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Koi shows in Europe

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: Europe hosts several established nishikigoi shows, including the Holland Koi Show in the Netherlands, the Belgian ZNA Koi Show, and the European Koi Show held at Oldenzaal, as well as show listings maintained for Germany[1][2][3][4].
Several European countries hold annual nishikigoi shows, with the Netherlands and Belgium hosting some of the longest-running events on the continent. The Holland Koi Show, organized by the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland (NVN), is described by its organizers as the largest koi show in the world[5][1]. Belgium stages the Belgian ZNA Koi Show, which its organizers describe as featuring the finest koi from Belgium, the Netherlands, and France judged by an international jury[2].Beyond these flagship events, UK-based judging body Koi Judges UK lists a European Koi Show held in Oldenzaal, the Netherlands, alongside shows across Britain that its members support[3]. Germany maintains a dedicated listings page for koi shows, fairs, and exhibitions in and around the country, though it functions mainly as a calendar resource rather than a single flagship event[4]. Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA), the Japanese koi organization, has chapters in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany, among other countries, reflecting the spread of ZNA-affiliated koi culture across the continent[7].

Belgian ZNA Koi Show and the European Koi Show

The Belgian ZNA Koi Show is held in Belgium and is described by its organizers as showcasing the finest koi from Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, with winners determined by an international jury assessing skin quality, body conformation, and color pattern[2]. In addition to the judged competition, the organizers describe the show as a meeting point for hobbyists, with exhibitors offering filtration equipment, test kits, koi food, bonsai, and pond plants[2].According to Koi Judges UK, which deploys judges to the event, the Belgian ZNA Koi Show took place at Expo Waregem, Zuiderlaan 26, 8790 Waregem, Belgium, with the 2026 edition scheduled for 18 and 19 April and a 2027 edition planned for 1 and 2 May[3].The same source lists a separate European Koi Show held at Recreation Park Het Hulsbeek, Oude Almeloseweg 11, 7576 PE Oldenzaal, in the Netherlands, noted as the successor to a former BKKS event. The 2026 edition was listed for 30 and 31 May, with a 2027 edition planned for 29 and 30 May at the same venue[3].

The Netherlands: Holland Koi Show

The Holland Koi Show is organized by the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland, which states on its website that it organizes the largest koi show in the world every year[5]. The show's own site lists a 2026 edition with a Young Holland Koi Show on 25 May at Veldhoven Koi Farm and the main Holland Koi Show on 15 and 16 August[1].According to the NVN, the Holland Koi Show moved after 31 years at Kasteeltuinen in Arcen to a new location at Bloemenpark Appeltern, a garden park the NVN describes as containing more than one hundred model gardens, a national perennial garden, and an area for children called Adventure Island[6]. Koi Judges UK also lists the ZNA Holland Koi Show at Bloemenpark Appeltern, Walstraat 2a, Appeltern, with 2026 dates of 15 and 16 August and 2027 dates of 21 and 22 August[3].This account is presented by its author as a personal recollection rather than official record and should be treated as a secondary, unverified source for the early history of the show[8].

Germany and France

A German-language resource, koi-hv.de, maintains a listings page covering koi shows, fairs, and exhibitions in and around Germany, inviting readers to submit information about shows or dates not yet listed[4]. The page functions primarily as a directory rather than a description of a single named flagship event[4].Zen Nippon Airinkai lists a France Chapter with a contact based at La Ferme de l'Escouart in Heuringhem, France, indicating an organized ZNA presence in the country, though no specific French show name or date is given in available listings[7]. ZNA also maintains chapters in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium as part of its wider European and African regional network[7].

Organizational context

Many European shows operate within or alongside the ZNA system. ZNA America describes ZNA as having been the first koi fancier association to hold major koi shows, beginning in Beppu, Japan, in 1966, and states that ZNA chapters today exist in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Brazil[9]. ZNA SoCal similarly notes that ZNA chapters exist throughout Europe, South Africa, Australia, the Far East, South America, and the United States, and that the organization's classifications, judging criteria, and show procedures guide ZNA-sponsored shows worldwide[10].A standardized koi classification used for ZNA International Koi Shows, published by NMZNA, notes that this classification can be modified by individual districts or chapters for their local shows so they may run efficiently or practically, which helps explain some variation in class structures between shows across Europe and elsewhere[11].Readers interested in how entries are evaluated at European and other ZNA-affiliated shows can consult information on how koi are judged and on show classes and size categories[11]. Judging and classification across varieties such as Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke), and Showa Sanshoku commonly appears at these events, alongside the broader framework described in the classification of koi varieties[2].For comparison with shows outside Europe, see coverage of koi shows in Japan, koi shows in the USA, koi shows in the UK, and koi shows in Asia[12][13][3][14]. Organizational background is covered on the pages for Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA) and UK koi organizations[9][3].

Entries in this section

Common questions

What is the largest koi show in Europe?
The Holland Koi Show, organized by the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland, is described by its organizers as the largest koi show in the world[5][1].
Where is the Belgian ZNA Koi Show held?
Koi Judges UK lists the Belgian ZNA Koi Show as taking place at Expo Waregem in Waregem, Belgium[3], while the show's organizers describe it as displaying top koi from Belgium, the Netherlands, and France[2].
What is the European Koi Show in Oldenzaal?
According to Koi Judges UK, the European Koi Show is held at Recreation Park Het Hulsbeek in Oldenzaal, the Netherlands, and is noted as a successor to a former BKKS-affiliated event[3].
Has the Holland Koi Show always been held at the same venue?
No; according to the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland, the show moved after 31 years at Kasteeltuinen in Arcen to Bloemenpark Appeltern[6].
Are there koi shows in Germany and France?
Germany has a dedicated listings page, koi-hv.de, covering koi shows, fairs, and exhibitions in the country[4], and Zen Nippon Airinkai lists an organized France Chapter, though sources do not name a specific flagship French show[7].

References

  1. ^ Komt u ook naar de grootste koi show ter wereld? De Holland Koi Show. Holland Koi Show. hollandkoishow.nl/. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ Home - Belgian ZNA Koi Show - Belgian Koi Society vzw. belgiankoishow.be. belgiankoishow.be/. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ Koi Shows – Koi Judges UK | The former BKKS JSC. Koi Judges UK. koijudges.uk/koi-shows/. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ Koi Messen. Shows & Ausstellungen. koi-hv.de. koi-hv.de/koi-messen-shows--ausstellungen/. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ NVN – Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland. Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland. nvn-koi.nl/. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ Holland Koi Show verhuist naar Appeltern! – NVN. Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland. nvn-koi.nl/holland-koi-show-verhuist-naar-appeltern/. Retrieved November 2026.
  7. ^ Zen Nippon Airinkai Overseas Chapter / Friendship Club List | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/zen-nippon-airinkai-overseas-chapter-friendship-club-list/. Retrieved November 2026.
  8. ^ The first Holland Koi show - number 1 best - Mantifang. mantifang.com. mantifang.com/en/the-first-holland-koi-show/. Retrieved November 2026.
  9. ^ About. Zen Nippon Airinkai America — znaamerica.com. znaamerica.com/about. Retrieved November 2026.
  10. ^ What is Zen Nippon Airinkai? – Zen Nippon Arinkai Southern California. znasocal.org. znasocal.org/a-homepage-section/. Retrieved November 2026.
  11. ^ Koi classification (ZNA 2021), NMZNA 2026 show documents. nmzna.net. nmzna.net/2026%20Show%20Docs/NMZNA%202026%20Koi%20Classification%20…. Retrieved November 2026.
  12. ^ Show Calendar | Zen Nippon Airinkai. Zen Nippon Airinkai. zna.jp/en/show-calender/. Retrieved November 2026.
  13. ^ US Koi Show – American Koi Judges Association (AKJA). American Koi Judges Association. akjajudges.com/us-koi-show/. Retrieved November 2026.
  14. ^ 1st Asia Cup Koi Show press release, 29 April 2008. yumpu.com. yumpu.com/en/document/view/47645378/1st-asia-cup-koi-show-inaugural…. Retrieved November 2026.