The Trophy 2024 - 17/18 February 2024 - Genk Belgium

[ShimpakuBonsai]

The Bonsai Assosiation Belgium presents The Trophy 2024 in the weekend of the 17th and 18th of February 2024.

Link: https://bonsaiassociation.be/trophy/

Location
Limburghal Genk
Jaarbeurslaan 6
3600 Genk

This is the go to bonsai event of the year in Europe!!

 

[badatusernames]

Are pictures allowed?

 

[Matte91]

I have already made a reservation for a hotel. My dad and I will attend the trophy for the first time and we are excited!

 

[Matte91]

Are pictures allowed?

Yes.

 

[Corin Tomlinson]

An excellent show, I attend every year, cannot be missed in my opinion

 

[SgtPilko]

Trying to work out if I can manage a trip with some UK folks, but hope to be there

 

[RoadManDenDron]

All booked! cant wait what other nuts are going?

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

I will be there on Saturday.

 

[Matte91]

My dad and I will also be there on both saturday and sunday.

 

[leatherback]

Will be there.
In the afternoons I am busy helping out in the demo area, but in the morning you might see me lugging a camera around or stealing good trees from unattentive sellers .
I understand taking trees from the exhibition is frowned upon?

 

[Fonz]

I'll be there.

 

[Matte91]

As mentioned I will be there.

Can somebody explain how the prices are, for the trees for sale?
Are the prices lower/higher at The Trophy, than if you buy online?
I'm looking for pine trees in the price range 100-300eur.

 

[leatherback]

Prices generally are wuite good. Biggest benefit is the HUGE amount of sellersthat come together.
If you have not seen it, in this video there are some clips of the traders areas:

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

You can find trees is all prize categories at the Trophy.

If you look on the website of the Trophy you can see a list of sponsors and traders to get an idea what can be available for sale.
Link: https://bonsaiassociation.be/trophy/

 

[R0b]

will be there but budget is under pressure acquired 3 Shousen (Yamaaki) pots today

 

[jeremy_norbury]

I'll be there on the Saturday.

I mostly ignore the show itself and spend all my time buying stuff.

Here's an album of photos from 2023 - includes both the show and the 2 sales halls: https://www.flickr.com/photos/norbury/albums/72177720306283508/

 

[SgtPilko]

Would have been awesome to be there, but will probably have to spend my cash and time elsewhere I think. Post-brexit the fact we can't easily import plant material is super annoying as well (could put some mame up your jumper!)

Look forward to the video and photos everyone captures!

 

[RoadManDenDron]

I know a couple people who still show at Belgium though I know many more who have decided its not worth the red tape,

From what I have been able to grasp it would appear that process and pricing is the same wether you wanted to take/bring back 1 tree or a dozen or so trees

Maybe something worth looking into for future years to organise and bring stuff back collectively?

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

When you want to import a tree to the UK you have to pay VAT over the value of the tree(s).
Collectively bringing in the trees will not lead to less VAT to be paid.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

The issue is the phytosanitary requirements, because theoretically if someone from the UK purchased something in the EU and paid VAT on it, they could get that back on the way out...

VAT in NL is lower on trees (9%) than in the rest of the EU, FWIW...