In general I am glad to see that this category is showing more and more contestants that have a better understanding of the Dutch Style. If the current competitors put a bit more effort into some of the details of this style the overall competition might even come up with a winner from this category. Keep up the good work and hopefully we will see many of you back in the next year!
On disqualifications: The Dutch Style category is not a category where each tank that is neither a biotope nor Nature style can enter. Also people seem to misunderstand that Dutch Style is just a tank without hardscape material”. In fact most Dutch style tanks use hardscape as well but only to a limited extent. But the Dutch Style is more so much more than just that. Clear contrasts between groups of plants. Correct use of focal points. No excessive use of red plants. Variation in heights color and leaf shapes. Use of “streets” of plants combined with strong groups to create an additional sense of depth. Limitations to the amount of different plants used and no repetition of the same species. So many rules and guideliness and as such so many criteria that have to be ticked to qualify as a Dutch Style tank. We as judges were already extremely lenient when one or maybe even two criteria were not met. But with more boxes remaining unticked we had no other option to disqualify them. Having that said it does not mean that all of the DQ tanks are awful. Some of them are actually pretty nice. But they are NOT Dutch style and therefore had to be DQ'ed
— Marco Aukes
As some say "The Devil is in the details." The top entries this year came down to small details. I'm very pleased to see more people taking the time to practice the VERY specific techniques required of the Dutch style. I've always described this method of aquascaping as "A minute to learn a lifetime to master " and it's true. Keep up the effort folks you're helping this category continue to improve.
Sadly as with the biotopes there were a number of entries that had to be disqualified. It's a common misconception that aquascapes with minimal or no hardscape and the different species more or less grouped together is Dutch. That is not the case. These days there are a number of resources out there; including past winners of this category that will help teach the specifics. Even if you can't understand the language pictures can teach a lot!
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Comments
On disqualifications: The Dutch Style category is not a category where each tank that is neither a biotope nor Nature style can enter. Also people seem to misunderstand that Dutch Style is just a tank without hardscape material”. In fact most Dutch style tanks use hardscape as well but only to a limited extent. But the Dutch Style is more so much more than just that. Clear contrasts between groups of plants. Correct use of focal points. No excessive use of red plants. Variation in heights color and leaf shapes. Use of “streets” of plants combined with strong groups to create an additional sense of depth. Limitations to the amount of different plants used and no repetition of the same species. So many rules and guideliness and as such so many criteria that have to be ticked to qualify as a Dutch Style tank. We as judges were already extremely lenient when one or maybe even two criteria were not met. But with more boxes remaining unticked we had no other option to disqualify them. Having that said it does not mean that all of the DQ tanks are awful. Some of them are actually pretty nice. But they are NOT Dutch style and therefore had to be DQ'ed
Sadly as with the biotopes there were a number of entries that had to be disqualified. It's a common misconception that aquascapes with minimal or no hardscape and the different species more or less grouped together is Dutch. That is not the case. These days there are a number of resources out there; including past winners of this category that will help teach the specifics. Even if you can't understand the language pictures can teach a lot!