History

Aquariumclub " De Paradijsvis " was founded in 1951 by a couple of fish-and plants lovers, joining the idea to place aquariums in the houses of people being ill for a longer period of time.
This resulted in a success and became news in papers with as result that the name of the club was 'settled'.
That were the early days ! The club attracted more and more people in the neighbourhood of the village called " Alblasserdam " . This village is situated about 20 km. south-east of Rotterdam, near the famous windmills of Kinderdijk.
After more then 20 years the club had the opportunity to create its own Aqua-center, called " Het Schuimnest"……..The impact was enormous….People came to ask for advise, to buy plants and fish and also peaple made use of this opportunity to discuss hobby-problems, results for problems or they visited the club center, just to meet fellow aquarium-lovers.
In 1976 the club organized a world-exposition, which was called " Aqua Monda ". This show was an enormous event with a positive impact on all relative aspects of the club.
The foundation " Aqua Monda ", was the financial base to this event and still excists as financial security and umbrella, 'watching and guiding' the club.

Present

The club is proud of being one of the most prominent clubs in the Netherlands and is constantly busy with all members to improve all topics of the hobby. Aqua-center "Het Schuimnest " has become the "heart" of the Vivarium-hobby ; tropical sea aquariums; tropical plant-and fish (sweet water) and the specific paludarium activities belong to the normal concerns the club has to deal with.
The club therefore is associated to several federations, such as the N.B.A.T. ( Dutch Federatioin Aqua Terra ) and the N.B.B.Z. ( Dutch/Belgium Federation of Aquaristic Seawater ) One of the most important objectives of "De Paradijsvis" is promoting the hobby, stimulating members and, important for the present and the future, to draw the attention of people to join the club.

Aqua center "Het Schuimnest"

As earlier mentioned, the club's Aqua center is very important to all members…In this center the administration is sheltered as well as a 'shop' with more than 50 tanks. This shop demands a lot of maintainance, which is done, once a week, by a group of clubmembers.
The bar/lounge of the Aqua center is popular to, not only, clubmembers and is a regular visited place to discuss hobby problems. Also the club's library is situated in this room.
In the Aqua center is also situated the "board/meeting-room", which is very important to the club.
In this room there is the possibilty to present lectures, to have meetings and to cover all administration-activities, such as member-administration, distribution of the club-magazine and all other administration-work.

Public relations

One of the priorities of this club is indeed the public relations; all efforts are important to promote the club's interests - and as a result of that the hobby in all aspects.
This webpage may be an example of the 'thinking' of the club……The club likes to meet people with the the interests and activities. The club appreciates to receive positive critics that will help to promote and assist the hobby. The club likes to have international hobby-friends all over the world…. This club is positive that you agree with our 'way of thinking' and thanks you for visiting us on the internet.
Hopefully you feel to contact us or, maybe being in our country in future, visit Aquariumclub "De Paradijsvis".

Future

What is the future ? Nobody can tell…..therefore there is very little to write and the best idea is to focus on this day !
Enjoy your hobby; enjoy to-day ! Please do not hesitate to contact us for whatever reason !