While Ruud Besems ended up on the couch with a Whopper on his lap between an Ikea visit and birthday troubles, a conversation rolled out that you can safely label as historic for the European koi hobby. What started as a casual chat between two old acquaintances – Ruud and myself – degenerated into an in-depth exploration of a revolution in the jury world of Nishikigoi. What follows is a conversation that reads like a boy’s book. It’s all about APKI Europe: an innovative jury training, supported by experience, vision and – above all – guts.
The old world is creaking
The koi world, once a vibrant community full of passion, has become ossified in parts. Ruud and his partner-in-crime Ronald Stam – both active as judges within the ZNA circuit for many years – saw it happen up close.
“Every time you came up with something new, it was immediately put down,” says Ruud. “As if originality was a threat.”
The established organizations, however valuable their history is, have relied too long on old hierarchies, fixed rules and a certain complacency. While the world is changing, new generations are emerging and transparency is becoming increasingly important, the threshold to the jury position remains high and the knowledge within a closed bulwark.
“We’ve been in the system long enough to understand how it works — and why it doesn’t.”
The rebirth of an ideal
And so the idea arose to do things differently. Radically different. Not as a protest, but as an alternative. From their experience with international judging – including about fifteen times in Asia, nine of which in Indonesia since 2011 – Ruud and Ronald knew exactly where the opportunities lay.
The Indonesian koi organization APKI (All Indonesia Koi Organisation), with an unprecedented reach of 55 chapters and more than 6000 members, turned out to be an unexpected but logical partner. While Japan remains the spiritual home of koi, Indonesia has emerged as a hotbed of development and passion. Every week a show is organized, sometimes even several at the same time – spread over the gigantic archipelago.
“They saw in us the opportunity to increase their influence in Europe. And we saw in them the openness to innovate without dogmas.”
APKI Europe was born.
What makes the programme different
Where other organizations entrench themselves behind formalities, APKI Europe opts for openness. Transparency and accessibility are not slogans, but principles. For example, the training consists of 4 teaching days per year, spread over four years. Four practical half-days, four theoretical half-days – all focused on knowledge, skill and attitude.
The cost? €495 per year (excl. VAT). Affordable – conscious.
The course is basically in Dutch, but the course book and the website are in English. Not out of snobbery, but out of necessity: after all, the ultimate goal is international employability. Because if you want to be sworn in as a full-fledged APKI jury member in Europe, you have to judge one show in Indonesia – as a kind of driving test, judged by local judges.
“We don’t call it a driving for nothing. You walk with an Indonesian team – without Ronald or me – and you show what you’re worth.”
During the training, not only theory about varieties and judging is discussed (together with Joop van Tol), but also ethics. What is expected of a judge, even outside the show? How do you behave online? Can you share your own opinion about a Grand Champion? What if you don’t agree?
“You can say that you liked another fish better. But you don’t call your colleagues cookie bakers. You show respect. Period.”
Judging with your feet in the clay – and in the future
Another innovative aspect is the use of video judging. These are increasingly used at international shows and are useful as a learning tool and as a benchmark for knowledge level. Trainees learn what to look out for in a video, and can assess at home or in a team.
“You get a batch of 25 fish. You watch, you assess, and we discuss the results. We all learn from that.”
The practical training days take place at renowned dealers in the Netherlands, Belgium and possibly Germany. And the public is also invited. Not as a spectator, but as a participant: visitors can classify fish themselves, fill in forms, and defend their choices in front of the trainers and the public.
“We want to take the mystery out of the jury room. The world of judging should not be closed. It has to inspire.”
A system that slides, lives and breathes
One of the most striking innovations that Ruud and Ronald are introducing through APKI Europe is the so-called pass-through system. Instead of the traditional approach – where one fish can win multiple prizes – this system awards each fish a maximum of once.
“If a fish gets a Major Award, the rest moves on,” Ruud explains. “So if a Sanke becomes the Mature Champion, then the number two in the Sanke class suddenly becomes the number one, and so on. That gives more hobbyists the chance to win a prize, and keeps the competition healthy.”
That also demands something from the jury members. Because you not only have to know who is the best, but also how the rest compares to it. And so APKI teaches by default to classify fish up to and including place 7 – not just the top 2 as is often the case with the ZNA. This ranking is also recorded via a smart method: fish are scanned with a barcode, which is linked to their individual bag.
“This way we can see at any time which fish ended up where, and who voted what. The system is transparent and flexible.”
Judging out of the bag – future or taboo?
Another element that APKI brings from Indonesia is the judging of koi in bags – literally. The fish are placed in special transparent bags on tables or gym floors, grouped by variety, with air conditioning in the background. Fast, clear, safe… and for some in the Netherlands ‘unusual’, to say the least.
“We would like to try it here,” says Ruud. “But you know how it goes: then you get the animal welfare argument around your ears.”
Yet in practice, he says, it is not that bad. After all, the fish come from Japan in similar conditions and are sometimes even judged outside in the sun at shows. In Indonesia, the system has crystallized and is fully integrated into the competition format.
Ruud laughs:
“You don’t have to walk 100 meters between the barrels there. As a jury member, you can just stand by type. That works so much more efficiently.”
Indonesia as a mirror of the future
With more than 50 shows a year, thousands of hobbyists, dozens of chapters, and an infrastructure that treats judging as a top sport, Indonesia is currently perhaps the most dynamic koiland in the world. Where in Europe the hobby is aging and stagnating, it is growing rapidly there.
“There is a show every week. Only at Christmas or during Ramadan is it quiet for a while. Sometimes there are even two at the same time – on different islands.”
And it works. The hobby lives, breathes, and innovates. And not least because of the software that is used to digitally record everything – from judging to postponement. Every bag, every fish, every jury report is integrated. This software is not (yet) applicable in the Netherlands, but the ambition to bring this kind of innovation to Europe is beyond doubt.
“We are not against tradition. We are against stagnation.”
A training with content and character
The APKI Europe course is not intended for people who ‘just want to become a jury member’. It is a four-year learning path, designed to form knowledge and character. There are a maximum of ten training places per year, so that personal guidance is guaranteed. Those who register can count on intensive training – in theory and practice.
“From the moment you appear on our website as a trainee, we expect you to behave as a jury member outside the shows as well.”
That means: no online incitement, no foul language, and certainly no public settlements. Physical posture is also discussed: hands in your pocket while judging? Not done. Sunglasses on? Only if the sun is really burning on your retina.
“We teach etiquette. Ronald and I take care of that part. Not because we are so holy, but because we know how important it is.”
Unlike other organizations, APKI Europe also explicitly looks at online behavior. A jury member is an ambassador of the hobby. And therefore also on Facebook, WhatsApp or wherever.
From Grand Champion to educational aftertalk
What happens after the Grand Champion is known? At other organizations, jury members often disappear from the picture – but not at APKI. Ruud and Ronald continue to walk around on the floor, to answer questions, to give explanations, and to offer explanations.
“This can be done centrally – for example at the Grand Champion‘s barrel – but also just individually. We believe that you should remain approachable.”
In this way, they not only want to preserve the magic of judging, but also make it accessible to a wider audience. By providing insight into the why behind a decision, understanding – and appreciation – grows.
And that is not an empty promise. At shows such as Noorderlicht (June 14 in Bakkeveen) and the Tosai Koi Show, APKI judges will be active.
The gate is open: who can register with APKI Europe?
The classic view that a jury member should primarily be an independent, non-commercial enthusiast is getting a fresh reinterpretation at APKI Europe. Here, it is not your profession that counts, but your integrity. Whether you are a grower, dealer, hobbyist or something in between: anyone who wants to learn the trade seriously is welcome.
“Our starting point is: you have to be able to judge objectively,” Ruud explains. ” That means that even if you have a fish swimming at a show yourself, you just take your responsibility and divide your vote fairly.”
APKI relies – just like in Indonesia – on the principle of integrity within a team. By cleverly approaching the composition, individual partiality disappears in the masses.
“Suppose there are fourteen jury members. Then you can vote for your own fish, but you are one vote. If the fish is bad, you will automatically fall through the cracks.”
That may sound utopian, but it works. In Indonesia, the jury corps consists of a mix of hobbyists, traders, growers and specialists. And that benefits the quality.
Between science and vision of the future: where does APKI stand?
Anyone who has ever delved into the differences between the ZNA and Shinkokai knows: one swears by objectivity and technical perfection, the other prefers to look at potential and future value. Where does APKI stand on this spectrum?
Ruud:
“We are right in between. We use objective standards, but do not exclude the artistic or developmental view.”
In practice, however, that difference turns out to be much smaller than often thought. At the big shows – whether in Japan, Indonesia or Europe – the different jury organizations usually choose the same Grand Champion.
“If a fish is really the best, everyone sees it,” says Ruud. “It’s the numbers two to seven where the difference is made.”
That is why APKI trains its judges to look deep into the sub-top. To not only recognize the brilliance, but also to understand why something is just not a champion.
“The Adult Champion is often the most difficult choice,” Ruud smiles. “Only then do you see who really knows what he is doing.”
A tribute to the hobby: the APKI ranking system
In addition to judging itself, APKI also embraces a philosophy that focuses on community building. In Indonesia, shows are not judged separately, but are connected via an annual point system. Traders, hobbyists, and even growers build a reputation based on commitment, performance, and consistency.
“You get points for every prize. Even for seventh place. And those points count in the national ranking.”
That system encourages strategic participation in shows, increases engagement, and creates heroes. Not only the ‘big boys’, but also the local legends.
“You create local heroes,” says Ruud. “And with that, the hobby also gets a face again.”
In the Netherlands and Europe, that is still in the future, but Ruud and Ronald dream out loud. If the structure is in place, the software develops further and the cooperation between shows becomes closer, a European APKI ranking is possible.
“Then we can declare the best hobbyist of the year. Or the most active dealer. Then it comes to life.”
A coat doesn’t say everything, but it does say something
Appearance and representation are also well thought out. The time of strict dress codes and noose compulsion seems to be over, but APKI does want to maintain a certain standard. During judging, guidelines are used, not dogmas.
“A dark blue jacket with a light shirt will do. No clown suit, no sunglasses, no nonchalance. But we are also not going to demand that everyone shows up in school uniform.”
Ruud remembers one of his own jackets: tailor-made, €800, eventually worn four times.
“Then you calculate the kilometers,” he jokes.
The point is clear: representativeness is important – but not more important than approachability.
“We want people to dare to talk to us. Not that they think: oops, there is the jury, I am not allowed to say anything more.”
Study, show and… vacation? The double life of R&R Travel
Finally, the pressing question: if Ruud and Ronald become so busy with APKI, does that mean the end of their famous koi trips under the flag of R&R Travel?
“No,” Ruud laughs. “We want both-and. In fact, maybe we will soon just turn those trips into study trips.”
A few weeks in France, walking at a show, gaining jury experience, learning from international teams – it sounds like the perfect fusion of education and adventure.
“England is more difficult, but France? Sure. And if we are not allowed to judge there, we just walk along in the shadow. Also educational.”
An education with character – and a mission
Anyone who thinks that the jury training of APKI Europe is a non-binding course where you can pick up a certificate after a few Saturday afternoons is wrong. This is a path you walk – with discipline, with curiosity and with respect for the hobby.
“It is not a weekend workshop with a diploma at the end,” Ruud emphasizes. “It’s four years of working on yourself – as an enthusiast and as a jury member.”
The structure of the training
The training consists of eight half-days per year, spread over four years. Every year there are four theory days and four practical days, organized at renowned dealers in the Netherlands, Belgium and possibly Germany. The theory lessons cover labels, judging rules and knowledge of varieties – in collaboration with Joop van Tol. The practical days are hands-on: classifying fish, explaining choices and, above all, learning from each other.
A typical practical moment looks like this: a dealer makes three sets of koi available, each consisting of seven fish in the same class. The students are given a time limit to put these fish in the correct order. The choices are then discussed in class.
And then, the APKI signature:
“We also make it an educational moment for the audience. They can participate, fill in forms, give their opinion – and see how our trainees arrive at their opinion.”
This is not only educational, it is also revolutionary. Never before has the jury training been presented to the outside world so openly.
The big moment: driving in Indonesia
At the end of the training, the inevitable moment follows: the MOT driving show in Indonesia. No fill-in-the-blank exercise, no remote test – but participating in a real juror team, without Ruud or Ronald, under the watchful eye of Indonesian APKI jury members.
“You are judged objectively. Not on your name or origin, but on your skill and your attitude.”
Only when you pass that successfully, you become a sworn APKI Europe jury member. And yes, the costs for travel and accommodation are for your own account. At least, for the time being. Ruud:
“We want to keep expectations realistic. But practice shows that in Indonesia you are often so well cared for that you get more than you would arrange yourself.”
English and Indonesian? Yes, a little
The official language of instruction is English. All handouts, the course book and the website are in English, so that non-Dutch participants can also participate. The course days are – as long as the field of participants allows – in Dutch.
And in Indonesia?
“In any case, we teach you to count to ten in Indonesian,” Ruud laughs. “That’s enough to be able to judge with bags.”
If you think English is a hard requirement, don’t worry.
“You don’t have to be a fluent academic. As long as you can save yourself. And in a team, we always make sure that at least one jury member speaks English.”
The bigger mission: saving the hobby
The conversation with Ruud could have ended in many ways. But in the end, everything comes back to one common thread: love for the hobby.
“We don’t do this to be tough. We do this because the hobby needs new oxygen. Because young people no longer get in. Because everything seems too difficult.”
APKI Europe wants to change that. With a programme that is transparent, approachable and well thought-out. With jury members who not only judge fish, but also explain them. And with a system in which the best fish not only wins – but also inspires.
“We don’t need power. We need meaning.”
The first day of training: a flying start in Limburg
On Sunday, April 13, the time had come: the very first official training day of APKI Europe took place in the south of the country. Not all trainees were able to attend the kick-off, but most of the group was there — and showed it.
“It felt like something big was starting,” says Ruud. “We have been working towards this for a long time.”
The morning was all about getting to know each other, basic knowledge and labels. What responsibilities do you have as a jury member? What is the difference between Doitsu and Kinginrin C? And why are some show classes so unfortunate named? It was fascinating and interactive — and thanks to a well-organized lunch including Limburg flan, also tasty.
But the real fireworks came in the afternoon, during the first practical exercise. Where Ruud and Ronald counted on two barrels with seven koi each, Bas had secretly set the bar a lot higher. Nine barrels. Multiple sets. And — to everyone’s surprise — some koi that were deliberately placed in the wrong class. It became a playful but educational puzzle in which students had to discover for themselves which fish were ‘lost’.
“That’s exactly how it goes at real shows,” says Ronald. “You rarely get a perfectly ordered pond.”
The best moment? When some curious hobbyists came by to have a look — and spontaneously participated. From listening in to talking, from watching to judging. Exactly the kind of interaction that APKI Europe has in mind: open, educational and inviting.
“What we saw was not a drill. It was the hobby, as it was meant to be.”
Next stop: Belgium – a live exercise between the champions
After the successful first day of training, the next milestone is already planned: the Belgian Koi Show on Saturday 10 May. Here, APKI Europe trainees are given a unique opportunity to further hone their skills — this time in the midst of the real thing. Even before the official winners are announced, they will consider the prestigious Grand and Supreme Champion awards in the Go Sanke, Melati and Anggrek groups.
“It’s not a simulation — it’s reality, with the pressure of the moment and the beauty of top-level koi,” says Ruud.
The Belgian Koi Show is known for its high quality and international allure, with participants from Belgium, the Netherlands and France. And the best part? Hobbyists who are not (yet) APKI trainees can also participate in this educational exercise. An email to info@apki-europe.eu is sufficient.
In short: a unique opportunity to experience for yourself what it is like to judge champion fish — without the spotlight, but with the content.
A change of course with impact
The establishment of APKI Europe is a powerful signal. A signal that the European koi world is allowed to reinvent itself. That transparency, ethics and education do not have to be at odds with tradition. That innovation also carries love for the old – but without the rigid.
And that two rebellious Dutchmen with a mission and a backpack full of experience can provide something that benefits the whole hobby.
📍 Practical information
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Name of course: APKI Europe Jury Course
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Duration: 4 years
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Costs: €495 per year (excl. VAT)
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Language: English/ Dutch
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Location practical days: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
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Conditions for swearing-in: 1 official judging in Indonesia
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Number of training places: max. 10 per year
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Open to: hobbyists, dealers, growers
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More info: APKI Europe
