboom inzamelpunt'.
  
  
• Zeist
  Cleaning company Midden Nederland (RMN) will start collecting Christmas trees after January 6, 2026. Put your Christmas tree at least 5 meters from the underground container, before 7:30 in the morning. You can also take your Christmas tree to the waste disposal station yourself.
  
  
• Zoetermeer
  Christmas trees are collected in Zoetermeer on January 10. Bring it to one of the collection points, and you'll have a chance at prizes. 

Is your city missing from this overview? Your municipality’s website might have more information about the collection of used Christmas trees.