There are many places where you would expect to find the biggest Christmas tree - New York, Paris, London...? But no: the world's largest free-standing tree was lit on November 24 in Dortmund.
To mark the start of the Dortmund Christmas market, the city in the Ruhr region set a shining example: The world's largest Christmas tree, according to the organizers, was switched on for the first time this season and bathed Hansaplatz in a sparkling sea of lights.
The gigantic construction is not so much a single tree as a work of art made of wood and technology. Around 1,200 red spruce trees are joined together to form the 45-meter-high structure, which weighs around 40 tons in total. Four weeks were spent building, screwing and decorating until everything was in place. At the top is a four-meter angel - larger than most Christmas trees that create a festive atmosphere in private living rooms.
A total of 138,000 LED lamps, which gradually lit up on the evening of the market opening, ensure a radiant appearance. As soon as it was lit up, the tree immediately became a popular photo motif for the many visitors at the opening of the Christmas market. From November 20 to December 30, 2025, an approximately two-minute light show will take place at 5 p.m., and will be repeated every hour until the evening hours.
The monumental tree has been an integral part of the Advent season in Dortmund since 1996. The idea came from Werner Basselmann, whereas the company "C. O. Weise GmbH & Co. KG" was responsible for the construction. The company "MK Illumination", which had already illuminated Christmas trees in front of the New York Palace in the USA, the Place du Casino in Monaco and the Festa Luce in Japan, was responsible for the lighting concept.
