World’s tallest Kerstboom skips 2011 season after fire

IJSSELSTEIN – The sponsors of the world’s tallest Christmas tree have been unable to realize a 2011 edition on account of the July fire in the Gerbrandijtoren near this central Dutch community. The 366-meter transmission tower sustained serious fire damage and was knocked out of service. Efforts at rebuilding experienced more delays than anticipated, hence a last minute decision to call off work on installing lights on the balancing cables that stabilize the transmission mast atop the tower. For years, people could see the Kerstboom from far and wide. The tall tower was named after the WWII-time Dutch Prime-Minister, who served nearly his entire term in exile in London. A fierce looking man who sported giant whiskers, Peter Sjoerds Gerbrandy was of a small stature, if not the shortest of all Dutch PMs to date.