The Rag Tree - Overasselt

Right next to the ruins of the Sint Walrick Chapel stands an old oak tree. In its branches hang pieces of fabric, tied there by people who want to leave something behind—usually a worry, a wish, or something they want to let go of. The custom is old and likely dates back to pre-Christian rituals, but it still lives on today.

The tree is also known as the Fever Tree. People used to believe that you could ‘transfer’ illness or fever to it by tying a cloth from the sick person to a branch, walking away, and never looking back. Whether it worked, no one knows, but the idea that a tree can take something from you has remained.

Officially, the tree has no status as a pilgrimage site, but it’s used that way nonetheless. Some visitors come intentionally, others hear about it by chance and join in spontaneously. Whatever the reason, the tree grows along with its visitors.