In conversation with chairmen Ben Smit (Koi2000), Dirk de Witte (Belgian Koi Society), Theo de Vliegh (Koi Cave) and Patrick Beld, European Koi Show (Koi Club Nederland)
A new name and growth
The European Koi Show has just changed its name. Now that Germany’s Interkoi is no more, they have taken over all the barrels and expect some growth. They have already more or less promised the community that they want to grow to 100 match vessels by 2025. It is very annoying then for Patrick Beld and his mates, who have been organizing the show for more than a decade in the eastern part of the Netherlands, to learn that the KoiCave, the youngest koi association in the Netherlands, will hold their Koi Show next year on the same date; on the weekend of May 25/26, 2025.
A challenging situation
“If that’s the way it is, it’s no different. Just too bad they’re going to sit at the same time as us,” Patrick Beld said. We are blessed with it; Koi Shows. Hey, just look at Germany, a Koi-loving country, bigger and also with more money involved, yet where there is no support anymore to keep a healthy Koi Show afloat.
Man, how much I enjoyed going to Berlin and Kalkar and before that Rheinberg. At the latter location, I even met my wife-to-be there 12 years ago. Me as a journalist, her as a koi dealer; but that’s a story for another time.
Communication and collaboration
Theo de Vliegh, president of the KoiCave, indicated to me in an interview on the Sunday of the European Koi Show in Oldenzaal that they assumed that they would work it out together and that they both understood that it would not be good for the hobby to schedule both their shows on the same date. A little too optimistic in hindsight, De Vliegh writes to me a day later.
Decisions and consequences
In an interview, he said that despite the commitment during the show in Oldenzaal to look at it together, on the following Tuesday it was simply decided that the Euregio would keep the date they had already communicated at their own show, with a banner as well. When asked, Patrick Beld indicated that they are right on an event site where numerous other events are held each week. “We’ve been doing this for over a decade huh.”
Practical considerations
They have shifted in the past to accommodate the then Koi Show of Koi2000, for example, and with a new Koi Show Noorderlicht coming up in June, they don’t think it’s wise to shift further forward either. “Maybe we don’t bite each other in terms of exhibitors. Visitors might be trickier. They have to choose now or one day to Cave and other day to Oldenzaal.”
Seasonal factors
Theo initially indicated that for them, too, the date has to do mostly with their location, because that’s when the topiary trees are at their best and in June the nursery has to start selling. Inquiring further, Theo is particularly annoyed that a consultation did not take place. “Then we have our backs against the wall. My position is that I am certainly mindful of the general interest of our hobby, but I cannot subordinate the interest of our association.”
Belgian Koi Show and Koi2000
At the same time, a message appears on Facebook that the Belgian ZNA Koi Show, which was jointly organized by the Belgian Koi Society and Koi2000, is discontinuing their collaboration as both their visions are too far apart. I spoke to both Ben Smit (Koi2000) who speaks as a board member on behalf of the president and the full board about the situation as well as Dirk de Witte (Belgian Koi Society) about the issue. The goal has been achieved, Ben indicates. “We wanted, especially when we then hold the Koi Show in Belgium and want to get the people from the Netherlands there, to put on the best show in Europe in terms of quality. We can be proud that we succeeded.”
Different views
“The organization around a Koi Show with two clubs can strengthen each other, but of course it also produces different ideas about how to handle things and where to prioritize. Nothing else bad happened there, but we just think so differently about the use of volunteers and how the finances around a Koi Show should be arranged.”
Future plans
Dirk gave the same answer. “We think differently in that how you deal with something like that and furthermore it is not so obvious to report on this. Next year we will just have another BKS. Note: our date is Easter next year and the hall in Affligem is not free for the rest. I am going to look at another hall tonight, if it is not good it will probably be back Merelbeke for 1.”
Ben also honestly states that they do not immediately feel the call to then organize another Koi Show themselves. It goes to them that the hobby as a whole is doing well, but they are also not ruling anything out at this time. Surely that is a matter for the entire board, and of course we also listen to our members.”
A look to the future
Exactly what the show season looks like next season is not yet entirely clear, and perhaps it need not be negative at all. The fact that there is a need for these events is obviously top notch, and why wouldn’t there be enough support for two Koi Shows? Healthy competition always does the hobby some good somewhere, too, I think. The BKS has its playbook, also agrees Ben, and Koi2000 may be able to focus on something new for the hobby again!
Outlook
The first show now is Koi Show Noorderlicht in Bakkeveen next June 29; looking forward to that!
credits highlighted image: Koi Zanmai
