BSN Unveils Plaque For Peace Tree At Senior School Voorschoten

On 7 May, we were honoured to welcome a number of guests for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the planting of the school’s Hiroshima Peace Tree in the Senior School Voorschoten (SSV) Eco Garden.

Among those in attendance were His Excellency Rokuichiro Michii, Ambassador of Japan to the Netherlands, Voorschoten Mayor Nadine Stemerdink, Dr Rinny Kooi from the Green Legacy Hiroshima initiative, EPO Vice-President for the Patent Granting Process Steve Rowan, and Marcus Stevenson of the British Embassy The Hague, alongside other invited guests. They were joined by BSN CEO Louise Simpson, SSV Headteacher Patrick Heuff, members of our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and SSV learners.

The Peace Tree, a ginkgo tree grown from a seed of a Hiroshima survivor tree, was planted at SSV in November 2025 as part of the Green Legacy Hiroshima initiative. The international project shares seeds and saplings from trees that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

The ceremony was hosted at SSV’s Boerderij, which was beautifully decorated for the occasion with origami cranes folded by members of our BSN community, including both learners and staff. In Japanese tradition, origami cranes are a symbol of peace, hope and healing. Working together, our community folded 1,000 cranes, creating a ‘Senbazuru’, which is traditionally believed to bring good fortune and is also a symbol for world peace.

Our SSV learners played a central role in the event, with poetry readings and musical performances inspired by themes of peace, remembrance and hope. Their thoughtful contributions helped make the ceremony especially meaningful for all in attendance.

The ceremony provided an opportunity for reflection, while also celebrating the importance of international understanding and global citizenship within the BSN community.

Now standing proudly within the Eco Garden, the Hiroshima Peace Tree continues to serve as a lasting reminder of resilience and international connection. With the commemorative plaque now in place, visitors to the Eco Garden can also learn more about the tree’s story and significance.

We would like to thank all the guests who joined us, as well as the staff and learners who contributed to this special occasion.