Program

Like to find out when our international demonstrators are performing on stage?

Click here and get to know our full timetable and plan your visit

Tree and Pot Registration

Register your tree and pots now, and have a chance to win one of our prestigious “Best of Trophy” nominations. 

Participation is free of charge and open to everyone.

Tickets

Buy your tickets ONLINE and save up to 20% on the entrance price. It’s easy, convenient and will save you time at the entrance!

Practical Info

How to get to the venue, where to park your car, which hotels are nearby? Find all this useful information on our website to make your stay as smooth as possible.

Program Overview

Thursday – 20 February

Only for professionals and exhibitors!

09.00 – 21.00: Delivery, photography and placing of bonsai, pots and suiseki
Please come early !
Building up of the commercial stands

 

Friday - 21 February

Only for professionals and exhibitors!

08.00 – 13.00: Delivery, photography and placing of bonsai, pots and suiseki
Please come early !
 

08.00 – 16.00: Building up of the commercial stands (no trading !)

17.00: OFFICIAL OPENING of The Trophy 2025

The commercial space is not open on Friday!

17.00 – 18.00: First preview of the exhibition with ribbon cutting

18.30: Opening ceremony in the auditorium, welcome speeches, taiko drums, koto performance,

19.30- 21.00: Welcome reception

Saturday - 22 February

09.00: Entrance open to the international commercial space

10.00: Exhibition area open to the public (bonsai, suiseki, bonsai pots)

Tribute to Alda Clijsters and her bonsai collection

Special line up of bonsai by Nippon Bonsai Sakka Kyookai Europe

Special line up of private trees of Danny Use

Creation of bonsai pots by the Triskele group

13.00-17.00: DEMO

Koji HIRAMATSU (Japan)

Ryan NEIL (United States)

Mauro STEMBERGER (Italy)                    

Moderator : Jelle Ferwerda

18.00: Closing doors

19.30: Dinner with prize giving ceremony (online reservation needed)

Sunday - 23 February

09.00: Entrance open to the international commercial space

09.30: Exhibition area open to the public (bonsai, suiseki, bonsai pots)

Tribute to Alda Clijsters and her bonsai collection

Special line up bonsai by Nippon Bonsai Sakka Kyookai Europe

Special line up of private trees of Danny Use

Creation of bonsai pots by the Triskele group

13.00-17.00: DEMO

Koji HIRAMATSU (Japan)

Ryan NEIL (United States)

Mauro STEMBERGER (Italy)

Moderator : Jelle Ferwerda

18.00: End of the Trophy 2025

GOLDEN SPONSORS

Traders

Frank's Custom Jewelry

Frank's Custom Jewelry

Extreme Bonsai

Extreme Bonsai

Bontxai - Bonsai Delicatessen

Bontxai - Bonsai Delicatessen

David Benavente

David Benavente

European Bonsai Potter Collective

European Bonsai Potter Collective

LR Presse - Esprit Bonsai

LR Presse - Esprit Bonsai

Vijvertuinen 't Veerle

Vijvertuinen 't Veerle

Nero Bonsai

Nero Bonsai

Le Jardin de Moji

Le Jardin de Moji

Karamatsu Bonsai shop

Karamatsu Bonsai shop

Studio Bonsai David Quintana

Studio Bonsai David Quintana

Yama Bonsai Studio

Yama Bonsai Studio

Bonsai Design

Bonsai Design

Kensho Bonsai Studio

Kensho Bonsai Studio

Bonsai Lotus

Bonsai Lotus

Ibuki Plant Nursery

Ibuki Plant Nursery

Meleda Bonsai Studio

Meleda Bonsai Studio

Hiryu-en Bonsai

Hiryu-en Bonsai

Greg Ceramics

Greg Ceramics

Furo

Furo

REGISTRATION & ONLINE TICKETS

Register your trees

Participation is free of charge and open to everybody.

Registration will end 31/12/2024
Click Here To Register your trees

Register your Pots

Participation is free of charge and open to everybody. 

Registration will end 31/12/2024
Click Here To Register your pots

Buy your Tickets

Buy your tickets online and save up to 20% on the entrance price.
Click Here To buy Tickets

All practical information

Do you have any questions about registering a tree, suiseki, pot or visiting the Trophy?
More Info

DEMONSTRATORS

Koji HIRAMATSU

Koji HIRAMATSU

(Japan)

Coming Soon

Ryan NEIL

Ryan NEIL

(United States)

Coming Soon

Mauro STEMBERGER

Mauro STEMBERGER

(Italy)

Coming soon

PRACTICAL INFO

LOCATION

The Trophy 2025 will be held in the Limburghal in Genk where we have the disposal of the complete venue floor. This will cover a 4000M² competition floor and a 4000M² traders and professionals area. Demo’s will be held in the Auditorium and can seat up to 650 guests.

ADDRESS

Limburghal

Jaarbeurslaan 6, 3600 Genk

Belgium

PARKING

The Limburghal has a free large parking space for about 600 cars.

There are also 2 large  public parkings in walking distence of the venue.

  • ‘Parking Hooiplaats’ is free (gps ‘Hooiplaats’)
  • Parking place at the police court (politierechtbank), 5 € / day, (gps Dieplaan 14)

Be aware: Don’t forget to place your European parkingcard behind your front windscreen if you park in the streets nearby the Limburghal.

CONTACT
TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Here you can read our Terms and Conditions
More Info

Bonsai Association Belgium V.Z.W.

Chamber of Commerce: 0816.578.464

Business Adress: Veldstraat 9, 3950 Bocholt, Belgium

 

 

Designed by BAB | Copyright © 2025

Practical information ‘The Trophy 2025’

Do you want to exhibit your bonsai ?

Participation is free of charge and open to everybody.

Accepted exhibitors receive a free ticket ‘full weekend, including demo’s’.

Bonsai can be registered in 3 categories : bonsai, kifu (21-35cm) and shohin (<21cm).  Maximum 3 compositions are allowed in each category per participant.

In 2025 we have special attention for the Yose-Ue style. We reserve an award for an exceptional bonsai forest.

Registration of bonsai is only online : www.bonsaiassociation.be/trophyregistration

Registration is open from September 1, 2024 till December 31, 2024.

Selection for participation in the categories bonsai and kifu is done by Danny Use and the committee and is based on the picture you send to us. For deciduous trees, we ask a picture without leaves on the tree.

Selection of participating Shohin is done by Maarten Van der Hoeven. He will also do the positioning of the different Shohin compositions at the exhibition.

Confirmation of the first selection : email by half December 2024

Confirmation of the second selection : email by half January 2025

Do you want to exhibit a special pot ?

We will present an exhibition of high quality European bonsai pots.  Registration of a pot is online : www.bonsaiassociation.be/potregistration

Extra information, contact Alex Rudd from the EBPC : alex@europeanbonsaipottercollective.com

You want to exhibit a suiseki ?

Contact Holger Göbel : holgoe@arcor.de

Do you want to visit the exhibition and the commercial area, and follow the demonstrations ?

Buy your tickets online www.bonsaiassociation.be/tickets and save time at the entrance

Visit one day (no demo) : 20 € online, 25 € at the entrance

Visit one day with demo : 30 € online, 35 € at the entrance

Weekend all-in : 45 € online, 50 € at the entrance

Grouptickets (10 or more people), only after reservation at secretaris@bonsaiassociation.be

You want to join the gala dinner with prize giving ceremony on Saturday evening ?

Buy your tickets online www.bonsaiassociation.be/tickets . Price : 69 €

Support of Danny Use.

Danny supports The Trophy 2025 as artistic advisor. We are very grateful for his professional help. He will do the final selection of the trees, together with some members of the committee. And very important, he will do the positioning of the trees at the exhibition. All practical work stays with the members of Bonsai Association Belgium.

Judging, points and prizes.

In every contest (not only bonsai) there are from time to time questions about the prizes.  Bonsai Association Belgium has always asked the present demonstrators to do the judging. They receive a paper with the different categories and get one hour to find a consensus for the nominated and winning trees. Sometimes this is very clear, sometimes this takes some discussion. During that process it is evident that the wisdom of an older bonsai master is of more importance than the view of a younger demonstrator.
At the moment of judging, the bonsai are labelled with the name of the owner, and the country of origin, but we are convinced that all judging demonstrators have enough professionalism to look over this.
Bonsai Association Belgium has no influence in this judging process, and receives the final places from the jury.

Event Terms & Conditions

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.  BY REGISTERING FOR THE EVENT, YOU ACCEPT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (THIS “AGREEMENT”). THIS AGREEMENT HAS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND WILL AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND ABILITY TO BRING FUTURE LEGAL ACTIONS.

IN CONSIDERATION of being permitted to enter and remain at the premises (the “Venue”) hosting the (the “Event”) organized by Bonsai Association Belgium, the individual specified on the registration (referred to as “I”, “Me” or “Entrant”) and, as applicable, on behalf of myself and my heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, next of kin, and other persons acting or purporting to act on my behalf (collectively, “Related Persons”), hereby acknowledge and agree to the terms below by submitting my registration to the Event.

THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE IN ADDITION TO ANY TERMS AND CONDITIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE VENUE. I hereby expressly waive and release any and all claims, now known or hereafter known, against Bonsai Association Belgium, and its officers, directors, manager(s), employees, agents, affiliates, shareholders/members, successors, and assigns (collectively, “Released Parties”).

  1. ADMITTANCE. In its sole discretion and without refund, Bonsai Association Belgium reserves the right to refuse admittance to or expel from the conference anyone that it determines is behaving in a manner that could be disruptive to the Event or pose any danger to any other attendee. Entrant consents and agrees that in such event, it shall not be entitled to a refund of any portion of amounts paid. Breach of any of the terms herein shall entitle Bonsai Association Belgium to all available legal remedies.
  2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF COVID-19 & OTHER RISKS.
    I fully understand that: the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and any resulting disease (together with any variation thereof, “COVID-19”) is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death, and there is an inherent danger and risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any place where people are present;
    no Safety Protocols (as defined below) can eliminate the risk of exposure to COVID-19;
    while people of all ages and health conditions can be and have been adversely affected by COVID-19, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health authorities (i) people with certain underlying medical conditions are or may be especially vulnerable; and (ii) the risk of severe illness from the contraction of COVID-19 increases steadily with age, and contracting COVID-19 can result in the further transmission of COVID-19 to Entrant’s spouse, family members, and other persons in proximity to Entrant’s; and
    exposure to COVID-19 can result in subsequent quarantine, illness, disability, other short-term and long-term physical and/or mental health effects, and/or death, regardless of age or health condition at the time of exposure and/or infection.

I hereby acknowledge and agree that in the absence of any negligence or other breach of duty by Bonsai Association Belgium or the Released Parties, entry to the Venue and attendance at the Event is entirely at my own risk.

  1. ASSUMPTION OF RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND SAVE IN RELATION TO INSTANCES OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE, RECKLESS CONDUCT, WILLFUL/WANTON CONDUCT, OR INTENTIONAL ACTS BY BONSAI ASSOCIATION BELGIUM AND THE RELEASED PARTIES, ENTRANT, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND RELATED PERSONS, HEREBY FULLY UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY, ASSUMES ALL RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS RELATED TO ENTRY INTO, AND PRESENCE IN, AT AND AROUND THE VENUE AND EVENT, WHICH MAY INCLUDE AN INCREASED RISK OF EXPOSURE TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, COVID-19), VIRUSES, BACTERIA OR ILLNESSES OR THE CAUSE THEREOF, SICKNESS, PERSONAL INJURY, DISABILITY, OTHER SHORT-TERM OR LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS, AND/OR DEATH. ENTRANT HEREBY ACCEPTS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS VOLUNTARY ATTENDANCE AT THE EVENT. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ENTRANT HEREBY ASSUMES, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND RELATED PERSONS, ALL RESPONSIBILITY OF CLAIMS AND POTENTIAL CLAIMS RELATING TO THE RISK, HAZARDS AND DANGERS DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT SAVE FOR INSTANCES OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE, RECKLESS CONDUCT, WILLFUL/WANTON CONDUCT, OR INTENTIONAL ACTS BY BONSAI ASSOCIATION BELGIUM.
  2. RELEASE AND WAIVER. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ENTRANT, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND RELATED PERSONS, HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, IRREVOCABLY, AND FOREVER RELEASES, WAIVES, AND DISCHARGES, EACH OF THE RELEASED PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL CLAIMS THAT ENTRANT OR ANY OF ENTRANT’S RELEASED PERSONS MAY HAVE (OR HEREINAFTER ACCRUE) AGAINST ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES, THAT RELATE TO ANY OF THE RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS DESCRIBED ABOVE IN SECTIONS 2 AND 3, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY AND ALL CLAIMS THAT ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE IN ANY WAY TO ENTRANT’S OR RELATED PERSONS’ EXPOSURE TO COVID-19, (COLLECTIVELY, THE “CLAIMS”), IN EACH CASE WHETHER CAUSED BY ANY ACTION OR INACTION (OTHER THAN GROSS NEGLIGENCE, RECKLESS CONDUCT, WILLFUL/WANTON CONDUCT, OR INTENTIONAL ACTS) OF ANY RELEASED PARTY OR OTHERWISE. THE RELEASEES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, LIABILITY OR DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY.
  3. LIMITATIONS ON ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY HEREIN (INCLUDING THE ABOVE SECTIONS 3 AND 4), THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT RELEASE LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO OR EXTEND TO CLAIMS OF THE BELGIUM LAWS DO NOT PERMIT TO BE RELEASED OR WAIVED BY AGREEMENT, INCLUDING LIABILITIES ARISING FROM GROSS NEGLIGENCE, RECKLESS CONDUCT, WILLFUL/WANTON CONDUCT, OR INTENTIONAL ACTS.
  4. SAFETY PROTOCOLS. Due to the uncertainty related to COVID-19, Entrant’s admission to the Venue and attendance at the Event is subject to any health and safety policies, assessments, precautions and/or protocols put in place by local, state and federal governmental agencies, the Venue owner/operator, and/or by Bonsai Association Belgium and/or third parties, including requirements relating to face masks and/or enhanced health screenings (which may include a requirement that Entrant, and any person in Entrant’s party, be tested for COVID-19 prior to or during the Event and/or provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19) the “Safety Protocols”.  Entrant acknowledges and agrees to comply with the Safety Protocols.  Failure to comply with Safety Protocols shall automatically terminate any rights that Entrant may have hereunder; and shall authorize the Venue owner/operator and/or Bonsai Association Belgium (or their respective personnel) refuse admission to the Venue, or eject Entrant from the Venue and Event, without refund in each case, and subject Entrant to all legal remedies available to the Released Parties. Entrant acknowledges that the Safety Protocols are not diagnostic and do not eliminate the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
  5. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION. Entrant acknowledges that Bonsai Association Belgium and/or the Venue may be compelled, required, or requested to disclose certain private personal information of Entrant and certain Related Persons to public health authorities and other local, state, and federal governmental agencies. Such information may include the results of COVID-19 tests and other health information collected as part of the Safety Protocols. If such disclosure is so compelled, required, or requested, Bonsai Association Belgium will disclose only the portion of such information that is legally required. By accepting below, Entrant consents to such disclosure and agrees that no additional signed release will be required in relation to any such disclosure.
  6. INSURANCE. It is the sole responsibility of Entrant to arrange appropriate personal insurance appropriate or necessary in connection with their attendance at the Event.
  7. PAYMENT. By registering for the Event, Entrant warrants that they have the authority to authorize charges to the credit card or other method of payment, as applicable. Entrant understands and agrees that Bonsai Association Belgium Events is not liable, in any way, for erroneous bill statements or incorrect charges and that should an error occur in billing or debiting, Bonsai Association Belgium Events’ only responsibility is to correct such error when and if the Bucks receive written notice of such error. All bookings made prior to the Event must be paid in full to guarantee registration. If payment is not made at the time of booking, registration will be provisional. Entrant will be required to ensure that full payment is received by Bonsai Association Belgium prior to the conference date. If Entrant’s full payment has not been received before the event a credit card or cash payment will be required at the time of check in. All prices displayed are inclusive of VAT unless otherwise stated.
  8. EVENT AMENDMENTS AND DISCLAIMER. Bonsai Association Belgium and any other organizer of the Event reserve the right to make changes to the agenda, format, speakers, location and any other aspect of the event without notice and without liability to Entrant. Bonsai Association Belgium may at any time, with or without giving notice, in its absolute discretion and without giving any reason, change, cancel or postpone the conference, change its venue or any of the other published particulars, or withdraw any invitation to attend. In any case, none of the Releases shall be liable for any loss, liability, damage or expense suffered or incurred by any person, nor will they return any money paid to them in connection with the conference unless they are satisfied not only that the money in question remains under their control, but also that the person who paid it has been unfairly prejudiced, about which the decision shall be in their sole and unfettered discretion and, when announced, final and conclusive.
  9. SPEAKERS, SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS. Views expressed by any attendee, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor at the Event are their own. Bonsai Association Belgium shall have no liability for advice given, or views expressed, by any attendee, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor at the Event or in any material provided to attendees.
  10. PHOTOGRAPHS, PUBLICITY MATERIAL, RADIO AND TELEVISION AND PRINT MEDIA. Except as otherwise expressly agreed in writing between Bonsai Association Belgium and the applicable party, Bonsai Association Belgium reserves the sole right to use any photographs, recordings, electronic images or publicity material received by or obtained by Bonsai Association Belgium in the course of the event, for whatever use deemed proper by Bonsai Association Belgium. Bonsai Association Belgium has the exclusive right to include photographic, video and other visual portrayals of attendees, sponsors, exhibitors and their exhibits including its contents, in any pictorial medium of any nature whatsoever for the purpose of trade, advertising, sales, publicity and otherwise, without further compensation to the attendee, speaker, sponsor or exhibitor, and all rights titled and interest bearing (including all worldwide copyrights therein) will be Bonsai Association Belgium sole property, free of any claims of attendee, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor or any persons deriving any rights or interest from the attendee, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor.
  11. PERSONAL INFORMATION. By submitting registration details, Entrant agrees to allow Bonsai Association Belgium to process all personal information provided in such registration in accordance with the EU GDPR regulations and acknowledges that such processing may include such personal information being held by Bonsai Association Belgium on a database. All processing of personal information set forth in this section is subject to applicable data protection legislation. The use that any third parties make of Entrant’s personal information is outside of Bonsai Association Belgium control and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, Bonsai Association Belgium does not accept any liability in this regard.
  12. CANCELLATION POLICY. Entrant may transfer their entrance tickets to another individual without any charge, provided that any such individual will be bound by these terms and conditions. Cancellations by Entrant more than one week prior to the Event are fully refundable. If Entrant cancels their registration less than one week prior to the Event, Bonsai Association Belgium will refund Entrant ticket, there will be an administrative fee deducted from the sales price. If the Event is cancelled Entrant will be automatically be refunded the total sales price. Bonsai Association Belgium shall not be liable to attendee for any damages, costs, or losses incurred, such as transportation costs, accommodations costs, or financial losses. Entrants are responsible for obtaining the appropriate travel insurance to cover themselves with respect to such eventualities.
  13. FORCE MAJEURE. Bonsai Association Belgium shall not be held responsible or liable for any delay or failure in performance of its obligations hereunder (including the holding or hosting of the Event) to the extent such delay or failure is caused by (i) storm, flood, fire, earthquake or other acts of God; (ii) war, invasion, hostilities, terrorist threats or acts, riot, or other civil unrest or violence; (iii) any disease, epidemic or pandemic, including novel coronavirus COVID-19 (together with any mutation, adaptation, or variation thereof), (iv) embargoes or blockades; (v) national or regional emergency; (vi) strikes, labor stoppages, or slowdowns or other industrial disturbances; (vii) any order or guidance from any governmental or quasi-governmental organization, including without limitation in regard to travel, public gatherings, or health and safety; (viii) disruptions in supply chains, hotel inventory, commercial air travel or other public transportation; (ix) failure of carriers or utilities or equipment beyond Bonsai Association Belgium reasonable control; (x) unavailability of the venue through no fault of Bonsai Association Belgium; or (xi) other similar causes beyond the reasonable control of Bonsai Association Belgium. In any such event, Bonsai Association Belgium shall be entitled but not obliged to either provide alternative facilities or venue for the Event and/or reschedule the Event, without liability on the part of the Bonsai Association Belgium. If Bonsai Association Belgium are unable to reschedule or rearrange the event, Bonsai Association Belgium may cancel the Event on the part of the Bonsai Association Belgium and Entrant will receive a full refund.
  14. GOVERNING LAW. Entrant hereby understands and agrees that this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the Belgian laws.
  15. Entrant hereby agrees that if any provision or part thereof contained in this Agreement is declared illegal, unenforceable, or ineffective, such provision or part thereof shall be deemed severable, such that all other provisions contained in this Agreement shall remain valid and binding. All waivers of any provision of this Agreement must be made in writing and signed by Bonsai Association Belgium.
    BY REGISTERING FOR THE EVENT, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS RELEASE AND THAT I AM VOLUNTARILY GIVING UP SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE THE RELEASED PARTIES.