Salix pentandra L. occurs in the Netherlands predominantly in the Drenthe district and adjacent parts of the Haff district in Northwest Overijssel. On the Wadden islands Schiermonnikoog and Terschelling 5. pentandra is a differentiating species of the shrub community Salicetum pentandro-arenariae. In the provinces of Drenthe and Overijssel S. pentandra is a differentiating species of the Alnion glutinosae with respect to all other forest classes, and a differentiating species of the shrub community Salicetum pentandro-cinereae. Concentrations of seedlings of S. pentandra were almost exclusively found in rather open vegetation on wet, acid soils poor in nitrogen. In Drenthe young 5. pentandra was found in stands of tall herbs, phytosociologically related to the Filipendulion. In Northwest Overijssel seedlings were mostly confined to stands of vegetation which could be assigned to the Caricion curto-nigrae.