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Holland Koi Show

By the koi.wiki editorial team · Updated

Key facts: The Holland Koi Show is an annual nishikigoi (錦鯉) exhibition in the Netherlands, organized by the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland (NVN), described by its organizers as the largest koi show in the world[1].
The Holland Koi Show traces its origins to 1993, when it was first held as the “All European Koi Show” on a muddy field in Arcen, on what organizers describe as the first nishikigoi exhibition on the European mainland[2]. It has since grown substantially in scale and is now organized annually by the Koi Judges UK-linked show calendar as the “ZNA Holland Koi Show” in its UK listings[5], while in the Netherlands it is run by NVN[1].

History and founding

According to an account published by Hugo J. Smal in the show program brochure of 2016, the event began in 1993 as the “All European Koi Show,” organized by a small group of volunteers including Leen Wijngaard, John Gieles and Rene Krüter, held on an undrained, muddy showground in Arcen[2]. The first edition was reportedly affected by heavy rain, with volunteers improvising solutions such as using fish bags as makeshift overshoes for visitors[2].The event was later renamed the Holland Koi Show, which the source describes as “well organized and praised worldwide”[2].

Move to Appeltern

NVN described the move as the start of “a new adventure” and noted a collaboration with Appeltern director Ben van Ooijen, who commented that the two parks are comparable but that Appeltern goes further into technical aspects of garden and koi-keeping design[3].Bloemenpark Appeltern is described in the announcement as containing more than one hundred model gardens, a national perennial garden (Nationale Vaste Plantentuin), the Wilde Weelde Wereld, and a children's attraction called Adventure Island[3]. NVN noted that Appeltern and the former Arcen venue had maintained a relationship of more than 25 years prior to the move[3].

Dates and venue

According to the official Holland Koi Show website, the 2026 edition is the 34th Holland Koi Show, with a “Young Holland Koi Show” scheduled for Monday, 25 May 2026 (Whit Monday) at Veldhoven Koi Farm, and the main Holland Koi Show held on 15 and 16 August 2026[4].Koi Judges UK, which lists the event in its show calendar as the “ZNA Holland Koi Show,” gives the 2026 dates as 15 and 16 August at Bloemenpark Appeltern, Walstraat 2a, Appeltern, Netherlands, and lists a 2027 edition for 21 and 22 August at the same venue[5].

Organization

The Holland Koi Show is organized by the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland (NVN), a Dutch nishikigoi association that also publishes a members' magazine called KOI and offers a pond advisory service called the Koi Vijver Adviesdienst (KVA)[1]. NVN lists sales contact René Sakko for the Holland Koi Show and states that annual NVN membership costs 49 euros per year[1].NVN also maintains a separate listing for the Young Holland Koi Show as part of its activities calendar[1]. The current chair named on the show's official website is Mark Kleijkers[4].

Judging and varieties shown

The Holland Koi Show website states that it lists the exhibitors and the panel of judges who evaluate the koi each year, though specific judge names and results were not detailed in the cited source[4]. As with other major koi shows, koi are judged across varieties; readers can consult the general overview of how koi are judged and the broader list of koi varieties for context on classification systems referenced by European clubs such as the NVN, which maintains its own variety overview including Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Utsurimono, Koromo, Goshiki, Kinginrin, Tancho, Asagi, Shusui, Bekko, and Hikari-mujimono[1].

Context among European koi shows

The Holland Koi Show is one of several major koi shows tracked by Koi Judges UK's European and UK show calendar, alongside events such as the Belgian ZNA Koi Show, the European Koi Show in Oldenzaal, the National Koi Show, and the Great British Koi Show[5]. For a broader view of the regional show circuit, see the overview of koi shows in Europe and the related koi shows in the UK.Outside Europe, other large combined international events exist, such as the All Asia Cup, described by one judging report as the largest koi show in Asia outside Japan and organized jointly by Shinkokai (AJNPA) and Zen Nippon Airinkai affiliates[6]. This illustrates that the Holland Koi Show sits within a wider international network of koi shows organized with cooperation from Japanese judging organizations; see also the All Asia Cup Koi Show and the Zen Nippon Airinkai.

Common questions

When did the Holland Koi Show start?
It began in 1993 as the “All European Koi Show,” held on a showground in Arcen, according to an account published in the show's 2016 program brochure[2].
Where is the Holland Koi Show held now?
The 2026 edition is scheduled for 15–16 August[4][5].
Who organizes the Holland Koi Show?
It is organized by the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland (NVN), a Dutch koi association[1].
Is there a youth or “young koi” version of the show?
Yes, NVN and the official show website both list a separate Young Holland Koi Show, scheduled in 2026 for 25 May at Veldhoven Koi Farm[4][1].

References

  1. ^ NVN – Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland. Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland. nvn-koi.nl/. Retrieved November 2026.
  2. ^ The first Holland Koi show - number 1 best - Mantifang. mantifang.com. mantifang.com/en/the-first-holland-koi-show/. Retrieved November 2026.
  3. ^ Holland Koi Show verhuist naar Appeltern! – NVN. Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland. nvn-koi.nl/holland-koi-show-verhuist-naar-appeltern/. Retrieved November 2026.
  4. ^ Komt u ook naar de grootste koi show ter wereld? De Holland Koi Show. Holland Koi Show. hollandkoishow.nl/. Retrieved November 2026.
  5. ^ Koi Shows – Koi Judges UK | The former BKKS JSC. Koi Judges UK. koijudges.uk/koi-shows/. Retrieved November 2026.
  6. ^ Jureren tijdens de 11e All Asia Cup - Besems.eu. besems.eu. besems.eu/2018/04/13/jureren-tijdens-11e-all-asia-cup/. Retrieved November 2026.