The First APKI Europe Training Day is a Fact!
On Sunday, April 13, the first official training day took place! Unfortunately, not all students could attend the kickoff, but a large group did “make their presence known.”
Ronald and I left for Limburg on Saturday evening, as it’s a good two-hour drive to Himitsu. Thanks to our early departure, we were able to sleep in on Sunday, enjoy a leisurely breakfast in Maastricht, and still arrive at Bas and Lindsay's with plenty of time to go over some last-minute details and set up the technical equipment.
Around 9:30 a.m., the students started trickling in, and at exactly 10:00 a.m., it began — the official launch of the APKI Europe judge training program!
The first morning’s theory session was largely about getting to know each other, followed by covering the basics: what is and isn’t allowed for a judge, understanding the intricately named show classes, and why we suddenly have Doitsu and Kinginrin C to consider.
The morning flew by!
We were right on schedule, and after a great lunch — topped off with a generous selection of traditional Limburg pies — we kicked off the practical portion of the day. Bas had been moving vats and fish around all morning, and it was clear he had some surprises in store. Ronald and I didn’t quite understand what he was up to at first — we thought our request had been simple enough:
“Hey Bas, could you set up 2 sets of 7 koi, each set belonging to the same show class?”
Bas took it a step further. Instead of 2 vats with 7 koi each, we were met with around 9 vats, each holding multiple sets. Some koi belonging to the same class were spread out across different vats. A great extra exercise, of course — after all, not all koi at a show swim in the same vat.
Bas's decision wasn’t only about making it more challenging for the students; he also wanted to avoid cross-contamination. Just as the koi in the shop (which, as always, looked pristine) don’t share vats unnecessarily, they also didn’t in the outdoor judging vats.
This made the first practical exercise a varied and fun experience — especially because Bas, at our request, had deliberately “mis-benched” a few koi. Some “stowaways” were swimming in the wrong groups, and it was up to the students to identify and reassign them to the correct categories.
During the public afternoon portion, it was extra nice to see that several hobbyists dropped by “just to have a look.” That quick visit turned into active participation in the judging exercise and discussions about the results, making it an educational and enjoyable afternoon for everyone.
Himitsu, Thank You for the Limburg Hospitality!
APKI Europe would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Lindsay and Bas for providing the location, the koi, and the delicious lunch and pies.
We previously wrote an in-depth article about Himitsu — here's a short excerpt for those interested. What remains most important is that Himitsu is among the top koi dealers in the Netherlands, and always worth a visit. They offer top-quality koi at great value.
Himitsu, the best-kept secret in Limburg!
“Himitsu” is the Japanese word for “secret,” hence the play on words. Officially named Himitsu Garden and Pond, the business is a specialist in ponds and koi. Owners Bas and Lindsay offer everything you could need in pond construction, landscaping, and top-quality Japanese koi. They even have a large saltwater aquarium section — practically the entire cast of Finding Nemo lives there!
Himitsu is truly a beautiful koi business and well worth a visit. Bas got into koi thanks to a neighbor when he was just a kid — over 30 years ago now. His first pond, in his parents’ backyard, measured five by three meters and was one and a half meters deep. Quite serious for a first pond, if you ask us!
At the time, we just had a hole in the ground with wrinkled pond liner. His second pond was even better — 40 cubic meters and part of a Japanese garden. His third pond? There are many — all part of the current store.
The current Himitsu location includes 38 koi sales tanks and a show pond, with Lindsay and Bas managing nearly 200,000 liters of water. All systems are filtered with drum filters and trickle systems, and the tanks feature continuous water changes.
Bas and Lindsay are regular visitors to Japan
Their favorite breeder, without question, is Maruhiro from northern Japan — the source of that amazing Sanke which once won Supreme Champion, and later Grand Champion. We’re sure the breeder was thrilled with the news!
A Beautiful Collection of Kokeshi Dolls
You can’t miss the wall of Kokeshi dolls in the store — a passion of Lindsay’s. Kokeshi are handcrafted wooden Japanese dolls, originally from northern Japan, often given at births as a symbol of love and friendship. These dolls, especially the handmade ones sold at Himitsu, are now popular collector's items even outside Japan. With their simple kimono-like bodies, large heads, and elegantly minimal painted faces, they shine — not because of lacquer or varnish, but because the best Kokeshi are polished with wax.
Big Dreams Still Ahead
Bas and Lindsay dream of winning more Grand Champion titles — ideally not just at Young Koi Shows, but at full-size competitions. Earning a Major Award in Japan is definitely on the bucket list as well.
We hope this article has made you curious enough to jump in the car and pay Himitsu a visit. If you do, please give Lindsay and Bas our warmest regards — from Ronald and Ruud.